BETTY GERULA

Email: ssyd72@r.postjobfree.com

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Accomplished Sales Professional with significant experience marketing interior products to the Commercial Building industry, in particular Owners, End-Users, Architects, Interior Designers, Hospitality, Contractors, Healthcare and Educational facility managers, and Government/ Military officials. Excellent in dealing at all levels of the selling process. Skilled at networking, establishing relationships, and presenting to groups; ability to communicate with all types of personalities. Strong passion for sustainable design and initiatives.

BUSINESS EXPERIENCE

CORT Business Solutions, Fairfax, VA 2008-July 7, 2010

CORT is a Berkshire Hathaway company and is the world's largest provider of rental furniture. In

business for 40 years and has served millions of individuals as well as over 80% of Fortune 500 companies.

Project Manager/Business Development- Washington DC District

Provide a support role to the commercial outside account executives and upper management in order to increase sales; maintain route call accounts.

* Site visits to various properties including government, federal agencies, military entities, corporate and national

accounts. Take accurate field measurements to provide space and floor plans.

* Present furniture and service options once discovering their needs.

* Assist Operations in relationship to deliveries, pickups by communicating with customer, facility managers,

security, internal drivers and delivery crew; Inventory analysis by internal system and also by using laundry list.

* Generate proposals and present with value propositions to the customer.

* Actively find and campaign target accounts via business journals, network events, Costar, and being active in

professional organizations.

* Create and implement marketing initiatives via electronic technology and unique give-aways; participate in

trade

shows and sponsoring events; present and provide support with lunch-n- learns, create and present power point

presentations.

* Daily data entry into Sales Force, proficient with basic computer skills, excel, word, power point.

Commercial Account Executive- Maryland Suburban Counties, MD

* Maintained, managed, and increased customer accounts with Vertical Markets such as Architect and Design

firms, Government/Military, Technology, Federal Agencies, National Accounts, Real Estate, Property and

Facility Managers.

* Created new business opportunities via cold calling, prospecting, marketing initiatives, networking; developed

and created monthly territory marketing plans.

* Above responsibilities.

XYZ, Chesapeake, VA 2007-2008

Worked with a national FF&E (Furniture, Equipment and Fixtures) procurement, design and installation company in the hospitality industry.

Sales and Design Representative in Pennsylvania, Ohio and other

Responsibilities included: Investigate and obtain information to establish relationships for the purchasing of FF&E items for hotel renovations, new construction, or pieces of the PIP (Property Improvement Plan). I was the first regular full time representative in this territory.

Developed a data base of prospective customers and maintained it in self developed organizational system

Established relationships with decision makers; present product and service information after determining

customer needs.

Developed knowledge of vendor and supplier products such as case goods, upholstered furniture, carpet,

fabrics, artwork, bedding, lighting, and all FF&E items; Became familiar with various franchise specifications

and requirements;

Interior Design finishes and FF&E items were selected and presented. Assisted with the generation of

budgetary and product quotes and at times value engineering.

Worked closely with team members, especially Project Manager to assist with the coordination

of the design, procurement, and delivery process. This included various entities such as the interior design

department, architects, general contractors, project managers, vendors, and the customers.

RJF INTERNATIONAL, INC.,

KOROSEAL Interior Products Group, Fairlawn, Ohio 2001 – 2006

RJF International Corporation is a $200 million customer-oriented manufacturer and distributor of commercial interior products. Many RJF products enjoy market leadership positions and are used in applications in exclusive luxury hotels, healthcare, restaurant and office applications.

Territory Manager in Tidewater, VA

Responsibilities included marketing, selling and specifying all company products to architects, design firms, general contractors, painting contractors, healthcare and educational facility managers, government/military personnel, and national corporations.

Sales calls- initiated, established and cultivated new and existing accounts and relationships in order to obtain a product specification and/or an order; scheduled appointments, planned and established purpose of the call. Maintain information data in pipeline of all accounts.

* Resource of product and industry knowledge- called upon for general industry knowledge and for particular brand information; including material estimates and quotes, appropriate application, and installation information

* Educate-taught the customer product knowledge by using traditional “lunch-n-learn” presentations (video, handouts, lecture, demonstrations, power point), and by incorporating product information into creative, participative learning by creating games, raffles, “Happy Hour” presentations, etc. Also, a regular guest speaker at the local community college for several of the Interior Design Classes.

* Marketing- gained knowledge of the customer and market trends; thus, created and coordinated various events to promote products, strengthen relationships, and increase market share. This involved event planning and coordination, knowing the competition, identifying customer needs and potential, knowing the local city and regional planning and development projections. Active and hold board position in professional organizations.

* New Product Introductions- analyzed customer base and presented first to the highest potential sales account. Or, came up with concept and then made the arrangements to hold events such as one held at a new upscale night club, an event held on the 100 ft corporate yacht; annual ASID Trade Show- would create display of new products according to the annual theme.

BE INTERIORS, INC., Virginia Beach, VA 1986 – 2000

Began this business as a wallcovering installer and a decorative/faux painter. Developed it into a Turn- Key Interior Decorating Business servicing both commercial and residential clients. Resulted in projects with million dollar homes to hotel renovations, health care and government contracts.

Owner/ Manager, Hampton Roads, Tidewater, VA

Responsible for the management of all business activities including sales and marketing, estimating and contract bidding, purchasing and vendor liaison, project planning and on-site supervision, sub-contracting, accounting and administration. Handled extensive interface with diverse clients such as property managers, general contractors, military officials, government contractors, and real estate owners regarding design/color concepts, spatial planning, material/finish selections and procurement, furnishings, window treatments, flooring, accessories, and lighting. Created and presented floor plans, renderings and sample presentation boards.

EDUCATION / TRAINING

B.A., Psychology, Shippensburg State University, Shippensburg, Pennsylvania

AA, Applied Science in Interior Design, Tidewater Community College, Chesapeake, VA

Martin Alan Hirsh Decorative Finishes School-Studied in Florence, Italy and Louisville, Kentucky

Various CEUs through IIDA, ASID, and AIA

PROFESSIONAL AWARDS / RECOGNITION

IIDA-Herb Ginsberg Award- Outstanding contributions to Chapter by an Industry Member, 2005

IIDA-Becky Messer Award- Outstanding service to the Community outside the Profession, 2004,

This led to National “Honorable Mention” for Excellence in Chapter Service.

RJF International, Inc - 2004 500 Club, 2004 Top Volume Sales Mid Atlantic

Tidewater Builder’s Association - 1995 Interior Decorator for the “Multi-Housing Property of the Year”

Century 21 Real Estate - 1994 Interior Decorator for their local promotional TV video

Phi Theta Kappa- national honors fraternity member 1989, 1990, 1991, Tidewater Community College

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

Ft Detrick Alliance - 2009, 2010

CREW Commercial Real Estate Women, Maryland Suburban Chapter - 2010

IFMA DC Capital Chapter - 2010

Tidewater VA American Institute of Architects (AIA) - 3 years

International Interior Design Association (IIDA) - Board Member with the VA/WVA chapter -5 years

Interior Design Dept. Student Advisory Board Member, Tidewater Community College- 4 years

Active in local community organizations and fund raising events- ongoing

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