Barbara Lee Email & Phone Number

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

• Spearheads national sales and expansion efforts for a rapidly growing startup, solidifying Nordic Waffles’ reputation as a fast-growing brand in the food and beverage sector• Champions an annual budget, monitoring performance against financial plans, tracking metrics and benchmarks, and proactively adjusting strategies to improve expense management and achieve profitability goals• Develops key relationships, including securing a partnership with DOT Foods, the nation's largest distributor, boosting market reach, and positioning the brand for sustainable growth• Drives new market penetration, including the launch of a K12 line, the company’s fastest-growing segment, and a flagship grab-and-go item with an extended shelf life, expanding into the education sector, vending, retail, and food service markets• Manages a network of nationwide brokers, overseeing their sales performance, ensuring alignment with budget and projections, and analyzing metrics to drive strategic decisions and optimize sales outcomes• Directs participation in over 20 annual trade shows, optimizing ROI through strategic planning, budget management, and targeted marketing efforts, resulting in increased brand visibility and sales leads• Performs comprehensive market and competitor research to support continuous improvement, enhance brand presence, and identify export opportunities, establishing a foundation for future international business expansion• Collaborates with customers to refine product packaging based on feedback, ensuring improved market appeal and expanded reach across various distribution channels• Engages daily with the CEO in high-level decision-making and strategy development, contributing to the company's long-term success and market positioning

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

St Cloud, Minnesota, United States

• Facilitates property showings for prospective buyers, providing in-depth knowledge of residential properties and market insights to support informed purchasing decisions

Waite Park, Mn

• Managed and mentored a team of 2 sales representatives, fostering collaboration, aligning efforts with regional sales goals, and driving performance across market segments to ensure consistent growth and achievement of targets• Served on the PepsiCo National Foodservice Committee, collaborating with industry leaders to design cohesive strategies, align brand initiatives, and enhance national customer engagement through knowledge sharing and best practice implementation• Oversaw an annual budget of $150K+ to drive market growth initiatives, support key accounts, and maintain robust service quality across designated regions, closely monitoring financial performance to proactively refine strategies• Developed and implemented go-to-market strategies for fountain products, setting sales targets for 80+ staff across multiple locations to drive execution, enhance product availability, and strengthen market presence• Secured high-value contracts with key clients, including successfully negotiating and renewing 3 casino partnerships, winning an $8M contract with Grand Casino through strategic relationship-building with executive decision-makers• Generated reporting and analytics to track sales performance, profitability, and ROI for each market segment, facilitating data-driven decision-making and strategic insights for senior leadership• Forecasted and evaluated volume projections to assess market potential, leveraging insights to refine pricing, promotional efforts, and customer retention strategies

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

• Oversaw 100 franchise stores across 24 states, including airport locations and kiosks, ensuring adherence to brand standards, operational excellence, and compliance with Caribou's policies, safeguarding the company’s reputation in the marketplace• Led the successful integration of Caribou and Einstein's operations, overseeing a seamless transition and aligning franchise operations with new corporate strategies• Strengthened franchisee relationships and improved overall brand loyalty, fostering a culture of success and increasing franchisee satisfaction and retention, contributing to a 4% sales growth in 2016, following 7.9% in 2015 and 7.6% in 2014• Spearheaded the implementation of Caribou’s One-System Approach, training 12 District Managers and leading seminars on operational best practices and sales strategies to drive uniformity and improve performance across the franchise network• Traveled extensively to oversee new store openings, coordinate training teams, and provide on-site support, ensuring successful store launches and alignment with corporate standards across all franchises• Served as the primary point of contact between corporate and franchisees, facilitating communication and supporting the implementation of new initiatives, policies, and procedures• Provided actionable insights and consulting to help franchisees identify growth opportunities, optimize P&L performance, and drive sales, resulting in improved ROI through enhanced operational practices

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

• Conducted 8-week, comprehensive training programs for Managers-in-Training (MIT), working hands-on with leaders to ensure adherence to Caribou’s brand standards and operational guidelines, while developing leadership skills across multiple regions• Monitored and assessed training outcomes, providing feedback and recommendations for ongoing development to ensure new store managers were fully equipped to meet performance expectations• Recognized for driving talent development and retention by identifying high-potential team members, promoting 5 Store Managers, 3 Assistant Managers, and several Shift Supervisors, fostering a strong pipeline of future leaders to support growth• Managed the execution of the Customer Satisfaction Survey program, leveraging insights to identify areas for improvement and implement actionable strategies that enhanced service delivery and customer experience• Drove revenue growth through strategic cost control and resource management, optimizing key areas of the P&L to improve profitability

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

• Led store operations at a high-volume location, consistently meeting or exceeding performance metrics for sales growth, customer service, and operational efficiency, contributing to the store’s success in a competitive retail environment• Hired, trained, and coached a team of 40 team members, fostering a high-performance culture through daily interactions, performance feedback, and team development to ensure consistent service• Managed daily financial operations, including reconciling cash registers, completing bank deposits, and preparing financial reports, ensuring accurate cash control and financial accountability