Sales, International Sales, Customer Service, Food Ingredients

Objective

Sales or marketing position in the food industry that capitalizes on my ingredient sales experience and my passion

for customer service and media.

Experience

Innovadex * Overland Park, KS 2010 – 2013

Business Development Manager – Food Beverage & Nutrition

Developed a strategy to build a sales funnel, identifying and contacting new supplier clients in the Food, Beverage &

Nutrition industry – Innovadex’s newest vertical. Acquired 60+ new accounts on a trial basis, then converted them to

paying customers, resulting in $500,000 revenue in the first year, and $1M in the second year. Counseled clients in

methods of maximizing their visibility on Innovadex through the use of Digital Media and the optimization of product

names, descriptions and key words.

Secured business from large conglomerates such as DSM, Hormel, McCain and others, by introducing not only

Innovadex’s search engine, but an entire suite of enterprise products and services as a full “Digital Backbone,” tying

together results of all sales and marketing activities at a single point.

Negotiated contracts and contract renewals with an emphasis on increasing activity surrounding the customer’s

listing in each subsequent contract with “add on” products which included customized reporting and detailed

Analytics.

Woodland Foods * Gurnee, IL 2000 2010

Global Sales Representative (2006 – 2010)

Results included an average of 18% sales growth and 4% profit margin growth over entire career at Woodland.

Managed and cultivated crucial partnerships and client development in the Midwest and Canada, including such

companies as Sysco Canada, ConAgra, Freshpoint, Dean & DeLuca, and Baldwin Richardson Foods. Territory

sales were $1.5M. Recurring winner of quarterly sales contest aimed at improving profit margins.

Marketing Manager (2005 – 2006)

Developed marketing strategy that included press releases, press kits, copywriting of Woodland Foods catalog,

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collateral and POS Sheets, as well as the development of bilingual French / English sales materials. Coordinated

participation in domestic and international trade events, and gauged the value of the events afterwards,

recommending whether or not to participate in subsequent years.

Customer Service Manager (2004 – 2005)

Designed Customer Service strategy for a team of CS associates, resulting in departmental accuracy rate of 98.7%.

Trained and coached CS associates in software updates, customer interactions and department policy. Worked as

a liason between Customer Service and Operations, Sales and Administration.

Inside Sales Representative (2000 – 2004)

Focused on restoration of more than 20 accounts who had left Woodland Foods for the competition, realizing over

$250,000 in annual recovered sales. Average development of 48 new clients per year, in addition to maintenance

and growth of existing customers. Initiated growth of proprietary products on a contract basis for National Accounts.

Worked in tandem with clients to develop Private Label product lines, resulting in over $1M of client acknowledged

value.

W.W. Grainger * Niles, IL 1999 2000

Inside Sales Representative

Inside sales responsibility for Milwaukee region customers, partnering with Outside Sales Representative to service

accounts in need of industrial supplies. Delivered 13% sales growth in a $3M territory. Earned “Top 10%”

acknowledgement from Inside Sales Management based on call volume and conversion rates.

The Kellogg Company * Battle Creek, MI 1996 – 1999

Senior Customer Service Specialist, Foodservice

Managed strategic forecast of Kellogg’s C & T non cereal items – NutriGrain Bars, Poptarts, Rice Krispies Treats –

within the Candy & Tobacco segment of Kellogg’s business. Spearheaded the growth of specialty lines of trade (i.e.

Ingredient sales, confectionery and airline sales) through development of pricing structure, growth initiatives and

broker management. Implement flexible resourcing program with key accounts such as DOT Foods and Sysco in

the Midwest Region of the Foodservice segment.

Partnered with outside sales staff in Midwest Region (8 states, $14M) to initiate process improvements, ontime

payment solutions and to maximize sales opportunities. Expedited Customer Service with 300+ customers,

focusing on delivery options, problem resolution and cash application. Managed order process from receipt of order

through confirmation of delivery. 1996 recipient of Kellogg’s Golden Key Award, for Foodservice region with the

highest sales.

Education

University of Illinois 1987 1990

BA Liberal Arts and Science, Concentration in Rhetoric and Communications

University of Illinois 1990 1992

Ed.M Masters Degree in Education, Concentration in Curriculum and Instruction

Alliance Francaise, Paris, France 1994 – 1995

Diplome de Langue – Certification of Fluency, Business French

Professional Memberships:

Food Executive Women, National Association of the Specialty Food Trade, Research Chefs Association, Institute of

Food Technologists

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Elizabeth Woolard

Antioch, IL 60002

847-***-**** *********@*****.***

LinkedIn Profile: http://linkd.in/HSiTQY

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