MELINDA K. CARTER

**** *** ******, **********, ** 72762

abm0hw@r.postjobfree.com

479-***-****

Managing / Marketing / Administrating / Planogramming / Merchandising /

Customer Service

Objective: To secure a position with a reputable company where I can

contribute my talents, grow in my career and prosper

EXPERIENCE

Longer Investments, Inc., Fayetteville, AR January 2010 - Present

An Investment Advisor registered with the U.S. Securities & Exchange

Commission since 1985; also registered with the state securities

commissions in Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas.

Executive Assistant

Provide administrative support to President / Owner of company. Calendar

and proactively advise of upcoming appointments, events, various

activities, meetings and deadlines. Screen and prioritize mail and

telephone calls. Respond to inquiries, resolve issues and follow up

with necessary information. Maintain organized and up to date filing

system. Prepare and orchestrate all travel arrangements for President,

spouse and family members. Regularly update staff phone lists and

contact information. Coordinate special events such as: Client Meetings,

25th Anniversary Party for company and birthday parties. Research and

determine useful information from articles in Wall Street Journal and

New York Times. Keep in constant communication with Senators /

Congressmen in D.C. on upcoming events and appearances in Northwest

Arkansas. Many multi-tasking duties too numerous to detail.

Arcom Systems, Inc., Springdale, AR July 2007 - December 2009

Specializes in the design, sales, installation, and service of: Notifier

Fire Alarm, Rauland Nurse Call, Rauland School Intercom, Door Security,

CCTV, Card Access, Security, Wandering Patient Alert Systems; recently

became a Wal-Mart Vendor

Administrative Assistant / Office Manager

Assistant to Director of Operations and Branch Operations Manager.

Coordinate and oversee all office activities including shipping, receiving

and inventory; catalyst of NW office. Manager over warehouse personnel

which houses $150,000 in product inventory. Develop and secure

relationships with customers. Responsible for placing ads, coordinating and

conducting interviews. Interpret / Determine customer specifications in

order to prepare tailor fit proposals including formatting, editing, price

breakouts and submission for approval. Instrumental role played in PO

system, billing and payroll. Support Engineering, Sales, Install, Service,

Accounting and IT. Many multi-tasking duties too numerous to detail.

* Voted Employee of the Year 2008

The Right Solutions Healthcare Travelers, Tontitown, AR August 2004 - July

2007

Staffing agency for Healthcare Travelers all over the world; Top 15 Travel

Agencies; JCAHO Certified

Recruiter / New Nurse Representative

Sell features and benefits of company via phone and/or e-mail to healthcare

specialists all over the country. Establish relationship and find out the

"need behind the need" throughout the hiring process. Gather all

candidates' credentials and build profile to be submitted to facilities of

interest and need. Research facility (hospitals, clinics, AFB's, VA's,

IHS's, Correctional Units, etc.) needs and staff nurses on 13 week

assignments. Keep working nurses on constant assignments and/or renewals

throughout the US, UK, Virgin Islands and Alaska. Led my department 22

consecutive months in active nurses.

* Voted Most Popular 2006

Lowe's Dedicated Sales/Service Group -Varnell Struck & Associates,

Mooresville, NC June 2000 - August 2004

Dedicated service for Lowe's Companies, Inc.; Sales/Service support to

Lowe's merchandisers

Regional Manager

Manage performance and productivity of the Mid-America Fashion

Lighting/Electrical group in 7 states (81 stores), providing dedicated

service, sales and training for Fashion Lighting in Lowe's. Oversee 13

Service Specialists, 1 Special Project Manager and a Training Coordinator

for the region. Recruit, hire, train, discipline, review and supervise

Service Specialists and Lowe's store personnel. Communicate the direction,

vision and company mandates daily. Continuously work to enhance the

quality of work by Sales/Service Specialists in the region. Ensure all

store resets / new store sets / promotional end-caps were merchandised

according to planogram and shelving was modified/built to mimic blueprints

for each particular store layout. Schedule, assign resources to,

manage/monitor and ensure proper completion of multiple projects and/or

assignments simultaneously. Structure and manage territories to minimize

time, cost, etc. Develop positive relationships with Lowe's Retail Stores,

District and Regional Managers.

Planogram Specialist / Logistics Coordinator / Field Sales/Service

Representative

Interacted with Lowe's Merchandising Directors, Merchandisers,

Merchandising Assistants and VPs. Made merchandising decisions on product

placement within stores. Coordinated and communicated resets, service and

training with field reps. Participated in resetting and remerchandising of

Lowe's stores. Developed and created planograms using Marketmax software,

taking into consideration product presentation, space utilization, rate of

sale, optimal inventory levels, ease of customer shopping, and product

production guidelines (published or verbal) of the Lowe's Companies, Inc.

Created planograms to accommodate market-specific needs. Tweaked product

and bays to stock vendor's product nationwide as opposed to limited

markets.

Created 500+ planograms for Fashion Lighting in 8 different layouts and 7

different markets for 2002; developed 300+ planograms in 8 layouts and 7

markets for 2003.

Lowe's Companies, Inc., Winston-Salem, NC April 1998 - June 2000

World's second largest home improvement retailer; 1650 stores in 50 states

plus Canada and Mexico; $52 billion annual sales

Customer Service Zone Manager

Managed staffing and team building of all front-end associates and oversaw

all Deliveries. Trained, motivated, evaluated and counseled up to 65

employees. Coordinated front-end activities and created appealing visual

merchandising to build sales. Reviewed cashier productivity reports and

identified areas of possible store loss (e.g., theft, poor inventory

control, data entry error). Empowered employees to create buy-in and

motivate them toward advancement.

EDUCATION

University of Arkansas- Morrilton, AR

Associate of Applied Science Degree - Business / 1999

**Nominated for Alumnus of the Year 2006

Arkansas Tech - Russellville, AR

COMPUTER SKILLS

Proficient in Microsoft Office, Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Internet,

Marketmax planogram program and American Contractor; some working knowledge

of Access and Autocad

Interests & Hobbies: Health & Fitness, Antiques, Outdoors, Animals and

Sports

Excellent References Available Upon Request

Contact this candidate