Richard Gertz1041 Belmar Lane Buffalo Grove, IL 60089

Email: r.gertz@comcast.net Cell: 224-622-7866Sales/Account Management Professional

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY : Results driven sales professional with experience managing sales teams. Brings a demonstrated ability to consistently exceed quota, develop net new accounts, and grow existing clients. Successfully demonstrates value propositions, builds ROI, and solves business challenges while developing and opening new markets to expand the corporate footprint. Experience includes B2B sales, Customer Management, Strategic Marketing Implementation, Product Development and Project Management.

WORK EXPERIENCE:Security Lighting Systems, Buffalo Grove, IL

2006 - PresentLighting Manufacturer for National Accounts in multiple industries ranging from Fast Food, Grocery, Banking, to Hospitality, Self-Storage, and Automotive.Quotation/National Account Manager (2007-Present)

Created training guides and data bases for product knowledge and national account pricing structures to reduce quotation lead time by 60% while ensuring company profitability which enabled department to handle increase in business of over 110% without any addition to staff levels.

Managed national accounts as McDonald’s SpendSmart program and acknowledged as McDonald's service provider of the year.

Target prospective clients and enabled sales department to establish national and regional accounts such as: 7-11, La Quinta Inn, Z-Burger.

Established pricing by analyzing industry data to accurately service the customer while maintaining profit margins.

Created and maintained marketing tools and strategies for corporate customers.

Customer Service Manager (2006-2007) Restructured department to reduce employee turnover and length of employee

training by 50%. Created order entry guides to reduce order entry errors by 70% and increased

output by 30%. Dramatically increased customer satisfaction rating across department enabling

company to earn multiple vendor of year awards from national accounts as McDonald’s USA.

Established freight claim monitoring to ensure all claims were satisfactory closed while increasing monies collected by 25%.

Key projects as successful overseeing the telecommunication and data portion of the office expansion saving the company $35,000.

Managed and trouble-shot high escalated customer concerns in order to obtain final resolution.

SunnyWood Inc., Spring Grove, IL 1998 - 2006Director of Sales & Marketing

Custom Overseas Manufacturer, Manufacturer of Retail Product lines of Recreational Games, Costume Jewelry and Seasonal Merchandise.

Managed sales and developed activities to achieve sales and profit goals. Planned and executed sales presentations for potential clients, allowing the

generation of new business through negotiations of terms, pricing, exclusivity, and customization of products.

Increased current business through continuous and rigorous sales analysis; while maintaining positive, mutually beneficiary partnership with current clients.

Responsible for strategic marketing development as well as Sales Force training. National Sales management with key account development, which included

negotiating key national agreements. Established a new inside and outside sales program, resulting in a strong increase

in sales. Managed securing new OEM business and the further development of business to

grow up to 50 times the initial opening order. Responsible market research, product and packaging development as well as

creating and managing all advertising and promotions. Responsible for all trade show planning and execution. Also design and project

head for the building and implementation of custom trade show booths. Acting divisional operations manager responsible for directing all financial,

operational and administrative functions including HR manager with duties of hiring, firing, training and employee reviews.

RG & Associates, Buffalo Grove, IL 1989-1998Independent Manufacturer Representative FirmPrinciple/Sales Manager

Established a successful manufacturer rep firm serving accounts throughout the Midwest states.

Trained and managed numerous sub reps by continuing to improve their sales skills and product knowledge.

Responsible for the full sales cycle from prospecting leads, reviving and growing current accounts, contracting, negotiating prices, and closing sales.

Developed loyal business relationships with high volume production accounts that generated growth per year.

Planned, implemented and ran numerous trade shows as well as traveling to most major national industry shows to work with customers and interact with vendors.

Project leader for the development of custom computer database software to efficiently run the organization, saving over 10 man-hours per week.

Achieved a 100% increase in sales for a 75 year old established line within four years.

Received first “Salesman of the Year” award from a 35 year old established manufacturer.

Herb Grindel & Associates, Morton Grove, IL 1983-1989 Independent Manufacturers Representative

Marketing and sales to assigned Midwest territory, specializing in stationary, toy, gift, hobby and seasonal/party markets.

Assisted in structuring, implementing and interpreting assigned markets to successfully achieve manufacturers marketing programs and exceed goals.

Sold to all categories of trade consisting of department stores, chains stores, mail order catalogs, and wholesale distributors.

Grew volume of company by 70% through aggressively opening new accounts and successfully adding new markets.

TECHNICAL SKILLS Microsoft Office Applications (Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook), Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Quicken & WordPerfect SBT & B Coder SAP & Goldmine

EDUCATION:University of Illinois, Urbana, IL

Masters of Science - AdvertisingB.S., in Advertising