Carla Baker Email & Phone Number

Wake Forest, North Carolina, Us

Full-line specialty distributor providing equipment, supplies, pharmaceuticals, and training/education to EMS and fire markets.Promoted to continue to define and drive growth opportunities while directing all business functions. Managed 48-member workforce including EVP (logistics, finance, purchasing) and a leadership team accountable for HR/administration, sales/marketing, customer service, bids/contracts, training/education program, and the pharmaceutical business. Reported to owner/CEO.Strategy:Served as an advisor to the CEO on new initiatives, strategic direction, and opportunities for positive change.Evaluated markets, products, services, and vendors against strategy and provided recommendations on go/no-go decisions.Growth Opportunity:Identified/advanced numerous differentiating initiatives that drove steady growth.Developed and introduced Educational & Clinical Services division, leading the industry in providing quality training and education programs for emergency care professionals. Expanded initiative into a formal clinical support function which helped increase sales of core product 75% in 4 years.Secured distribution agreement with 5.11 Tactical, enabling entry into new high-margin product lines. Created innovative mobile showroom to increase customer engagement.P&L/Operations Leadership:Served as the face of the company to the executive team, employees, vendors/suppliers, strategic partners, and industry.Identified, qualified, secured, and retained relationships with product manufacturers and suppliers.Effectively managed resource constraints with a focus on remaining nimble and embracing new ideas to add value.Created an organization of subject matter experts whose hands-on industry experience established credibility and trust.Guided teams through supplier’s discontinuation of core product as well as numerous infrastructure improvements including building/expansion of new facility and new ERP implementation.

National Sales Manager, August 1998 – September 2003Promoted to fill critical leadership gap and leverage territory sales success in directing a national sales force of 12-14 District Sales Managers. Concurrently managed all vendor/supplier relationships, marketing, and customer service.Put clinical and sales training/education programs in place to ensure team members remained relevant within the industry.Coached individuals on finding the subject matter experts within company’s extensive network of manufacturing partners that could effectively solve each client’s business problems. Mentored team on uncovering new/expanded opportunities.Took pitches from product/service vendors and actively pursued new relationships to fill critical portfolio gaps. Worked with purchasing and legal teams on structuring distribution agreements and conducting negotiations.Driving force behind company’s post-9/11 development and launch of WMD, Mass Casualty and Triage categories, including custom-designed response trailers.District Sales Manager, April 1995 – August 1998Managed central/eastern NC territory that had generated flat sales the prior year. Positioned this district for explosive growth. Named Top Sales Performer each year.Researched each customer, listened carefully to requirements, and quickly became a trusted advisor to stakeholders.Proactively developed/conducted educational events with new and potential customers to increase awareness/brand value.Built and managed an expanding base of corporate, EMS/fire, recreational, municipal, and faith-based accounts.Mentored new District Sales Managers on sales best practices, market trends/insights, and internal processes.Played a key role in the identification, qualification, and selection of new product/service suppliers.

Bachelor Of Arts - B.A., Journalism/Pr/Marketing/Speech Communications

Kenan-Flagler School Of Business / Executive Development Program