Kala Wade

Blanchard, OK adujcw@r.postjobfree.com 956-***-**** linkedin.com/in/kala-wade/

Multi-Unit Asset Protection Operations Manager

An approachable, strategic, analytical, and goal-oriented leader with expertise driving successful sales, inventories, operations, implementing process efficiencies, and uncovering cost-saving opportunities for multimillion-dollar organizations. Effective at building strong relationships and enhancing customer satisfaction to always ensure a positive customer experience. A trusted leader, respected for continuously striving for excellence and delivering quality results aligned with company goals.

Key Career Accomplishments

Operational Excellence: Surpassed all sales targets in 2020, 26% above plan in Paint Department, 26% above plan for Home Décor and 18% above plan for Home Organization. Ranked No.2 in market for Lead to Recommend surveys and No. 3 Enterprise wide for positive in-store experience.

Strategic Operations: Recognized for achieving the No. 1 ranking in “Most Accident-Free Day” stores, No. 2 in “Region Safety Performance” and landing in the top 10% overall for organization. Recognized for Environmental Compliance, achieved scores of 99% exceeding the company goal of 95% Environmental Compliance and Regulatory Inspections and consistently in the top 10 markets in the company.

Cost Control: Saved up to $900K in total savings by controlling expenses and driving process efficiency with Safety performance and controlling controllable expenses.

Leadership: Member of the Asset Protection Council; a select group of 10 employees tasked with solving high priority operational, employee, and performance challenges; new processes and decisions were rolled out enterprise-wide

Core Skills

Cross-Functional Leadership Financial Forecasting Budgeting Asset/Loss Prevention Cost Control + Savings

Inventory Audit + Management Teaching & Training Safety Management Environmental Compliance Merchandising Cash Management Criminal Investigations Conflict Resolution Human Resources

Professional Experience

Interstate Batteries Dallas, TX 05/2021 – 11/2022

Human Resources Coordinator – Operations Talent Management

Manage documentation needs around confidential employee information.

Implemented an automation project with physical employee files to digital files in a system called Workday to assist out in the field and corporate Human Resource Managers to access personnel files with ease.

Assisted the field Human Resource Managers by submitting and verifying on boarding employees Driver Qualification information to a system called DISA, a global solutions database.

Assisted the Recruiting Department with setting up interviews and being the contact between the Interviewer and Interviewee.

Manage an employee site called Report It for complaints, violations, or unethical behavior.

Currently assisting a relocation moving project for Interstate Batteries Corporate Office to a new location by processing over a period of 6 months multi million dollars in expenses and ensuring bills (PO Purchase Orders) are paid to vendors tasked with the construction of the new corporate building with on time payments.

Manage the department expenses and ensure all P&L (Profit & Loss Statements) are tracked accurately, reviewing department expenses on actual to plan and distributed accordingly, including vendor invoices for the Human Resource department.

Managed all the HR, Talent and Events PO (Purchase Orders) for the corporate office. I worked closely with Accounts Payable department.

Join monthly operations meetings to remain current on company initiatives and build relationships with leaders

Lowe’s Companies, Inc. Oklahoma City, OK 03/2019 – 05/2021

Operations Manager / Department Manager

Surpassed all sales targets in 2020; resulted in 26% above plan in the Paint department, 26% above plan for Home Décor, and 18% above plan for Home Organization

Increased comps (comparable store sales) by 13% and led an overall increase in sales by $134K in 2020

Coached and developed a team of eight directly, and managed the store activities around opening, shift changes, and closing procedures to ensure safety and operations throughout the facility

Oversaw associate scheduling, payroll, expenses, P&L plans, and overall merchandise planning, logistics, and tracking

Conducted weekly inventory audits across departments, and generated daily reports around safety, loss prevention data, survey results, credit card and warranty sales

Operations Manager

Oversaw the following departments for a $32M store: Front-end operations, accounting office, receiving, installation, claims, delivery, customer service, administrative office, freight flow, fulfillment, procurement, and curbside pickup procedures

Led a team of two managers and 51 associates; and occasionally 125 when interim store manager; exceeded quarterly revenue goals consistently and went down in shrink by 10 basis points in 2019

Managed the store safety, inventory strategy, Profit & Loss statements, cleanliness, and DOT compliance for employees and customers; provided training of new operations and procedures as needed

Drove operational efficiencies and maximize customer satisfaction daily; rated #2 in the market for Lead to Recommend satisfaction surveys and the #3 market enterprise-wide for a positive in-store experience

Led daily huddles with the employees to increase engagement, provide performance feedback, coaching, recognition and celebrate service awards

Collaborated with HR to interview and hire top talent for the store and resolve associate relation issues efficiently

Sam’s Club Dallas, TX 1999-2017

Market Asset Protection Manager

Generated $900K in total savings, $400K of which in accident cost-improvements through evaluating and governing exception reports related to controllable expenses in 2016; results exceeded target goals in these categories

Drove a 10% improvement YOY for physical inventory shrink within the territory

Led and coached a team of 14 managers and supported 2,400 managers and associates in the North Texas market

Recognized for achieving the No. 1 ranking in “Most Accident-Free Day stores”, No. 2 in Region Safety Performance and top 10% overall for organization

Achieved a score of 99%, exceeding the goal of 95%, for compliance and regulatory inspections in food safety and environmental compliance

Conducted daily internal and external investigations for fraud, theft, compliance, ethics, safety, workplace violence, and threat assessment claims at store and market level

Improved shortages in-store and in-market by monitoring inventory flow processes, managing store level inventories, performing internal audits, facility controls, and store-level tours

Collaborated in the development and roll-out of Club Inventory Management (CIM) system, and Inventory and Training Guides on audit processes, safety, and environmental compliance

Planned and implemented Regional VIP Events, celebrity appearances, book signings, and seasonal performance activity including Black Friday and Back to School promotions

Partnered with HR on hiring new talent for the team and conducting required investigations thoroughly

Member of the Asset Protection Council; a select group of 10 employees tasked with solving high priority operational, employee, and performance challenges; new processes and decisions were rolled out enterprise-wide

SAM’S CLUB, INC. MID-WEST and WEST TEXAS REGION

Regional Loss Prevention Manager

Led territory-wide process implementations involving safety, inventory management, investigations, and back-of-house inventory control processes to enhance overall efficiency

Achieved store and territory performance metrics through the leadership of associates and collaboration with general management highlighting operational excellence in claims, audits, and security

Led the pilot roll-out of a new claims system that improved visibility and accuracy with item returns and damages including accounting enhancements for the front-end and accounting office operations

Education and Certifications

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration, University of Texas-Pan American, Edinburg, TX

Certification: Interview and Interrogation Techniques, Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates

Professional Development

OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health Administration): “General industry Training”

Environmental Compliance Corporate Training: Hazardous Materials, Hazardous Waste and DOT (Department of Transportation) training and guides.

March Networks Corporation, CCTV Security Camera Systems Training

Variant Systems CCTV Security Camera Systems Training

Walmart Stores: “Advanced Criminal Investigation” Accredited Program.

Excel, KPI, Profit & Loss Statements, Workday, DISA, SAP, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Microsoft Teams.

Strong with numbers, budgets, purchase orders, some accounting and procurement experience.

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