Patty O’Connor, Chief Operations Officer
A San Diego Native and Supply Chain Expert
A lifelong San Diego resident, Patty O’Connor brings a wealth of experience to her role as Chief Operations Officer at Feeding San Diego, where she manages overall operations for the organization. Since joining in April 2021, she has leveraged her extensive background in the consumer goods industry to revolutionize supply chain operations for San Diego’s largest hunger relief and food rescue nonprofit.
Patty has implemented innovative strategies to optimize forecasting, planning, and inventory management, ensuring that millions of pounds of food are efficiently distributed each month. Her commitment to providing diverse and nutritious food options has led to the expansion of food vendors and the rescue program, with the ambitious goal of recovering food from every store, wholesaler, and distributor in San Diego County.
A Proven Track Record in Global Supply Chain Management
Patty holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Santa Clara University with a Spanish minor. Subsequently, she earned an MBA in International Business from Thunderbird School of Global Management (now ASU). Her professional journey began at National Semiconductor, where she participated in the Management Training Program.
Her early career at Levi Strauss & Co. in San Francisco provided invaluable experience in offshore sourcing, planning, and analysis. During this time, Patty honed her Spanish language skills while working closely with Latin American factories to optimize production. Her expertise expanded at global sourcing companies like Li & Fung, where she was responsible for developing and sourcing a wide range of consumer products. Her extensive travels to over 25 countries cultivated a deep understanding of diverse cultures and supply chain dynamics.
A Passion for Giving Back
Patty’s dedication to her community is deeply rooted in her family’s history of service. Inspired by her father, Joe O’Connor, a pioneer in food rescue, she has made it her life’s mission to help those in need. Today, Patty leads a team that rescues an impressive 2.5 million pounds of food monthly, including from the same grocery store where her father began his food rescue efforts decades ago.
Patty’s career at Feeding San Diego represents the perfect convergence of her skills and passion. She is proud to contribute to a mission-driven organization that makes a tangible difference in the lives of countless San Diegans facing hunger.
