Founded, started-up and manage all aspects of the business to achieve financial, operational, and customer satisfaction goals for an independently owned business which provides custom garage transformations to the greater Twin Cities metro area.• Develop and implement business strategies and goals to drive revenue and grow profitability; manage budgets, forecasts, cash flow, and overall financial performance; manage inventory, logistics, pricing strategies, and cost-saving initiatives.• Initiate plans to maximize sales of concrete floor coatings, custom cabinets, shelving, overhead storage and slatwall to residential customers in the Greater Twin Cities metro area.• Oversee daily operations to ensure business functions run smoothly; develop and implement operational policies and procedures; maintain high standards of craftsmanship and customer service, and resolve customer issues promptly.• Manage all payroll, invoicing, banking, accounting, H.R., marketing, operations, and customer service initiatives.• Recruit, train, and manage a team of five full-time employees including two Sales Associates and three installers; set performance goals and provide regular feedback; promote a positive, collaborative, and productive work environment.• Maintain all company assets including an 8,000 s.f. office / warehouse and six vehicles and trailers.• Create and execute sales & marketing plans to promote products and services including promotions, advertising, and social media; manage the website www.garagesolutionsminneapolis.com; place ads on Facebook; optimize SEO and PPC through an agency.• Prospect for new business through community networking, referrals from builders and contractors, and repeat business.• Foster positive relationships with key customers, partners, and suppliers; address feedback and implement improvements.• Analyze industry trends, customer needs, and competitor strategies to inform business decisions.

Recruited to lead and direct all daily operations for a wholesaler selling 3.5 million cases of beer annually for an independent distributor of Anheuser-Busch and Craft Beer brands serving Southern Minneapolis/St. Paul and surrounding areas.• Provided leadership and direction to two Delivery Managers, a Warehouse Manager, and a Fleet Manager with a team of 50 employees, servicing 1,300 retail accounts on 17 sales routes with a fleet of 30 trucks, with a multi-million dollar budget.• Served as direct report to the CEO/President and participated in weekly Senior Management meetings.• Oversaw management of a 225,000 s.f. climate-controlled warehouse, with an inventory of 250,000 beverage kegs and cases.• Coordinated all inventory forecasting, order, and delivery requirements for the Anheuser-Busch product portfolio, as well as local craft brewers Summit, Lift Bridge, Mankato and Badger Hill and other partners including Excelsior, Odell, Stone, Oskar Blues, Alaskan, Tallgrass, Monster Energy, Arizona Beverages, and Sparkling Ice.• Managed all routing responsibilities; completed two full re-routes in 18 months utilizing Roadnet Routing Suite software.• Participated directly in the sales functions for the business to maximize all opportunities to increase volume, distribution and market share; presented brand plans and company strategy to large groups of employees on a daily/weekly basis.• Directed all interviewing, hiring, training, motivating, disciplining, and evaluating for a team of high-performing employees.• Served as Safety Committee Chairperson to ensure workplace safety and compliance with OSHA guidelines.• Consistently increased productivity with minimal turnover by streamlining processes, improving routing, and attrition.• Built and maintained relationships with key retailers during frequent account calls and one-on-one interaction to ensure exceptional customer service and resolve all issues quickly and appropriately.

Promoted to manage all warehouse, delivery, and night loading duties with a team of 50 employees for an independent wholesaler of Anheuser-Busch products serving the core Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area and surrounding suburbs.• Led and directed all operational aspects for a wholesaler selling 3.9 million cases of beer annually to 1,600 accounts on 18 daily delivery routes, with a fleet of 25 trucks, and a climate controlled warehouse with an inventory of 250,000 cases of beer.• Managed the entire day-to-day operations of the facility with an expense budget of $3 million annually, including fleet planning and maintenance, leadership of a 50+ team of union employees, hiring, training, firing, and handling disciplinary issues.

Recruited to support the Sales Department with merchandising, promotional, and shelf space programs.• Managed the forecasting and online ordering process for all POS items to support the total retail account base.• Cultivated retailer relationships, planned, and implemented sales execution, grass roots programs and promotional activities in targeted on- and off-premise accounts and at special events to increase brand presence and distribution.

Hired as Merchandiser and promoted to manage sales routes in the absence of the regular Sales Representative for an independent distributor of the Anheuser-Busch portfolio covering Cleveland and northern Ohio.• Executed the sales process for the entire A-B product portfolio for on and off-premise retail accounts to cover time off for regular sales representatives; assisted with team sells and ride-withs to increase distribution, volume, and market share.• Provided excellent customer service to maximize retailer performance by understanding customer needs, offering effective solutions, cultivating retailer relationships, managing account inventory levels, delivering and rotating product.

Recruited and promoted to manage a premier mobile marketing tour for Anheuser-Busch subsidiary Busch Creative Services.• Supported the Budweiser brand marketing platform by executing the Bud World nationwide experiential marketing tour to communicate the brand’s history, tradition, and quality through one-on-one interaction at special events, fairs and festivals.• Safely drove, set-up, maintained and staffed a highly sophisticated multi-million dollar mobile marketing experience.• Provided leadership and direction to a team of 4 Mobile Marketing Specialists to execute programming flawlessly at 40+ major special events annually throughout the U.S.; also executed the Bud World program at events in Canada and Mexico.

Promoted to manage the point-of-sale ordering process while merchandising accounts on three sales routes.• Forecasted needs and ordered all POS online through Anheuser-Busch for the total wholesaler retail account base.• Built displays, replenished shelves, rotated stock and utilized POS elements to support brand marketing on three sales routes.

Promoted to manage key account relationships, sell-in, and promote brand portfolio to young adult consumers.• Created market-specific programs, built retailer relationships, merchandised accounts, and executed customized consumer marketing and promotional plans in on-premise account and at special events throughout the market.

Provided assistance to Sales Representatives in servicing and delivering product to accounts.• Delivered packaged beer to 100 on- and off-premise accounts in Downtown and West St. Paul in a timely and organized manner.