Management Team
Jay Jessup
President
Jay Jessup became President of Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company of Central Virginia in 1984. He had been a professional musician before returning to Pepsi-Cola in 1983 to learn the family business.
Jay is a graduate of Blue Ridge School and St. Andrews Presbyterian College. He is very active in the Charlottesville Community and has held such positions as Director and Chairman of the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation, Director and Chairman of Blue Ridge School, Director of The Music Resource Center, Director of the Pepsi-Cola Bottlers Association and a Director of the Charlottesville-Albemarle Chamber of Commerce. Over the years, Jay has also been active in a variety of soft drink associations, serving as a Director of the National Soft Drink Association and as President and Treasurer of the Virginia Soft Drink Association.
Jay is President of Ja-Zan LLC, a commercial real estate company, and is a member of First Presbyterian Church and Farmington Country Club.
Suzanne J. Brooks
Executive Vice President
Suzanne became Executive Vice President in 1984. Prior to this assignment, Suzanne served in several capacities as Brand Manager for Dr Pepper from July, 1981 to October, 1983 and as a receptionist in 1974 and again from August, 1980 through July, 1981. Before joining PCVA, Suzanne spent the previous ten years in Greenville and Kinston, NC going to school, running a restaurant, and teaching school.
Suzanne holds a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and a Master’s Degree in Organizational Management.
Suzanne currently serves on the board of the Perry Foundation, Piedmont Family YMCA, East Carolina University Foundation and the Virginia Beverage Association of which she was the first woman president.
Mark Pence
General Manager
Mark's joined the Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company of Central Virginia family in 1994 and has played integral roles at various levels, showcasing his commitment to excellence.
Starting out as a swingman at the Warrenton plant, Mark progressed through roles such as Route Sales Driver, Account Manager, District Manager, Sales Manager and Plant Manager. His dedication and leadership qualities didn't go unnoticed, leading him to assume the position of General Manager. In this role, Mark's influence extends across the entire organization, where he contributes significantly to its success.
Beyond his day-to-day responsibilities, Mark is actively engaged in shaping the future of the company. His participation on the Go To Market – Franchise Development Committee and various PBNA JACT teams underscores his commitment to innovation.
Outside his professional contributions, Mark, alongside his wife Lisa, reside in the Charlottesville area. A devoted community member, Mark dedicated two decades to youth sports in the Fauquier area, leaving a lasting impact on the lives of young athletes.
When not at work, Mark enjoys watching sports, indulging in outdoor activities like hunting, fishing, and camping. However, his greatest source of happiness lies in spending quality time with his family, including his son Hayden and daughter Meredith.
Diane Schmidt
Vice President of Finance
Diane joined Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company of Central Virginia as Vice President of Finance in 2020. After a number of years in the not-for-profit sector, she has returned to PCVA where she previously served as audit manager for PCVA engagement when employed with Hantzmon Wiebel, LLC. Most recently Diane served as Associate Head of School for Operations/CFO at St. Anne’s-Belfield School and Chief Financial and Administrative Officer for blue moon fund. She is a certified public accountant and received her B.S. in business administration from the University of Mary Washington and her M.B.A. from James Madison University.
Diane currently serves on the governing board and audit committee of the Charlottesville Albemarle Community Foundation and is a member of the AICPA and VSCPA. As an active member of First Presbyterian Church, she has served on the Session and Board of Deacons.
Jesse Yowell
Plant Manager, Charlottesville, VA
Jesse began his career at PCVA in April 1983 and has held several positions at Pepsi-Cola. His career began as a relief driver and advanced to salesman, Route Manager, On Premise Manager, and in 2002 was promoted to Sales Manager at the Weyers Cave location and maintained that position for 15 years. In March of 2018 he was promoted to Plant Operations Manager in Charlottesville responsible for managing the products we produce here at the Charlottesville facility, shipping and receiving on first shift and the second shift in the warehouse. He has completed several sales training courses including Dale Carnegie course in Leadership Training, and was a recipient of the Pepsico Presidents Ring of Honor award in 2017. Jesse has also completed training in Food Safety courses,(PCQI, FSMA,GMP’s).
He is also the head coach (9 years) for Madison County High School fast pitch softball team, winning the 2A East State Championship title in 2017. In his spare time he enjoys traveling, camping, and spending time with family and especially with his two grandkids.
Russell Shiflett
Plant Manager, Weyers Cave, VA
Russell began his lifelong career with Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company of Central Virginia in 1970 as a Swingman. Six months later he became a Route Salesman. He was a salesman for five-and-a-half years before being promoted to Route Supervisor and soon after, Merchandising Manager. It did not take long before Russell was promoted again, and became the Assistant Sales Manager for the Charlottesville sales team, a position he occupied for nine years, and then the General Sales Manager for four more years. After thirty years working in Charlottesville, Russell transferred to Weyers Cave as the Plant Manager, where he remains today. Russell takes great pride in his plant and his employees and looks forward to the future and his eventual retirement from a place he truly respects.
Tom Mathews, Jr.
Plant Manager, Warrenton, VA
Tom's professional journey with Pepsi is truly impressive. Beginning in 1993 at Pepsi General Bottlers in Columbia, Missouri, he excelled in sales and distribution for seven years before transferring to the Chantilly, Virginia facility in 2000 and later to Forestville, Maryland, in 2001. His commitment to the Pepsi brand continued as he joined Pepsi-Cola Bottling of Central Virginia in March 2002 as a Sales Account Manager in Warrenton, Virginia.
Tom's career trajectory at PCVA has showcased his leadership and dedication. In 2003, he earned a promotion to District Sales Manager, overseeing the bulk grocery segment of the business. His responsibilities expanded further in 2009 when he became Sales Manager, eventually managing the grocery, convenience, and distribution aspects of the company.
A significant milestone in Tom's career occurred in October 2023 when he was promoted to the Plant Manager of the Warrenton facility. In this role, he collaborates closely with the Warrenton management team, overseeing the daily functions of the facility.
Beyond his professional achievements, he enjoys spending quality time with Bridget, his 4 grandchildren, and 6 adult children. Tom's passion for outdoor recreational activities adds a dynamic dimension to his life outside of Pepsi.
Hunter Johnson
Human Resources Manager
Hunter joined Pepsi-Cola Bottling of Central Virginia in 2022. He works closely with the Management Team to align HR strategies with PCVA's goals, including staffing, recruiting, retention, and training strategies across the three plants.
Hunter is a professional with over 30 years of experience in Human Resources, having directed the HR functions at Atlantic Coast Athletic Clubs and WorldStrides. HR accomplishments and contributions in diverse areas, including HR strategy development, recruitment, performance management, and compliance with employment laws, have marked his career.
Hunter received his B.A. in Business from Randolph-Macon College, an M.B.A. in Marketing from The College of William and Mary, and an MA in Human Resources Management from Marymount University.
In his spare time, he enjoys backpacking and teaching others to fly airplanes.
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