Ateeco, Inc., the producer of Mrs. T's Pierogies, has announced the upcoming retirement of their Chief Operating Officer, Mark Tarzwell, effective December 31, 2024.
Ateeco said in a press release that Tarzwell has been a pivotal figure in the company's growth and operational excellence, particularly during the challenging times of the pandemic.
As the leader of the Operating Management Team, Mark has played an important role in aligning the company’s operations with its mission, vision, and values.
Before joining Mrs. T’s, Mark had a career with several companies. He served as Vice President of Perishable Supply Chain at Ahold, President of Burris Retail Logistics and Honor Foods, Senior Vice President of Non-Perishable Merchandising at Giant Food, General Manager at D.L. Matthews, and spent over two decades at Acme Markets. His passion for the food industry extends beyond his professional roles; he currently teaches Food Marketing at Saint Joseph’s University, serves as Treasurer for the National Frozen and Refrigerated Association, and sits on the board of the Promotion Optimization Institute (POI).
Mark’s contributions have been recognized with awards such as the “Male Ally of the Year” from the Network of Executive Women (now NextUp) and the “Lifetime Achievement Award” from POI.
Stepping into the role of Chief Operating Officer on January 1, 2025, will be LeeAnn Smulligan, currently the VP of Operations at Mrs. T’s.
Before joining Mrs. T’s, Mark had a career with several companies. He served as Vice President of Perishable Supply Chain at Ahold, President of Burris Retail Logistics and Honor Foods, Senior Vice President of Non-Perishable Merchandising at Giant Food, General Manager at D.L. Matthews, and spent over two decades at Acme Markets. His passion for the food industry extends beyond his professional roles; he currently teaches Food Marketing at Saint Joseph’s University, serves as Treasurer for the National Frozen and Refrigerated Association, and sits on the board of the Promotion Optimization Institute (POI).
Mark’s contributions have been recognized with awards such as the “Male Ally of the Year” from the Network of Executive Women (now NextUp) and the “Lifetime Achievement Award” from POI.
Stepping into the role of Chief Operating Officer on January 1, 2025, will be LeeAnn Smulligan, currently the VP of Operations at Mrs. T’s.
"LeeAnn’s deep-rooted understanding of the company’s operations and her commitment to its values make her the ideal candidate to lead Mrs. T’s into its next chapter." the company stated.
Tom Twardzik, second-generation owner of Ateeco, Inc., expressed his gratitude for Mark’s contributions, saying, "On behalf of Mrs. T’s, I would like to extend our gratitude to Mark. His leadership has been integral to Mrs. T’s Pierogies, and we are thankful for his dedication and vision. Mark embraced our culture and enhanced it with his unwavering passion to help all our associates succeed. We look forward to his continued support as he assists LeeAnn in her transition, ensuring a seamless path for the company’s growth in the years ahead.”
Reflecting on his tenure, Mark Tarzwell remarked, “Working alongside this dedicated, passionate, and values-driven team at Mrs. T’s has made my success in this position possible. It’s been a wonderful ride, and I look forward to seeing the great work that lies ahead under the guidance of LeeAnn and her team.”