Sales Marketing

John F. Plys

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**** ****** ***** ***** ****** Park, Illinois 60477 Cell: 630-***-****

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CAREER SKILLS / KNOWLEDGE

P&L Expert Strategic/Marketing Plans Revenue/Profit Growth

Market Share Strategies Contract Negotiations

New Account Development SKU Optimization

Strategic/Marketing Plans Brand Management

Operations / Logistics Product Development

Customer Relations Staff Development

o Route Accounting Market Expansion

Distributor Expertise Key Account Penetration

CAREER ACHIEVEMENTS

o As Sr. Vice President of Global Sales at Ty Inc., I play the decision-

maker in the implementation and execution of sales and marketing programs

that include, National Roll-outs, Territory Development, Product

Innovation, Sales Development Training, Operations and Logistics,

Geographic expansion, Category / Brand Management, Space Management and

creating "NEW" sales divisions by Channel of Trade. Fully responsible for

the P&L of the sales, marketing and procurement. We have increased our

overall base revenue by 32% by restructuring the Field Sales Force and

having established dedicated National Account Managers to our Top

customers in each Region while focusing on specific Channels of Trade.

Ebitda has risen by 4 whole percentage points in this same time frame.

The Field Sales Force has been segmented to maximize the opportunities in

each channel of trade that keeps them focused on specific tasks and

objectives. This has caused double digit growth in each channel

Currently have 9 direct reports in Sales along with 1 Director of

Operations, 1 Director of Telemarketing and 1 Director of Marketing and 4

dotted line direct reports for Marketing. Tools used for Sales Execution

are Nielsen, IRI and Consumer Focus Groups.

o As VicePresident of Field Sales at Ty Inc. was able tp create a more

efficient sales department by segmenting the business through Specialty /

Gift, Grocery, Drug / Mass, Restaurant and International Distributors.

The "NEW" Grocery division accomplished 24% growth by refocusing and

developing management skills by trade while bringing in TOP talent for

executing new revenue through opening new channels of trade. In the

Grocery channel we realized 35M of new business within 15 months. Was

responsible for 7 direct reports in Sales that are responsible for +200

Account Executives throughout North America along with 1 Director of

Operations, 1 Director of Telemarketing and 1 Director of Marketing.

o As Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Jays Foods,

played the decision-making role in the implementation and execution of

sales and marketing programs that included, National Brand Roll-outs, DSD

route development, Product Innovation, Sales Development Training,

Operations and Logistics, Geographic expansion and Category / Brand

management, space management and creating "NEW" sales divisions by trade.

Created a highly productive Operations, Sales and Marketing organization

and achieved a 40% increase in sales in 48 months by upgrading service,

promotional programs, and implementing a strategic planning process by

area. I was fully responsible for the profit loss of sales, operations

and procurement. While increasing sales by 40% we were able to double

our Ebitda % within 24 months. Accomplished top line sales and bottom

line profit for the company and by managing cost of sale expenses within

the P&L while negotiating better procurement cost and rates of

transportation. New market expansion that helped obtain results over 90%

above budget in revenue and EBITDA vs. Performa. Created a highly

productive Distributor Sales organization and achieved a 300% increase in

sales in 48 months by upgrading service, promotional programs, and

implementing a strategic planning process by area. Promotional programs

included chain specific programs and events that carry a flexible

approach for proper execution in the marketplace. New market expansion

that helped obtain results over 90% above budget in revenue and EBITDA

vs. Performa. Also created $40M of Incremental Revenue and 6.5 m of

incremental EBITDA by opening new territories throughout the US through

creating "NEW" sales teams that managed various channels of trade

(Foodservice, Vend, Supermarket, Mass, Drug, Grocery and C-store) i.e.,

Target, Wal-Mart, Sam's, Costco, Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid, Panera, Food

Service, Kroger, Albertsons, SuperValu, Trader Joes, HEB, K-Mart, Price

Chopper, Hy-Vee, Meijer, Circle K, Thorntons, 7-Eleven, Giant Foods,

Publix, Winn Dixie, Food For Less and Safeway. Responsibilities also

include decision-making for capital projects for Manufacturing, Finance,

and Human Resource. I held a seat on the Board of Directors and reported

directly to the Chairman of the Board. Currently had six Vice Presidents

that report directly to me (VP of H.R., VP of Marketing, 4 VP of Sales).

The sales organization has four Division Managers, 36 District Managers,

12 Key Customer Managers, 20 Route Supervisors, 350 Route Sales

Representatives and 200 Distributor Routes. Well-respected committee

member for Snack Food Association. Major decisions in Sales and

Marketing were fact based utilizing Nielsen, IRI and Consumer Focus

Groups. The leadership role included Marketing of Brands, SKU

Optimization, Product Innovations, New Item Roll-outs, Space management

and annual marketing initiatives for the entire company

Ty Inc. 2009-Present

The #1 Plush and Gift company in the world

Sr. Vice President of Global Sales (2007-Present)

Full Responsibility for Top Line Revenue, Ebitda, and Net Income as well

as +250M Selling Expense

o Global Sales team is responsible for Selling, Servicing,

Merchandising and call on all Channels of trade that includes Gift,

Supermarket, Mass, Drug, Grocery, C-store, Specialty Stores and

Department Stores.

o Responsible for North American Sales team of 300+ Corporate Account

Executives, Distributor Network, New Markets, Trade Development and lead

on Acquisition team.

o Have increased Revenue by $32M in first year of Global Distributors

and raised EBITDA by $6.5M points of Revenue.

o National Sales Customers have grown 20% in the last year.

o Reduced trade spending in same cycle by 15% while achieving major

space gains.

o Opened several New Markets that include New Zealand, Latin America

and Mediteranean..

0 Sales team is solely responsible for 10% savings in Selling expense

YTD.

Jays Foods L.L.C. 1986-2007

Major Snack Food Company with annual sales of $150 million. Producer and

Distributor of Popcorn, Pretzels, Meat Snacks, Sweet Snacks, Extruded

Snacks, Potato Chips, Kettle Chips, Nuts and Tortilla Chip'

Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing (2004 - 2007) Jays

(Willis & Stein Investments)

Full Responsibility for Top Line Revenue, Ebitda, and Net Income

o Sales team is responsible for calling on all Channels of trade that

includes Supermarket, Mass, Drug, Grocery, C-store, Foodservice and Vend.

o Responsible for National Distributor Network, New Markets, Trade

Development and lead on Acquisition team.

o Have increased Revenue by $40M in 2.5 years (~300% increase) and

raised EBITDA by $6.5M points of Revenue.

o National Sales Customers have grown 200% in the last two years.

o Reduced trade spending in same cycle by 15% while achieving major

space gains.

o Opened several New Markets that include all of Texas, Missouri,

Oklahoma, Ohio, Indianapolis.

Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing (1997 - 2004) Jays Family

Ownership

Full Responsibility of total P&L - Top Line Revenue, Ebitda, and Net

Income

o Vertically penetrated all Channels of Trade and established Top

Management Rapport in Supermarkets, Mass, Drug, Grocery, C-store,

Foodservice and Vend customers.

o Increased sales $45 million in 48 months and exceeded all budgeted

goals on top and bottom line, as well as increasing service by 50%.

o Improved Cost of Goods Sold and Gross Margin by 1.5% by capital

improvements and eliminating inefficiencies in production which generated

incremental profit of $1.75 million on a yearly basis. ROI of Capital

projects was 16 months. Capital projects included Opti-sorter, automatic

case packers, and improving efficiencies on automatic weighing scales,

baggers and package material waste.

o Decreased overall selling expense by $10 million through margin

efficiencies, distributor negotiations and fixed expenses.

o Developed St. Louis, Indianapolis and all of Missouri, which resulted

in $18 million of sales with $1.8 million of profit annually.

o Sales team obtained the following new customers Panera, Chicago Vend,

Aramark, Five-Star, 7-Eleven, Kroger, Marsh, Dierbergs, Shop-N-Save,

White Hen, Schnucks, Lo-Bills, Walgreens, Wal-Mart Supercenters, which

results in $18 million of annual sales.

o Implemented and Negotiated Customer Merchandising Agreements with Top

Customers such as: Wal-Mart, Meijer, Albertsons, Safeway, Piggly Wiggly,

Pick-N-Save, Kroger, Panera, Aramark, Sysco, CVS, and vend customers

etc.

Various managerial positions from District Manager to Sr. Regional

Manager (1989 - 1996)

EDUCATION

B.S., Business Administration and Economics, Elmhurst College - 1993

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