Sales Customer Service

Daniel Whisenhunt

*************@*****.*** Cell: (209) 605–1363

*** ***** *****, *******, ** 95382

General Manager / Vice President / Director

Dynamic business leader with more than 20 years of sales, marketing and management success across a wide spectrum of industries. Leverages ample cross-cultural sensitivity and top-flight relationship building skills to build highly productive teams that increase revenue and brand recognition in diverse channels. Strong communicator with extensive contract management and negotiation expertise. Outstanding track record of securing business with global partners. Consistently identifies room for improvement and builds strategic plans that resolve critical business issues.

Areas of Expertise

Strategic Planning –Operations – Contract Negotiations – Vendor Relationship Management – Training & Development – Advertising & Marketing – Project Management – Process Improvements – Logistics – Marketing & Advertising – Organizational Excellence – Budget Management – Public Relations – Quality Improvement – Sales Management

Professional Experience

Hilltop Ranch, Inc. – Ballico, CA 2/14 - 9/15

Packer and Exporter of Whole Natural and Inshell Almonds. Company ranks in the top 5% of all almond packers.

Director of Sales & Marketing

Recruited to company to oversee all domestic and international sales and marketing functions, as well as all grower relations and logistics operations. Directed domestic and international sales were maintained in 70 different countries. Recruited and trained a Sales Manager who continues to handle domestic and international sales on a day-to-day basis. Oversaw contract negotiations and shipment of $200M+ in sales annually. Maintained current customer relationships while bringing to the company established strategic relationships with buyers in Japan, China, India and the Middle East. This was accomplished while monitoring credit evaluations, collections, customer service and ongoing communications with buyers from around the world. Executed a strategic plan to position the company within marketplace at trade shows and with print advertising. Developed revised trade show booth graphics and company brochure.

Coached and mentored four Grower Relations Representatives. Maintained previously cultivated relationships with growers that were converted to deliver product to Hilltop Ranch, Inc. for processing, packing and sale. Managed up to ten employees while providing performance feedback. Also performed full range of sales prospecting, qualifying, needs assessment, data gathering and presentation to customer and prospects throughout all tiers of an organization, from owner-operators to CEOs. Acted as PR liaison at public events and industry meetings. Served on Company’s Quality team that supported H.A.C.C.P., GMPs, Sanitation, and food safety programs, as well as the review of quality concerns from customers.

Coordinated weekly staff meetings that kept teams focused.

Led the Grower Relations Representatives to an increase of 10% in grower acreage under contract in 2014 and an additional 15% increase in 2015.

Implemented the use of an internet-based system to efficiently communicate with the Company’s audiences in mass.

Implemented the use of social media to communicate with both buyers and growers.

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Simplified packing specification to reduce customer complaints and make expectations easy to understand for production employees.

Recruited and trained one Grower Relations Representative.

Participated in the recruitment of several key positions.

Participated in the implementation of the company’s 401(K) program.

Reduced overtime of hourly employees by 20%.

John Potter Specialty Foods – International Division – Modesto, CA 8/13 - 2/14

International Trading and Exporting of Tree Nuts

President – International Division

Recruited to company to develop and implement an International Division of the Company. Responsible for oversight of all sales and marketing functions. As Division President, collaboratively developed policies and procedures. Directed international sales to 25 different countries, coordinated contract negotiations, and oversaw shipment of $50M+ in annual sales. Maintained strategic relationships with buyers and vendors, while monitoring credit evaluations, collections, customer service, and ongoing communications. Design and execute strategic plan and positioned company within marketplace. Developed budgets and utilized financial statements to evaluate progress of the division, as well as in the strategic planning process.

Returned a profit within the first year.

Trained an existing employee to transact international business and on technical information of tree nuts.

Built in-house sales and logistics processes.

Hired and trained a Logistics Associate on how to arrange trucking, arrange ocean shipping and produce export documents.

Conducted trainings for staff on a variety of topics.

Left Division in-tact upon departure. Division continues to grow and increase in profitability with no turnover of employees.

RCM Trading, Inc. / Monte Vista Farming Company– Denair, CA 4/98-7/13

Packer and Exporter of Whole Natural and Inshell Almonds. Company ranks in the top 20% of all almond packers.

Director of Sales & Marketing

Recruited to the company to orchestrate all sales and marketing functions. Served on executive management team and collaboratively developed policies and procedures to be implemented company-wide. Directed domestic and international sales to 25 different countries, coordinate contract negotiations, and oversaw shipment of $60M+ in goods annually. Established and maintained strategic relationships with buyers in Japan, China, India, Middle East and Western Europe, as well as domestically, while monitoring credit evaluations, collections, customer service and ongoing communications. Designed and executed strategic plan and positioned company within marketplace. Developed budgets and utilized financial statements on a regular basis, as well as in the strategic planning process.

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Developed and maintained relationships with growers to deliver product for processing, packing, and sale. Managed up to six employees and provided performance feedback. Performed full range of sales prospecting, qualifying, needs assessment, data gathering and presentation throughout all tiers of the organization, from farmers to corporate CEOs. Acted as PR liaison at public events and industry meetings. Served on H.A.C.C.P. team and supported H.A.C.C.P., GMPs, Sanitation and food safety programs.

Slashed exporter and broker commissions paid by more than 75% by building direct relationships with suppliers and end-users; increased grower revenue by more than $1M each year.

Increased processing volume four-fold from 1998 to 2009.

Designed and implemented first full color illustrated sales and information brochure in company history.

Built in-house logistics process and eliminated use of outside freight forwarders; decreased shipping-related complaints by more than 90% and saved $100K+ annually.

Grew revenue by negotiating ocean shipping contracts; saved ~25% of ocean shipping costs and streamlined sales process.

Initiated uniform company logo and identity utilization.

As a member of the executive management team played an integral part of the strategic planning process.

Dole Nut Company – Orland, CA 1997 - 1998

Packer and Exporter of Whole Natural, Blanched / Manufactured and Inshell Almonds.

Domestic & International Sales Representative

Maximized profits in sales of whole natural, in-shell and manufactured forms of almonds. Assembled and led cross-functional work teams to remove barriers in providing customer-specific products and service.

Upon entering the industry, successfully transacted domestic and international business within one week.

Successfully developed major target domestic customers such as Pillsbury, See’s Candies, and Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream.

Previous Experience

Positions held as Staffing Coordinator at Rush Personnel Service, Inc. and Senior Training Consultant, District Sales Manager and Sales Representative at Mutual of Omaha and Kelly Services, Inc. During those assignments managed up to 125 employees. Participated in new product development and rollout. Conducted sales technique and product related seminars. Further details available upon request.

Education

Master of Business Administration

Graduated with Distinction (3.925 G. P. A.)

California State University, Stanislaus

Bachelor of Science Degree, Business Administration

Concentrations in Marketing and Business Education

California State University-Sacramento, Sacramento, CA

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Professional Development

Total Quality Management (TQM), Process Management, Project Management, Creative Training Techniques, numerous sales, time management, computer and software related courses

Currently enrolled in Accredited Agricultural Consultant coursework through American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers

Professional Affiliations

California Chapter American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers, 2000 - Present

Earned Accredited Agricultural Consultant (AAC) Designation (2013)

Board Member (First Vice President) for 4 years, Chair - FARMit Farm -Management Education Committee. Previously served as Farm Management / Agricultural Consulting Education Committee Co-Chair (CA Chapter), Committee Member (3 years) - Farm Management / Agricultural Consulting Education Committee (National Society)

Pick & Shovel Award for leading marketing task force and designing Chapter’s first marketing plan.

Chapter Service Award for Development of the FARMit Education Program

Chaired task force to re-engineer state-wide and national educational offerings

Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society, Life member

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