2007-Present: Lead Consultant ***** – IL

*****: Senior Category Mgr OfficeMax
*****: Senior Buyer Sears Roebuck & Co
*****: Business Consultant Waste Management, Inc
*****: Regional Sales/Marketing Manager LB Innovators

DePaul University – Chicago, Illinois
• Masters in Business Administration – Marketing; June 1999
• Bachelors of Science – Marketing/Human Resource Management; June 1991

MERCHANDISING
• Managed product assortment categories ranging from $45 million to $850 million annually
• Achieved sales increases varying between 7-22% and improved gross margin between *****% across all product categories through successful negotiations and effective merchandising
• Negotiated all aspects of over 35 largest technology product supplier programs including
o Payment terms
o Advertising/catalog funding
o Back-end volume and growth rebates
o Penalties for poor logistical performance
o Pricing and cost increases
• Launched more than 75 new products in both the B2C and B2B channels by presenting concepts and identifying sourcing needs to vendors.
• Enhanced plan-o-grams enabling all store formats to effectively merchandise assigned product assortments
• Streamlined vendor base through aggressive sourcing initiative which required an extensive review and in-depth evaluation of all current and multiple potential vendors and programs
• Developed aggressive liquidation plan to move $500,000 of stagnant inventory from Distribution Center by researching possible needs throughout chain and partnering with vendors to assist with markdown monies or accepting returns
• Served as retail advisor for several companies leading to successful investor, partnership, and strategic affiliations and contributed to product design and market positioning
• Obtained the Sears Consumer Electronics Buying Team of the Year award - 2003

MARKETING & SALES
• Created channel specific custom promotions by partnering with retailers and developing internal marketing strategies including advertising, signing, distribution, and effective display
• Attained sales revenue quota of $5 million, exceeding revenue goal by 27%, where all other regions failed to achieve target
• Conceived and developed creative product promotions with various consumer electronics vendors such as Sony, Samsung, Philips, Panasonic, Toshiba, Microsoft, HP, JVC, AT&T, Case Logic, Motorola, Maxell, and many others
• Managed $20 million dollar promotional marketing budget
• Successfully led a multi-functional team around a national employee credit card activation promotion
• Managed execution of tactical elements of retail marketing strategies through pre-print advertising, online advertising, direct response advertising, ROP advertising, and in-store advertising
• Author of ‘Retail Bound: Learn How To Sell Your Products To Retailers” which is sold by*****, Barnes and Noble, and about 200 booksellers around the world