About Linda Goodin & Associates, Inc.
Our Legacy in Executive Recruitment for the Food & Beverage Industry
What began as a passion for precision hiring quickly evolved into one of the most trusted names in executive recruitment for the food and beverage industry.
Linda Goodin launched her career in executive search in 1993, serving as a Senior Partner at the esteemed retained search firm Bartholdi & Company. Her experience there laid the foundation for what would become Linda Goodin & Associates. The firm was founded with a clear mission: to deliver exceptional, personalized search services tailored exclusively to the needs of the food industry.
Since its founding, Linda Goodin & Associates has grown into a premier boutique search firm, known for its strategic approach and deep-rooted industry relationships. For over 25 years, we’ve partnered with organizations ranging from innovative startups to the industry’s largest and most respected global brands.
Our client list includes icons like International Flavors and Fragrances, Inc., ConAgra Foods, Subway, Unilever, KraftHeinz, Campbell Soup, Pinnacle Foods, Chiquita Brands, Griffith Foods, OSI Partners, PepsiCo, YUM! Brands, Wendy’s, Burger King, and Jack in the Box, among many others. Each partnership reflects our commitment to not only filling roles but also building leadership teams that elevate businesses.
Our story is built on results, reputation, and relationships. And we’re just getting started.
Meet the Owner
Linda Goodin, Owner/President
Linda has a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Oklahoma. She began her career at the retained search group, Bartholdi & Company out of Vail, CO. After three years, she founded her own firm and has worked for over 25 years in recruiting across all food and beverage segments. Linda primarily focuses on recruiting for roles in R&D, Quality, Culinary, Sales, and Operations.
Our Team
Melanie Carmichael, Recruiter
Melanie has a degree from Texas A&M in Communications
and worked for two years in Amazon’s HR and staffing department. She has been with us for two years, specializing in placing Marketing and Sales professionals.
Kevin Pelletier,
Sr. Recruiter /Office Manager
Kevin has been with Linda since she started in the Vail, CO office, and has been working on the team for over 20 years, making significant contributions to the company over those many years.
Connie Bullard, Sr. Recruiter
Connie began her career working with Linda in Vail, CO, over 20 years ago. She has been a significant business partner over the
years. Connie specializes in senior leadership recruitment
across all platforms, with extensive experience in Operations,
R&D, Quality, and Culinary roles within the food
and beverage industry.
Melanie Carmichael, Recruiter
Melanie has a degree from Texas A&M in Communications and worked for two years in Amazon’s HR and staffing department. She has been with us for two years, specializing in placing Marketing and Sales professionals.
Mason Strong, Recruiter
Mason holds a degree in business from Colorado State University. He joined us directly from college, starting as a junior staff recruiter and was quickly promoted to Recruiter within his first year. Mason focuses mainly on Supply Chain and Quality placements.
Connie Bullard, Sr. Recruiter
Connie began her career working with Linda in Vail, CO, over 20 years ago. She has been a significant business partner over the years. Connie specializes in senior leadership recruitment across all platforms, with extensive experience in Operations, R&D, Quality, and Culinary roles within the food and beverage industry.
Executive Recruitment for the Food Industry
Precision. Experience. Results.
At Linda Goodin & Associates, Inc., we specialize in executive-level recruitment exclusively for the food, beverage, and ingredient industries. With over 35 years of hands-on experience across manufacturing and foodservice restaurant chains, our team brings unmatched industry insight to every search.
We work with leading global brands as well as emerging growth companies, providing both retained and contingency search services. Our clients turn to us not just to fill positions, but to find high-impact talent that drives success and fits their company culture.
Unlike traditional firms that rely on job boards, our approach is highly targeted and relationship-driven. We leverage our extensive network and deep industry knowledge to actively recruit professionals who are not just looking for their next job, but are committed to building long-term careers.
We focus on quality over quantity, presenting candidates who are proven leaders in their fields and who align with your strategic goals. Whether you’re scaling a team or filling a critical leadership role, we help you find the right fit the first time.