Debbie Castellano

**** **** ******, *********, ************ 18018

610-***-****

abit8l@r.postjobfree.com

OFFICE MANAGER - EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

QUALIFICATIONS PROFILE

Highly analytical and detail-oriented professional, offering comprehensive knowledge in office and business management and client

relations. Highly capable of performing various duties in fast-paced and demanding work environments. Known for excellent

interpersonal skills along with the ability to maintain solid client relationships. Effective at coordinating with cross-functional

teams that collaborate as a focused unit to achieve aggressive business goals and drive the advancement of concepts into achievable

business strategies. Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, and Outlook) and QuickBooks 12.0.

FUNCTIONAL SKILLS

Operations Management

- Assumed responsibility in managing all aspects of procurement for a $10M small appliance business, encompassing gross margin,

product selection, distribution, advertising, and merchandising for 65 stores.

- Keenly supervised a procurement office consisting of five assistants.

- Oversaw all aspects of business at Confidential including collections from clients from major New York and New Jersey

hospitals.

- Extensively traveled to Europe to share knowledge and exhibit superior talents in developing high margin gourmet kitchen

electrics.

- Performed a wide range of tasks at Confidential including troubleshooting any discrepancies in accounts payables and

receivables; streamlining office procedures; and filing and developing systems for easier access.

Leadership and Supervision Training and Development

- Trained new and part time night staff at Daniels BMW; initiated the development of an organized system for night staff to

communicate with service advisors and managers in the event of an emergency, as well as to enable customers to check out quickly.

- Presided over the training and development of office staff at Macys and performed human resource functions such as hiring and

college recruiting for the executive training program.

- Took charge of visiting branch stores to conduct training and merchandising with associates as well as to update individual

market demographics on a regular basis.

Negotiation and Interpersonal Coordination

- Handled vendor negotiation in order to earn their participation in advertising without compromising the gross margin by

obtaining approximately $250K in advertising funds and $50K for in-store demonstrations.

- Leveraged excellent interpersonal skills in the Housewares Industry Media interviews as well as in small appliance questions

in a radio program.

Client Relations Management

- Obtained four five-star dealer ratings, boosting stellar “Over and Above” for delivering high-quality customer service to

clients at Daniels BMW.

- Distinguished by the CEO chief executive officer of Macys West for demonstrating excellent customer service in expediting a

high-end oven, for a customer in the event of out of stock.

Growth and Development Impacts

- Earned recognition for consistently achieving the Buyer of the Year award as well as in establishing the Largest Krups

Appliance Store.

- Demonstrated excellent skills at Daniels BMW in increasing customer service satisfaction levels by 3% (from 94% to 97%) by

leveraging positive interpersonal skills in communicating with customers.

- Streamlined teleservice (service requests from vehicles) through cold calling of 200 customers per month to schedule

appointments.

- Significantly mentored seven assistants to the next level and three of them earned promotion to buyer level.

- Generated and imposed product training sessions, by bringing sales staff from 65 stores to one location each year.

- Significantly brought an increase in kitchen electrics sales from $2M to $10M in 10 years through demonstration of excellent

performance.

- Initiated the development of Bread Maker Business from zero to $3.1M in three years through advertising, prominent store bulk

stacks, signing, and in-store demonstrations, which significantly brought the highest gross margin classification in the department

of approximately 27.0% versus 22.9%.

- Drove key efforts toward the increase of revenue at Confidential by 38% in 2014; as well as decrease in percentage of

outstanding invoices from 29% to 10% thereby increasing available bank credit line.

- Conducted weekly audits of receivables at Confidential from clients that captured $120K of potentially lost revenue for 2014;

as well as audits on invoices that reduced bad debt from $156K to $42K from 2009 to date.

- Reduced late fee’s at Confidential in accounts payable by $.8K by setting up weekly pay dates for the controller; as well as

office supply expenses by $.5K in 2014 by analyzing competitive brands.

WORK HISTORY

CONFIDENTIAL

Business Office Manager 2013–Present

DANIELS BMW, ALLENTOWN, PA

Customer Relations Service Department 2008–2013

THE INFORMATION NETWORK AND, SOUTHERN LIVING @ HOME, NEW TRIPOLI, PA

Job Position - Office Administrator/Direct Sales Consultant 1998–2008

DELONGHI AMERICA, NEWARK, NJ

Mid-Atlantic Regional Sales Manager–Kitchen Appliances 1993–1998

MACYS WEST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA

Executive Training Programs/Buyer Kitchen Electrics 1976-1993

EDUCATION

Associate of Arts in Fashion Merchandising and Business Administration

COLLEGE OF MARIN, KENTFIELD, CA

AWARDS AND HONORS

Best Kitchen Electrics Buyer Nomination–Home Furnishings Daily

Buyer of the Year–Pot and Kettle Club

Oskar Food Processor Award

$1M Club Braun Appliances Award

Buyer of the Year Award–Krups Small Appliances

ACTIVITIES

Secretary/Treasurer, Parent and Teacher Association

Recruiter, Macy’s Training Program

Host, Radio Question and Answer Shows: Juicer’s and Bread Bakers

Block Captain Fund Raiser for New Bethany Ministries

Luminaria Night, Bethlehem, PA

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