MARY M.

HARDEN
1069 Carousel Court
Westerville, Ohio 43081
(614) 477-5797
mh8596d6@westpost.net
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SALES SUPPORT SPECIALIST : RELATIONSHIP MANAGER : TEAM LEADER
Top-ranked performer with a proven track record driving new business, generating
strong year-over-year gains, and leading teams in the delivery of sales and ser
vice results. Developed inventive and results-generating marketing, sales, and p
romotional tools, many of which have since been adopted companywide. Coach, ment
or, and train associates and management-store- and district-level leaders-to sup
port best practices implementation and career development; managed several team
members who have been promoted internally to management-level opportunities.
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CORE STRENGTHS
* Customer Relationship Management
* Procedural/Corporate Compliance
* Performance Analysis & Reporting
* Interpersonal Communications
* Sales Cycle Management
* Talent Acquisition, Training, & Coaching
* Profit, Loss, & Expense Management
* Microsoft Office Applications
* Event Planning & Oversight
* Quality Control
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EXPERIENCE & KEY CONTRIBUTIONS
Jo-Ann Stores, Inc., Columbus, Ohio * 2004-present
Department Lead
Key results: (1) Achieved the #1 ranking in sales region-wide (27 stores) in '06
, '08, and '09 with #2 ranking in '07, continuing to drive strong sales performa
nce with a 30% year-over-year gain thus far in '10 and the 1st place regional ra
nking. (2) Cultivate strong relationships with internal and external customers-c
onsumers and associates-to ensure needs are met. (3) Recruited, trained, and ret
ained top-performing team members leading to zero attrition in the past 2 years.
Charged with business development, P&L management, customer service, and team le
adership accountabilities for one of Jo-Ann's top-performing profit centers, lea
ding a team of 6 associates in executing custom framing operations. Motivate ass
ociates to surpass performance expectations, cultivating a collaborative and pos
itive work environment in addition to creating incentive programs to motivate he
ightened levels of impact. Plan events to promote service and product offerings
and increase repeat and referral business. Maintain an impressive portfolio serv
ing as a highly effective sales tool.
* Led the region in performance through the effective management of a profit cen
ter, generating results including:
2006 - Regional Ranking 1st - Average Ticket 175% of goal - Payroll (goal of 20-
25%) 20.7%
2007 - Regional Ranking 2nd - Average Ticket 188% of goal - Payroll (goal of 20-
25%) 21.0%
2008 - Regional Ranking 1st - Average Ticket 212% of goal - Payroll (goal of 20-
25%) 23.2%
2009 - Regional Ranking 1st - Average Ticket 196% of goal - Payroll (goal of 20-
25%) 22.8%
* Surpassed ticket goals by an average of 98% over goal during the past 3 years,
through the ability to provide exceptional product solutions, create unique hig
h-end designs, and influence buying decisions.
* Serve as the only store in the 5-store district to achieve payroll budget goal
s, maintaining an efficient operating environment by controlling resource alloca
tion through review of forecasts and analysis of recent trends.
* Designated as the go-to person when management training is needed, working wit
h store and district managers to orient them to the company's operating model, p
roprietary practices, and framing center business.
* Facilitate training and development sessions for a loyal team of custom framin
g specialists, experiencing zero turnover in the past two years with the excepti
on of associates being promoted to manage their own department.
* Conceptualized and implemented innovative marketing and sales tools-several of
which have been adopted companywide-to further engage team members and build cu
stomer awareness of the framing department.
* Identified and explored cross-selling opportunities to benefit department, sto
re, and shopping plaza sales; worked with department leaders and retail peers in
the area to develop "idea centers" to increase customer conversion.
* Engaged customers in the department's "team culture" by creating contests and
promotions involving both associates and customers; created a strong sense of be
longing for team members and better engaged customers.
- Additional Experience -
Store Manager * Frameworld, Columbus, Ohio
* Bolstered sales 18% and reduced turnover 60% in 1 year-reaching #1 ranking-thr
ough strategic leadership of a 10-person team, implementation of sound operating
principles, and controlled expense management.
* Designed and administered promotional concepts and events not only to increase
consumer engagement but to bolster employee motivation to promote and upsell se
lect products and services.
District Manager * SBS Products, Inc., Columbus, Ohio
* Cultivated relationships with distributors in this B2B selling environment, as
sessing opportunities to increase territory penetration through development and
training of a strong distributor and direct sales force network.
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EDUCATION & TRAINING
Bachelor of Science (BS) in Marketing * Oakland University, Rochester, Michiga
n
A Human Relations Approach to Professional Selling * Dale Carnegie Sales Progr
am
Received the Sales Talk Champion Award, Perseverance Award for Outstanding Perfo
rmance, & Continuous Performance Award
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COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Volunteer Event Planner * St. Francis DeSales High School, Columbus, Ohio
* Increased After Prom celebration attendance to 300+ students and generated mor
e than $4,000 in sponsorships and donated prizes for what was DeSales' most succ
essful After Prom event in history.