Michael Bower Email & Phone Number

Denver, Colorado

Manager for Retail Sales Fresh Team covering the state of Colorado. Responsibilties include management/development of Retail Coverage Merchandisers handling Acosta's clients in Produce, Meat, Deli and Bakery Departments. Customers include Kroger and Safeway/Albertson's.

Greater Denver Area

Responsible for the management and development of a team of Retail Service Merchandisers.Provide effective leadership and management to Merchandiser/Lead Merchandiser Team in an assigned geographic area by interviewing and hiring candidates, onboarding and training new associates, managing performance and career development, managing conflict and personnel issues, and providing coaching and support.Selected Achievements:• Recipient of 2011 and 2012 Chairman’s Bronze Award for exceptional performance, living up to Acosta’s core values of balance, innovation, integrity, people, results, teamwork, and trust.

Oversee sales and business development functions for North and South Carolina including new product rollouts, key account management, buyer and customer relationships development and contract negotiations.Assist in directing network of District Sales Managers and Sales Representatives.Implement and adjust various sales plans and programs for key retail chain accounts and wholesale operations.Selected achievements:Successful in obtaining new distribution of additional product lines in 25 retail chain accounts and 10 wholesale operations.Achieved exceptional sales of key product line in an ever declining tobacco market.Maintained strong and profitable business relationships with my buyers.

Manage Sales Representatives in a twenty-five county district in Eastern North Carolina. Responsible for maintaining distribution in existing accounts and growing the District by successfully penetrating new markets and opening new accounts.Accountable for meeting budget requirements and delivering ROI goals.Responsible for training, coaching, performance evaluations, discplinary actions if needed, and direct daily management of all District Sales Representatives.Selected achievements:Increased District sales by over 75% in three years.Zero employee turnover in almost three years as District Manager.

Responsible for maintaining and growing existing territory sales by penetrating new markets. Accountable for consistently opening new accounts, establishing sustainable business relationships with buyers and increasing sales and distribution. Handle DSD functions along with contract and pricing negotiations in all retail accounts.Selected achievements:Increased territory from 30 to 240 accounts.Expanded territory into five additional counties.Selected as company's North Carolina Mentor providing training during new employee orientation as well as providing ongoing advice, counsel and training to all North Carolina employees.

Managed a twenty county territory calling on chain and independent supermarkets. Worked with store managers and supervisors is assigned accounts to maximize volume and revenue.Developed collaborative relationships with key manufacturers such as Clorox, Nestle, Con Agra and Georgia Pacific to ensure achievement of corporate merchandising goals and retail initiatives.Selected achievements:Consistently increased manufacturers' distribution in key accounts (Winn-Dixie, Food Lion and Harris Teeter).Extremely successful at cultivating profitable relationships with key accounts' Store Managers.Consistently attained quotas on new item distributions and sales contests.

Managed all operations of 30,000 sq. ft. Winn-Dixie # 842.Responsible for direct management of all store associates (i.e., recruitment, hiring, training, performance evaluation, promotion, disciplinary, termination, etc.)Selected achievements:Increased total store sales over 300% in eight year time period.Lowest turnover and payroll percent in District.Promoted seven Assistant Managers to Store Manager over a six year period.

Accounting

Completed one year of study towards Associates Degree in Accounting.

Academic Diploma