Cultivate new market penetration, helping product teams open new channels, augment promotion, and identify competitive advantages while solidifying corporate B2B relationships with top retail chain executives. Build alliances at all levels of organizations to educate, share information, and define strategies that help produce mutual business for the customer/retailer) and the manufacturer. Facilitate procurement of goods, lead contract/cost negotiations, and product development based on customer needs. Assimilate new merchandise knowledge in concert with recently developed vendor partnerships for new product launch, opening new markets and broadening footprint. Demonstrate customer focus, ownership, transparency, and integrity. Client list includes retailer’s corporate headquarters based in WI and MN: Kohl's, Best Buy, True Value, Menards, Fleet Farm, Blain Supply, Colony Brands, Mason Companies, School Specialty, Nasco, Certco, and Silver Star Brands representing national manufactures such as Keurig, Nordic Ware, Dorel Juvenile Group, Adams Manufacturing, Cosco, Ameriwood, Wet and Forget, and Revolution Cooking.RESULTS: •Increased 2022 Dorel Juvenile Group sales at Kohl’s by 69%, establishing primary growth in car seats and travel systems while expanding business to $1M annually. •Expanded 2021 Nordic Ware sales at Kohl’s by 60%, increasing sales to $882K in a difficult retail environment as well as instituting the Food Network private label microwave accessory program.•Captured Nordic Ware Service Excellence Award in 2014, 2018, and 2021 and named to Nordic Ware Rep Council in 2018 and 2022—an elite group of the most trusted reps in the country to collaborate on strategies to effectively grow sales, including improved product and processes.•Maintained a successful business during the pandemic despite disruptive supply chain issues, record-level freight rates, container shortages, and cost increases by solving problems, and implementing new business practices

Drove comprehensive marketing and merchandising strategy for $58M+ business portfolio, procuring products and services that made a difference in the lives of students, teachers, and school districts. Negotiated supplier contracts, including costs, volume rebates, payment terms, and lead times. Selected and developed products for the supplemental curriculum department for all School Specialty brand catalogs and websites while overseeing financial performance metrics for sales, inventory, and profitability. Utilized analytics, discovering and executing opportunities to meet customer needs. Managed multiple changing, daily tasks and priorities in a fast-paced team environment. RESULTS: • Grew electronic education and software sales by 68% and gross margin by 12% in 1 year while transforming service to students, the company’s primary customer.• Established a $500K business base in 2011 by executing new business development and implementing the Mantra Lingua program, a UK-based publishing house that provided multi-lingual resources for children’s literacy.• Led executive-level supplier cost and contract negotiations with key manufacturer's senior management teams, including Texas Instruments, Merriam Webster, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. • Served as lean process improvement leader for novel SKU rationalization process along with procedural guidelines.• Operated in “flow cell” environment, advancing support personnel team skill base and following lean guidelines to resolve business process challenges.

A Manufacturer's Representative Sales Organization specializing in retail accounts headquartered within the state of Wisconsin. Responsibilities include developing corporate business at Shopko, Mill's Fleet Farm, and Menard's. Assist key accounts and product manufacturers with market analysis, sales forecasting, inventory and production planning, and exclusive product/private label development.

Accountable for development and implementation of merchandising strategies to achieve target sales, inventory, and profitability objectives for seasonal categories as well as stationery, balloons, toys, calendars, and candles for this party supply retailer with 180 stores nationwide and $100 million in sales. Increased profitable sales by 9% and margin by 2.3% in 1996 and by 4% and 1.2% respectively in 1997.

Senior Buyer - Home Decor and Outdoor Living. As senior buyer, assumed all buying responsibilities for home decor area, lamps, and clocks, a $28 million category. Grew overall Profitable sales by over 5%. Increased sales of lamps and clocks by 10% and gross margin by 1%. Reduced inventory by 10% by decreasing the number of vendors and SKUs.

Assistant Buyer Pet Supplies, Candy, and Tobacco

Buyer for Housewares, Small Appliances, Gifts, and Seasonal.