Joseph Sutfin
Independence
Summary
Operations leader with over 18 years of experience, including military and hemp industry roles. Specializes in translating complex regulations into actionable procedures, ensuring compliance, quality control, and operational efficiency across manufacturing and retail sectors.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Founder & General Manager
Mt Joy Naturals
01.2018 - Current
- Led regulatory and operational compliance for a hemp wholesale, manufacturing, and retail business operating in two states, adapting policies and processes based on federal and state requirements.
- Oversee manufacturing and quality-control activities for a broad portfolio of hemp and botanical products, including ingredient controls, batch preparation, production records, sanitation, packaging, finished-product review, and vendor documentation.
- Interpret applicable rules affecting hemp-derived products, manufacturing, retail sales, product testing, labeling, packaging, marketing, shipping, age-restricted sales, and business records; convert requirements into practical operating procedures.
- Reviewed labels and packaging for compliance with product information, cannabinoid content, warnings, net quantity, ingredient declarations, and jurisdiction-specific requirements before market release.
- Develop and maintain standard operating procedures, training materials, production workflows, quality checks, and internal controls to improve consistency, traceability, safety, and accountability.
- Maintained inventory controls for raw materials, work-in-process, finished goods, and retail stock; investigated discrepancies, documented findings, and implemented corrective measures to ensure accuracy.
- Prepare for and respond to regulatory inquiries, inspections, vendor audits, customer complaints, and product-quality concerns by organizing records, evaluating facts, documenting actions, and correcting deficiencies.
- Recruit, train, supervise, and evaluate employees across production, retail, fulfillment, and customer service; prioritize workloads and reinforce lawful, ethical, and safety-focused conduct.
- Coordinate with laboratories, suppliers, packaging vendors, retailers, customers, and professional advisers concerning certificates of analysis, specifications, product documentation, quality concerns, and regulatory changes.
Staff Sergeant / Drill Sergeant
United States Army
01.2015 - 01.2018
- Supervised, trained, and evaluated groups of up to 60 Soldiers, ensuring compliance with Army regulations, safety standards, and organizational policies to maintain operational readiness.
- Planned and prioritized complex training and operational workloads, maintained accountability, and made time-sensitive decisions in high-risk environments.
- Delivered formal instruction, policy updates, and performance feedback to diverse audiences; coached subordinate leaders on maintaining standards and consistent enforcement to strengthen team accountability.
- Conducted personnel, equipment, facility, safety, and readiness inspections; identified deficiencies, documented results, assigned corrective actions, and verified completion to enhance overall operational effectiveness.
- Managed sensitive personnel matters, performance counseling, disciplinary documentation, incident reporting, and corrective training with professionalism, confidentiality, and procedural fairness.
- Maintained accountability for government property, facilities, and equipment and ensured records were complete, accurate, and inspection-ready.
Honor Guard Noncommissioned Officer
United States Army
01.2014 - 01.2015
- Led ceremonial operations for senior military leaders, families, and visiting dignitaries, ensuring adherence to standards of conduct, appearance, timing, and protocol.
- Scheduled and trained personnel, inspected readiness, resolved performance issues, ensured execution consistency during highly visible and sensitive assignments.
- Monitored access points to ensure security compliance and safety protocols.
- Conducted regular patrols to detect and deter unauthorized activities on premises.
- Collaborated with team members to maintain operational readiness and security measures.
GIS Analyst / Geospatial Intelligence NCO
United States Army
01.2010 - 01.2014
- Produced geospatial intelligence and analytical products that enabled brigade-level operational planning and informed risk-based decision-making.
- Managed complex datasets, validated source information, identified patterns and trends, and delivered concise reports and visual products for senior leaders' strategic insights.
- Led night-shift operations as Noncommissioned Officer in Charge and trained more than 25 soldiers on analytical standards, production procedures, quality control, and data security.
- Balanced multiple urgent requirements while ensuring accuracy, confidentiality, and adherence to technical and operational standards.
Terrain Analyst
United States Army
01.2009 - 01.2010
- Collected and analyzed terrain and geospatial information to support mission planning and operational assessments.
- Produced mapping products and briefed findings to leadership, ensuring timely decision-making under strict deadlines.
- Analyzed data to support operational decision-making and strategy development.
- Prepared reports on mission readiness and resource allocation for senior leadership.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to enhance operational efficiency and coordination.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Alternative Medicine
Everglades University
5002 T Rex Ave #100, Boca Raton, FL 3343101-2023
Skills
- Cannabis & Hemp Regulatory Compliance
- Inspection Planning & Documentation
- Regulatory Interpretation
- Corrective Action & Risk Mitigation
- Packaging, Labeling & Product Controls
- Manufacturing & Retail Operations
- Inventory Accountability
- Quality Assurance & SOP Development
- Incident Review & Fact-Finding
- Report Writing & Case Documentation
- Team Leadership & Performance Management
- Training, Facilitation & Public Communication
- Conflict Resolution & De-escalation
- Data Analysis, GIS & Trend Identification
- Cross-Functional Stakeholder Coordination
Military Education
- U.S. Army Drill Sergeant Academy
- GIS Advanced Leaders Course
- GEOINT Production Course
- Geospatial Engineer Course
- Terrain Analyst Basic Course
Additional Qualifications
- U.S. Army veteran with service in Iraq and Afghanistan and a record of trusted leadership and accountability.
- Advanced experience with Microsoft Office, report preparation, spreadsheet tracking, GIS mapping, data management, presentations, and operational documentation.
- Valid driver's license; available for regional travel, field inspections, meetings, and irregular schedules as required.
- Military recognition includes two Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, two Army Good Conduct Medals, and the Meritorious Unit Commendation.
Timeline
Founder & General Manager
Mt Joy Naturals
01.2018 - Current
Staff Sergeant / Drill Sergeant
United States Army
01.2015 - 01.2018
Honor Guard Noncommissioned Officer
United States Army
01.2014 - 01.2015
GIS Analyst / Geospatial Intelligence NCO
United States Army
01.2010 - 01.2014
Terrain Analyst
United States Army
01.2009 - 01.2010
Bachelor of Science - Alternative Medicine
Everglades University