Alex Malaspinas
Torrington,CT
Summary
Community-building, highly proactive retail & hospitality manager/trainer/mentor with 20 + years of experience in team leadership in retail and service industry. Results-oriented and collaborative professional bringing expertise in operational precision, brand management and organization. Detail-oriented, attentive and decisive self-directed leader. Encouraging manager and analytical problem-solver with talents for team building, leading and motivating, as well as excellent customer relations aptitude and relationship-building skills. Proficient in using independent decision-making skills and sound judgment to positively impact company success. Dedicated to applying training, monitoring and morale-building abilities to enhance employee engagement and boost performance.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Business Manager
Melt Chocolatier
06.2022 - 07.2024
- Provided Business Consulting & Financial Guidance to Owner
- Developed best practices for underdeveloped specialty retail & wholesaler (quarterly planning, smart purchasing, time management, marketing development)
- Prepared and submitted grant applications to local organizations to solicit grant monies.
- Secured $15k in grant money from two separate organizations for company optimization project.
- Implemented cost-cutting measures, resulting in substantial savings for the company without compromising on quality or performance.
- Improved operational workflows by identifying areas of inefficiency and implementing appropriate solutions.
- Enhanced customer satisfaction levels by implementing an effective feedback system and addressing concerns promptly and efficiently.
- Provided comprehensive after-sales support to clients, resolving any issues promptly and efficiently.
- Collaborated closely with product development teams to ensure offerings were aligned with current market demands.
- Increased revenue by 25% each calendar year since joining in 2022
- Secured 50% increase in wholesale client list
- Developed new and aggressive social media execution and content calendar to ensure consistency and engagement for optimal exposure
Manager
Santa Cruz Naturals
Aptos, CA
05.2020 - 05.2022
- Applied strong leadership talents and problem-solving skills to maintain team efficiency and organize workflows to meet daily demands.
- Worked diligently with vendors and distributors to establish regular in-person and virtual employee trainings.
- Successfully implemented sales goal challenges each week to help increase average tickets. Increased sales by 15 - 25%.
- Successfully implemented improved pay structure for herbal consultants based on industry knowledge, bilingual ability, and sales challenges.
- Adjusted job assignments and schedules to keep pace with dynamic business needs, factoring in processes, employee knowledge, and customer demands.
- Handled customer complaints, resolved issues, and adjusted policies to meet changing needs.
- Analyzed equipment breakdowns using various troubleshooting methods.
- Identified individual employees' unique work styles and adapted management methods.
- Evaluated employees' strengths and assigned tasks based upon experience and training.
- Controlled costs and optimized spending via restructuring of budgets for labor, capital assets, inventory purchasing and technology upgrades.
- Resolved staff member conflicts, actively listened to concerns and found appropriate middle ground.
- Expanded cross-functional organizational capacity by collaborating across departments on priorities, functions and common goals.
- Delivered feedback to decision-makers regarding employee performance and training needs.
- Reduced process bottlenecks by training and coaching employees on practices, procedures and performance strategies.
Market Manager
Happy Boy Farms
Watsonville, CA
04.2019 - 04.2020
- Evaluated consumer preferences and behaviors, combined with market trends and historical data, to adjust and enhance campaigns
- Mentored local personnel on best practices and protocols to maximize productivity
- Operated commercial-grade vehicles to transport product to multiple Northern California weekly markets
- Strategized with upper management to conceive of new sales approaches to greater harness competitive edge amongst vendors
- Liaised with customers, management and sales team to better understand customer needs and recommend appropriate solutions
- Recommended product changes to enhance customer interest and maximize sales
Market Master
Downtown Milford Farmers Market
Milford, CT
01.2012 - 03.2019
- Received American Farmland Trust Farmer’s Market Best in Class from 2015 - 2018
- Received consistent recognition as #2 in Milford-based consensus on "Top 10 list of Reasons Why I Live in Milford"
- Researched to secure a diverse group of vendors to adequately serve community demands for 30-week market season
- Organized live performance schedule and hired musicians to play weekly sets
- Scheduled themed days and hired entertainment (Kids' Days, etc.)
- Generated financial support from local organizations (Whole Foods/Milford Bank/Milford Progress/Milford Mayor)) to handle increasing costs of operation and marketing efforts
- Ran campaigns across multiple platforms (social media/publications/billboards/signage)
- Developed and maintained expense budget while employing community resources to continually decrease expenses
- Increased weekly market participation from 2,000 to 10,000 attendees
- Handled all weekly operations of the market (maps/vendor relations/resident concerns/set up and break down)
- Managed all aspects of vendor fees, market costs, and financial dealings
- Secured all licenses, insurance & permits for City property use
- Held multi-annual meetings with Milford's Mayor Ben Blake and Director of Community Development to ensure transparency on all market operations and functions in order to guarantee local support and public accessibility
- Operated with high integrity, built trust, and earned sustained credibility with internal and external colleagues and community members
Manager
Scratch Baking
Milford, CT
07.2011 - 10.2018
- Managed top-rated CT bakery for first 7 years of business
- Created and executed all social-media and publication marketing across multiple platforms. (Facebook/Instagram/NextDoor/Patch)
- Maintained contacts with local publications and news sources to ensure publicity efforts were utilized and optimal
- Diligently led staff and maintained highest levels of customer service standards (garnering close-knit community connections and relationships with residents and other businesses)
- Interviewed all job candidates and made staffing decisions
- Wrote in-house Training Manual for all employees
- Counted cash drawers and made bank deposits
- Managed inventory of paper/dry goods/ingredients
- Maintained distributor relationships to ensure costliness and quality of all product
- Scheduled and led regular store meetings for all employees
- Generated repeat business through exceptional customer service
- Educated customers about the brand to incite excitement about company mission and values
- Improved operational planning and business frameworks to enhance resource utilization and reduce waste
- Established relationships with local organizations/non-profits for food and monetary donations to ensure community support and zero-waste initiatives
- Performed quarterly reviews assessing each employee's performance and developed improvement plans.
- Maintained team efficiency by strategically delegating daily activities, monitoring output and rewarding positive contributions.
Education
Bachelor of Arts -
Antioch College
Yellow Springs, OH04.2003
Associate of Arts -
Santa Monica College
Santa Monica, CA06.2001
Skills
- Natural leader
- Strong work ethic
- Marketing and advertising abilities
- Computer Proficient (Microsoft Office, etc)
- Conflict resolution techniques
- Highly Motivated
- Service-oriented
- Teamwork/Collaboration
- Supervisory Excellence
- Office administration
Timeline
Business Manager
Melt Chocolatier
06.2022 - 07.2024
Manager
Santa Cruz Naturals
05.2020 - 05.2022
Market Manager
Happy Boy Farms
04.2019 - 04.2020
Market Master
Downtown Milford Farmers Market
01.2012 - 03.2019
Manager
Scratch Baking
07.2011 - 10.2018
Bachelor of Arts -
Antioch College
Associate of Arts -
Santa Monica College