I have run a successful CPG brokerage company since 1981. The years have gone by quickly and I am still enjoying everyday. The people I work with and do business with have added much to my life and personal growth. I appreciate the fact that what I do to make a living is also one of my lifetimes' most enjoyable activities. During that time frame, I started and ran a successful consumer products consulting firm. This company developed and brought new concepts/ products to the mass market and specialty retail classes of trade. In conjunction with the consulting firm we selected and managed the brokers who were instrumental in assisting our vendors in gaining distribution of the new products and concepts.

Hired to assist in conversion of Courtesy Drug Stores to RockBottom Deep Discount Stores as VP Sales Promotion and VP of Conrac, an internal Rack Jobbing Service. My responsibilities included P&L for Conrac, overseeing the purchasing, distribution, and in stock position for Courtesy Drug Stores and Rockbottom Stores. Supervised Conrac and its 14 people to achieve increased gross profits, 98% in stock position, execution of plan-o-grams on a timely basis, etc. by having the Conrac people pick, pack, price, pack out, product in the key categories we were overseeing.As VP of Sales and Promotion my responsibilities included production of TV and Radio Commercials for Rockbottom. We were one of the first to have vendors support our entire TV and Radio budget and established deep discounts in key profit and/or high velocity categories including Cosmetics, Sunglasses, Razors and Blades, Vitamins, Hair Care, etc.

Started with Lever Brothers, aka Unilever, straight out of college as a detail person in the food division. Quickly promoted to a sales rep in 1972. From 1972 through 1976 I received promotions as follows: District field sales asst, area manager, District manager, and then Regional Manager. The quick ascent was primarily due to a remarkable manager/individual who pulled me into his position every time he was promoted, an incredible team of people that made their objectives and exceeded their sales goals every month, quarter, and year. We broke every company sales record. The team worked hard, played hard and never left a person behind. We were only as good as our weakest link. I was the first manager to hire a female salesperson for key accounts, the first to hire an Afro-American, and the male members of the team were permitted to grow long hair except for those that were bald. All unusual for the time period.