Rick Zahm

Email: aboqw5@r.postjobfree.com

Address: *** * *** * #*

City: Columbia City

State: IN

Zip: 46725

Country: USA

Phone: 260-***-****

Skill Level: Management

Salary Range: 100

Willing to Relocate

Primary Skills/Experience:

See Resume

Educational Background:

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Job History / Details:

RICHARD E. ZAHM II

aboqw5@r.postjobfree.com 260-***-**** 105 N 200 E #1 Columbia City, IN 46725

EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT

Accomplished Executive with increasingly responsible experience delivering profitable revenue growth and top-flight sales performance for powerhouse food corporations. Consistently successful in improving productivity, profitability, customer service and staff engagement through decisive and transformational leadership. Ensure alignment of region, district and store plans with overall corporate objectives. Key areas of expertise include:

Team Leadership Organizational Development Change & Transition Management P&L Management Cost Reduction

Merchandising Strategic Planning Inventory Management Mergers & Acquisitions Process Improvement

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

RIONNA MARKETING LLC. - Columbia City, IN 2007 to Present

Research and marketing company.

President

Provide research and recommendations based on the research for small to medium sized companies. Assist in implementation of the process improvement and measure the results.

K.C. INTERNATIONAL FREIGHT FORWARDING INC. - Columbia City, IN 2011 to 2012

Provide customers with the logistics to move freight, products and packages both domestic and internationally.

Vice President, Sales & Marketing

Drive results in sales, market penetration, brand identity and awareness. Form and cultivate client relationships and deliver cutting-edge marketing campaigns in step with business goals and long-term objectives. Served as trusted advisor to upper management on cost containment and margin improvement areas.

Expanded customer base by more than 30%.

AMHERST PARTNERS - Lansing, MI 2010 to 2011

One of the Midwest`s largest and most reputable boutique investment banking and corporate restructuring firms.

Consultant / Private Contractor

Provided strategic counsel for store operations during the receivership of a group of retail food stores. Oversaw the entire transition to new ownership, advising the receiver from contract negotiations, through final closing and ongoing management. Analyzed sales records during acquisition to determine possible profits.

Cut store inventory by over 50% and maintained a sales base for the new owners.

L&L FOOD CENTERS / ATLAS PHARMACY - Lansing, MI 2008 to 2010

Hybrid between a local grocer and a chain supermarket with 8 locations in the Lansing area. Atlas Pharmacy is a full-service pharmacy owned and operated by L&L Food Centers.

General Manager

Challenged to direct 8 supermarkets, 5 pharmacies, 1 limited assortment food store and 1 gas station with combined annual sales of $50M+. Provided leadership direction to 9 Store Directors, Pharmacy District Manager and corporate staff; indirectly managed a workforce of 600+. Continually analyzed each location`s performance, and partnered with staff to roll out actionable, customized roadmaps to reach optimal results in profitability, store branding and customer service.

Authored annual strategic sales and market development plans to guide the organization, defined resource requirements, prepared cost and revenue projections and monitored financial performance.

Updated the facilities and product offerings at 5 food stores; completely redesigned, remodeled and developed the merchandising layout.

General Manager - Continued:

Reduced pharmacy inventory by over 30% through the elimination of obsolete products.

Increased EBITDA 200 basis point, representing 2% improvement in total salestook the company from red to black.

SCOTT`S FOOD STORES, INC. / SUPERVALU - Ft. Wayne, IN 1994 to 2007

Supermarket chain with 18 stores in the Fort Wayne, IN market. Once a wholly owned subsidiary of SuperValu, acquired by The Kroger Co. in 2007.

Senior Vice President, Merchandising & Operations (2007)

Promoted to top executive position with dual roles directing the operations in 18 upscale food stores with 14 pharmacies. Provided leadership direction for 2,000+ employees. Inspired keen focus on delivering superior client care in sync with company`s service-driven culture and brand position.

Led team of 53 at the corporate office and 18 Store Directors to achieve superior company operations and results consistently over plan.

Ensured a smooth transition and placed all Associates during the purchase of Scott`s Foods by Kroger.

Vice President, Merchandising & Operations (2003 to 2007)

Advanced to direct the full spectrum of day-to-day operations to ensure profitability and increase overall financial performance to $300M+. Established company direction, including strategic planning, company standards, capital investments, community involvement, promotions and operations. Consistently tracked progress and realigned targets to maximize sales productivity. Reported directly to the company President.

Designed and executed business plan that achieved financial results 5% over plan.

Spearheaded the transition of company culture from a discounter to an upscale food store operation.

Purchased several competitors` stores, remodeled the stores and integrated the stores into the company`s culture.

District Manager & Director of Operations (1994 to 2003)

Assumed high-profile leadership role for a group of Cub Foods and County Market stores with 400+ Associates. Rolled out detailed sales and merchandising plans to achieve strategic business objectives. Worked in partnership with vendors and merchandise execution teams to continually streamline floor sales and enhance overall customer experience. Trained Store Directors to raise brand recognition.

Directed all aspects of the new 60K sq. ft. flagship store, including building design, equipment and merchandising to create a total new shopping experience in the market. Delivered rapid results per-square-foot for the $6M project that became the company`s first upscale market store.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

University of New York at Buffalo Mini MBA Certificate - Condensed MBA Courses

Dale Carnegie Professional Development Series, Ft. Wayne IN - Presentation and Public Speaking

Cornell University Home Study Program - Management Courses

SUPERVALU University, Minneapolis MN - Management Training and Development Courses

WBL Development Program, Minneapolis MN - SUPERVALU Work Based Learning Program for High Potentials;

Training to Develop and Implement New Corporate Programs

PDI Executive Development and Assessment, Minneapolis MN - Executive Development Program

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Junior Achievement - Classroom Instructor

American Cancer Society - `Cancer Day` Fundraising Program

NAACP - `United For Change` Program

United Hispanic Americans - Annual Banquet

Ft. Wayne Children`s Zoo - `Zoo Day` Fundraising Program

Ft. Wayne Chamber of Commerce - Represented Company

Progressive Grocer - Featured Store of the Month

Columbia City Chamber of Commerce - President of Retail Division

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