Joan L. Gerland
Rice Lake WI, 54868
*********@*****.***
Career Summary:
Multifaceted in human resource management, sales, marketing, and administration. Strategically developed and implemented hiring processes. Effectively communicated with stakeholders and internal customers.
Experience:
Viking Coca Cola, Rice Lake, WI
July 2013 to Present
Viking Coca Cola is company of approximately 25 employees that sells and delivers Coca Cola products in a four county area surrounding Rice Lake. I am performing outside sales duties and responsibilities. This includes stocking shelves, driving a company vehicle to and from stores in the Chetek and Ladysmith areas, offering Coca Cola products to the store managers, developing POS materials, and overall customer satisfaction.
Chieftain Wild Rice Company, Spooner, WI
1993 to 2012
Chieftain Wild Rice Company is a company of approximately 25 staff members. Chieftain specializes in selling wild rice and specialty products to chefs around the nation. Hired as the Telemarketing Supervisor and promoted to General Manager in 1995. Listed below are some of my accomplishments while working at Chieftain Wild Rice Company.
Human Resource Skills and Abilities
• Hired sales employees and processed hiring-related paperwork
• Prepared and maintained employment records related to events such as hiring, termination, leaves, transfers, and promotions
• Interpreted and explained human resources policies, procedures, laws, standards, and regulations
• Addressed employee relations issues, such as harassment allegations, work complaints, and other employee concerns
• Informed job applicants of details such as duties and responsibilities, compensation, benefits, schedules, working conditions, and promotion opportunities
• Maintained current knowledge of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and affirmative action guidelines and laws, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Scheduled and conducted new employee orientations
• Created, maintained and updated human resources documents, such as employee handbooks and performance evaluation forms
• Conferred with the company owner to develop and implement personnel policies and procedures
• Proficient in Microsoft Office programs: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
Supervisory Experience
• Responsible for up to 25 staff
• Attained company goals through quarterly company-wide meetings
• Coordinated and maintained the Operations Manager, warehouse, office and sales departments
• Implemented the setup of the Rice River Processing facility. Flew to Denmark to locate machinery for the processing of wild rice
• Overhauled the Accounts Receivable Program bringing bad debts to less than 0.5 percent of total sales
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Communication and Networking Skills
• Facilitated the design of company website and a social media, Facebook page
• Redesigned the sales office configuration multiple times in support of ongoing needs
• Collaborated with owner to double the facility size, achieving increased production and streamline processes
• Maintained an “open door” policy for effective communication with all staff
• Scripted the sales manual
• Engaged UPS to establish the company as a premier account to be eligible for tiered discount pricing, which saved the company up to 40 percent in shipping costs annually
• Facilitated all administrative duties for the office staff
• Supported the cross training of all staff
• Conjoined with staff to document their job descriptions
• Coordinated a third party audit at the processing plant, which lead to the continued business of a large corporate contract
Sales Experience
• Partnered with sales staff to set and exceed monthly personal and sales goals
• Maintained positive sales relationships with national and international companies. i.e. Nestle Purina
• Conducted weekly sales meetings to ensure goals were in scope and concerns were addressed
• Created a drop-ship program with a third party vendor that increased company sales by 43 percent
• Developed the Rice River Farms Product line
• Improved product line through customer feedback. i.e. wild rice blends, seasonings, and breadings
• Upwardly adjusted sales staff by 27 percent to meet growing customer needs
• Increased sales by a minimum of eight percent
• Developed the packaging for the Rice River Farms Product line
• Designed the compensation programs and employee manuals for all staff
• Organized company representation at national tradeshows
• Developed press releases for new product introductions
Education:
• UW-Eau Claire, Eau Claire, WI Bachelor’s in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing
Volunteer/Service Activities:
• Active member of church council as well as a chaperone of youth activities
• Referee for area middle school volleyball league
• Set up and serve for the annual community Christmas dinner
• Supervise fundraisers to support Moose Heart and Moose Haven, Rice Lake Moose Lodge and participate in the annual Operation Santa Claus program
• Barron County Historical Society volunteer