The experienced professionals leading Southeastern Food Merchandisers work tirelessly to create a supportive and efficient environment. By guiding daily operations and empowering our team, they ensure we deliver the exceptional service our clients depend on.
Brett Frank
President
Brett Frank has served as President of Southeastern Food Merchandisers (SFM) since July 2017, bringing over 40 years of experience in foodservice distribution. With a career that began in
1984 as a part-time I.T. Clerk with White Swan in Fort Worth, Texas, Brett has built a reputation as a dynamic leader with a strong focus on operational excellence and technological innovation.
A graduate of Texas Wesleyan College with a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Economics, Brett quickly progressed through roles of increasing responsibility. His career includes key leadership positions such as Controller, Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Head of Purchasing, and Director of Operations Review. In 1997, Brett transitioned into senior leadership, serving with distinction at VSA (now Vistar) in Memphis, Tennessee. Before joining SFM, he spent 17 years as President of American Food Distributor, where he honed his expertise in business transformation and customer-centric operations.
Brett’s extensive background in technology and systems design has been a cornerstone of his success. He has led numerous back-office rollouts and system conversions, leveraging technology to enhance operational efficiency and deliver best-in-class solutions to customers. His forward-thinking approach continues to drive innovation and growth within SFM. Maintaining a culture of excellence Brett is passionate about fostering a culture of excellence within his organizations.
Outside of work, Brett is an accomplished and avid SCUBA diver, loves international travel, and flying private aircraft to decompress.
Karen Schmidt
Vice President of Finance
Karen Schmidt is a seasoned financial leader with extensive experience in Hospitality Finance, Food and Beverage Operations, and Distribution. Since joining Southeastern Food Merchandiser (SFM) in May 2018 as Vice President of Finance, she has played a pivotal role in driving the company’s financial success.
Her career began with a CPA firm in Gaylord, MI, followed by seven years as a General Manager in full-service restaurants. She spent 11 years with Club Corporation of America, where she managed finance for premier properties such as Daufuskie Island Resort and the Homestead Resort. Karen also served as Corporate Controller for Airculinaire Worldwide, overseeing financial reporting across the U.S., Paris, and the UK before transitioning to Distribution as Controller at American Food Distributor in 2015.
Karen specializes in implementing and optimizing POS, Inventory Control, HRIS, and Financial Reporting systems. She is passionate about staff development and cross-departmental knowledge, which she considers vital to achieving organizational success.
Karen earned her BS in Accounting from Central Michigan University. In her free time, she enjoys family life with her husband of 34 years, two children, and two grandchildren.
Michael Sanders
Vice President of Purchasing
Michael Sanders brings over 40 years of purchasing expertise to Southeastern Food Merchandisers, where he has served as Vice President of Purchasing. His extensive career spans roles in procurement, logistics, systems management, and operational strategy.
Michael’s journey with Southeastern Food Merchandisers began in 1983, during the company’s startup phase. In the first four years, he wore many hats, overseeing the Transportation Department. His responsibilities included managing logistics such as scheduling, routing, truck maintenance, fuel, driver coordination, and compliance with trucking permits. Michael also served as the system administrator for the company’s PC network, ensuring its smooth operation, troubleshooting, and conducting data analysis. Additionally, he collaborated with Jack’s on purchasing research and development projects. Over the past 25 years, Michael has led the Purchasing Department, driving supply chain efficiency and innovation.
Prior to joining Southeastern Food Merchandisers, Michael began his career in 1978 as a student intern at Jack’s, working in the Purchasing and Marketing Departments. His talent and dedication led to his retention after the internship, reporting directly to the Director of Purchasing. During this time, he managed restaurant equipment assets and oversaw the installation of equipment for new restaurant locations.
Michael’s career reflects a deep commitment to operational excellence and a strategic approach to purchasing that has helped organizations achieve sustainable growth.
Mike Rogers
Vice President of Operations & Logistics
With 17 years of leadership experience in the food distribution industry, Mike Rogers serves as Vice President of Operations & Logistics at Southeastern Food Merchandisers (SFM). In this role, Mike is committed to driving operational excellence, optimizing performance, and fostering innovation across all facets of the organization. He oversees daily operations, spearheads strategic initiatives, and ensures seamless collaboration between departments to achieve efficiency, scalability, and sustainable growth.
Mike is a seasoned expert in supply chain management, lean and agile practices, process improvement, and team development. His results-driven approach has delivered impactful outcomes, including the successful establishment of SFM’s Logistics Department,