Alexander J. Cochran
Cincinnati,OH
Summary
I'm a results-driven professional with a background in both sales leadership and HR, shaped by my experience at a fast-paced CPG startup. I initially built and managed a high-performing sales team from the ground up, securing national retail partnerships with Kroger, Walmart, and Target, generating over $6M in revenue, and developing a $12M+ pipeline. While leading the team, I found myself especially drawn to the HR and people operations side-recruiting talent, onboarding new hires, coaching for performance, and building a strong team culture. I enjoyed it so much that I asked to formally transition into an HR & Talent Acquisition role, where I led all day-to-day people operations for our 35-person hybrid team. I now bring a unique blend of sales expertise and people-first leadership, with a passion for building systems and teams that drive results, growth, and employee engagement.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
HR & Talent Acquisition Manager
The Whole Coffee Company (Nudge Coffee)
Miami, FL
04.2023 - Current
- Transitioned into HR and recruiting after building and coaching a highly successful sales team.
- Managed full-cycle recruiting across sales, marketing, and operations.
- Sourced candidates through multiple online platforms and referral channels to build a strong and diverse talent pipeline.
- Designed and implemented onboarding processes focused on performance, integration, and culture alignment; resulted in 100% completion of new hire training within the first week.
- Reduced time-to-hire by 25% by streamlining interview and offer workflows in collaboration with department leads.
- Adapted quickly to various ATS and HRIS platforms, supporting system migrations and documentation for smoother adoption.
- Contributed to a more inclusive hiring process by introducing structured interview guides and diverse sourcing strategies.
- Led employee relations, performance tracking, team engagement, and internal communications, resulting in improved morale and retention.
- Supported a high-growth startup environment with a 45-person hybrid team and evolving operational needs.
Sales Manager
The Whole Coffee Company (Nudge Coffee)
Miami, FL
11.2021 - 04.2023
- Built and led the sales team from the ground up-handled recruiting, interviewing, onboarding, and ongoing training.
- Secured placement in 5,800+ retail locations including Kroger, Walmart, and Target.
- Generated $6M+ in revenue and built a $12M+ pipeline through strategic outreach and buyer relationships.
- Actively prospected and closed deals while coaching and supporting team performance.
- Led successful product placement test with Kroger, optimizing in-store performance.
- Developed sales playbooks, pipeline reviews, and performance tracking systems using HubSpot CRM.
Client Sales Representative
MEC-5 Consulting
Cincinnati, OH
04.2019 - 11.2021
- Closed over $3M in new business through strategic prospecting and outbound campaigns, which significantly boosted the company's revenue.
- Managed a portfolio of 50+ enterprise accounts, achieving an impressive 85% contract renewal rate, helping to maintain strong, long-term client relationships.
- Improved lead-to-sale conversion by 30% through tailored outreach and consultative selling, which enhanced the efficiency of our sales process.
- Increased tech adoption by 25% by positioning value-based solutions to mid-market and enterprise clients, helping them realize the benefits of our offerings.
Client Sales Representative
Echo Global Logistics
Atlanta, GA
09.2017 - 04.2019
- Exceeded annual sales quota by 120%, generating over $1.5M in revenue, which significantly contributed to the company's overall growth.
- Expanded the client base by 40%, helping to establish a stronger market presence and driving sustainable business growth.
- Delivered weekly product demonstrations and executive-level presentations, achieving a 90% conversion rate from meetings to proposals, which effectively translated interest into actionable sales opportunities.
- Enhanced cold-calling effectiveness, increasing the conversion rate from 15% to 27% over 12 months, which helped improve outreach results and strengthen client engagement.
Sr. Account Executive
PCMG
Los Angeles, CA
11.2015 - 08.2017
- Drove over $5 million in total sales, achieving a remarkable 30% year-over-year revenue growth in the public sector technology space, which significantly enhanced our market presence.
- Managed more than 200 client accounts while maintaining an impressive 97% renewal rate, ensuring high levels of customer satisfaction and loyalty.
- Closed high-value contracts with an average deal size of $250,000, which strengthened our financial position and solidified long-term relationships with key vendors and partners.
- Expanded enterprise solution adoption by 45% through strategic account planning and stakeholder education, which increased product utilization and customer engagement.
Web Analyst / Quality Assurance Associate
Emerging Technologies Group
Los Angeles, CA
07.2014 - 11.2015
- Led the execution of over 100 software test cases, which helped reduce pre-launch bugs by 40%, ensuring a smoother product launch.
- Delivered actionable quality assurance insights that resulted in a 20% decrease in post-launch issues, making user experience significantly better.
- Improved overall efficiency by 25% through process optimization, which streamlined workflows and made testing protocols more effective.
- Developed automated testing protocols, which not only sped up the testing process but also increased accuracy in identifying potential problems.
Regional Sales Manager
Metalpress Designs
Los Angeles, CA
05.2009 - 07.2014
- Built and managed a client base of 100+ new accounts, generating $750K+ in sales.
- Represented the company at 10+ annual trade shows, consistently generating qualified leads and partnerships.
- Increased client retention by 30% through proactive relationship management and service excellence.
Education
Bachelor's Degree - Communications
Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, CA05.2013
Skills
- Talent Acquisition & Recruiting
- People Operations
- Employee Onboarding & Training
- Strategic Pipeline Development
- Cross-Functional Team Leadership
- Relationship Building & Client Success
- Full-Cycle Sales Management
- Performance Management & Coaching
- Remote & Hybrid Team Management
- Employer Branding & Culture Development
- Startup Operations & Scalability
- HR Compliance & Documentation
Certification
VMware Sales Professional (VSP) Certified
Timeline
HR & Talent Acquisition Manager
The Whole Coffee Company (Nudge Coffee)
04.2023 - Current
Sales Manager
The Whole Coffee Company (Nudge Coffee)
11.2021 - 04.2023
Client Sales Representative
MEC-5 Consulting
04.2019 - 11.2021
Client Sales Representative
Echo Global Logistics
09.2017 - 04.2019
Sr. Account Executive
PCMG
11.2015 - 08.2017
Web Analyst / Quality Assurance Associate
Emerging Technologies Group
07.2014 - 11.2015
Regional Sales Manager
Metalpress Designs
05.2009 - 07.2014
Bachelor's Degree - Communications
Loyola Marymount University