Jerry Dear Email & Phone Number

Responsible for Sales, Marketing and Business Development for Three Dog Bakery's Wholesale Business Unit including all FDM/ Pet Speciality, E-comm, Domestic and International business. Full P&L responsibility.

Kansas City, Mo, Us

Successfully and profitably tripled the business, significantly grew market share, added over 25 new FDM accounts while growing the base of this very unique, successful and well known Pet Food company. Hired, trained and develop a highly talented and motivated team of happy employees.

XIKAR, INC., Kansas City, MO 2008 – 4/2012Largest marketer of cigar cutters, lighters and other related accessories in North America. Initially brought on board to develop and launch a new cigar brand. Within four months asked to assume EVP Sales & Marketing.EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, SALES & MARKETING; SHAREHOLDER IN DEFIANCE CIGAR GROUP. Reported directly to the CEO and shareholders with complete responsibility for Sales & Marketing. • Grew company revenue 14%/year (CAGR) for last three years in a declining cateogy and down economy.• Record year in 2011 on all measures: reduced expenses 35%, improved gross margin 400 basis points, grew revenue 14.7%, doubled EBITDA and net income by focusing on agreed to key priorities. • Developed and launched three blends of premium cigars under the new Havana Collection brand. Distribution achieved in over 500 retail cigar accounts (85% ACV) and the three major catalog accounts.• Developed and executed a three-year stragetic plan to move the sales organization from independent sales reps to a mostly direct sales organization. Plan successfully completed as scheduled. New, well trained sales team contributed to outstanding revenue growth, merchandising and profit improvement. • Implemented Cultural Index program to insure the right people were hired for the right positions based on job descriptions and identified cultural profile. Reorganized internally to take advange of existing skills.• Implemented new software program to provide standardized and structured business reviews. BUCS changed the way we evaluated our customers by moving to an Economic Value Add (EVA) analysis.

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, FOODSERVICE, INGREDIENT, CLUB & CHANNELS (2005-2008) Reported to the President and CEO with ongoing interface with the Board of Directors. Full P&L responsibility for the Private Label, Club, Ingredient and Alternate Channels SBUs - $260 MM Business Unit, plus responsibility for the $100 MM dollar Foodservice and Specialty Business. • Specifically tasked in this position with accelerating growth and performance of the Foodservice SBU: • Successfully exited an 18-year “mutually exclusive” relationship with SYSCO, maintained 98% of the SYSCO business. Developed new business relationships with US Foodservice, UniPro, Roma, ProGroup, DOT and others.• Secured new multi-unit chain business with Olive Garden, The Cheesecake Factory, Grand Lux, Fazoli’s, Old Spaghetti Factory and others.• Secured exclusive Private Label supply relationship with Tesco’s Fresh & Easy brand.• Significantly expanded Ingredient channel with new “strategic supplier relationships” with General Mills, ConAgra and Kraft. EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, PRIVATE LABEL, INGREDIENT, CLUB, CHANNELS & EXPORT (2000-2005)Reported directly to the President, AIPC Sales Co, with ongoing interface with the CEO and the Board. • Significant business expansion achieved in the Dollar / Value segment from a 10% to 40% market share. • Assumed responsibility for $60 MM Ingredient SBU (Kraft, General Mills, ConAgra and others.• Direct responsibility for continuing development of the Retail Private Label Strategy. • Expanded to become the “exclusive” Private Label supplier for Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club (direct call).• Launched Private Label Health Strategy into Retail, Foodservice and Specialty channels.• Developed and expanded new Specialty Foods SBU focused on health oriented products.• Managed the commercial launch of new Italian manufacturing facility, developing the business in the UK and Europe and for our U.S. Private Label customers.

Held several positions with Pillsbury before they were acquired by General Mills including Director, Corporate Sales Development at the Corporate Office in Minneapolis, MN and Southwest Region Sales Manager.SOUTHWEST REGION SALES MANAGER, Frozen Foods Division, (1988-1993) DIRECTOR, CORPORATE SALES DEVELOPMENT, Minneapolis, MN, (1986-1988)MARKET MANAGER, PILLSBURY FROZEN DIRECT, Atlanta, GA, (1982-1985)