Sales Manager

Dan Ries

310-***-**** ( ***.*.****@*****.***

Marketing executive with extensive experience in Brand Management, New

Product Development, Business Management, and National Customer Sales.

Outstanding career results accomplished with core strengths including:

Strategic Business/Marketing Planning Product Licensing

Brand Positioning/Communication Team Leadership and Individual Coaching

Development Project Management and Operations Planning

New Product Creation & Consumer Research Development and Analysis

Commercialization Consumer Advertising and Promotions

P&L Management/ROI Analysis

Customer Sales Calls/National Account

Planning

Professional Experience

KRACO ENTERPRISES, LLC (FORMERLY SHELL OIL COMPANY) - LOS ANGELES, CA

JUN 2009 - PRESENT

Group Product Manager - Kraco Floor Mats

Manage the Floor Mat portfolio representing $58 million in revenue with a

50% share of market. Work with CEO, CFO and National Sales Team to develop

marketing plan and key account strategies to meet revenue and profit goals.

Create and deliver key account presentations for the nation's largest mass,

automotive, drug, discount, and club retailers. Responsible for

leading/managing internal and external cross-functional teams and for the

personal and professional development of two direct reports.

Senior Product Manager - AE Seat Covers, Steering Wheel Covers

Responsible for developing new seat cover and steering wheel cover products

to strengthen our portfolio and gain back lost business. Developed key

account plans including merchandising and packaging recommendations

isolated key accounts to gain back lost share.

Senior Product Manager - AE Air Fresheners

Responsible for managing the top selling lines in the air care portfolio

while developing a major licensing initiative with the SC Johnson Company's

Glade Brand. Worked with sales managers at key accounts - including

Walmart, AutoZone, Walgreens, Dollar General, and Family Dollar - to

maximize existing shelf space and gain incremental facings.

Key Results:

. Improved profit margin on 2 large COSTCO floor mat programs - that

totaled more than $6.5 million incremental revenue - by implementing a

revised factory-to-customer distribution program.

. Played key role in a major cost savings initiative, which included

meeting with and evaluating all China factories then developed a factory

consolidation recommendation with projected annual savings of $2 million.

. Won the $2.5 million steering wheel cover business while securing the

floor mat and seat cover categories at Target by developing a synergistic

plan-o-gram that included complimentary product offerings.

. Developed a multi-segment line of licensed air fresheners under the Glade

brand which included working with SC Johnson on contract negotiations and

product approvals throughout development phase; Glade line represents 40%

of growing air care line.

. Developed and presented the products included in the air care program

that gained 10 facings at Dollar General representing $4 million in

annual incremental air freshener revenue; after successful sales results

in year 1 the line maintained shelf space.

. Pushed for a post line review follow-up meeting with the Family Dollar

buyer and successfully sold in a new assortment of air fresheners

including the Glade brand that have more than doubled sales revenue at

the account.

RP & ASSOCIATES - Los Angeles, CA

Dec 2007 - May 2009

Director of Marketing & Sales

Responsible for developing and selling promotional product programs.

Expanded client base by managing 2 Sales Managers and selling directly to

'house' accounts.

Key Results:

. Expanded and managed a marketing team including 3 product designers, 1

packaging designer, and 3 sourcing managers.

. Successfully created unique promotional products that tied into clients'

brand positioning and key product attributes. Clients included Nestle

USA, Disney, Patron Spirits and Pernod Ricard.

. Devised product defect resolution plan salvaging client holiday promotion

and securing $350k re-order.

. Managed projects through the sourcing department and worked with

international manufacturers to take numerous ideas from concepts to

finished products.

. Created new business proposals, client presentations, and marketing

materials.

DAN RIES 310-***-**** ( ***.*.****@*****.***

Pg. 2

Professional Experience (cont'd)

DISCOVERIES MARKETING - ST. LOUIS, MO/HOUSTON, TX/LOS ANGELES, CA

JAN 2001 - NOV 2007

Marketing/Business Planning Consultant - Owner

Provided clients with category insight, strategic direction, business

planning, problem solving, packaging design, brand positioning,

brand/product naming, and creative development.

Clients/Key Results:

Pedigree Dog Food Group - Worked with consumer promotion agency of record

as the account manager for Mars Pedigree Dog Food Product Innovation Group.

. Developed consumer promotion plan for the 2007 introduction of a new

healthy dog food - The Goodlife Recipe

. Created packaging graphics, marketing materials, and event marketing

plans for WholeMeals dog food test markets

Lender's Bagels - Worked with Group Brand Manager as packaging development

consultant.

. Developed brand positioning and packaging communication goals for the

2005 test market line extension of Lender's Bagel Sandwiches.

. Managed a packaging design team to create several packaging graphics

concepts including the winning design chosen for the product line.

. Established positioning platforms and led name generation brainstorming

meetings for a line of Lender's Bagel Snacks.

Windsor Foods - Worked with the director of marketing to help create a new

line of branded frozen pasta.

. Identified several brand positioning platforms for qualitative and

quantitative testing.

. Created brand names and unique concept statements to support each

potential brand positioning.

. Gained approval to bring each concept to life with packaging

designs/concept boards for focus group and purchase interest testing.

Flow 'n Grow Easy-Flow Drainage Filter - Worked as partner in start up

business.

. Revised/rewrote start-up business plan and presented Marketing and Sales

portion of plan at investor meetings.

. Redeveloped product line and pricing strategy to deliver better profit

margins.

. Developed new manufacturing partnership with cut and sew facility in

Mexico.

. Identified distribution opportunities, developed and delivered account

presentations.

conagra foods, inc. - Omaha, NE

Apr 1999 - Dec 2000

Senior Marketing Manager - Kid Cuisine Frozen Dinners

Initiated and implemented a new progressive Marketing Plan and developed

a 5-Year Brand Vision.

Key Results:

. Developed and presented innovative and well supported marketing

objectives with emphasis on product innovation. Gained senior management

approval for a new "Go-To-Market" strategy.

. Led brand team to develop and introduce 3 new dinner items and 7 product

improvements to the existing line. Successfully fast-tracked the

national launch to ship 3 months prior to original plan.

. Developed successful major tie-in promotions with Sesame Street, Disney,

Tiger Electronics

. Updated Kid Cuisine's overall brand position after identifying shift in

consumer needs and determining benefits most relevant to kids and

parents.

. Substantiated a 5 year growth plan and successfully implemented phase 1

of the plan with a kick off national sales meeting with 300+ sales

managers in QY FY01.

nestle usa, inc. - St. Louis, MO

Oct 1995 - Apr 1999

Group Marketing Manager - SweeTARTS and Spree Brands

Responsible for growing SweeTARTS Brand sales and breadth of line while

repositioning the Spree brand.

Key Results:

. Introduced Mini Chewy SweeTARTS and Gummy SweeTARTS (co-winners of

Convenience Store News' 1997 New Product of the Year award) into national

distribution.

. Launched SweeTARTS/Disney licensed product lines into national

distribution including an everyday line for Winnie the Pooh & Tigger and

promotional lines for Toy Story, Hunchback of Notre Dame, 101 Dalmatians,

Hercules, and A Bug's Life theatrical releases. Negotiated agreement

terms and gained approvals with Disney throughout

concept/product/packaging development.

. Designed and fielded qualitative and quantitative research to identify

Spree's strongest opportunities for long-term brand growth. Redefined

Target Audience from kids to tweens/teens and revised brand positioning.

. Revised the Spree Brand marketing strategy to include teen focused TV

advertising, packaging, and point of purchase displays.

. Grew SweeTARTS brand sales 10%+ and Spree Brand Sales an average of 18%

each year during 4 years of brand responsibility.

DAN RIES 310-***-**** ( ***.*.****@*****.***

Pg. 3

Professional Experience (cont'd)

PANERA BREAD CO. (FORMERLY ST. LOUIS BREAD CO.) - ST. LOUIS, MO

MAY 1994 - OCT 1995

Director of Marketing

Responsible for new product development and creating and implementing grass-

root marketing programs for opening new Bakery/Cafes. Expansion plans

included increasing locations in St. Louis and expanding into Atlanta and

Chicago.

Key Results:

. Increased efficiency and productivity of Marketing Department by 1)

enhancing in-house graphics capabilities, and 2) creating local marketing

teams to implement localized marketing/community relations programs.

. Initiated product development on lower-priced and lower calorie bakery

items to help generate increased store traffic resulting in 2 highly

successful new bakery lines included 1) bagels, and 2) low fat offerings.

. In 2 years as Director of Marketing, company sales grew more than 100%,

with same store sales growth above industry average.

ralston purina co. (Continental Baking Co. Division) - St. Louis, MO

Jan 1988 - May 1994

Product/Brand Manager - Hostess Snack Cakes

Key Results:

. Successfully introduced Hostess Baseballs line into national distribution

with first six months sales totaling more than $20MM. Originated

concept, developed business plan -- including capital expenditure

approvals of $1.5MM, and negotiated all contracts with Major League

Baseball and the Players Association.

. Developed and launched a national line of seasonal snack cakes and donuts

that achieved high levels of display activity and 40% sales growth.

. Developed and aired a regional advertising campaign to defend brand share

against competitive activity.

Assistant/Associate Product Manager - Wonder Bread

Key Results:

. Extended Wonder Light into ethnic/regional varieties and introduced

successful Wonder Light line extensions

. Managed development and implementation of a new package design system

across the Wonder Bread Line

. Developed national and local tie-in promotions promoted at shelf on

primary packaging panels. Negotiated agreements with tie-in partners

including Kool-Aid, Mattel, and Six Flags theme parks.

Education

ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY

Business Degree - Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Emphasis

in Marketing

Certified/Practicing Spin Instructor

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