Experience

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  First Fresh Foods

  • Greater Pittsburgh Area

  • Retail Business Development Manager

    • Mar 2016 - Present
    • Greater Pittsburgh Area

    First Fresh Foods is a premier American producer of fresh chicken sausages. located in Gainesville, GA , we are committed to bring fresh and healthful meals to our consumer's tables. First Fresh Foods is devoted to stimulate the success of all our retail and foodservice partners through increase sales. Using proven promotional programs and events, we will work with our partners and distributors to publicize and provide products that customers crave. First Fresh Foods offers 16 varieties of fresh sausages made with 100% breast meat, no MSG, no Hormones, Gluten Free and no added fillers.

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  Spartan Foods of America

  • Greater Pittsburgh Area

  • Northeast Region Sales Manager

    • Apr 1994 - Sep 2015
    • Greater Pittsburgh Area

    • Managed a team of nine Food Brokers throughout 10 states selling Mama Mary’s Pizza Crusts’ products reporting to VP of Sales and CEO• Employed superior leadership skills to clearly communicate company goals and initiatives to motivate, train, and delegate responsibilities to exceed company sales quota and merchandising objectives.• Planned and implemented market specific Promotional Programs to address competitive threats.• Developed a relationship with the military that gave Spartan Foods of America products worldwide exposure.• Secured every major account in the Northeast region including: Stop & Shop, Giant, Food Lion, Shop Rite, Meijer, Wegmans, Acme, Weis, Giant Eagle and Market Basket. • Advises and trains brokers on new product information, executing fiscal promotional schedule, preparing customer headquarter presentations, and a plan to close all distribution voids.• Created all recipes for Mama Mary’s Pizza Crusts that were displayed on the web site, used in key account presentations and prepared at National Food Shows.• Exhibited product knowledge to effectively solve problems for any conflicts that arise throughout the course of business.• Proposed and persuaded accounts like Meijer and Stop & Shop/Giant to offer Private Label pizza crusts to their consumers with much great success.• Monitored sales and projections using Microsoft-Excel, IRI and Neilson and applied finding as needed.• Assisted with new product development to introduce the Thin and Crispy brand, Honey Whole Wheat and Brick Oven crusts from 2003-2006.• Oversaw progressive growth of sales territory from $300,000 in 1996 to $8.3 million in 2014.

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  Hillshire Farm and Kahns

  • Greater Pittsburgh Area

  • Food Service Sales Representative

    • Feb 1985 - Apr 1994
    • Greater Pittsburgh Area

    • Used knowledge and expertise of a diverse product line consisting of: smoked deli meats, smoked sausages, fresh pork, and fresh beef to inform and sell our product to restaurants through food service distributors.• Managed three brokers in Western Pennsylvania, Eastern Ohio and Western Hillshire Farms and Kahns Meats’ 1985 National Account Award Recipient.• Hillshire Farms and Kahns Meats’ 1987, 1989, and 1991 Salesman of the Year.• Hillshire Farms and Kahns Meats’ 1988 Number 1 Sales Representative for cooked and corned meats.• Hillshire Farms and Kahns Meats’ 1991 Number 1 Sales Representative for Boneless hams. • Established relationships with many large national accounts including: Cracker Barrel and Truck Stops of America.