Staff
Quandt’s Senior Management
Thomas J. Quandt, Sr. – Chairman of the Board
Mr. Quandt began working for his father at their family grocery store and fish market while a student. After serving in the Army, Tom came home to make his life the Quandt family business. In 1958, Tom and his brother Joe phased out the retail portion of the business concentrating on wholesale food distribution. Quandt’s Foodservice Distributors has steadily grown over the past 42 years, becoming one of the largest independent food distributors in New York State.
Tom’s lifetime of experience has helped shape the company’s marketplace status and its operating facility. One of Tom’s primary responsibilities has been the purchasing and merchandising of shellfish. His expertise in this challenging, unpredictable product-line has been shaped over three decades of experience.
Robert S. Quandt – President/CEO
Mr. Quandt has been associated with the family business from his youth. After attending Siena College, he began his career in the business in 1962 as a District Sales Representative. He remained in this position for several years learning all aspects of the organization. From there he progressed to District Sales Manager and subsequently to Vice President of Marketing. He then became President and Chief Executive Officer, the position he has held since 1991.
Bob oversees the entire management team and is involved in all aspects of department and management matters. He takes great pride in maintaining a stellar marketplace image.
Thomas J. Quandt, Jr. – Secretary/Treasurer
Mr. Quandt began his career with Quandt’s Foodservice Distributors, Inc., where he learned all facets of warehousing, delivery, as well as sales. Upon graduating from Niagara University with a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration, he joined the company full time, managing customer service and all office functions.
In 1990, Mr. Quandt became Secretary-Treasurer and an officer of Quandt’s Foodservice Distributors and continues to manage all financial aspects of the company.
David Vassi – Vice President of Sales and Marketing
Mr. Vassi graduated from SUNY College of Technology at Utica in 1985. 
He was immediately hired to the Quandt’s Foodservice team as a District Sales Representative. David’s talents and techniques have made him tops in sales for the company from 1986 to 1995. In 1991, David became a District Sales Manager and soon after that was named General Sales Manager, a position he held until 1995.
Mr. Vassi’s leadership and work ethic spread throughout the entire sales force. Since becoming General Sales Manager in 1991, the company’s overall sales volume has more than doubled. In 1995, he was promoted to Vice President of Sales. The following year, David was given his current title of Vice President of Sales and Marketing.
David has played a key role in moving Quandt’s Foodservice to their current market position. By hiring key personnel, getting the most out of his staff and absorbing positive knowledge from colleagues in the industry, David has shown an uncanny ability to make both the company and himself better with time. He has also integrated innovative marketing programs, unique sales promotions via the 2006 Winner’s Circle Vendor Marketing Program and their highly successful operator/prime vendor program, the 2006 Key Account Winner’s Circle Program. David also oversees other company features like their spirit-filled food shows, creative monthly flyers and participation in local, charitable activities.
Kevin J. Thompson, CPA – Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Thompson graduated with a B.S. in Accounting from the University at Albany’s School of Business in 1985. He immediately began his career in public accounting and obtained his Certified Public Accounting license. After becoming a Manger with 8+ years in the accounting profession, specializing in Closely Held Businesses, he decided to accept a position in private industry.
Prior to joining Quandt’s Foodservice, Kevin served, for 9 years, as the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Kintz Plastics, Inc., a mid-sized manufacturer of thermoformed plastic parts. In this role Kevin was responsible for all accounting functions including bank financing, expansion planning, budgeting, and financial planning. He also was responsible for Human Resource functions and coordinating the company’s M.I.S. activities.
In 2003, Kevin joined Quandt’s Foodservice as its’ Chief Financial Officer. He is responsible for the Company’s financial planning and budgeting process. In his position he supervises the accounts payable, credit, accounting, and logistic departments.
Kevin Quandt – Director of Purchasing
Mr. Quandt is the son of Thomas J. Quandt Jr. Growing up in Amsterdam, New York, Kevin spent his high school and college summers learning the foodservice business at Quandt’s Foodservice. In 1996, he graduated from Duke University with a B.S. in Psychology and a B.A. in Chemistry. In 2000, Kevin returned to Quandt’s Foodservice as an Equipment and Supply Specialist. In this role, he purchased and he assisted sales with a variety of non-foods items.
In 2002, Kevin took the opportunity to develop a management internship program for the $35 billion cooperative, UniPro Foodservice, Inc. in Atlanta, Georgia. During his three years at UniPro, he worked in every department including purchasing, marketing, redistribution, logistics, and sales. In 2007, Kevin graduated Beta Gamma Sigma with his M.B.A. from Emory University’s Goizueta School of Business in Atlanta, Georgia. That same year, he again returned to Quandt’s as its Director of Purchasing. Kevin is responsible for management of the purchasing staff, providing the necessary products and service level to support the needs of the Sales staff. Kevin is accountable for Quandt’s Foodservice inventory of approximately 8,338 items, valued at over 4.0 million dollars.
Neil A. Sheehy – Director of Merchandising
Mr. Sheehy graduated with a B.S. in Business Administration from Stonehill College in 1971. Upon graduation Mr. Sheehy accepted a position with Lovitt Foods as Production Manager. In this capacity he worked with new product development and increasing production capabilities.
In 1980, a career move was made to George Spencer and Co. At Spencer’s, Neil managed a custom-cut meat operation, integrating it with frozen food distribution.
In 1983, Neil accepted the position of “Center of the Plate Specialist” with Quandt’s Foodservice. In 1988 he was promoted to Director of Marketing and in 1993, became Director of Purchasing. In that capacity he was responsible for management of the Purchasing Department, providing the necessary products and service level to support the needs of the Sales staff. In 2007 Neil was appointed to the position of Director of Merchandising. In this role Neil is responsible for creating and maintaining an ongoing comprehensive vendor merchandising strategy to increase long term sales and maximize profitability. In addition, he assists purchasing staff in selection of new product opportunities and educates and trains sales personnel, buyers and management regarding product and product line uses, specifications and technical attributes.
Larry E. Bascom – Director of Operations
Mr. Bascom graduated from Skidmore College with a Bachelor Degree in Business Management. After twenty-three years in procurement, warehousing and distribution with the General Electric Company, Mr. Bascom joined forces with a growing, independent waste management firm where he was responsible for business development and running two plants in Albany and Glens Falls, New York.
In 1992, Larry joined Quandt’s Foodservice as Director of Operations. He has full responsibility for the distribution facility and delivery operations. His expertise in planning and managing large projects has enabled the Company to successfully plan and complete a warehouse expansion in 1999, doubling its size to keep pace with unprecedented sales and customer growth.
William Hayes III – Director of Information Systems
Mr. Hayes graduated from F.M.C.C. with an Associates degree in Computer science in 1987, and attended Rochester Institute of Technology for 2 years. In 1989 he started his 16 year career in the IT business world in both operations and programming. In 1995 he took his first IT manager position with Bridgestone Sports and moved on in 1998 to take the Director of IT operations for Ellis & Everard chemical distributors.
A native of the Amsterdam area he returned home in 2002 to take on a position in Quandt’s Foodservice IT department as a Computer Operator. In April of 2005 he accepted the position of Director of Information Systems and will oversee all of Quandt’s Information Technology internal and customer needs for the future.
Product Specialists
John Brodie, Equipment & Supplies
Bob Sardelli, Produce
Tim Thornton, Beverage & Chemicals
Purchasing Department
Kevin Quandt, Director of Purchasing
Neil Sheehy, Director of Merchandising
Debbie Thornton, Center of the Plate Buyer
Rick Knapp, Seafood Buyer
Bonni Douglass, Dry Goods/Bakery Buyer
Brandon Miller, Non-Foods Buyer
John Fitzgerald, Logistics Coordinator
Lauren Hathaway, Assistant Buyer
The Sales Force
David Vassi, Vice President of Sales & Marketing
Robert Case, Program Sales Manager
David Bubniak, Business Development Manager
David Stokna, District Sales Manager
Peter Watson, District Sales Manager
Phil Knapp, District Sales Manager
Lizz Close, Inside Sales Manager
28 District Sales Representatives
5 Inside Sales Representatives
Contract Sales
Robert Janetsky, Contract Sales Manager
Gabriella Weaver, Contract Sales Supervisor
Brooke Melious, Contract Sales Representative
Robert Clayburn, Contract Sales Representative
Marketing Department
Nicolette Van Hoesen, Marketing Coordinator
Rebecca Smith, Marketing Assistant
