Joseph P. Zottola

**** ***** ***. **. *** Hope, MN 55428

612-***-**** acuk5e@r.postjobfree.com

SUMMARY

Solid experience managing a large portfolio with a diverse customer mix. Demonstrates a proactive approach to customer issues and customer development resulting in an atmosphere that accommodates continued growth, expansion and streamlining. Particular strengths in communications, problem solving and customer relations.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

THE TORO Company, Bloomington, MN (2001-2014)

Credit Representative 2006 to 2014

Responsible for managing 300 Irrigation/Lighting accounts with total credit lines of $33 million and total sales of $130 million.

Reviewed and adjusted credit lines for accounts with credit lines below 100k, acquired financials for accounts with credit lines over 100k, for accounts over 100k who did not provide financials deviations were written to ensure customer needs were met, and Toro’s assets protected

Worked with Sales, Order services, the Irrigation manager and Customers to resolve issues regarding credit lines, past due invoices, deductions and other issues as needed

Established good working relationships with my customers both internal and external

In the fall of 2012 organized the review and on boarding of roughly 2,000 customers related to the Stone acquisition the team reviewed and on boarded the customers in roughly 3 months.

Mentored the temp’s brought on board to assist in the acquisition to ensure they understood what was required to ensure the new customers received the credit line suited for their needs

In the summer of 2011 worked with the Irrigation manager, and The Unique lighting team in the on boarding of roughly 120 new customers related to the Unique Lighting acquisition, worked with existing customers to ensure that they understood the invoicing for lighting product and also worked with the Irrigation manager to adjust the credit lines of existing customers to ensure no issues acquired with the additional volume caused by the acquisition

POD/Compliance Administrator 2001 to 2006

Responsible for resolution of past due and short paid invoices for Toro’s largest mass retail customer, Home Depot.

Negotiated repayment of $435,000.00 related to a product recall in 2012

Established processes which allowed for the recovery of $7 million in past due invoices and chargebacks between 2001 and 2006

Resolved issues concerning payments and collections with transportation team, operations and order services.

Assisted team members with transportation issues as related to POD’s and collection efforts

CTC DISTRIBUTION SERVICES, Brooklyn Center, MN (1997-2001)

Corporate Traffic Coordinator

Manage inbound cartage from 440 nation-wide customers to processing facilities. Analyze new carriers for potential use and negotiating new rates for new lanes. Responsible for maintaining carrier relations and ensuring that 14 regional facilities followed the routing guide developed at corporate office. Analyze existing carriers for new opportunities and to ensure that current service requirements are met.

Management of 150,000+ loads/$81M annually with 50+ carriers (both regional and national) for LTL, FTL and airfreight. Includes inbound cartage from customer distribution facilities to company facilities for processing. Additionally, movement of product through delivery mechanism to the end-consumer.

Successfully reduced national freight costs by 8.7 million dollars between fiscal 1999 and 2000 by utilizing the following methods: rate renegotiations, utilization of backhaul lanes, regional and dedicated fleets.

Created and maintained database of existing customers for continued monitoring of profitability.

Maintained transportation costs at little or no increase while company growth continued at roughly 20% during fiscal 1999.

Set up and maintained logistics for certain large volume accounts to ensure satisfaction and uninterrupted flow of customer parcels.

Assisted in setting up regional LTL carriers to handle new regional business.

Maintain and analyze carrier excel database for potential savings and service improvement.

Continually pursuing new carriers to augment existing carrier base and take pressure off top 5 carriers.

EDUCATION

University of St. Thomas - St. Paul, MN Bachelor of Arts

COMPUTER SKILLS

SAP, MS Word and Excel, AS400 and various proprietary logistics/transportation software programs, and PC hardware setup.