Employee Highlight: Product Development Manager Darren Harvey – aka ‘The Big Brain’ A Quick Bite by Sev-Rend Feature

Darren Harvey – Product Development Manager

Here at Sev-Rend we know that there are many key players that are behind the scenes making sure orders are received, properly entered, and shipping on time! With that being said – some of these individuals sit in critical rolls and converse with some of our clients on a daily basis. We want to continue to use the Quick Bite Newsletter to highlight these key players to make sure they get the recognition they deserve to get your packaging to you correct and on-time.

This month we are highlighting our Product Development Manager Darren Harvey. Darren’s career has revolved around the print / converting sector and he has a large wealth of knowledge to bring to the table. From new product launches to troubleshooting on products and everything in between – Darren Harvey is the glue that keeps projects together and always brings an intelligent perspective to our team. There is a big reason we call Darren ‘The Big Brain’:

How Long have you been with Sev-Rend? What is your job title / responsibilities / roll?

12 Years as Product Development Manager. Additional responsibilities include Food Safety Coordinator, Quality Manager, Customer Service, Sales and Technical Support.

Favorite travel spot or vacation you have taken in the past? What is fun about it?

Whenever I think of “favorites,” I go back to times when my kids were young and camping was our favorite vacation activity. We discovered that a large vacation budget wasn’t necessary to create lasting memories. One vacation that stands out though, was a trip we took Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico. If you are ever in the area, it’s a must see! For those with young children, value this time with them. They grow up way too fast!

What is the favorite part about working for Sev-Rend?

One of the biggest keys to finding joy at work is having teammates that enjoy working together. Management from top to bottom has done an outstanding job of putting together one of the best production and management teams I’ve had the pleasure of working with.

Before working at Sev-Rend, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?

Hmmm… I’ve had a lot of interesting jobs over the years, but none that I would say were unusual. Growing up in an agricultural community, I started working in the fields as early at 10-12 years old. My family didn’t own a farm, but there was always a need for cheap labor in the area. The standout for me was working at a marina on a lake the summer before my Junior year in high school. Spent the entire summer on the lake. (Old people tend to get a little nostalgic…lol).

If you had to eat one meal, every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?

It would be hard to beat homemade fried chicken, mashed tators and gravy, fried squash and green beans. It would be a short life due to the heart attack that would come way too prematurely, but could be worth it…

What do you like to do on your days off?

My wife and I are pretty much home bodies. We enjoy taking our camper out to the lake or traveling to see family.

If you were stuck on an island what three things would you bring?

A survival hatchet or axe, a fishing pole and a way to make sure I had a continuous source of fresh water. (A volleyball named Wilson just missed the cut.)

The Sev-Rend team calls you the Big Brain, how do you feel about that?

There’s a difference between people who are truly “big brain,” incredibly intelligent individuals and those that are simply experienced in their field from years of exposure. If I were character on The Big Bang Theory, I’d be lucky to be the janitor.