Competencies:

Professional Experience:

Trader Joe’s - Lake Zurich, IL Section Leader – Wine 2011 to current

Provided superior customer service while ordering appropriate inventory levels to promote and merchandise the

wine department. Other responsibilities included cashiering and receiving deliveries.

• Responsible for 10% of total store sales contribution

• Executed and maintained corporate planogram strategy

• Coordinated display space for seasonal and advertised programs

Le Creuset Cookware - Early Branch, SC National Demo Coordinator/Brand Ambassador 2010 to current

Recruited, trained and managed Le Creuset’s National demonstration teams for store-level events at Crate &

Barrel and Williams Sonoma.

• Managed payroll, event feedback and expenses for demo teams

• Collaborated with Le Creuset’s International Group Home Economist to teach product features and benefits

to Le Creuset colleagues during National sales meeting

• Represented Le Creuset during QVC live TV broadcast at Aspen Food and Wine Classic

Cucina Della Rosa Cooking School - Barrington, IL President / Owner 2005 to 2010

Established Chicago’s Northwest suburbs premier cooking school and earned recognition for providing innovative

cooking classes and corporate team-building events utilizing hands-on cooking techniques and popular cuisine.

Business closed to pursue other career opportunities.

• Created all sales and marketing media for internet, magazine and newspaper marketing campaigns

• Collaborated with high profile business clientele such as GE HealthCare, Experian, Pepsi, Motorola and

Allstate to provide innovative team-building cooking venues

• Recruited to launch and author the “What’s Cooking” column in Quintessential Barrington magazine

• Featured as guest chef at the Great American Cooking Expo

Trader Joe’s - Lake Zurich, IL In-Store demonstrator 2004 to 2005

Led on-premise cooking demonstrations designed to showcase product features & benefits to customers.

• Developed innovative recipes to enhance store sales through increased awareness

• Bundled products to increase market basket size

Sears Holdings - Hoffman Estates, IL Buyer – Sears Grand Store format 2002 to 2003

Collaborated to plan and execute the roll-out of the “Sears Grand” store concept and growth strategy.

• Differentiated “Sears Grand” store’s product mix and format design from the marketplace through insights

from focus groups and market visits with Buyers, Marketing and Store Operations

• Integrated “Sear’s Grand” buying departmental team needs with existing full-line Sear’s buyers, marketing

managers and operations teams

• Responsible for optimizing 4P’s in Land’s End, and shoe categories. Developed seasonal baking category

assortment and regionally sourced vendors

Wal-Mart / Sam’s Club - Arlington Heights, IL Regional Category Manager 1997 to 2000

Responsible for developing and implementing annual business plans and providing all category management

needs across beer, wine, spirits, carbonated/new age beverages, chips, snacks and DSD bakery. Other priorities

included opening new store locations and educating store managers and district managers.

• Recruited, trained and managed buying staff to help meet departmental needs as priorities shifted from

opening the regional buying office to opening additional Sam’s Clubs

• Negotiated $500K in unprecedented Pepsi rebates through a restructured/competitive incentive program

• Researched and introduced regional beverage assortments to 56 Midwest Sam’s Clubs resulting in 20%

sales and 12% profit increases within first year of plan execution

• Conceptualized and implemented a merchandising program to merchandise fine spirits. Vendors were

encouraged to share the cost of an acrylic end cap display which increased sales by 59%

Costco Wholesale - Livermore, CA Assistant Category Manager 1988 to 1996

Successfully managed and nurtured vendor relationships to align to corporate strategies. Fulfilled replenishment

needs with sundries, pet, beverage, candy and grocery suppliers. Key responsibilities included vendor meetings,

syndicated data analysis, sourcing new items, replenishment with AS400 software and providing recommendations

for competitive pricing and pack designs required to meet corporate objectives and drive market share.

• Recognized for developing effective category management spreadsheets to help standardize department

sales analysis

• Managed supply chain relationships with sundries vendors to achieve an unprecedented $350M in annual

sales through improved in-stock status and enhanced product turns that fueled a 10% increase in sales

• Researched and introduced new item to pet snacks category that consistently delivered $1K per store and

grew the category by 25%

Education: University of California, Davis - Bachelor of Science, Textiles and Clothing

Skills: Proficient with Microsoft Office, Retail-Link, AS400 software. Certificate-Food Service Sanitation

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