BENJAMIN MATHEWS

***** **** ****** *****, *****, MD 20720

Cell: 240-***-**** Email: ad3u3r@r.postjobfree.com

Professional Summary

Results-oriented, highly competitive Manager focused on increasing profits, reducing costs, inventory management and driving sales by building brand loyalty with fanatical customer service. Also a developer of strong teams that are well trained to implement and project the company mission while keeping a critical eye for detail to ensure accuracy and execution of company objectives with follow up.

Skills

- Customer-oriented -Consistently meets sales goals

- Skilled Problem Solver -Team Builder

- Motivated team player -Highly Competitive

- Computer literate -Strong attention to detail

Work History

District Program Manager, 09/2015 to Present

– Laurel, MD

Managed 18 Multi Units (+30 Employees)

20 Million Dollar Operations

Developing Store Retail Managers & Associates

+250% Sales & Leads Increase

Sales & Customer Service

Merchandising of Displays

Marketing Materials

Hiring / Staffing / Disciplinary Actions

Training & Presentations

Director of Operations, 04/2011 to 09/2015

Petsmart Inc. – Alexandria, VA

Successfully operated a $20M multifaceted organization generating a 10% increase over LY and 6% increase

Strategically controlled expenses by leveraging sales thus reducing shrink by 50%

Experience with specific Human Resources software programs, e.g., PeopleSoft HR, Kronos, and Kenexa

Maintained optimal staffing levels at all times by reducing Turn Over by 2% while supervising 130 employees and 3 levels of Management

Cultivated a customer-focused shopping environment by overseeing the implementation of Merchandising standards creating a stronger curb appeal and sales culture which in turn produced a 60% increase in Customer Satisfaction Scores

Fostered collaboration inclusion and trust thereby creating a culture of sharing ideas and follow up that resulted in a successful 97% audit results

General Manager Field Trainer District Manager, 01/2008 to 04/2011

Borders Inc. – Washington DC, NW

Directed a $20M Flagship location that was inclusive of the 5th highest volume café increasing overall revenue by 12% over plan and reducing shrink by 50%

Creating a culture of sharing best developed practices to establish daily routines and removing redundancies showing positive growth by 6 basis points on the P&L

Hiring, identifying, training and developing of staff while managing a staff of 75 & 2 Store Managers & 5 Supervisors reducing our Turn over by 8%

Experience with specific Human Resources software programs, e.g., PeopleSoft HR, Kronos, and Kenexa

Mentored Multi Locations and ran the Regional Training Center while maintaining our top 15 store status

Oversight over many large in store and offsite events ($200K National Book Fair, National Cherry Blossoms and book sinning)

Grew our Customer Membership by 33% by implementing ideas generated in the field such as Employee Suggested Reading cards with a short description

General Manager District Manager, 08/2004 to 01/2008

Linens N' Things – Washington DC, NW

Operated a $16M Flagship Operation increasing sales revenues by 8% over plan and creating better operating practices thus reducing shrink by 50%

Managed a 55 member staff & 3 Store Managers & 5 Guest Service Managers developing the lowest Management Turn Over of less than .5 %

Experience with specific Human Resources software programs, e.g., PeopleSoft HR, Kronos, and Kenexa

Oversight of 3 locations for both operational indices and P&L that resulted in a 2% bottom line profit growth

District point person for: Guest Service, Succession Planning and District Conference call preparations

Ensured the best customer experience look and feel by follow up on all Merchandising, POG and marketing strategies

Recognized and rewarded outstanding work performance to cultivate a positive and collaborative customer service culture resulting in a positive 10% increase in Customer Service scores

Director of Operations Guest Services Leader, 01/2002 to 08/2004

Toys "R" Us Inc. – Clinton, MD

Operated a $16M Operation driving a sales increase of 4% over plan reducing shrink by 10% and resulting in a positive 5% profit growth by controlling expenses

Included: Kids R Us/Imaginarium/Rzone/Babies R Us/Toys

Strategically scheduled team members to maintain optimal staffing levels at all time with a 150 member staff, 2 Store Managers & 6 Department Managers with a 2.5% Turn over

Experience with specific Human Resources software programs, e.g., PeopleSoft HR, Kronos, and Kenexa

Top Performer on Warranties, Presells and Credit Card Application Sign ups

Conducted Mass Hire for Seasonal Builds to ensure marketing strategies were 100% executed both in Hard & Soft Lines

Networking & Developing Public Relations Activities (Kids Expo, Neighborhood Olympics, United Way Campaign and member of the Chamber of Commerce)

General Store Manager, 01/1992 to 01/2002

Office Depot Inc. – Washington, DC

Operated a $15M Flagship location increasing sales by 12% over plan and reduced shrink down to 0.10 % and resulted in a 15 point swing in our profit growth on our P&L

Networking & developing PR and Chamber Activities that resulted in landing the DC Public School System account that generated a 15M Sale that was spread also over to our Business to Business accounts and an ongoing partnership

Raised the ATV and UPT and the IMU by 4 basis pts by educating customers about the ability to do a Custom Technology Order (CTO) to incite excitement about customizing their purchases to match their needs

Experience with specific Human Resources software programs, e.g., PeopleSoft HR, Kronos, and Kenexa

As a Regional Training Manager I designed much of the training support material for the company and had 5 District Training Managers that were direct reports

One of my many functions also included recruiting of Mid-Level Management Staff & Training and thus processed over 100 Mid-Level Managers

I Assisted with both HR & Loss Prevention investigations & New Store Opening (from inception to Grand Opening and beyond)

Provided support to the Regional Vice President on both HR & Operational Protocols to enhance sales & profitability

Monitored the Regional Training Stores

Developed the Store Management Development Program (process used to promote internal AM candidates to SM position)

Overall responsibility over the operations of a field warehouse and fleet of trucks for local delivery of online orders

Responsible for the maintenance of the Fleet of Trucks and daily routing and scheduling

Scheduled the various shipments and allocations of shipments to various areas in the Washington DC Metro area

Managed the Financial Accounting of the Funds from the Online Orders to ensure proper billing and credits were applied

Master Technical Engineer, 01/1991 to 01/1992

Sorbus /Bell Atlantic South Inc. – Landover, MD

Technical Onsite engineer responsible for client relationship and work order maintenance. Direct responsibility of responding to work orders and ensuring client down time is very limited and creating technical solutions to ensure client is operational in a government installation. Implemented repair solutions for government tempered equipment.

District Sales Manager / Group Manager, 01/1981 to 01/1992

CVS Inc. – Lanham, MD

Responsible for bulk inventory purchases that resulted in larger volume and curb appeal

Developed and Designed much of the operational protocols that translated Peoples Drug to CVS

Responsible for sales of roughly 48 Million along with8 Store Managers and indirectly 200 employees

Cultivated a customer focused shopping environment by accumulating data analysis of shopping activity and trends

Worked with the management team to implement the proper division of responsibilities

Actively pursued personal learning and development opportunities.

Education

B.S. Business Administration: Accounting, 1990 (Incomplete)

University of Maryland - College Park, MD

Real-estate License

Master Bench Tech Certificate

Food & Beverage License

References

References Available upon request.

Additional Information

Sales & Highest ATV & Highest UPT Awards

Chair Member for the National Cherry Blossoms in DC

Project Coordinator for the National Book Festival in DC

Hosted Dignitaries and Celebrities for events / Green Rooms

Managed a warehouse and Fleet of trucks / set schedules & dispatch

Serve as a Volunteer overseas in various countries to help rebuild homes, built a hurricane shelter, taught and built web interfaces, designed custom software and installed CCTV (Haiti, DR, Jamaica, Trinidad, West Africa etc.)

Configure to Order Computer Award

Special Order Chairs Award

Kemper Warranties/ Buyer Protection Program Warranties

Guest Service Awards

President's Circle Award (5 yrs.)

United Way Gold & Platinum Award

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