Professional Experience

SUMMARY

Results-oriented Business Manager bringing expertise in recruiting, sales training, supply chain management and marketing. Successful at overseeing all areas of daily operations and making effective policy decisions that positively impact the direction and bottom line profits of the business.

Proven ability to transform underperforming operations into successful enterprises using resourcefulness, hard work and an adaptable approach to challenges. Decisive and analytical manager with a demonstrated track record of success .

EXPERIENCE

Owner / Bluegrass Aquatics - Louisville, KY03/2003 - 07/2018

Bluegrass Aquatics was a hobby that transformed into a business. This in home business started in the basement as a tropical fish supplier to local pet stores.  Later went on line becoming one the first online tropical fish stores.  The concept of selling live tropical fish online and shipping to the hobbyist home was unheard of at this time. There was much resistance by pet stores, importers and suppliers of tropical fish. This resistance made it necessary to produce our inventory (fish). The business grew out of the basement to 12 acre fish farm and warehouse in Riverview Florida.  Bluegrass Aquatics  is now one of the most recognized names in this unique niche industry and the first online store to develop a relationship with Segrest Farms the largest importer of tropical fish in United States.

Bluegrass Aquatics is now in the ownership to one of the former employees.

General Manager / Southeast Christian Outlook - Louisville, Ky05/2008 - 06/2010

Start as the business manager and was promoted to General manager.  Managed all of the operations of the largest christian newspaper in the United Stated.  These duties included sales of advertising to approving content managing deadlines and reporting to both the business board of directors and the content board of directors.  Communicated  issues of controversy to the Elders of the Church and head pastor Bob Russel.

Startup Entrepreneur / Web Medical Holdings - Louisville, Ky08/2002 - 01/2004

Sales Agent located in Micheal Boone building in Louisville Kentucky.  This startup included Mainlink an internet hosting Company purchased from an affiliate Company, Advance Medical Imaging (AIC), Physinfo.com, and a Brazilian nutraceutical Company.  Each one of these ventures was exciting opportunities to grow professionally and learn the nuances of the start up lifestyle.  Physinfo was closed after WebMD emerged with seemingly unlimited capital. Mainlink was purchased by Micheal Boone and is still in business as a internet provider for the Kentucky Farm Bureau. The Brazilian company was repurposed into an Anti-Aging spa named Deleon Spa.  Deleon Spa had two location in South Beach Fl and was sold in 2004 and is still operating a part of Stella's Salon in South Beach.

Regional General Manager / Mutual of Omaha Insurance Co - Omaha, Neb05/1988 - 05/2000

Started my position as a sales representatives in Columbia Missouri and after achieving various sales awards and Industry recognitions was promoted to Sales manager recruiting and training sales agents in various prospecting techniques and selling strategies.   Promoted to General Manager assigned the Dayton Ohio office.  After a 2 year turn around accepted  the opportunity for the western half of Kentucky and Eastern Indiana when the Company merged 5 agencies together in a mega agency headquartered in Louisville Kentucky.  After numerous awards and incentive travel trips including the prestigious President Circle Award in Vienna Austria I retired my position to work for startup incubator.

Sales Represaitive / Triad Insurance Company - Winston-Salem, NC03/1979 - 07/1981

This Company specialized in Mortgage insurance sold though loan officers in savings and loans and regional banks.  My territory was the state of Missouri and parts of Kanas.  Responsible for new accounts, training, and some outside insurance sales

Livestock Buyer and Station Manager / MFA Agri Services - Benton, MO01/1978 - 05/1981

Responsible for Day to Day operations of a livestock station in Chillicothe Missouri. These responsibilities included negotiations with farmers for livestock purchases, processors for quantities and  prices, and arranging truckers for delivery.  The accounting of daily receipts and developing relationships with Association groups such as the Nation Pork Producers Association were a high priority.

OTHER STARTUP VENTURES

Supply Ark  Louisville Ky,  was a government procurement company co-founded by Jermaine Watkins . Supply Ark worked directly with the Department of Defense for the bidding and fulfillment of government contracts for our war-fighters in Afghanistan and Iraq.

THE MEAT SHARE

The Meat Share founded this online store suppling customers with Locally raised  grass fed beef, lamb, goat, pasture raised pork, free-range chickens and sustainable wild caught seafood.  This company was sold to an employe and is still in business in Taylorsville Kentucky. Dealt with farmers, meat suppliers and processors as well as end use consumers.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

University of Missouri - Columbia - Columbia, MO

Associate of Science: Agriculture Economics

Minor in [Animal Husbandry]