Ian Schenkel Haliburton

Ian Schenkel of Newport Beach is a mechanical engineer turned entrepreneur who has spent more than three decades in the food industry. Based in Newport Beach, California, he has built a career that combines technical expertise with practical business skills. His work has included machinery design, large-scale food production, private labeling, and product development. He is most recognized as the founder of a food manufacturing company that has remained successful for over thirty years despite the challenges of a highly competitive industry.

His journey began with a degree in mechanical engineering, which gave him the ability to understand complex systems and improve them. In the early part of his career, he focused on designing and building machinery, a foundation that later became essential when he moved into food manufacturing. Unlike many who approached the business world through marketing, he entered with technical knowledge. Ian Schenkel Haliburton recognized the importance of reliable equipment and understood that even small time savings in production could add up to significant efficiencies over a year.

Before starting his own company, he gained experience in different areas of the food business. Through private labeling, he learned how to maintain brand identity while meeting the demands of high-volume production. Schenkel also developed expertise in food manufacturing processes, including frozen vegetables and fire roasting. When he took the step to create his own company, he knew the obstacles ahead. Margins were narrow, supply chains complex, and consumer tastes unpredictable. Still, he focused on building a model that could adapt to change while staying committed to quality.

Over time, his vision became reality. The company grew, refined its operations, and took on new opportunities, establishing itself as one of the few long-standing businesses in the field. He built the company on key principles: quality control, operational efficiency, adaptability, and team development. Ian believed that a business is only as strong as its people and invested in training and creating a culture where employees felt valued.

His leadership combines technical knowledge with strategic thinking. He draws on data, long experience, and input from his team while keeping attention on the bigger picture. Outside of work, he enjoys boating and golf, both of which require patience, focus, and adaptability. His connection to Haliburton also provides perspective and balance, offering time away from daily business responsibilities.

Over more than thirty years, he has witnessed the industry's evolution through economic shifts, changing consumer behavior, and the emergence of new technologies. The lesson he has taken from this journey is that success comes from consistent improvements over time rather than sudden breakthroughs. With 33 years in business, his company reflects resilience, adaptability, and the trust built with employees, partners, and customers. From his beginnings as an engineer to his role as a long-standing entrepreneur, Ian Schenkel continues to show that quality, efficiency, and persistence are the foundation of lasting achievement.