Jess Hayden joined McKibbon Hospitality in 2017 to lead sourcing and supply chain management efforts as well as negotiations and vendor relations for our portfolio of hotels as Director of Procurement. In 2022, she was promoted to Vice President of Operational Excellence, overseeing all procurement efforts, hotel openings and hotel transitions. Prior to joining the McKibbon team, Hayden served as Field Support and Customer Relations Manager for Avendra for more than 10 years, preceded by her time with Cargill Animal Nutrition and Smithfield Foods. She earned a B.S. in Food Science & Technology and Chemistry from Virginia Tech and is an active volunteer with Tampa Bay nonprofits including Metropolitan Ministries, Feeding Tampa Bay, and more. Jess believes there’s no such thing as a “small” interaction — every conversation you have with another person, whether in business or in everyday life, is an opportunity to put your best self forward. It’s a philosophy that has helped this industry veteran cultivate a diverse network of valuable business relationships. And as Vice President of Operational Excellence, these relationships along with her hands-on experience in supply chain management, negotiation, and sales, play an invaluable role in developing and implementing our overall supply chain strategy. Both on and off the clock, the Virginia Tech graduate loves exploring new cities one meal at a time. Every day, she’s inspired by the dedication and creativity of her fellow colleagues and watching her kids become their own people.
