Troy J. Romero
Vice President of Operations

Troy came to work for McIlhenny Company in November of 1999 as Plant Manager. He worked for Frito Lay Inc., for 10 years in various positions including: packaging, processing, distribution, logistics and national initiatives on cost reduction. Troy was certified as a national continuous improvement trainer with Frito Lay and received his Bachelor's degree from LSU in 1989. Since coming here, he has played a vital role in providing leadership for the factory and improving our efficiency.

Chef Jason R. Gronlund
Director Culinary Services Ingredient Sales
McIlhenny Company TABASCO^® Brand Products

Chef Jason R. Gronlund was named Manager of Ingredients Sales in 1999, a position he assumed along with that of Corporate Chef for McIlhenny Company. He works hands-on with food manufacturers using the wide array of TABASCO^® brand Industrial Ingredients to make sure the flavor profiles fit the needs of your food products and your consumers.

Chef Gronlund completed the culinary arts program at Johnson & Wales in Rhode Island, and has won gold and silver medals in prestigious culinary competitions. Prior to joining McIlhenny Company, he held positions in the R&D field for such companies as Pace Picante Sauce, Tyson, Nutra Sweet and Uncle Ben’s.

Read more about Chef Gronlund.

Charlie Cheng
Research & Development Manager

Charlie has a Masters of Science degree in Food Science and Technology, and has been with the McIlhenny Company for over seven years. As R&D Manager, he has in-depth experience in processing, quality control and food chemistry. Most recently, Charlie was the creator of the formula for the new TABASCO^® brand Chipotle Pepper Sauce.

Hernan Cobo
Quality Assurance Manager

Hernan Cobo is responsible for managing all QA/QC and HACCP programs at McIlhenny Company. Prior to his current position, Hernan had over 4 years of pepper sauce manufacturing experience at Peppers Unlimited, located in St. Martinville.

Hernan has a Bachelors degree in Industrial Engineering from Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Ecuador. He also earned a Masters degree in Food Science from Mississippi State University. Hernan is originally from Ecaudor where he managed a family owned flower business. Hernan now resides in Lafayette.

Elias Landry
Processing Supervisor

With 28 years of experience at McIlhenny Company, few people know TABASCO^® brand Pepper Sauce better than Elias. It’s only fitting that he supervises the processing of all the pepper sauces in the Family of Flavors line. Elias earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Management from the University of Southwest Louisiana and is an avid outdoorsman. He is also a Captain with his local fire department.

Leslie DeRise Hall
Quality Assurance Industrial Specialist

Leslie has been the Quality Assurance Industrial Specialist with McIlhenny Company since 1999, a position that carries many responsibilities. Her major job duties include: lab analysis of all TABASCO^® brand Industrial Ingredients including heat analysis on the HPLC; providing Certificates of Analyses for all industrial products; fielding and follow-through on requests for samples; and providing all technical support and correspondence. Leslie has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Louisiana at Monroe, and she is a member of the American Spice Trade Association and Institute of Food Technologists.

Linda Bonnett
Quality Assurance Product Specialist

Linda Bonnett has been with McIlhenny Company for 17 years, and her areas of responsibilities are extensive. These include daily calibrations of laboratory equipment, pepper mash inspection and testing, TABASCO^® brand Pepper Sauce and Family of Flavors pepper sauce analysis, product specifications, nutritional analysis, GMP inspections, and HACCP, HPLC (pungency).

She has completed a Food Science & Technology course with the American Institute of Baking, and a Sanitation and GMP compliance course with the Institute of Food Technologists, of which she is a member. Linda was awarded a Bachelor’s degree in General Studies- Applied Sciences from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and has taken Food Science, Nutrition, Management and Agri-business courses.

Debbie Bernard
Ingredient/Direct Specialty Entry Specialist

Debbie’s main responsibility at McIlhenny Company is customer service and order entry for Ingredients and Direct Specialty Sales. Her experience includes inventory control in public warehouses, sales, transportation and working in credit departments.

Debbie was with Trappey’s Fine Foods for 16 years until its purchase by McIlhenny Company in 1991. Collectively she has spent 27 years with the two companies.

Tanna Dooley
Ingredient/Direct Specialty Entry Specialist

Tanna was raised on Avery Island and has been with the McIlhenny Company for 17 years. Her main responsibility at McIlhenny Company is customer service and order entry for Ingredients and Direct Specialty Sales. Through the years, she has worked in many areas of the Company, mainly with Direct Specialty Sales. Some of her experience includes working closely with Brokers, in the Credit Department, in Public Warehouses, in the Office Shipping Department, Customer Service, and Sales.