Experience

OCS Ontario Cannabis Store

• Canada
• Retail
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Organizational Change Manager

  • Jan 2023 - Present

  Toronto, Ontario

• Key Account Manager

  • Jul 2021 - Dec 2022

  *We grew the Ontario recreational cannabis market from 135 to over 1100 stores in 12 months by expanding operations to open 5 stores to 30 stores a week in 2021* **Leverage leadership experience and retail business acumen to successfully build store partnership relationship between Key Accounts and OCS to achieve mutual business goals** • Build and maintain a strategic business relationship with Key Accounts (Key Accounts identified through a series of metrics including provincial… Show more *We grew the Ontario recreational cannabis market from 135 to over 1100 stores in 12 months by expanding operations to open 5 stores to 30 stores a week in 2021* **Leverage leadership experience and retail business acumen to successfully build store partnership relationship between Key Accounts and OCS to achieve mutual business goals** • Build and maintain a strategic business relationship with Key Accounts (Key Accounts identified through a series of metrics including provincial store count, national presence, and revenue month over month) • Lead monthly business reviews to discuss store performance, long term strategies, go over relevant OCS communications and discuss operational challenges • Share key account feedback with internal teams to collaborate on product selection, and discuss overall continuous business improvement (B2B portal, order and delivery challenges, communications, marketing tools etc.) • Collaborate with data teams to build out joint business planning tools as well as improve data program available to accounts • Build the relationship to move to strategic annual planning/joint business planning cycles (Develop sales forecasts with the retailer to provide intelligence to merchandising & supply chain and create enhanced strategic solutions to resolve future needs for the retailers) including arranging top to top meetings for Key Accounts and OCS senior leadership

• Account Development Manager - Corporate

  • Aug 2020 - Jun 2021

  *Led the segmentation and organizational structure proposal for the team that ultimately was implemented in August 2021* • Developing and maintaining a client relationship that provides ongoing value to corporate and franchise customers from on-boarding to operations. • Primary contact for our corporate/centrally managed licensed retailers, providing them valuable industry insights, and strategic partnership • Provide clients with regular KPI reporting and updates on new industry… Show more *Led the segmentation and organizational structure proposal for the team that ultimately was implemented in August 2021* • Developing and maintaining a client relationship that provides ongoing value to corporate and franchise customers from on-boarding to operations. • Primary contact for our corporate/centrally managed licensed retailers, providing them valuable industry insights, and strategic partnership • Provide clients with regular KPI reporting and updates on new industry trends as part of building a strong business-focused relationship. • Meet with Licensed retailer field teams via in store visits to discuss urgent issues, market trends or to further strengthen the business relationship.

• Assistant Account Manager

  • Dec 2019 - Aug 2020

  *Successfully supported the initial round of independent business owners opening legal cannabis stores as the business grew from 20 stores to 135 in the first year in a brand new legal market* *Promoted within 9 months to next progressive role* • Support the expansion of legal recreational cannabis stores in the province of Ontario by working with legal retail store owners and licenses producers • Support Store owners by providing guidance on provincial policy as well as guidance… Show more *Successfully supported the initial round of independent business owners opening legal cannabis stores as the business grew from 20 stores to 135 in the first year in a brand new legal market* *Promoted within 9 months to next progressive role* • Support the expansion of legal recreational cannabis stores in the province of Ontario by working with legal retail store owners and licenses producers • Support Store owners by providing guidance on provincial policy as well as guidance on retail best practices



Kathleen Lee, Retail Marketing/Merchandising Consultant

• United Sales & Marketing Inc

  • Aug 2014 - Dec 2019

  Toronto, Canada Area *Applied a consultative approach to streamline quoting and product life cycle processes leveraging expertise and experience with B2B business platforms resulting in team hitting KPI’s and sales targets.* August 2014 to November 2019: United Sales & Marketing Inc. USM is a Canadian retail sales agency and wholesale distributor with more than 30 years of industry service and consumer product expertise. Assigned to Canadian Tire, Home Depot, and Walmart Canada accounts o Sales Project… Show more *Applied a consultative approach to streamline quoting and product life cycle processes leveraging expertise and experience with B2B business platforms resulting in team hitting KPI’s and sales targets.* August 2014 to November 2019: United Sales & Marketing Inc. USM is a Canadian retail sales agency and wholesale distributor with more than 30 years of industry service and consumer product expertise. Assigned to Canadian Tire, Home Depot, and Walmart Canada accounts o Sales Project Management: Account management support, product introduction, quoting, sales meetings, in-line product updates (vendor set up, product set up, financial & forecast reporting) for several major retailers o Joint business planning with retailers which included forecasting and buying inventory (for factories where we serve as distributor as well as account mangers) o Vast experience with B2B platforms such as SAP vendor systems both vendor and retail side o Liaison between vendor/factory and retailer, managing front line day to day relationship Show less



Kathleen Lee

• Yoga Instructor

  • Oct 2012 - Feb 2019

  Toronto, Canada Area -October 2012 to February 2016: http://beachyogacentre.com -Private lessons/Corporate lessons -Weekend Retreats



Canadian Tire Corporation

• Canada
• Retail
• 700 & Above Employee

• Manager--Line Review Planning & Integration

  • Jun 2010 - Jun 2012

  *Leveraged executive leadership experience to successfully implement enterprise-wide change management plan ahead of B2B platform roll out* • Delivered Implementation plan enterprise wide, on time for the Line Review Initiative. This included: o Re-engineering and restructuring processes using LEAN methodology in preparation for the IT roll out of SAP/Vendor Gateway o Ensure new roles, responsibilities and new processes were effectively communicated to all employees & vendors… Show more *Leveraged executive leadership experience to successfully implement enterprise-wide change management plan ahead of B2B platform roll out* • Delivered Implementation plan enterprise wide, on time for the Line Review Initiative. This included: o Re-engineering and restructuring processes using LEAN methodology in preparation for the IT roll out of SAP/Vendor Gateway o Ensure new roles, responsibilities and new processes were effectively communicated to all employees & vendors impacted by Business process change o Provided change leadership to all impacted teams and cross functional stakeholders o Provide change leadership for the Line Review Initiative senior leadership team overall including messaging to their impacted teams o Develop & motivate specialist team

• Manager, Promo Planning

  • Apr 2009 - May 2010

  *Led and motivated cross functional high performing teams to hit annual plan targets and KPI’s.* • Accountable for the development, integration, governance and overall monitoring of promotional planning processes, operational directives, and guidelines in order to maximize efficiency and effectiveness. • Deliver the communication of existing and new processes to impacted teams and cross functional stakeholders (Promo planning playing a very large role in the overall Annual planning… Show more *Led and motivated cross functional high performing teams to hit annual plan targets and KPI’s.* • Accountable for the development, integration, governance and overall monitoring of promotional planning processes, operational directives, and guidelines in order to maximize efficiency and effectiveness. • Deliver the communication of existing and new processes to impacted teams and cross functional stakeholders (Promo planning playing a very large role in the overall Annual planning process for CTR) • Proactively monitor, measure and report on performance (including identifying gaps in forecasts to targets, potential missed milestones, and overall compliance) against promotional planning operational targets. • Manage the integration of new processes, tools and software into the day-to-day promo planning activities. • Provide change leadership for the Promotional Planning Process team in support of the overall CTC Change Program. • Develop and motivate analyst team

• Manager, Retail Print Production/Promo Deals at Canadian Tire Corporation

  • May 2006 - Mar 2009

  *Spearheaded project to move a critical dealer order role/function from production to supply chain. Built the business case to successfully move a legacy role over to the appropriate business unit to ensure business continuity* • Oversee delivery of all print projects that are in the Marketing & Merchandising departments. The scope of these projects range from a 200 MM weekly flyer program to assorted catalogues, inspirational guides etc. • Vendor Relationship Management. Manage… Show more *Spearheaded project to move a critical dealer order role/function from production to supply chain. Built the business case to successfully move a legacy role over to the appropriate business unit to ensure business continuity* • Oversee delivery of all print projects that are in the Marketing & Merchandising departments. The scope of these projects range from a 200 MM weekly flyer program to assorted catalogues, inspirational guides etc. • Vendor Relationship Management. Manage relationship between Canadian Tire Corporation and print production vendor Transcontinental Digital Services (TDI) • Lead a team of 10: Develop and motivate a core team of 5 and provide leadership to a TDS (external production vendor) hub team of 5

• Promotional Planning (Consultant/Analysis)

  • May 2000 - May 2006

  •Analysis of category promo programs, building content for print promo & Led Flyer Content Planning and Review Process (includes reviewing monthly Category Advertising team’s flyer build and submissions, make recommendations to those teams to improve their programs, and manage build of corporate pages)



Manulife

• Canada
• Insurance
• 700 & Above Employee

• Senior Client Service Representative

  • Mar 1997 - May 2000

  -Client representative for a US territory (North Eastern US) in group pensions -Main liaison for brokers and third party administrators & clients -corp training



Canadian Tire Corporation

• Canada
• Retail
• 700 & Above Employee

• Retail Sales Associate

  • Dec 1988 - Mar 1997

  CTC Agincourt -9 years retail store experience (supervisor, sales staff, paint counter, cash, customer service etc)