Russell N. BensonRussell N. Benson1A Forest Hill RoadTowaco, NJ 07082201-214-2366 (mobile)russell.benson.montville@gmail.com

SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES & ACCOMPLISHMENTSSUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES & ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Del Monte Fresh Produce, N.A.Del Monte Fresh Produce, N.A. ( (www.freshdelmonte.comwww.freshdelmonte.com) ) 11/02 – 11/02 – presentpresentDistrict Sales Manager, Northeast AreaDistrict Sales Manager, Northeast AreaMelon Program Sales 11/02 – presentBanana Program Sales 09/11 – presentAvocado Program Sales 04/13 – 12/15

Assemble, direct, and drive fresh, agricultural sales of Del Monte brand of products and services to retail grocers, wholesale organizations, distributorships, brokers throughout the northeast region.

Execute business initiatives aligned to brand & product strategies, including timing of product changing demands agricultural forecast models, harvest/production realization, inventory readiness, to strategically plan high volume promotions events to capture profitable sales volume to Del Monte Fresh Produce

Successfully maintain customer rapport, creditability, and provide efficient solutions through divergent and volatility of changing market trends and inventories with strategic retail/grocer accounts such as Wakefern Corporation, Acme Supermarkets, Meijer, Nash Finch Company, & C & S Wholesale, yielding nearly 70% revenue generation through this core retail grocer segment

Negotiated and won business to become proprietary offshore melons vendor supplier with LA/SF Specialty Foods and Baldor Specialty Foods resulting in 82% volume increase $0.31 per unit increase and 78% revenue increase CY2015 vs. CY2016

13+ years of northeast region agricultural sales experience with demonstrated successful track record unifying the region for the Del Monte melon product group, which includes establishing business rapport with northeast region retail grocer giant, Wakefern Corporation, increasing annual revenue by 500% since commencement with the company

Direct sales program (melon product category management) with Del Monte distribution centers for Aldi Stores resulting in 26% growth in business from CY2008 – CY2009; Arbitrate foodservice account sales initiatives for Sysco/FreshPoint & Avendra with melon product group leadership team and twenty-four Del Monte Fresh Produce DC/FCO nationwide

Execute business initiatives aligned to brand strategy and category development such as manage the timing of product demand, product forecasting models, inventory readiness to strategically plan high volume promotions events such that the required product is available to support the proposed marketing plan and achieve a broad segment of profitable sales volume to Del Monte while boosting customer’s product category

Full, end-to-end sales responsibilities that include Manage competing demands while delivering viable resolutions with pinpoint accuracy, predict market fluctuations, actively track domestic/import product availabilities, track and manage shipment processes, discern transportation market trends, ensure prompt order delivery, keep outstanding documentation/records to capture superior claims performance, monitor customer’s account balances, uphold a first-class level of customer service, and always negotiate sales to maximize return to the company

Develop go-to-market strategies for new, robust agricultural product launches tailored to supply forecast models and initial price points

Appointed to oversee all day-to-day execution for Ahold Delhaize, Stop & Shop Supermarkets banana contract supply program 9/25/11 – 10/5/12; $40Mil+ revenue generated

Selected to lead banana program execution with both Big Y Markets and C & S Wholesale Grocers

Leveraged existing relationship to introduce and ultimately drive Del Monte Avocados sales to Wakefern Corporation, resulting is $1.5Mil avocado revenue during CY2015

SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES & ACCOMPLISHMENTS – continuedSUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES & ACCOMPLISHMENTS – continued

Individually uncovered sales opportunity as product vendor for avocados with Baldor Specialty Foods (New York, NY) resulting in consistent weekly avocado revenue with a high profile specialty foods distributorship

Travel extensively throughout the northeast region for sales calls, strategic account visits, attend industry trade shows to convey the companies message with the utmost professionalism

Communicate with direct reports on weekly basis about regional sales activity and conference with counterparts with our group, other Del Monte product groups, and northeast area product distribution centers and fresh-cut facilities, to relay information linked to market trends and provide support when necessary

Provide annual sales presentation to product group leadership and sales peers that exhibits the implementation of my business plans to support, grow, and retain business within the region

Individually recruited, screened, trained, and coached our “customer service representative” which is a sales support role for the northeast region

SC International of Essex County – a division of MRI Network (SC International of Essex County – a division of MRI Network (www.sci-intl.comwww.sci-intl.com)) 01/01 to 01/01 to 11/0211/02Project Manager / Marketing ManagerProject Manager / Marketing Manager

Develop & execute marketing campaigns that produce successful results for both qualified technology leaders represented and client companies

Attract, recruit super-star, “A” player talent, executive level leaders in timely and professional manner; research companies, emerging technologies, and industry trends; conduct comprehensive interviews; present client companies with first-rate talent; negotiate and close candidate and client; serve as catalyst for fluent transition thus driving sales cycles/interviewing processes to closure at the highest levels within the I.T. consulting and software industries

Developed new client company, Mi-Services Group, identified need for specific pharmaceutical skill sets, identified, qualified, and introduced candidate, drove the interviewing process to closure, offered candidate position resulting in $40,000 fee to SC International (June 2002)

Dole Food Company, N.A. Dole Food Company, N.A. ((www.dole.comwww.dole.com) ) 10/99 to 10/99 to 12/0012/00District Sales ManagerDistrict Sales Manager

Drive sales of multiple agriculture items, each possessing individual market trends and supply cycles to generate $5Mil+ monthly revenue to northeast region

Total end-to-end sales cycle accountability (product knowledge, forecasting, analyzed, interpreted, and understood fluctuating market trends, negotiated with consumers to maximize return on product in all market conditions, managed all claims from initial notification to closure, monitored client account balances and payment collection, coordinated timely transportation for clients)

Matthijssen Inc. Matthijssen Inc. ((www.mattnj.comwww.mattnj.com)) 08/97 to 08/97 to 10/9910/99Sales Representative – Computer Services GroupSales Representative – Computer Services Group

Exceeded monthly sales quota since commencement by identifying, qualifying, and establishing new business opportunities of cost-effective, robust, office automation products, technologies, and services for small and mid-sized businesses NJ

Conducted cost analysis, drafted proposals, presented clients with viable technology solutions to satisfy specific needs, and served as the lead contact for clients seeking network implementation or service

EDUCATIONEDUCATION

Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJGraduated 1996 BA, Communications