Experience

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  North Charles Fine Wine and Spirits

  • Manager

    • 2013 - Present

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  Unique World Wine

  • Georgia

  • Wholesale Wine Sales

    • Aug 2010 - Jan 2013
    • Georgia

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  Lasco Enterprises, LLC (The Tasting Room/ Max’s Wine Dive)

  • Texas

  • Vice President of Sales

    • Jan 2009 - Feb 2010
    • Texas

    Vice President of Sales• Developed sales and product purchasing strategy to exploit our success as the market leader in retail wine sales in an on premise environment• Selected and negotiated all wine product available in our restaurants• Managed the development of an exclusive brand to capture significant retail wine market share, develop in store social network and lead marketing deployment as our restaurant brands expand into new markets• Worked with and directed our marketing team to successfully communicate our programs and brand image to consumers and staff• Dramatically increased profitability for on premise and off premise sales• Set pricing and margin requirements for all alcoholic beveragesDirector of Sales• Developed congruent on premise and retail wine program and sales strategy for two multi unit restaurant brands• Created retail sales compensation plan that engaged all on premise wine/ wait staff in the successful execution of the retail wine program• Achieved exponential growth in same store retail sales while dramatically reducing on premise product cost leading to record system profitability and revenue• Promoted to Vice President of Sales in August 2009

• 

  The Grape Enterprise ($40 Million Retail and Restaurant Management Firm)

  • National Chain

  • Executive Vice President

    • Jul 2001 - Sep 2008
    • National Chain

    Executive Vice President • Created the national wine program for 21 franchise and company owned stores• Responsible for all wine purchasing, inventory tracking, pricing, consumer messaging, and production of marketing collateral• Operational P&L responsibility and oversight• Created a bundle purchasing system to manage distribution and pricing of our unique portfolio in all U.S. markets while adhering to a variety of complex state regulatory requirements• Assisted the CEO in overall management and strategy• Vital role in creating the Company’s Operations Manual• Involved in the initial sale and development of 17 franchise locations• Created an internet based company store for non alcoholic retail items and supplies for franchisees• Developed a marketing strategy with large nonprofit organizations• Point of contact with all alcohol regulatory agencies, wine suppliers and distributors in seven states• Frequently traveled to Europe and California for quality control and to build strategic relationships with suppliers • Promoted from Vice President to Executive Vice President in August 2006Director of Wine• Increased retail and wine bar sales during every quarter • Created a strategy to have the lowest cost of goods sold in the industry while maintaining competitive retail pricing• Developed, with the owner, a scalable business model • Promoted to Vice President in February 2004

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  Grape Expectations

  • Georgia

  • Wholesale Sales Representative

    • Jul 2000 - Jul 2001
    • Georgia

    • Sold wine wholesale to the Atlanta retail and restaurant market • Worked with Eric Solomon Imports and The European Wine Group to close large volume direct import deals• Had the highest sales for my territory during the company’s existence

• 

  Spirits Inc.

  • Alabama

  • Managing Partner

    • Sep 1995 - Jul 2000
    • Alabama

    Spirits is a specialty wine, beer, and liquor store chain. • Responsible for store operations and sales of all 3 locations• Wine buyer for all locations 1997 to 2000• Created a Retail House Wine brand which sold more than 36,000 bottles• Acquired financing to purchase 33% of the corporation and became a Managing Partner in July 1996• Added two additional stores, doubled wine gross profit margins, and increased value of corporation by 170% from 1996 to 2000• Traveled with wine suppliers in Europe, California, and Oregon