Award-Winning Business Manager
11.466.G.08
An award-winning business manager with 20 years of progressively increasing responsibilities in managing services, merchandising, retail, product brokering and wholesale businesses who has generated $500 million in sales revenue with margins of up 60%. A market-maker who has a special talent for selecting profitable commodities and consumer products for mass market distribution.
Expertise includes outstanding skills in sales growth, profit generation, general business management and customer relations.
EXPERIENCE
ARAMARK Corporation, ARAMARK Uniform Services, Burbank, California 2002-2008
General Manager, Paramount, California (2005-2008)
Directed sales, services, production, finance and administration of a $22 million business unit covering the majority of Los Angeles County with a staff of 125, for a $4 billion division of a $12 billion managed services company with operations throughout the United States, Canada and Japan.
-
Achieved 8.3% in revenue growth and exceeded profits by 47.8% over the prior year for FY2008.
-
Grew revenue and profit by 12.7% and 11.1%, respectively for FY2005.
-
Increased revenue by 7.6% and exceeded profit by 13% over the prior year for FY2006.
-
Exceeded revenue over prior year by 4.6% for FY2007.
-
Maintained 93% customer retention vs. 91% for the company.
-
Achieved an employee retention rate of 95% against the company’s rate of 88%.
-
Maintained strong union relationship with the Teamsters and the Production Workers Union and participated in successful contract negotiations without any interruption of services.
Assistant General Manager, Santa Ana, California (2004-2005)
Managed the Service Department for Orange County, consisting of seven districts with 40 routes, generating $17 million in annual revenue.
-
Exceeded profit and revenue plans by 2% and 8%, respectively for FY2004.
-
Led the business unit to win the 2004 annual regional sales contest.
-
Trained and promoted two Route Sales Representatives for District Manager roles.
District Manager, Santa Ana, California (2002-2004)
Managed a district with six route sales representatives with $3 million in annual revenue.
-
Moved the district’s company performance ranking from 329 to 2 in less than nine months without any change in personnel.
-
While improving service and performance, increased customer retention from the company’s average of 92% to 96%.
Sports Solutions, Inc., Garden Grove, California 2000-2002
Vice President of Operations
Directed sales, marketing, purchasing and distribution of a company selling wholesale sporting goods and equipment to retailers and distributors. Conducted intensive market research to target prospect retailers and suppliers.
-
Generated more than $5 million in annual sales by brokering new and close-out inventories between manufacturers and mass-market retailers as well as specialty golf chain stores.
-
Negotiated key deals to fulfill customer needs, analyzed market trends and created pricing strategies.
-
Developed relationships with national and international accounts that generated $4 million in annual sales with Costco, Egghead.com, Big 5 Sporting Goods, Sportmart, Sam’s Club, Overstock.com, Buy.com and Target.
-
Built relationships with suppliers, obtaining first offer on all close out offers with Taylor Made, Callaway, Orlimar, Ashworth, Edwin Watts, and Las Vegas Golf and Tennis.
Sports Source, Inc., Torrance, California 1995-2000
National Account Manager
Generated and directed sales/distribution of wholesale sporting goods and apparel to domestic and international mass-market retailers, including Costco, Sportmart, Big 5 and Target. Sold more than $60 million, representing 500 SKUs.
- Increased annual sales volume from $6 to $14 million.
- Implemented a highly successful and effective business strategy analyzing market trends, identifying customer needs, locating inventoried products from manufacturers and distributor agents. Brokered buy-sell programs that moved considerable inventories.
- Developed business relationships with new and existing accounts in the United States, Canada, Japan, Europe and South Africa.
M. Gerber & Son, (Pty) Ltd., Wesselsbron, South Africa 1987-1994
Director/General Manager
Managed retail and wholesale operations, including sales, administration and personnel for a full-service department store and wholesale food distributor with annual revenues of $20 million.
-
Directed purchasing, merchandising and sales of the store’s departments, including clothing, hardware, consumer electronics, furniture, cosmetics and food with a total staff of 110.
-
Grew the Wholesale Division’s sales by 107% over three years.
-
Saved the company’s #1 client more than $1 million annually by volume sales.
-
Increased the Retail Division’s revenues by 30% in three years through instituting aggressive sales and marketing strategies.
-
Developed and implemented advertising campaigns, marketing materials and promotional events.
EDUCATION
Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa
Bachelor of Commerce, Business Administration
Other courses: Dale Carnegie Effective Speaking, Covey Courses in Organization and Seven Habits of Successful People, Miller Hyman Strategic Selling, Acclivus Art of Negotiating, Targeted Selection Hiring Techniques, ARAMARK Management Institute, Officers’ Course Training in the South African Army
AWARDS
ARAMARK Uniform Services – Promise Keepers Award, 2005, 2006 and 2008
Anglo American Corporation – Young Entrepreneur of the Year, 1989
Sport Source, Inc. – Account Executive of the Year, 1998 and 1999
ARAMARK Uniform Services – Customer Retention Award, 2005
Sport Source, Inc. – Innovation Award, 1999
