John Goodman

Executive Chairman & Advisor to the Acosta Board
Culture + Brand Ambassador

In 2009, John founded The CORE Group and embarked upon a series of acquisitions that have led to the formation of the nation’s premier foodservice sales agency. John’s vision was to create a flat organization with an aligned culture of engaged leadership, people-centric philosophy, and an absolute focus on execution.

John believes in leading by example and thrives when engaged with customers, clients and associates.

• Attended Menlo College and USC, and dropped out of both
• Professional career began in 1971 as a Territory Sales Rep for Larry’s Food Products, later promoted to National Sales Manager
• In 1981 opened J. Goodman & Associates, a Southern California foodservice sales agency
• Founded The CORE Group in 2009
• Believes “Happy people do happy things”
• Loves to WIN, hates to lose

John and his wife Diane, and their four children were all born and raised in Southern California. His hobbies include golf, skiing, family time, and sitting on the beach staring into nowhere.

Phone: 310-804-5060

Email: jgoodman@corefoodservice.com

Travis King

President
Culture + Brand Ambassador

Travis joined The CORE Group at its inception in 2009, and has worked collaboratively with John to develop the company’s strategic vision and culture. He has been actively involved in the integration and management of all functions of the heritage companies that make up CORE.

Travis has helped to create a youthful and fun organization where “execution is everything”!

• Graduated from the University of Wisconsin after six formative years
• Spent another formative year on Maui
• Has held a variety of sales & management positions with companies like Culligan, General Mills, Kellogg’s and Rich Products
• Has held multiple leadership roles at The CORE Group (VP, SVP, President & COO)
• Loves to WIN, hates to lose
• Travis lives in Park City with his wonderful wife and two children who are the center of his universe. He believes that success is achieved by taking your business very seriously, but not taking yourself too seriously.

Phone: 858-775-8921

Email: tking@corefoodservice.com

Michelle Alva

SVP - Admin Operations
Culture + Brand Ambassador

Michelle has been an integral leader in the development of CORE, touching almost all functions of the business in some aspect. She leads by example and is passionate and people-focused. She has worked in almost every capacity in the agency world and is a “one-stop-shop” for all things CORE.

She truly values the team she works with, and looks forward to coming to work every day.

• Has worked in a variety of capacities in foodservice sales, operations and logistics.
• Was the 13th out of 13 children in her family
• Worked as Regional Sales Manager and Director of Operations for Sabatasso Foodservice (a Schwan’s Company)
• Played a large role in the development and growth of J. Goodman & Associates
• Has held multiple leadership positions at CORE (VP, SVP & CAO)
• Coined the phrase…”Work Hard. Work Smart. Or, don’t work here!”
• Loves to WIN, hates to lose

Michelle and her long term boyfriend Joel reside in Southern California. Michelle has a 24-year-old stepson, and an 11-year-old Chihuahua/Maltese.

John Wick

SVP - Client Strategy
Culture + Brand Ambassador

John joined The CORE Group in April of 2016 with 25 years of experience in the brokerage business.

• He started his brokerage career after college (yes, he actually attended college) in the retail space and soon realized that foodservice was his calling.
• Wears flip flops until the temperature drops below 20F.
• Has held multiple leadership positions in sales & client management as he was helping Venture Marketing to become one of the leading agencies in the Northeast. John grew up in Buffalo watching the Bills lose “4” Super Bowls. John and his wife Lisa live just outside of Boston, they have two boys and like to spend their free time on the Cape enjoying sunsets and Stoli Doli’s at Chapin’s. He loves to win and hates to lose!
• Loves to WIN, hates to lose

Jennifer Post

SVP - Client Management
Culture + Brand Ambassador

Jennifer possesses a diversified business background encompassing direct sales and sales management roles, dot com start-ups, business incentive marketing, and hospitality management, all of which enable her to provide holistic support and leadership to her clients and client management team alike.

Jennifer joined The CORE Group family in 2009 after almost three years of aggressive, non-stop recruiting efforts by John Goodman and quickly engaged in leading and supporting a plethora of organizational growth initiatives.

• Graduated from California State University, Chico – and attended when it was rated the #1 party school in the country.
• Has held sales and sales management positions with Hyatt Hotels, Sysco, Foodservice Rewards, and AFS Technologies
• Believes transparency, open and honest communication, integrity, teamwork, and personal ownership are key to a successful life and career. If that doesn’t work, there is always Tito’s!
• Loves to WIN, hates to lose

A Northern California native, Jennifer now resides in Southern California with her burly husband Jon. Her interests include spending time with family and friends, being on or near the ocean, and fully embracing life and all it has to offer.

Mike Baker

EVP - Foodservice Sales
Culture + Brand Ambassador

After 20+ years of foodservice experience, Mike finally came to his senses in 2017 and joined The CORE Group. His extensive experience with Non-Commercial, Chains, and K12 from both the broker and the manufacturer side of the business have helped us create the best channel team in the industry.

• Passed almost every drug test he took on the way to a diploma from the University of Missouri
• Has held leadership positions at Rich Products, Heinz, and a foodservice broker that cannot be discussed for legal reasons
• “You manage things, you lead people”
• Will work for food!
• Loves to WIN, hates to lose

Mike lives in a testosterone filled house with his wonderful wife, 3 sons, and a big hairy dog in the Nashville area.

D.J. White

SVP - Corporate Distribution
Culture + Brand Ambassador

D.J. joined The CORE Group in early 2012 to pioneer our office in the Arizona Market. Initially, his sales meetings consisted of himself and a mirror at his kitchen table. However, in short time, the team grew significantly. Since, D.J.’s role with CORE has evolved to SVP Corporate Distribution. Driving headquarters strategy & execution across all points of distribution.

• Was officially the worst punter in the history of the Northern Illinois University Football program but did manage to graduate in 1992.
• Held sales and sales management positions with… Sysco Los Angeles (Marketing Associate), Sara Lee, Tyson and Ventura Foods.
• Enjoys the thrill of hitting an occasional good shot on the golf course and lipping a largemouth bass on the Colorado river.
• Digs company themed body art.
• Loves to WIN, hates to lose

D.J. lives in Fountain Hills, AZ with his supportive wife and youngest daughter while his other two kids have flown the coop.

Rick Heidt

SVP - Field Sales
Culture + Brand Ambassador

Rick joined The CORE Group in 2015 through the acquisition/merger of HOPCO Foodservice Marketing.  He started in the agency world in 1998, where he led the geographical expansion of HOPCO from a Florida Agency, with 2 offices and 12 associates to becoming the leading Sales Agency in the Southeast with 13 offices and almost 200 associates.

• Prior to CORE/HOPCO, Rick held sales and leadership positions of increasing responsibility with a national manufacturer, Schwan’s. (Regional, Divisional and National Sales Manager)
• A native of NYC, although you’d never know he hasn’t lived there in over 30 years!
• A firm believer in catching people doing things right!
• Loves to WIN, hates to lose (just ask the guys he plays racquetball with every week!)

Rick resides in Tampa, with his wonderful wife and 3 boys, 2 of which are in college and the 3^rd on his way next year, so he plans on working well into his 90’s!  Together, they love to travel creating lifelong memorable experiences!

Andrea Evanter

VP - Human Resources
Culture + Brand Ambassador

Andrea’s foodservice experience began in college (yes, she went to college) waiting tables and after failing math she decided she was better suited to a more people-centric career. After wearing multiple hats at multiple different jobs she landed at The CORE Group in Human Resources. She fell in love with the employee side of the business and pursued her SHRM Certification in 2015.

• You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make them drink
• Loses sleep at night thinking of ways to make CORE even better (if that’s possible!)
• Arguably the biggest nag at TCG, just ask someone
• Loves to WIN, hates to lose

Andrea and her math-dancer husband Eric live in Florida with their two children, Elle and Jack.

John MacDougall

VP - Non-Foods Sales
Culture + Brand Ambassador

John joined CORE in 2013 with the thought of access to unlimited food samples. When reality hit, he quickly adjusted and moved to his sweet spot of Non-Foods, where he helped build a leading sales organization from the ground level.

• A proud Wazzu (Washington State University) Alumni, where he graduated early after only 3 senior years
• 25+ years of foodservice sales experience in all aspects of the business…operator, distributor, broker, manufacturer
• Held leadership roles at Pactiv, Prairie Packaging, and Rich Products
• Stunt double in the 80s movie classic “Vision Quest”…really
• Affinity for sporks, toilet tissue, and trash bags
• Loves to win, hates to lose

John lives in Southern California with his beautiful wife and two incredible daughters. He loves spending time with his family, playing “old guy’s” basketball, coaching/cheering for his girls, and enjoying a few “coldies” on occasion.

Jeremy Slaughter

SVP - Finance
Culture + Brand Ambassador

In spite of being a “numbers geek,” Jeremy truly believes in developing people and relationships to build a better business. He has worked in many facets of accounting and finance across several industries, and has owned and operated accounting and payroll businesses. In recent years, he has worked on analyzing, lending, accounting, taxation, start-up, M&A and consulting for many businesses in the foodservice industry.

Jeremy was drawn to The CORE Group because they not only valued his financial acumen and insight, but were also excited by his entrepreneurial spirit and sales mentality…a rarity in the financial world.

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, and Master’s Degree in Accounting & Financial Management
• Regional Bank Analyst responsible for internal loan portfolio analysis and analyzing lending deals up to $200,000,000
• Partner in a tax and accounting practice
• Nerd
• Loves to WIN, hates to lose

Jeremy spends his spare time with his wife and five children, and loves to be outdoors with them as much as possible. He works out of the CORE Corporate Business Center-East in Tampa, Florida.

Elizabeth Matthews

SVP - Foodservice Canada
Culture + Brand Ambassador

Elizabeth began her agency career more than 20 years ago after being in sales roles on both the distribution and manufacturing sides of the business.

As a partner in her legacy business, she was actively involved in all aspects of managing the business and was integral in developing her company’s vision, mission, and culture.  Her drive and entrepreneurial spirit led growth and expansion across Western Canada and subsequently into the East.

• Believes in integrity, transparency and personal accountability
• Promoter of creating diverse, innovative and unstoppable teams
• Squadron Leader for her Women’s Weekends
• Loves to WIN, hates to lose

Elizabeth lives in Vancouver, BC with her husband. She loves to travel, spend time outdoors in the Pacific Northwest, and getting together with family and friends.