CATEGORY BRAND MANAGER Summary A creative marketing professional 20 years demonstrated experience project management, marketing communications, sales support, strategy, research, product development. Multi-faceted background includes food manufacturing, consumer packaged goods (CPG), furniture manufacturing construction industry. An effective problem-solver expertise managing multiple projects require creative analytical skill set. Category Management Data Analytics Document Management P&L Management Employee Communication Market Analysis Product Launch Cross-Functional Team Leadership Project Management Marketing Support Product Management Website Management Experience Category Brand Manager Jan 2016 Company Name － City State Achieved 17% annual sales growth power tool accessory category 4% margin improvement vs prior year due implementation new marketing, merchandising, pricing strategy, product training materials. Package redesign project contributed 24% performance increase vs. prior year Wal-Mart, 11% increase points distribution vs. prior year, projected 12% finish ahead plan fiscal 2012. Grew Baking/Cooking nut category sales 6% flat commodity business. Grew Facebook fans 500 30,000 6 month period. Developed launched three new trail mix snack items brought incremental sales $1 million 12 month period. Achieved 32% reduction unsalables Wal-Mart introduction new merchandising vehicle. Managed Dry Roast jar transition carton tray resulting total savings $16,000 year, addition new distribution. Managed product lines worth $4.5 million sales, specifically storage pantry ware categories. Assisted design development 80 new SKUs, management 600 existing SKUs Food Tools categories totaling $33 million sales. Product Manager Jan 2012 Jan 2016 Company Name － City State An American company produces connectors, tools, supplies electrical telecom industries. Responsible managing 15 product categories, annual sales excess $35M, providing product line management including category strategy, new product development, product training, promotional planning, market analysis. Strategy development Developed executed category strategy across key product lines including competitive analysis, opportunity gaps, pricing channel strategies. Product quality performance Managed strategic supplier transition achieving 9% cost reduction 20% performance improvement. Merchandising Management Designed new merchandising vehicles support customer conversions incremental sales opportunities. Project Management Managed multiple projects including sku rationalization 80/20 analysis, package redesigns, product field testing, customer line reviews catalog website management. Product training Developed conducted extensive product training new distributors, customers, sales customer service. Forecasting Conducted complete analysis category sales history vs demand determine optimum reorder points inventory levels reduce backlogs ensure efficient turns inventory value. Marketing Manager Brand Manager Jan 2008 Jan 2012 Company Name － City State A snack food leader internationally known Fisher® nuts brand; annual sales nearing $600 million Responsible managing multiple product lines, providing complete product line management including executing brand strategy, new product development, select trade consumer strategies. Product Launches Developed launched 25 new product SKUs baking nut line featuring new innovative packaging category; executed project strategy, goals, priorities long-term plans branded business, notably Baking/Cooking Nut line generates $75 million revenue. Additional successful product launches key areas including snack nuts category, Food Service Export sales channels. Project Management Managed multiple projects start finish, including product launches, creative executions, customer projects, pricing Profit Loss Statements; designed product development tracking tool manage multiple project timelines. Marketing Support Developed executed marketing support initiatives including promotions, displays, couponing, website management, media placement including radio, FSIs, advertising. Partnership Worked closely sales understand key account strategies develop consumer plans aligned corporate strategies; interfaced cross-functional teams: Creative Services, Sales, Procurement, Accounting, Operations, Research Development, Quality Assurance, Customer Service manage marketing projects new products. Sales Data Analytics Utilized interpreted proprietary sales data, well Mintel Nielsen data develop product, consumer, sales strategies. Website Management Successfully managed executed website re-launch including SEO improvements, social media integration on-line recipe strategy. Promotions Successfully designed, coordinated launched "in out" promotional programs require extensive cross-functional team coordination tight timelines. Package Development Responsible managing packaging process including integrating equipment specifications, nutritional labeling requirements, material procurement package graphic design. Employee Communication Researched developed Best Practices Brand Customer Study highlighting resource conservation initiatives marketplace. Served Resource Conservation Team, communicating/ coordinating resource conservation corporate events EPA's Energy Star Partner Year awarded. Associate Category Manager Jan 2007 Jan 2008 Company Name － City State The largest direct seller high-quality kitchen tools serving 12 million customers worldwide Responsible managing products within tableware kitchen textiles categories, developing executing category strategies. Category Management Presentations Presented category strategies product updates internal customers senior project team. Market Analysis Conducted market competitive product research consisting analysis competitive product assortments retail environment, trends, pricing, materials, features benefits. Document Management Managed technical drawings produced documents archival product specifications, vendor contracts, production quality comparison. Cross Functional Team Leadership Worked closely external departments, including Quality, Engineering, Sourcing, Legal, Packaging, Marketing, Creative Services. Creative Concept Development Creative product ideation development including managing procurement engineering teams launch. Training Developed presented product sales training sales consultants internal staff. Associate Product Manager Jan 1997 Jan 2003 Company Name － City State Wilton leading food crafting company industry number one position cake decorating, bake ware tea kettles $94 million sales revenue. Responsible managing strategic growth Storage Pantry ware product lines including new existing products totaling $4.5 million sales. Promoted Assistant Product Manager. Product Launch Product line sales improved 50% storage category 130% pantry ware categories following new product introduction. Category Management Conducted market trend research including analysis competitive product assortments, brand positioning, packaging; analyzed sales, market, distribution data used customer presentations management reviews. Trade Show Planning Execution trade show strategy, merchandising, planograms; collaborated trade show collateral, displays product placement. Marketing Coordinator Jan 1995 Jan 1997 Company Name － City State Turner national general builder construction management firm operations primarily commercial sector. With $8 billion annual construction volume, rank first second industry's major market segments. Responsible RFP submissions marketing support functions within Chicago office. Proposal Management Responsible extensive sales proposal process final submission including writing, coordination time lines, project scope, engineer submittals research relevant company experience strict deadlines. Key Market Knowledge Developed knowledge multiple key markets including Municipal, Food Beverage, Pharmaceutical, Correctional Facility Entertainment market segments. Researched relevant market information, experience, project specifications within client's industry. Marketing Support Created general marketing pieces including advertisements, press releases, brochures, project description sheets. Marketing Communications Coordinator Jan 1993 Jan 1995 Company Name － City State Bretford leading manufacturer office furniture, fixtures equipment. Responsible evaluating developing customer product line reviews, well producing managing marketing communications materials used drive sales revenue. Education Training Six Sigma Green Belt Training, Chicago Deming Assoc.-Six Sigma Masters Program, Naperville, IL, 2012 Graduate Level Courses, Marketing, Illinois Institute Technology, Chicago, IL, 1997 B.A Organizational/Corporate Communications Journalism 1992 Northern IL University － City State Organizational/Corporate Communications Journalism American Management Association, 2016 2017; Communicating Up, Down Across Organization; Critical Thinking; Fundamental Sales Techniques, Project Management Success, The Power Persuasion Skills SharePoint BPC SAP Microsoft Suite: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Microsoft Access Microsoft Project Microsoft Dynamics Seminars/Classes: Social Media Marketing Facebook Business Project Management Profitability Simulation Nielsen Syndicated Data Analysis Power Presentations Technical Writing