# First Hire Series: Operations with Jamie Valenti-Jordan

- Show: [The Startup CPG Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast)
- Published: 2022-05-03
- Length: 37m
- Episode: 20
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-05-03-first-hire-series-operations-with-jamie-valenti-jordan
- Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/000c928c

## Summary

Jamie Valenti-Jordan, CEO of Catapult Commercialization Services, discusses the strategic hiring of a first operations hire for early-stage CPG brands. He distinguishes between setting up operational systems and running them, advising founders to use consultants for setup to preserve their own time for vision and growth. Valenti-Jordan emphasizes that the ideal operations hire possesses strong systems-thinking and multitasking abilities, often found in non-traditional backgrounds like Dungeon Masters, rather than just large-corporate experience. He also covers the timing for implementing inventory software and the importance of KPI dashboards for founder oversight.

## Chapters

- [0:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-05-03-first-hire-series-operations-with-jamie-valenti-jordan#t=3) Introduction and Guest Background
- [3:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-05-03-first-hire-series-operations-with-jamie-valenti-jordan#t=200) Defining Operations and the First Hire
- [7:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-05-03-first-hire-series-operations-with-jamie-valenti-jordan#t=473) Setting Up vs. Running Operations
- [10:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-05-03-first-hire-series-operations-with-jamie-valenti-jordan#t=603) Evaluating Consultants and System Deployment
- [13:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-05-03-first-hire-series-operations-with-jamie-valenti-jordan#t=785) Software Strategy: Spreadsheets to ERP
- [16:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-05-03-first-hire-series-operations-with-jamie-valenti-jordan#t=1016) Identifying the Right Operations Talent
- [24:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-05-03-first-hire-series-operations-with-jamie-valenti-jordan#t=1458) Founder Oversight and KPI Dashboards
- [31:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-05-03-first-hire-series-operations-with-jamie-valenti-jordan#t=1917) Catapult Services and Conclusion

## Topics

- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Catapult Commercialization Services (company)
- Kodiak Cakes (company)
- NetSuite (tool)
- UNFI (company)
- Kihi (company)
- Startup CPG (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [219: Hiring Your First Team Members at a Hardware Startup](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2024-03-28-219-hiring-your-first-team-members-at-a-hardware-startup) (Product Startup)
- [On-Demand Labor, Operations, and Finding a Co-Founder with Veryable CEO Mike Kinder](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-09-21-on-demand-labor-operations-and-finding-a-co-founder-with-veryable-ceo-mike-kinde) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [Tool of the Week Segment | Episode 31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/built-2-scale/2025-12-04-tool-of-the-week-segment-episode-31) (Built 2 Scale)
- [Advice Line with Gary Hirshberg of Stonyfield](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-11-14-advice-line-with-gary-hirshberg-of-stonyfield) (How I Built This)
- [Advice Line with Jeff Raider of Harry's](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-08-01-advice-line-with-jeff-raider-of-harrys) (How I Built This)

## Citing this page

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