CATHARINE LEKO

*** ******* **. * *******, ON N*J 1P0 519-***-**** adbba0@r.postjobfree.com

www.linkedin.com/in/catharine-leko-a8577119

Client Relations Team Leadership Plan Execution

Resourceful and results oriented Self-starter. National level manager with well-rounded experience in managing multi-unit merchandising environments, supervising entire operations, sales, office admin and support of retail chain stores. Creative problem solver with ability to make quick and effective decisions for the best interest of the company. Possesses strong leadership expertise as well as interpersonal skills. Oversee all aspects of retail projects including project planning and finances responsibilities for budgets. Committed to meeting sales targets and satisfying customer objectives. Technically proficient in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and SharePoint. Territory Sales.

COMPETENCIES / SKILLS

Leadership / Mentoring / Coaching

Multi-Tasking / Detailed / Organized

Written Verbal Communication Skills

Territory Sales

Client Relations

Gains Respect and Credibility Easily

Administration

Teamwork Focused

Analytical Abilities

Prioritization / Delegation

EMPLOYMENT HIGHLIGHTS

Substantially increased sales by educating the Retail store staff on products.

Strong long-term management relationships in the DIY retail industry including Rona, Timber Mart, Castle etc.

Proven success selling a new product line into many retail locations which eventually became a mandatory line for all stores.

Recognized as The Pet Firm “Rookie of the Year” for 2012.

Decreased turnover of employees by offering more thorough training and increased assistance to reps in the field by regular communication, raising their confidence level and happiness with the job.

Increased income to the company by having full coverage for all tasks in all retailers in Canada creating more billable hours of work.

Created excellent partnerships with clients raising their confidence level resulting in more projects for the company.

Increased the Canadian retail work completion from 40% to 100% in all the stores within 1st year in position and maintained for over 24 months consecutively.

Consistently maintained a minimum of 90% completion for the Brand Ambassador side by recruiting, training and coaching the representatives.

Exceeded goal by 5% for projected number of stores to complete a 500-store blitz in Walmart and 9 grocery chains.

Recommended and worked with a new client familiar to me from a past position that generated over $1,300,000 in the past 3 years for the Pet Firm.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

TECHNISEAL (An Oldcastle-CRH Company), Candiac, QC March 2013 – Dec 2019

B2B Territory Sales Representative-Southwestern Ontario

Achieved maximum sales profitability, growth and account penetration within an assigned territory by contacting and securing new business accounts/customers with a 6% - 7% annual increase of sales in assigned territory consistently

Train staff in 50+ retail locations across South-western Ontario on the Techniseal coatings and sealants and protectors for concrete, wood, asphalt etc. Sales presentations to owners and managers.

Promotes/sells/secures orders from existing and prospective customers through a relationship-based approach.

Demonstrates products and services to existing/potential customers and assists them in selecting those best suited to their needs at store level and contractor events.

Use of Salesforce and Concur programs

Conducts telephone calls and in-person visits and presentations to existing and prospective customers.

Develops clear and effective written proposals/quotations for current and prospective customers.

Expedites the resolution of customer problems and complaints.

Supplies management with oral and written reports on customer needs, problems, interests, competitive activities, and potential for new products and services.

Keeps abreast of product applications, technical services, market conditions, competitive activities, advertising and promotional trends through the reading of pertinent literature and consulting with marketing and technical service areas.

Attend Rona/Lowe’s buying show and Gala annually and participate in Hardline’s Retail conference annually as the Techniseal sponsor. Attended presentations, introduced speakers and presented awards to top retailers in Canada.

MOSAIC SALES SOLUTIONS, Mississauga, ON April 2016 – August 2016

District Manager Ontario and Maritimes – SWAT Division

Lead, mentor, train, coach on-going development of approximately 75-100 merchandising/sales Team Leads covering 152 retail territories throughout Ontario and the Maritimes for continuity work, one off merchandising, relines and all sizes and scopes of resets.

Ability to manage multiple priorities; follow tasks outlined to you on a program critical path, maintain a weekly task list, keep high volume of tasks on track while managing the team of reps.

Proactively identify problems and develop solutions within guidelines of a program. Anticipate problems and solutions.

Complete scheduling and weekly reporting/analysis with all program insights, competitor insights, client worthy photos and rep insights.

Administration of payroll and management of expenses.

Working with clients such as Kraft, Mondelez, 3M, Coty, General Mills, Campbell’s, Canadian Dairy Farmers, Sony, Crayola, Kisko, Sun, Soda Stream, Fresh Pet, Tagworks to name a few.

Managing ongoing project completion of reps in DIY, Pet, Grocery, Automotive and Pharmacy stores.

THE PET FIRM, Phoenix, AZ 2011 – 2016

National Manager (Canada – based US Company)

Lead, mentor, train, coach on-going development of up to 90-part time retail merchandisers and product demonstrators across the Canada that perform various retail merchandising and brand ambassador tasks in the pet industry.

Conduct field visit to clients such as PetSmart and Walmart and grocery retailers and various independent retailers.

Created and implemented ideas to save time and cost to the company for a savings of over $10,000 a year.

Responsible for advertising, recruiting and training for all positions nationally and preparing and submit payroll bi-weekly

Work directly with clients to negotiate, coordinate, implement and report retail objectives for over 500 retail stores.

EDUCATION / PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Diploma, Ontario Secondary School Windsor, ON

Diploma, Quality Service Disney Institute Florida, USA

Microsoft Excel Level I and II Conestoga College, Kitchener, ON

WHMIS, Health/Safety Awareness, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities

Contact this candidate