Sales Manager

Ben Ripley

Email: *********@********.***

Address: **** ********* *****

City: Billings

State: MT

Zip: 59102

Country: USA

Phone: 406-***-****

Skill Level: Management

Salary Range: $40,000

Primary Skills/Experience:

See Resume

Educational Background:

See Resume

Job History / Details:

Ben Ripley

1227 Landscape Drive Billings, MT 59102 Home: 406-***-**** Cell: 406-***-**** ******@*******.***

Objective Seeking a sales position in the food and beverage industry with a vibrant organization.

Profile Creative, results orientated, savvy professional with more than 40-years in the hospitality industry including restaurant start up and management, food and beverage management, catering management and ownership. Rich experience in the areas of sales, marketing, quality control, staff management, operations management, client relations, cost control, administration, and inventory management. Talent for combing technical proficiency with consultative leadership skills resulting in desired outcomes. Proven ability to cultivate strategic relationships, increase customer base, establish market share, and maximize profitability. Highly motivated to outperform the competition.

Core Strengths Strategic Business Relationship Building

Sales Team Mentoring & Management

Forecasting & Market Analytics

Ability to Set and Achieve Targeted Goals Key Account Management

Creative and Resourceful Problem Solving

Articulate Verbal and Written Communication

Ethical Proactive Supervision

Professional Experience Young's Market/Big Sky Beverage, Salt Lake City, UT

Territory Manager, 2010 to 2012

Wine Broker/Liquor Representative, 1994 to 2010

Managed the territory goals and product placement of 100+ wine brands in 1000+ accounts across central and eastern Montana. Utilized aggressive and conscientious merchandising and display techniques and developed customized point-of-sale materials with customer-centric appeal to regional or local area preferences that expanded product distribution, wine list placements and shelf presence. Monitored industry publications to utilize reviews, medals and accolades of represented lines in development of marketing strategies. Expertly grew product distribution and strategically developed special price and incentive programs, resulting in greater market share and revenue growth. Served as liaison between wineries and distributors. Conducted consumer-tasting events and trade shows to showcase product lines.

Brigg's Distributing, Billings, MT

Sales Representative, 1990 to 1994

Strategically facilitated sales of company products to 80+ accounts in Billings and Red Lodge, both on-sale and off-sale channels. Directed the creation and organization of more than 25 restaurant wine lists, which optimized sales of company products and clients' business. Consulted with restaurant and retail outlet managers and provided instruction to their staff regarding the attributes of the company products through classroom training, consumer-tasting events, and trade shows. Excelled at establishing mutually beneficial relationships with divergent stakeholders.

The Rex, Billings, MT

Manager, 1986 to 1990

Restaurant management for high-volume, full-service, fine-dining steak and seafood house. Consistently successful in raising service standards and quality operations. Expertise in training, coaching, customer service, scheduling, labor and quality control and front-of-house operations. Reputation for excellence, integrity and leadership under pressure. Developed the wine program including all aspects of selection, ordering, and inventory and established sales staff incentive program resulting in 10% increase in wine revenues. Developed menu items including creating recipes, adapting recipes for line cooks, analyzing food costs and setting pricing.

Additional

Professional

Experience Twin Lakes Grill, Rathdrum, ID

Owner, 1997 to 2003

Responsible for all costs and training my partner in the Food and Beverage business. Full-service, fine dining steakhouse and bar on a golf course serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Quintinelli's, Billings, MT

Manager, 1984-1986

Created a format for the restaurant including menu items, style of service, and menu design. Responsible for quality of service, food quality, labor costs, and operational costs.

Billings Sheridan Inn, Billings, MT

Banquet Manager, 1982-1984

Responsible for setup, execution and quality of catering as well as managing labor costs of service personnel.

Thunderbird at the Quay, Vancouver, WA

Food and Beverage Manager,1979-1982

Responsible for liquor cost, food cost, and labor cost as well as service and customer experience for a 400 seat bar, 100 seat bar, 60 seat bar, 1500 person banquet facility and 270 seat restaurant.

Achievement Highlights Earned repeated commendations for sales leadership throughout 17-year tenure with Young's Market/Big Sky Beverage.

Developed complex spreadsheet systems for reporting monthly expenses and monitoring distributors' progress with retail accounts for use organization wide with Young's Market.

Personally responsible for 60% of Brigg's Distributing's wine sales revenues during tenure.

Conceptualized, developed and delivered the Wine 101 educational series for MSUB Wine and Food Festival for 14 years, a program that continues today.

Education MFA Music Performance, University of Montana

BA in Music Performance, minor in English Composition, University of Montana

Technology Highly computer literate with proven ability to trouble shoot problems and learn new software applications quickly.

Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, Publisher, PowerPoint, Outlook and OneNote.

Good working knowledge of Adobe Illustrator, PageMaker and PhotoShop and Microsoft Access, Visio and Project.

Community

Relations Billings Petroleum Club Board of Directors, current

Arts Without Boundaries Board of Directors, current

Montana State University Billings Foundation Wine and Food Festival Steering Committee, 1994-2010

Breakfast Exchange Club, 1990-1994

Active participant in fundraising efforts of many community organizations, including MSU-Billings Foundation, Rocky Mountain College, University of Montana, Alberta Bair Theater, Arts Without Boundaries, Yellowstone Art Museum, St. Vincent Hospital Foundation, Billings Clinic Foundation, Community Leadership Development Inc., Moss Mansion, Boys and Girls Club, Mayfair and Family Services.

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