JOHN ZURN

Saint Augusta, Minnesota 56301 (320) 252-6053 jzurn88@gmail.com

EXECUTIVE-LEVEL MANAGEMENT: OPERATIONS / SALES

Highly accomplished Executive Manager with strong track record of success driving sales, generating revenue and growing profit. Years of experience spearheading successful large-scale projects, re-organizing and strengthening departments and motivating sales force. Dynamic leader with history of building and training successful teams. Committed to seeing projects through from inception to completion. Skilled in international business, marketing, human resources and policy development. Passion for improving business processes with focus on bottom line performance. Core Competencies Operations Sales Management Profit & Loss New Business Development & Launch Workflow Coordination Revenue Generation Process Improvement Negotiation Team Building & Leadership Lean Manufacturing Change Management Organizational Development Strategic Planning Analysis Marketing & Communication Cost Reduction E-Commerce

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
CREATIVE MEMORIES, Saint Cloud, Minnesota 1995-2013 Direct sales firm employing 250 with sales field of 25K independent sales consultants and annual revenue of $100MM. President of North American Markets (2012-2013): Managed sales team activities and sales operation support for North American sales team. Supervised 8 direct reports and directed activities of 40 employees. Led installation project of Thatcher direct selling software. Orchestrated rewriting of direct selling compensation plan. Motivated direct selling sales team. Financial/Management Accomplishments: Consolidated sales and administrative functions. Slashed sales operating budgets 30% utilizing sales and operations management skills. Directed selling of excessive product lines and delivered 12 months of revenue in 3 months time during bankruptcy process. Played crucial role in retaining key staff and top sales performers during bankruptcy process. Vice President of Consumer Programs (2011-2012): Spearheaded e-commerce initiative, directing marketing and sales and creating online selling presence. Collaborated with search firms and successfully networked in technology sector to attract, hire and train new, talented employees to build team from ground up. Management Achievements: Achieved 50K paid annual memberships. Convinced talented team to relocate to Saint Cloud. Integrated cutting-edge technology solutions for e-commerce initiative. Implemented new preferred customer buying club. Vice President of International Markets (2009-2011): Provided executive leadership to emerging markets in United Kingdom, Germany and Japan. Managed all sales, marketing and profit and loss. Developed and managed budgets. Created 5-year strategic plan for every market. Financial/Organizational Achievements Grew profitability in Japan, German and United Kingdom markets 10% each year. Slashed costs by relocated German plant to cheaper and more effective company. Launched new, more effective compensation plan for Japan and Germany locations. Cut expenses and drove efficiency by renegotiating replicated website contracts for each market. Drove profit by aligning teams according to core key performance indicators.

JOHN ZURN

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(320) 252-6053

jzurn88@gmail.com

Vice President of Sales Administration, North America (2006-2009): Provided leadership and guidance to clarify policies and procedures impact on organization and sales force business. Reorganized communication department. Revamped communication methods and processes. Slashed frequency of monthly field magazine to bi-monthly, emailing during off-months. Created and documented sales consulting process and template Management Achievements: Slashed policy and procedure related calls 25% and call duration 40%. Cut communications costs $450K annually by halving field magazine print schedule. Re-negotiated 20% cut in travel management fees, driving cash flow $60K. Drove sales increase by $2M by providing sales tools and training for sales team. Operations Manager-Saint Cloud (2005-2006): Directed manufacturing and distribution, overseeing safety, quality, customer service and cost control efforts for U.S. and Canadian operations, with annual business unit sales of $140M. Managed activities of 158 staffers in safety and lean manufacturing processes. Challenged operational managers to compete for Regional Excellence Award. Established and oversaw safety committee meetings. Operational Accomplishments: Earned Regional Excellence Award from Association of Manufacturing Excellence. Slashed processing and time and quality defects by implementing lean techniques. Cut workers compensation claims dramatically by establishing and directing safety committees focusing first on employee safety. Operations Manager-Sparks, Nevada (1998-2005): Directed manufacturing and distribution for West Coast operations, with annual business unit sales of $100M. Managed activities of 132 staffers in safety and lean manufacturing processes. Created and implemented plans to drive quality and delivery. Directed installation of new distribution system and warehouse management software. Highlights/Accomplishments: Grew safety performance 80% utilizing management skills and workplace safety expertise. Earned OSHA recognition as 1 of 12 Nevada companies to hold SHARP Safety Award status. Drove quality 60% and delivery 55% by implementing new lean manufacturing procedures. Plant Manager-Saint Cloud (1995-1998): Managed manufacturing and distribution process improvement efforts. Implemented lean and quality improvement initiatives. Managed activities of 135 employees. Led installation of SAP R/3. Directed redefinition of manufacturing process to align with SAP repetitive manufacturing module. EDUCATION/TRAINING Ph.D. in Management in Organizational Leadership, University of Phoenix, Phoenix, Arizona Master of Arts in Organizational Management, University of Phoenix, Reno, Nevada Bachelor of Science in Operations Management, Saint Cloud State University, Saint Cloud, Minnesota Associate of Arts in Business Administration, Willmar Community College, Willmar, Minnesota CERTIFICATIONS Certified Professional Logistics Series, Logistics Institute of Georgia Tech, Atlanta, Georgia Certified Integrated Resource Management (CIRM), APICS Certified Production and Inventory Management (CPIM), APICS PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS: Association of Manufacturing Excellence, Direct Selling Association COMPUTER SKILLS: Microsoft Office Suite, SAP (ERP) High Jump (warehouse management software) Thatcher (direct selling software)