Business Development Grand Rapids

Charles E. Wegener

* ***** #***, ***** ******, MI 49503 616-***-**** **************@*****.***

Senior Business Executive with over 30 years of experience in business development, sales and marketing, supply chain distribution, manufacturing, purchasing, and operations management. Successful in corporate and entrepreneurial environments in driving profitable growth by developing aggressive business strategies. Recognized as a distinguished leader, influencer, and negotiator, effective in delivering corporate objectives in positions with significant fiscal responsibility. CAREER PROGRESSION

SUPERIOR ASPHALT, INC. 2019 – 2024

Director of Purchasing

CONSULTANT 2018

Business Buyouts – Mergers &Acquisitions

VANTAGEPOINTE FINANCIAL GROUP, $2.0 Billion Assets, Grand Rapids, MI 2011 - 2017

Director, Corporate Placement

Leadership Team Member

KEY IMPACT SALES AND SYSTEMS, $1.6 Billion annual sales, Odenton, MD 2007 - 2011

Director, Business Development, Midwest US Region WE MARKET SUCCESS. INC. $125 Million annual Sales. Grand Rapids, MI 1993 - 2007

Executive Vice President, Partner

Distributor Business Manager

Account Executive

EXPERIENCE AND SELECT ACCOMPLISHMENTS

SUPERIOR ASPHALT, Grand Rapids, Ml 2019 - 2024

Director of Purchasing

Created vendor relationships that were mutually profitable for the current company along with the manufacturing partners, while developing a team atmosphere that allowed managed individuals to grow. Facilitated & rebuilt vendor relations

Managed overall service & shop (10+ individuals)

Purchased new Equipment - AIS, ALTA, MI CAT

Profitably sold outdated equipment

Consolidated vendors for cost efficiencies

Developed strategies that benefitted both vendors and Superior Asphalt VANTAGEPOINTE FINANCIAL GROUP, Grand Rapids, MI 2011 - 2017 Director, Corporate Placement / Leadership Team Member Develop lifelong relationships with clients to identify their needs and objectives to create appropriate strategies to achieve their personal and financial goals at every life stage.

Create in-depth financial needs analyses for clients to understand debt solutions, required retirement income, education funding, and income protection to successfully present customized financial strategies to clients. Utilized tax, financial, accounting, and economics skills for reviewing client's data and subsequently making recommendations for investments that are conducive to their objectives. Educate clients on options to create a charitable giving plan and assist with maximizing their estate. Developing prospects based on current commercial customers, trade and sales meetings, and referral leads. Charles E. Wegener

1 Ionia #403, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 616-***-**** **************@*****.*** KEY IMPACT SALES AND SYSTEMS, Odenton, MD 2007 - 2011 Director, Business Development, Midwest US Region

Scope of business management and development included cultivating supplier and distributor relationships, negotiating contracts, launching new products and platforms, managing and growing product portfolio consisting of over 750 products from thirty-four manufacturers.

Successfully defined strategy to turn around three key business segments, resulting in incremental 12% growth over three years. Reversed significant declines in profitability by strengthening supplier and distributor partnerships, and re-negotiating contracts with three core manufacturers, Best Maid, Inc., Lyons - Magnus, and Ralcorp Holdings. Created product and customer-specific marketing programs and sales incentives for sales executives and distributor networks to drive business o Worked with manufacturing partners to develop new packaging designs for retail packaged goods at GFS Marketplace, increasing consumer awareness and purchases by 24%. Performed gap analysis within product portfolio, and defined growth opportunities that delivered revenue and profit increases.

Expanded product mix for nine key product lines throughout new distribution channels and sales markets, resulting in significant gross margin contribution improvements and increased market share. Added new categories (housewares, and table-top) to optimize and augment core food business. Sourced supply partners for new categories and established relationships with key business stakeholders, resulting in the successful introduction of twenty-five new products.

Identified new strategic platforms to capitalize on industry mega trends (GREEN / sustainability), resulting in a new supply partner and the introduction of four new product categories that added $5MM annual sales annual sales, and $ 150,000 incremental annual operating profit. Expedited platform launch from manufacturing plants, through distribution networks, to sales markets. Facilitated merger / acquisition growth strategy by collaborating with senior leaders to restructure and integrate Midwest company with national parent company. Drove infrastructure synergies, while aligning core product portfolio across national marketplace. WE MARKET SUCCESS, INC., Grand Rapids, MI 1993 - 2007 Executive Vice President; Partner 2004 - 2007

Defined business strategies to turn negative business trends around by optimizing supply chain efficiencies with strategic manufacturers, focusing resources on improving profitability, and creating a performance-driven culture. Successfully prepared and negotiated contracts with supply partners across multiple categories. Identified opportunities for line extensions, new platforms, and pricing that resulted in increased sales and a 15% improvement in profitability. Improved fill rate, inventory turns, annual sales (cases, dollars), direct margin, and on-time deliveries with twenty-five key manufacturing partners, achieving awards for superior results within V.I.P distributor program. Additional benchmark criteria included PO / invoice match, reducing lead times, and minimizing shrink, out of stocks, and product recalls. Drove performance improvement efforts throughout cross-functional areas: o Implemented multi-level marketing plans to support manufacturer, and distributor sales goals. Secured increased funding for branded and private label product promotions for foodservice distributor channel, and retail marketplace. o Created sales force incentive plans and benchmarks, including earned dollars per case sold, increased call rate and "customer touches."

o Decreased SG&A by 12% in advance of industry / economic down-turn, ensuring effective management of expense budgets. o Converted manufacturer partners to net invoice programs and EFT. Delivered sales objectives by resolving supplier issues and securing primary and secondary manufacturers for core products. Improved communication of key corporate initiatives with cross-functional teams from marketing, customer service, distributor business management, and sales leaders by setting up new training programs and communication formats for critical information, including competitive analysis, marketing tools, marketplace challenges, and direct product evaluation. Recruited and trained sales and marketing professionals to add depth to cross-functional departments and enhance customer support throughout Midwest market territory.

Played key role in company turn-around in 2004, expediting two partner buy-outs and leadership change over twelve months. Charles E. Wegener

1 Ionia #403, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 616-***-**** **************@*****.*** Distributor Business Manager 1994 - 2004

Responsible for achieving company's strategic objectives for multiple lines of business including beverage, frozen foods, bakery, deli salads, grocery, and non-food categories. Successful in delivering growth of $55Nflv1 revenue and $1.5Nft 'I operating profit by focusing on driving distributor sales, managing account executives, and cultivating profitable manufacturer relationships. Achieved Top Distributor Business Manager award for six consecutive years. Created sales plans to exceed manufacturers' goals and objectives, delivering 100/0+ growth for six consecutive years. Awarded additional category responsibilities (beverage, bakery, and grocery) by consistently delivering segment growth within distributor channels.

Ensured flawless execution of major sales and marketing events for distributor private label foodservice, and retail products

(GFS Marketplace). Product launches included juices from Lyons-Magnus, brownies from Awrey Bakery, breakfast cereals from Ralston Foods, and pancake, muffin, cake, and biscuit mixes from Continental Mills. Performed analysis of category reviews and strategic supply partner portfolios to identified opportunities within our marketplace.

Developed action plans for new products and distributor programs, delivering consistent double-digit growth. Secured new healthcare product platform that opened doors with new customers including hospitals, nursing homes, and rehabilitation facilities.

Optimized seasonal inventory levels for winter holiday cookie dough during peak sales weeks by setting up alternative frozen storage (Michigan Natural Cold Storage) to accommodate significant increased inventory and mitigate out of stock / lost sales. Grew overall annual seasonal cookie sales from 18,000 cases to 45,000 cases. Account Executive 1993 – 1994

Recognized for building and sustaining relationships with internal and external customers. Drove significant incremental growth with largest independent distributor network. Gordon Food Service.

Worked with manufacturer representatives to increase sales 15% within Eastern Michigan territory.

Excelled in executing promotional opportunities to achieve sales, margin, and inventory targets. Secured new business with key account customer. Palace of Auburn Hills, resulting in incremental annual sales of $1MM

Built distributor sales by working with large leverage operators to drive NEW business, identifying product opportunities, and creating business solutions.

EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

B.A., Business Administration, with emphasis on Marketing & Finance, Central Michigan University J.P.M.R. — Certified Professional Manufacturers Representative, Arizona State University AWARDS, LEADERSHIP and COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

Key Impact Senior Executive Leadership Development Program Corporate Partnership / Stockholder at We Market Success, Inc. for outstanding performance and leadership Recognized as Manufacturer Partner of the year, over fourteen consecutive years, with multiple manufacturers including Ralcorp Holdings, Lyons-Magnus, Awrey Bakeries, Bosco, April Hill, Continental Mills, Best Maid, Royal Paper Company, and Fabri- Kal.

Earned Platinum Distributor Business Manager Award for five consecutive years for exceeding growth and profit goals National Broker Advisory Board Member

Broker Management Council Member

National Restaurant Association Member

Dale Carnegie Leadership Training

March of Dimes Culinary event sponsor

American Cancer Society Cattle Barron's Ball event sponsor Financial Leadership Team - VantagePointe Financial Group (2015-2017) Board of Directors — Heartside Ministry (2014-2016)

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