Driving business success through dynamic customer engagement, people development, innovative solutions, and exceptional project management.

Efficiency-focused Operations Leader offering experience in introducing best practices, instilling cultures of safety, customer focus and increasing productivity across multiple stores. Leads by example in supporting managers to gain new skills and ensure profitability. Offers a strong retail foundation as well as financial acumen to forecast sales and control expenses. Expertise in understanding market dynamics, industry trends, product capabilities, customer challenges, and competitive positioning with big-picture vision and consensus-driven leadership style that empowers staff. Regularly introduces innovative ideas and training for the team to follow strategic vision and execute innovative programs. Excels in identifying opportunities for collaboration and communicates ideas clearly in written, oral, and social media using skills to persuade, negotiate, and influence.

• Customer Acquisition & Retention • Mentoring & Coaching • High Performing Team

• New Business Development • Budget & P&L • Training & Development

• Social & Emotional Intelligence • Business Transformation • Needs Assessment

• Risk Identification & Mitigation • Operational Leadership • Process Improvement

• Operational Leadership • Process Improvement • Succession Planning

• Process & Productivity • DE&I Culture Development • Market Analysis & Insight

• Brand Awareness Enhancement • Sales Goals & Forecasting • Team Empowerment

• Coaching & Mentoring • C-Suite Presentations & Public Speaking

Technical Skills: MS Office Suite SAP Power BI Workforce Management CMS

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2021 – Present • 7-ELEVEN STORES • Chicago, IL

American multinational chain of retail convenience stores.

District Manager Field Consultant

Serves as the business consultant to influence optimal product selections for the customer that grows sales and maximizes profitability. Providing guidance, consultation and direction regarding implementation of business strategy and system, programs and initiatives.

Ensures that the company's policies are communicated and implemented.

Review store data (orders, forecasts, sales, out-of-stocks, write-offs, merchandising/displays) and collaborate to identify opportunities and priorities.

Use technology to monitor implementation and ongoing results of the territory improvement plans.

Analysis of merchandising activities

Provide coaching, strategic planning, financial analysis and P&L review and support. Oversees 15 franchise stores.

• Guides sales growth and margin improvement through enhancement of product quality, consistency, and availability, creating a 7% annual sales growth within first year.

• Grew customer engagement through community events and increased app usage to drive use of customer loyalty program.

• Transitioned franchises away from on-demand cooking to providing on-the-go lunch options to meet customer expectations and increasing fresh food growth by 25%.

• Promoted successful merchandising decision and increased customer experience indicators, outpacing division, and companywide averages within first year in role.

2016 – Present • DONNA LOWE SALON • Algonquin, IL

Luxury beauty and hair treatment salon specializing in multicultural hair care.

Founder Chief Executive Officer

Founded, developed, and built hair salon from the ground up, from securing location and designing physical layout to business and budget development to effective marketing campaigns that drive brand awareness. Manage 12 staff members, providing educational leadership sessions and mentoring to empower team to function independently. Annual budgetary oversight for $300K, implementing cost controls to meet forecasted labor budgets and consistently increase profits YoY. Performed all HR, payroll, and budgetary functions through to transitioning responsibilities to full time staff member to effectively take on day-to-day responsibilities. Passionate about civic engagement, intentionally collaborating with and giving back to the community, developing partnerships built on trust, delivering outstanding customer service, and creating opportunities for community connections.

• Maintained a 20% profit and 15% client increase YoY since opening.

• Built effective marketing strategies to target demographics through research and data analysis, implementing social media and local press campaigns for B2B and B2C markets, which drive lead generation with 25K+ monthly impressions.

• Recognized with Area Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award for involvement in community, charitable contributions, and holding space for young women and victims of domestic violence, providing mentorship for young girls in the community, and training 10 stylist entrepreneurs to success.

2014 – 2016 • MARIO TRICOCI • Palatine, IL

Salon and spa with multiple regional locations.

Salon Administrator Retail Coordinator

Took role to specifically research and gain hands-on experiences in a successful salon environment, building operational knowledge to prepare for future endeavors. Brought high level business acumen and understanding of workforce development and product waste management to the experience. Oversaw retail store functions and directed daily staff operations, ensuring company vision was achieved. Drove sales profitability through inventory control measures and effective product sales strategies.

• Reduced shrinkage by 20% YoY through implementation of targeted inventory controls and staff training on software capabilities and physical product management, creating a savings of $24K annually.

• Increased product sales from 7% to 15% in a one-year timeframe.

2006 – 2014 • ALDI, INC. • Batavia, IL

Multinational family-owned discount supermarket chain with 10K+ store in 20 countries.

District Manager

Oversaw strategic direction and performance objectives for 45 regional retails stores, providing hands on management and coaching across all levels of store leadership. Sourced, hired, onboarded, and trained District Managers, establishing succession plans that decreased turnover by 15% and became a leadership pipeline for other districts. Utilized out-of-the-box thinking and collaborated with upper management to develop innovative sales growth strategies.

• Implemented turnaround strategies for underperforming stores, working directly with store leadership to identify, hire, and train the right staff to meet objectives, sales goals, and customer satisfaction.

• Achieved record sales across 45 divisional storefronts, increasing sales growth by an average of 10% YoY via promotional initiatives and drove trending sales by 15% via store-specific data analytics.

• Ranked top 1% for overall Key Performance Indicators for successive quarters based on achieving a 10% increase in sales over a one-year period and maintaining shrink reduction >70%, saving $55K annually.

• Led the division in Customer Satisfaction with an average of 98% and drove Special Purchase profits 10% YoY to goal through merchandise promotional strategies.

EDUCATION

BACHELOR OF ARTS: INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES /BOG • Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL

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