Adela McDonald
Union City,CA
Summary
Versatile professional with a solid background in administrative assistance and retail customer service. Known for delivering exceptional support to executives, adept at managing office tasks, coordinating schedules, and ensuring smooth operations. Combines strong organizational skills from administrative roles with a customer-centric approach developed in retail, resulting in a well-rounded skill set ready to contribute effectively to any administrative team.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Sales Associate
Cost Plus World Market, Inc
San Jose, CA
05.2014 - 11.2023
- Warmly greeted and assisted customers providing product information and recommendations and personalized shopping experiences.
- Utilized excellent communication skills to upsell and cross-sell productions, resulting in a 25%-50% increase in average transaction value.
- Maintain a well organized and visually appealing store layout including restocking and arranging merchandise.
- Processed customer transactions accurately and efficiently.
- Capitalized customer inquiries, concerns and returns, with professionalism and courtesy.
- Contributing to inventory management by conducting regular stock checks and assisting in restocking.
- Developed relationships with existing customers through follow-up calls, text and emails
- Exceeded customer reward signups and sales goal while providing exceptional customer service on a daily basis.
- Provided excellent customer service by responding to customer inquiries and complaints in a timely manner.
- Developed and outperformed promotional strategies to increase sales volume.
- Assessed customer product needs and interests in order to best recommend suitable items.
- Assisted customers by asking open-ended questions to understand needs and suggest suitable merchandise.
- Built and maintained relationships with peers and upper management to drive team success.
Sales Associate
Pier One Imports
Fremont, CA
05.2011 - 05.2014
- Consistently reached sales goals while providing exceptional customer service.
- Greeted each customer and offered assistance in finding requested items, helping boost customer satisfaction and retention.
- Capitalized product knowledge to suggest items to match client needs.
- Assisted in training new staff members on company policies and procedures related to sales operations.
- Performed cashier duties such as processing payments, issuing receipts, and handling returns and exchanges.
- Maintained cleanliness of the store including stocking shelves, setting up displays, and organizing backroom inventory.
Executive Assistant
Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA
03.2010 - 04.2011
- Organized and managed complex calendar of appointments, meetings, and travel arrangements for CFO.
- Prepared reports, presentations, agendas, minutes, and other documents as needed by the executive staff.
- Scheduled complex committee meetings for senior management and board & committee members for a 100% attendance.
- Obtained signatures for financial documents and internal/ external invoices.
- Facilitated board meeting agendas and distributed support materials in advance for successful meeting.
- Summarized and edited detailed meeting minutes and distribute to committee members and executive team.
- Coordinated executive and senior management vacation, day-to-day meeting and travel schedules.
- Provided accurate, up-to-date information to external parties through emails, phone calls and in-person interaction.
Administration Assistant
Barclays Global Investors
San Francisco, CA
05.2007 - 06.2008
- Managed daily calendars and administrative support for 3 managers and 4 direct reports.
- Prepared and prioritized calendars and correspondence.
- Scheduled meetings and video conferences, reserving conference rooms, preparing agendas, catering service for domestic & international attendees.
- Coordinated and booked heavy international travels, hotels, car services, as well as completed expense reports for travel reimbursement.
- Assisted with special projects as requested by management team.
Administrative Assistant
Pillar Data Systems
Milpitas, CA
11.2000 - 05.2007
- Scheduled, coordinated and managed meetings, calendars, events and travel arrangements for Senior Vice President of Engineering, CTO & CFO according to their requirements.
- Handled confidential documents in an organized fashion according to established protocol.
- Assisted with the planning of special events by arranging catering services, securing venues and ordering promotional materials.
- Prepared expense reports on behalf of executives in accordance with company policies and procedures.
- Managed incoming calls while providing information or transferring callers to appropriate personnel.
- Maintained office supplies inventory by checking stock to determine inventory level; anticipating needed supplies; placing and expediting orders for supplies.
- Coordinated mailings including sorting mail, preparing packages for shipping via courier service or postal service.
- Successfully maintained two break room offices by ordering refreshments, coffee, drinks and other kitchen essentials for employees.
Administrative Assistant
IBM
Fremont, CA
12.1999 - 11.2000
- Served as "Gate Keeper" to Sr. Vice President of Engineering.
- Organized and managed heavy complex calendar of appointments, meetings, speaking engagement, car service, hotel and travel arrangements.
- Maintained confidential records and files related to executive operations.
- Monitored incoming emails and responded accordingly in a timely manner.
- Performed data entry tasks into various software programs including MS Excel spreadsheets.
- Assisted in organizing conferences, seminars and other events as directed by the executive.
- Answered calls from customers and clients providing assistance where necessary.
Education
Fine Arts in Interior Design
Ohlone College
Fremont, CA06.2009
Skills
- Time management & organization skills
- Calendar management and travel coordinator
- Technology proficient
- Professional demeanor
- Customer service
- Problem-solving
- Confidentiality
- Adaptability
- Team collaboration
Timeline
Sales Associate
Cost Plus World Market, Inc
05.2014 - 11.2023
Sales Associate
Pier One Imports
05.2011 - 05.2014
Executive Assistant
Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco
03.2010 - 04.2011
Administration Assistant
Barclays Global Investors
05.2007 - 06.2008
Administrative Assistant
Pillar Data Systems
11.2000 - 05.2007
Administrative Assistant
IBM
12.1999 - 11.2000
Fine Arts in Interior Design
Ohlone College