David Zehner **** Willow Falls

Way/Knoxville, Tennessee 37917

504-***-**** abm21k@r.postjobfree.com

Objective

. To utilize my professional experience, skills, and education

to effectively capitalize on both new and existing

market/sales opportunities

Qualifications

. Sales professional, highly motivated, reliable, confident,

and committed to professional standards with an impressive

record of top performance and the proven ability to achieve

solid sales growth ... to consistently provide superior

customer service and maintain exceptional positive

account/customer relationships.

Personal Strengths

. Skilled negotiator with the ability to build and maintain

excellent relationships

. Able to make rapid assessments and quickly revise tactics to

ensure progress and goal achievements

. Perform well as both and independent contributor and team

member

. Adept at establishing new clientele and new sales channels

while managing customers in a fast paced environment.

. Sociable and gregarious personality with ability to

successfully act as an intermediate between producer and

customer

Professional Experience

THE FRESH MARKET, Knoxville, TN March

2007 - Present

Assistant Store Manager

. Perform store management operations with specialty grocery

chain

. Accountable for managing and directing 80+ employees,

training/coaching

. Perform scheduling, purchasing, ad promos, sales strategy,

accounting, display & product implementation(POG's),

forecasting, profit & loss

. Received special recognition for achieving sales goals in

department organization and profit for selected department

grosses of up to 10% profit increases in one month

ALLSTATE FOOD MARKETING, LaPlace, LA January 2003-

September 2006

Sales Coordinator (Relocated)

. Established customer base of approx 150+ stores for Winn-

Dixie Super Market southern division-LA, MS, AL, FL ;

SuperValu, and Associated Grocers

. Represented Manufacturers: ConAgra, Hormel, Reser's, Jennie-

O, Delallo Foods, Sunkist, Kings Command, Pennant, Specialty

Bakers, and Silverlake.

. Increased overall product volume, resourcing new and

potential products, implementing programs,

marketing/promotions, training store teams, food safety

. Headquarter calls/presentations/coordinated food shows

. Maintained strong client relationships with manufacturer,

corporate, buyers, and store managers.

. Successfully increased distribution and sales 20-50% in

categories.

FEDERATED GROUP, LaPlace, LA

December 2000- December 2002

Store Brand Specialist (Co. lost contract)

. Managed all private label brands of Winn-Dixie Super

Market/Southern Division by envisioning creative strategies

and programs and implementing them.

. Increased product distribution 40%-sales strategy;

presentations, promos, price strategy, ad reports, audits,

implemented private label programs, headquarter calls.

. Strong customer relationships, loyalty and support,

contributed solutions to issues.

. Increased average annual revenue by 60%. Average annual

sales of over $1M.

. Prepared monthly sales reports

MARKETING SPECIALISTS, LaPlace, LA

December 1996-December 2000

Territory Manager (Co. filed CH. 13)

. Accounts: SuperValu, Afflilated Foods

. Represented Manufacturers: Dean Foods, Unilever, Pillsbury,

Kellogg's, Marzetti, Church & Dwight, Iams, Sunshine Mills,

Ekco-World Kitchen, Thompson Medical, Sargento, and Sorrento

Cheese.

. Performed selling, servicing, presentations, merchandising,

implementation and

placement of product displays,

pog's, audits, territory blitzes, price contracts, ad

reports; Control and efficient use

of budget

. Category captain on special resets; training; coordinated

food shows

. Increased category sales by 50%.

QUAGLINO TOBACCO & CANDY CO. Laplace, LA

January 1993-November 1996

Sales Representative (no longer exists)

. Products sold: tobacco, candy, snacks, paper, health &

beauty aids

. Opened new distribution networks by ensuring quality

services and products to

grocery stores, hotels, river boats, gift shops,

restaurants, and c-stores.

. Performed cold calling, presentations, display,

merchandising-determining local

demand for special products.

. Increased monthly sales volume more than 50%

. Built thriving territory from 68 accounts to 159

accounts/ranked in top sales

MERIDIAN BEVERAGE CO. Laplace, LA

September 1996-November 1996

Part-Time Sales Representative

. Company accounts: C-Stores

. Sold & merchandised company products: spring and flavored

water beverages

. Implemented and placed product displays, along with price

strategy, and increasing Sku's, audits, and preparation of

reports.

. Provided superior customer service

Education: University of New Orleans 2-Years

. Business Administration

. ServSafe Certification

Computer Skills:

. Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint

References:

. Dave LaPlante, president, Federated Group 800-***-****

. Butch Gordon, brand manager, Federated Group 847-***-****

. Michelle Story, sales representative, Acosta 504-***-****

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