Stephen W. Ruggles

**** *. **** **** *** 417-***-**** cell

Springfield, Missouri 65803 417-***-**** home

Sales/Sales Management Skills

I Have 28 years of sales, marketing, and management experience with retail, distribution, and manufacturing on local, regional, and national levels. Here are a few key skills that have been a success for me;

• New Market Penetration

• Key Account Growth

• Master Distributors/DBA’s/Wholesale/Retail Channels

• Promotion Plan Development

• Merchandising

• Forecasting

• Sales Training

• Hiring Quality and Effective Sales Staff

• Building Good Customer Rapport/ Loyalty

• Effective Communicator

• Excellent PR skills

• Goal Oriented

• Committed to Success

• Integrity

Work Experiences

Midwestern Pet Food Inc. Monmouth ILL April 2001

Regional Sales Manager Present

I started as a territory sales manager and in 2004 was promoted to a regional manager. I manage four territory staff over my region. Worked with customers coordinating nutritional seminars to educate their staff of products and services. I work Trade shows and special events throughout my territory. When I started we had two production facilities. I was promoted to a regional manager when we built the third facility in my territory. I have been a team player with my fellow regional coworkers in other areas of the country helping them with breeder, specialty, and dog enthusiast groups. A fourth manufacturing facility was purchased in 2015 on the east coast. During my time with the company we have doubled our production capacity from two pet food manufacturing facilities to four.

manufacturing facilities to four.

Stephen W. Ruggles

ARKAT Feeds Inc. Dumas Ar. February 1996

National Sales Manager March 2001

I started as national sales and marketing coordinator with the selling and marketing of pet products nationwide to new and existing companies. Six month after employment I was promoted to the companies National Sales Manager. I helped with the planning and marketing of a new line of pet food, the Enhance brand. Due to the increased sales in certain market areas of all the branded feeds we carried I was able to hire a sales staff to help with continued growth. I was in charge of obtaining new customer accounts, the maintenance of existing accounts, promotions, marketing of products, selling and marketing of private label business, yearly sales projections, working industry seminars, and trade shows nationally. Arkat started manufacturing pet foods in 1994, during my employment customer base sales were up over 20% annually. Reason for leaving, The Company CEO retired and a new CEO was brought in, he came from another company brining in new staff with him. I received a severance package and was told mine and my staff’s positions were eliminated.

Tindle Feeds Inc. Springfield, Mo August 1987

Specialty Sales Manager February 1996

I started out as a dock employee loading feed. In a short time I was promoted to shipping and receiving clerk. I learned products and procedures of the company. I worked with manufacturer Reps. In the pet food channels. May 15 1989 I was promoted to Specialty Sales Rep. After working in sales for twelve months I was promoted to manager. My sales area consisted of Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri. I managed pet food distribution in a four state area. Working with new and existing customer base. Develop marketing strategies for new sales. Regional Industry Seminars and trade shows.

Reason for leaving; Sales position was eliminated in company buy out. Stephen W. Ruggles

Springfield Seed and Floral Springfield, MO. August 1987 Retail Clerk September 1988

I started this job in High School. Public relations and giving quality customer service on a daily basis in a retail floral store and distribution.

I left this job to work for Tindle Feeds Inc.

Education, Honors, and Activities

• 2001-2016 continued education on computer soft ware/programs through Midwestern Pet Foods Inc. Annually

• 1994 Ralston Purina Marketing Training Program

• 1995 Dale Carnegie sales course received 4.2 CNCUE Ranked #2 in the Class

• 1984-1988 Parkview High School Received Diploma in May 1988 References

Dr. Brandon Sinn DVM 402-***-****

Ken Chenoweth 417-***-****

Mark Wright 417-***-****

Doug Hughes 417-***-****

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