Manager Project

GILBERT SEAY *** E. Jenkins Branch Rd. ( Bryson City, NC 28713

704-***-**** ( ***********@*******.***

RETAIL OPERATIONS ~ MERCHANDISING MANAGEMENT

Merchandising Plan Development...Project Management...Process

Improvement...Business/Strategic Planning

A knowledgeable, analytical, and detail-oriented professional, who offers

diversified career expertise within retail operations identifying,

designing, and deploying effective solutions focused on enhancing annual

profits, stimulating increased productivity, and strengthening stakeholder

confidence. Rich experience resolving business issues, delivering

increased market share, ensuring appropriate product assortment, and

collaborating cross-functionally with internal resources to consistently

exceed expectations.

Thrives on opportunities that enhance employee performance and efficiency.

An accomplished leader with a propensity for driving organizational change,

developing strategic vision, fostering customer-centric work environment,

and analyzing current processes to identify areas for improvement.

Core Competencies

Project Management Process Improvement Implementation Customer Service

Requirements-Gathering Work-Flow Planning & Trend Analysis

Prioritization

Turnaround Management Employee Training & Education P&L Management

Career Milestones

< Accelerated operating profits $3,300,000 per year by analyzing,

designing, and implementing strategic changes to fresh foods product mix,

department layout, equipment, labor, supplies, and marketing strategy.

< Catalyst in launching new merchandising direction directive through

conceptualization and facilitation of training tools utilized to

implement initiative, visiting all 140 stores personally and influencing

ownership and accountability by managers for ensuring all standards and

quotas were exceeded.

< Saved $2,100,000 by modifying existing systems and technology by leading

cross-functional team through analysis, design, development, and

implementation of solution for Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) and bio-

terrorism product-tracking requirements.

< Streamlined standard operating procedures communication process, cut

annual printing costs more than $500,000, and strengthened customer-

centric work environment by eliminating multiple communications platforms

through development and implementation of comprehensive communications

standard.

< Fueled bottom-line profits $2,800,000 annually by conceptualizing,

designing, and instituting standardized markdown and throwaway product-

tracking system, documenting losses and profits while also supporting

production forecasting efforts and corporate merchandising functions in

order to eliminate unprofitable product purchases.

< Slashed labor costs $550,000 per annum by designing and developing

company Intranet, offering employees at all organizational levels access

to operation documents such as merchandising protocol, corporate

standards, employee manuals, administrative forms, contact data, and

software applications.

< Selected as one of Progressive Grocer's Top 300 Store Managers

Executive Career Path

SEAYCO FINANCIAL SERVICES 2006-Present

Full-service financial services organization offering exclusive access to

insurance products from top-rated companies and an array of quality

investment choices. Specializing in addressing clients' needs for

financial protection, capital accumulation, and estate preservation.

PRINCIPAL

Embraced challenging entrepreneurial opportunity to build financial

services firm committed to offering guidance, relationships and solutions

to high net worth individuals and business owners. Created financial

security for clients by analyzing, developing, and executing successful

risk and investment plans.

. Developed long-term investment and risk management plans for more than

300 individuals and business owners.

. Improved financial security by influencing them to implement risk

plans, which protected future income on average of $1,200 000 per

client.

. Increased financial net worth of clients, ranging from $300,000 to

$2,000,000 per client.

HARRIS TEETER SUPERMARKETS, INC. 1985-2006

Upscale supermarket retailer touting $3, 8 00,000,000 in annual revenue

generated from 189 stores located in six Mid-Atlantic States.

DIRECTOR - SPECIAL PROJECTS 2001-2006

Awarded internal opportunity to lead operational enhancement projects

focused on developing solutions to business problems and automating

cumbersome processes. Key activities involved research, analysis, cross-

functional requirements gathering, presentation of recommendations to

senior staff, and solution design, development and implementation.

Served as internal communications gatekeeper tasked with creating an

Intranet for hosting all needed actionable information and distribution

of weekly executables communiqu s to all store.

. Led cross-functional team of Directors and Vice Presidents through

analysis, design, development, and implementation of solution, which

ensured compliance with Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) and bio-

terrorism product-tracking requirements, as mandated by federal

government. Saved $2,100,000 by modifying existing systems and

technology.

. Conceptualized, designed, and implemented standardized markdown and

throwaway product-tracking system documenting losses and profits,

while supporting production forecasting efforts, enabling corporate

merchandising to see item profitability and eliminate unprofitable

product purchases. Bottom- line profits increased by $2,800,000 in

first year of operation.

. Developed automated store audit and task execution system that

collected and distributed data to corporate headquarters via a

wireless hand-held for tabulation and analysis, which replaced

laborious hand-keyed and tabulated forms, and enabled company to aptly

measure store execution of tasks.

DIRECTOR - DELI BAKERY MERCHANDISING 1998-2001

Promoted to oversee merchandising team comprised of field specialists and

category managers tasked with managing turnaround project focused on

improving sales and profits of deli and bakery departments. Challenged

with visiting stores and working with specialists to ensure store

compliance with various programs, assist with opening new stores,

designing remodel plans, purchasing equipment, managing construction

projects, developing processes, and ensuring accurate store information.

Proactively forecasted labor needs based on hourly sales, task skill set

standards, and product sales forecast by creating labor control system.

. Presented weekly turnaround updates to senior staff of analysis, which

included recommendations and results of implementing strategic changes

to fresh foods product mix, department layout, equipment, labor,

supplies, and marketing strategy, all of which considerably improved

bottom line on average of 8% or $300,000 a month.

. Conceptualized and led development of training tools utilized to

implement initiative, visiting and training all stores personally,

which influenced ownership and accountability by managers for new

merchandising direction. As a result, labor and product loss

decreased by an average of 25%.

. Designed plans that reduced square footage, significantly improving

efficiency in ten new stores and 30 remodeled properties. Operating

profits improved $3,300,000 per year.

Additional Work Experience with Harris Teeter

Project Manager - Store Management Workbench, 1996-1998

Regional Operations Manager, 1994-1996

District Manager, 1991-1994

Field Specialist, 1989-1991

Store Manager, 1985-1989

UNITED STATES AIR FORCE 1980-1985

Education and Highlights

Education

Pfeiffer University, Charlotte, North Carolina

Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems (MIS), 2006

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, 2006

Professional Business Finance Seminar - Keenan Flagler Business School -

Development University of North Carolina

Customer Relations Seminar - Cornell University

Management Development Program/Total Quality Management - Harris

Teeter

Avionics Instrument Systems - U.S. Air Force

Certification

s Store Manager Certification

Series 6 and 63 Investment

Life, Health and LTC Insurance

Certified Internet Webmaster - Foundations, Designer, and

eCommerce

Technology

Project...Office ...Visio...FrontPage...Acrobat...Database

Reporting...Hand-held PC

Contact this candidate