Melissa Garrison Email & Phone Number

Memphis, Tn, Us

I achieved significant enterprise level impact during my time at Vertrauen and thoroughly enjoyed leading talented teams and challenging initiatives. Due to my earlier success as Director of Customer Relations (2016), I was quickly promoted to GM of Memphis Operations and then again promoted to Vice President leading Customer Relations (2017) and Business Development (2019).As VP, I led cross-functional teams in supplier and market expansion, client relations, inventory management, regulatory compliance, and customer communications and problem solving. In the GM role I managed the entire Memphis Plant operations.⯌ Increased new business revenue by $4.1M (2019) Increased GM by 15%.⯌ Reduced finished product inventory $1.75M.⯌ Initiated $500k incremental price increase.⯌ Captured new market channel in 2 years.⯌ Cultivated major supplier relationships (and primary tier suppliers) and negotiated contracts with suppliers that fulfill 80% of North American automotive OEM coatings.⯌ Assured brand recognition and messaging consistency through leading multi-disciplinary teams in managing website updates, marketing collateral creation, event signage, and capabilities presentation development and delivery.⯌ Established transparency and open communications with customers via timely S&OP meetings, progress reviews and quality issue resolution.⯌ Led facility to achieve ISO 9001:2015 certification (quality, supply chain, customer service processes), positioning company as a qualified supplier.⯌ Directed implementation of performance goals directly tied to corporate safety, quality and cost savings initiatives.⯌ Built productivity measurements providing actionable data driving performance improvement.⯌ Drove collaboration and transparency between Customer Service, Planning, Purchasing, Production, Inventory Control, and Shipping/Receiving departments.⯌ Created tools and implemented quote proposal process to accurately determine pricing for new business.

Memphis, Tn, Us

Upon sale of my division at WM Barr, I accepted a Director position with Vertrauen to lead client account relations, database administration, policy development, sales support and cross-functional team training. I saw many opportunities to positively impact this organization, leveraging my in-depth skillset in key account management, team development and lean operations.⯌ Led the management of punitive measures brought on by previous negative service levels, saving $2M in fines.⯌ Improved and maintained service level to 98.5%.⯌ Established accurate, efficient customer fulfillment procedures by implementing improved contract negotiation processes, safety stock management and material repurchasing practices.⯌ Drove on-time order fulfillment through the development and execution of sales forecasting, performance metrics and budgeting processes.⯌ Increased sales revenue and the client base by creating clear product pricing and managing the customer pipeline valued at $4-$8M.⯌ Built product quality issue tracking procedures and guided multi-disciplinary collaborations, minimizing customer impact and company liability. ⯌ Leveraged customer feedback to identify and develop packaging and chemical solution options and exceed customer expectations.⯌ Managed compliance with export requirements (NAFTA, origin, affidavits) by developing customs documents.

Memphis, Tn, Us

My time at W.M. Barr was marked by incredible learnings, enduring partnerships and extensive, positive corporate impact. I grew into my skills as a leader here and will always be grateful to the mentors and coaches who supported my continual development.A key part of this role involved relationship building across organizational boundaries (often mending of relationships) and leading collaborative problem solving sessions.⯌ Directed client account relationship management for over 750 SKUs (6 accounts) representing annual sales of over $40M.

Memphis, Tn, Us

I filled the lead oversite position for ISO 9001 recertification because of my in-depth knowledge of operations across the enterprise. I had fun with the complex, detailed work and especially liked influencing team alignment for achieving our goals.⯌ Executed corrective/preventive actions and managed, tracked and documented conclusions.⯌ Contributed to UL re-certification audits, resulting in favorable outcomes.⯌ Established structure and control management for 200 work instructions and control forms for statistical data gathering, quality verification and DBA.⯌ Developed and delivered curriculum for 14 training areas.

Memphis, Tn, Us

Memphis, Tn, Us

Memphis, Tn, Us

Ms, I/O Psychology

B.A., Applied Psychology/Org Mgmt

A.A.S., General Technology - Science

Diploma, General