Matt Vignola

MY GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: Upon graduation, I entered an industry that was intriguing, challenging and extremely motivating. Within a few years I had made a name for myself at Chelten House Products and successfully led the product development team through the largest and most influential project in the company’s history. I also played a significant role in multiple award-winning product ideas rising above powerhouse companies such as Litehouse, Marzetti and The Clorox Co., to name a few. Being a part of that amazing team and helping the company grow by about 140 percent in six years led me to my current position at F&S Produce Co. I’m sharing my knowledge and helping to build their newly formed product development department from the ground up. I take pride in being part of a family-owned company’s growth and success while developing products that are clean label, on trend, innovative and sustainable.

HOW DREXEL HELPED: During my sophomore year at Drexel I switched to a new major that had been added to the curriculum — culinary science. It opened many doors for me and made it possible to find a place in a field that has become my passion. It combined the inventive, fast-paced and delicious atmosphere of culinary arts with the realistic and research-based world of food science where I learned to think outside the box. Drexel helped provide me with a career that I love and it also gave me the opportunity to meet my fiancée Rachel. I feel fortunate that Drexel was able to pave the way for so many positive lifelong results, both personally and professionally.

WHERE I’ll BE IN FIVE YEARS: My plan is to seek a job as a director of food product development in my field. I fully expect to be in the kitchen getting my hands dirty and loving every minute of it while helping the company to grow and providing the type of invaluable mentoring I received throughout my early years.