Joining Rippe Associates was a perfect fusion of my business acumen and my passion for everything related to food. I leverage my diverse background across various industries to contribute wherever I can within the organization.From a Business Operations standpoint, I delve into researching, analyzing, and collaborating on processes to enhance clarity and efficiency. I also play a role in IT systems management and oversee Marketing initiatives. Additionally, I roll up my sleeves to delve into client contracts and assess risks.Notably, my most significant contribution thus far has been in enriching the human resources experience at Rippe. I focus on developing all aspects of employee experience, including streamlining the hiring and onboarding processes for different positions, simplifying the review structure, and fostering open conversations about challenges faced by employees and managers.I relish the diverse workload that this environment offers. As an added perk, I have the pleasure of exploring fascinating kitchen equipment and learning about the incredible spaces our team has created, satisfying the foodie side of me.

With the creation of ExperimentalSpoon.com, I have been fullfilling a passion of mine, which is creating and sharing amazing eats with friends, family and the rest of the world. The website got it's name for my desire to always try to cook or bake or grill something new...aka, to Experiment. I am creator, owner, photographer, developer and IT all in one for this hobby (with some help by family!)

During my 9 year tenure at Packard Culligan, I experienced substantial professional growth in various domains. Initially managing 6 reports, I eventually oversaw a team of 12+, showcasing my adeptness at managing diverse individuals.The OM role commenced with retaining Customer Service Supervisor responsibilities and expanded to collaborating with dealership leaders, executing cross-departmental initiatives, and contributing to strategic planning for one of Culligan's largest franchises in North America.Hiring and supervising personnel were significant aspects of my position, allowing me to develop strong interpersonal skills through various challenges and experiences, for which I am truly grateful.Joining the Office Team was a highlight, working alongside extraordinary Office Managers driven to improve the office environment and enhance customer satisfaction. Our monthly meetings fostered a productive environment to achieve these goals.As my experience grew, so did my title, reaching the highest level of Office Manager - Level 4 - Business Operations Management.Notable accomplishments include achieving growth targets, ensuring customer retention, and enhancing team communication skills. I conducted a comprehensive work audits, ensuring financial accuracy for a dealership with revenue exceeding $14M annually. Implementing a five-part training series for peer managers, I helped boost monthly orders by 13% in the achievement of add-on sale order writing.I played a pivotal role in managing strategic initiatives to improve office metrics organization-wide. Additionally, I designed a dealership-based employee development program, identifying education needs and utilizing peer resources to nurture talent.My time as Office Manager at Packard Culligan was a rewarding journey, enabling me to thrive and make a significant impact within the organization.

I began my employment with Packard Culligan as a Customer Service Supervisor overseeing the workflow of the Customer Service department and six of its’ then twelve members. I was brought in as the right hand to the Office Manager and learned a great deal about managing people and difficult situations. I was able to use my strengths of clear vision and big picture thinking to identify where skills needed to improve and when employees and customers needed empathy. I may not have always got it right, but I never stopped questioning and pushing for better overall service. While in this role, I held myself to the same standards as the team for phone expectations, metrics, and task accuracy – learning the roles and tasks of 80% of the department to be able to step in and assist when needed. Hard work and overtime paid off in January of 2016, when I was promoted to Office Manager position.

In my role as a solutions consultant, I ensured optimal client satisfaction by managing multiple customer accounts and nurturing relationships with small to medium-sized businesses. I excelled in executing productive plans, achieving sales goals, and seamlessly transitioning over 60 customers from a prior consultant. Alongside cold and warm calling, networking, and new business development, I handled billing and assisted customers with their needs, consistently exceeding expectations. I found great fulfillment in working with diverse people, learning about the technology industry, and witnessing the practical applications of products and services.Beyond the professional accomplishments, I relished the opportunity to connect with diverse individuals and continually expand my knowledge about the technology industry and its practical applications. Ultimately, my strength and passion in managing office operations and personnel drew me to look for a different career path.

At Crate & Barrel, I've had the pleasure of working part-time in a delightful environment, where I could effectively use my communication and conflict resolution skills. My responsibilities included warmly greeting customers and providing top-notch customer service, engaging in meaningful conversations to assist them in understanding and selecting merchandise, and maintaining a strong knowledge of products and company policies. Additionally, I contributed to visual merchandising efforts and participated in training new sales associates.On a personal level, as a self proclaimed foodie, this was the perfect environment to find inspiration for my passion for cooking and entertaining friends and family. I was able to curate the small appetizer menus for the bridal events hosted at the store on a few of the Sunday morning events.

I began my time with Outdoor Environments as the Assistant to the Operations Manager and within 6 months moved up responsibilities to Office Manager. I wore many hats to ensure the smooth functioning of various business activities. I actively contributed to the company's success by my contributions from managing HR tasks and analyzing inside sales support and goals, to closely monitoring job costing on large scale design build projects. Moreover, I took charge of crafting marketing materials for trade shows and email campaigns, delivering top-notch customer service, and efficiently managing reception operations.As the backbone of office operations, I handled a diverse range of responsibilities with utmost proficiency. From overseeing IT systems and managing accounts receivables to skillfully handling billing, collections, accounts payable, banking, budgeting, time sheet entry, and payroll processing. I brought a comprehensive approach to the organization's financial and administrative functions.Amidst these accomplishments, I take pride in my key highlights, which demonstrate my dedication and impact on the company's growth. By collaborating closely with project managers, I successfully improved the profitability of design build projects by an impressive 13%. Additionally, my strategic cost management initiatives resulted in a remarkable reduction of overhead spending by more than 45% compared to the previous fiscal years. Furthermore, through diligent billing and persistent follow-ups on past-due accounts, I effectively decreased bad debt write-offs by a substantial 40%, contributing significantly to the company's financial health.

Set up office from ground level, including managing lease of office space, setting up office network and phone system, creating office policy manual, recruiting agents, AR, AP, banking, mentoring, and sales training.Absolutely wonderful experience that was unable to continue when economic conditions impacted the real estate industry.

- Facilitated project management duties including coordinating contractors and vendors, meeting sales deadlines, bi-monthly projection reporting, marketing, advertising, and management of a sales team on condominium conversion project. - Client Goal Setting - Maintain client database including monthly contact regarding promotions.

During the height of the refinance boom, I had the privilege of working with Netco Title, a company that offered comprehensive title clearing and closing services to a diverse clientele, including lenders, mortgage brokers, and borrowers. As a key team member, my responsibilities revolved around ensuring exceptional customer service and problem-solving prowess, acting as a crucial liaison between Real Estate Agents, Mortgage Brokers, Mortgage Lenders, and borrowers to facilitate smooth and efficient closings.To optimize the efficiency of our branch operations, I took charge of prioritizing and delegating daily duties for the team. This involved assigning closings, meticulously reviewing county recording documents, and conducting property records research through abstracting in a strategic order of importance and distance. Additionally, I skillfully managed wire transfers and the disbursement of checks for finalized and approved loans, contributing to the seamless execution of the closing process. My versatility and dedication shone through as I effortlessly filled in wherever needed, utilizing my experience in researching property records and stepping into any of the aforementioned duties.

In this position, I learned a great deal about the loan closing and document recording process in the real estate industry. I was responsible for preparing HUD-1 settlement statements, ensuring they met lender approval requirements. With great attention to detail, I organized loan documents in a clear and comprehensible manner, guiding individuals through the contents they were about to sign. Leveraging my Notary Public license, I authenticated proper documents, contributing to their legal validity. Moreover, I adeptly handled the preparation of mortgage applications, ensuring they were ready for funding and seamless recording with the County Recorder.