Meet The Thilmany Cast Behind GREASE-GARD TruPop.
A lot of hard work and dedication go into producing a critically acclaimed crowd favorite like Thilmany’s GREASE-GARD TruPop™. The talented cast brought an innovative spirit to their roles and pushed themselves to deliver an epic performance to support ConAgra Foods® in the development of the paper sidewalls used in its Orville Redenbacher® Pop Up Bowl™.
Mike Schmitt – PM11 Machine Manager
A veteran of the stage, Mike played a key role in this production. Directing the crew and coordinating production under tight deadlines, he made sure the GREASE-GARD TruPop product gave the performance ConAgra Foods was looking for.
As the show went on, Mike needed to learn how the Thilmany product would perform on the main stage - the customer’s equipment. Using his improv skills, Mike had to adapt quickly and translate that information to the crews. When the commercial product was ready for action, he had to have all of the crews and equipment ready for their close up.
"I never had any doubt that we would deliver on this critical role. Driving solutions is what we do. We’ve built our careers on it."
Kelly Helein – Sales Representative
With a string of successful production credits behind her, Kelly’s passion to perform began long before this opportunity came about. What makes her such a great lead character is that she is always looking for the right role for Thilmany and her customers. She works hard to make sure the supporting cast knows what the customer’s scene looks like, and helps the Thilmany crew understand their motivation.
Kelly knows that sometimes things go off script; that’s why she keeps the lines of communication open so that she can make quick adjustments as the production changes. Kelly takes pride in her role and really knows how to make the performance pop.
"This part was such a great fit for us because we thrive on being creative and delivering for our audience."
Sean Matheny – PM11 Back Tender
Sean played the leading man role perfectly. Being a true method performer, his pre-production preparation took him on a trip to the customer’s performance space so that he could understand the strict specifications of the product and relay that to the other crewmembers.
Sean understands the importance of sticking to the script and delivering an inspired performance. There was no room for retakes or editing. He knew it had to be delivered perfectly the first time.
"We love a good challenge. Seeing the finished product be successful is so rewarding. It makes all of the effort worth it!
Corey Bishop – New Product Development Engineer
A successful production relies not only on those out front in the spotlight, but also on the performance of those behind the curtain. Corey is a master behind the scenes and a critical part of this production.
In a bold casting move, when it came to finding the right Thilmany product to meet ConAgra Foods’ needs, it was all Corey. By thoroughly researching the role, Corey was able to deliver the winning product to ConAgra Foods for their show-stopping product design. Corey’s supporting role may be behind the scenes, but his name should still be in lights.
"I loved this project because it allowed me to be innovative. Challenging our products and people to go above and beyond has great results."
The success of Thilmany’s Grease-Gard TruPop can be directly attributed to the collaboration of this great cast. Each stepped into the role they were born to play and delivered an unforgettable performance to the delight of popcorn lovers everywhere.
