Blake Adkins
West Portsmouth
Summary
Dynamic area manager with a proven track record in performance management and employee relations at Rural King Distribution Center. Expertise in KPI management and operational efficiency, fostering team leadership and driving engagement. Effective communication and mentoring strategies significantly enhance departmental productivity and employee satisfaction.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
Area Manager
Rural King Distribution Center
Waverly
06.2024 - 01.2026
- Led multi-department operations, enhancing HR functions and employee relations processes
- Managed staffing levels, ensuring safety and accountability for performance
- Strengthened engagement through regular leadership communication
- Developed future leaders through mentoring and coaching programs
- Conducted investigations, wrote discipline, and supported hiring decisions
Department Lead
Rural King Distribution Center
Waverly
01.2022 - 06.2024
- Monitored KPIs, implementing process improvements to enhance performance
- Supervised department workflow, ensuring alignment with productivity targets
- Trained new employees, fostering team development and collaboration
- Enforced operational and safety compliance standards
Warehouse Associate
Rural King Distribution Center
Waverly
07.2019 - 01.2022
- Supported shipping, receiving, and inventory operations to ensure timely order fulfillment
- Maintained inventory accuracy through regular audits and counts, reducing discrepancies
- Operated material handling equipment safely and efficiently to facilitate smooth workflow
- Collaborated with departments to streamline operations
Education
High School Diploma -
Washington Nile Local School District
West Portsmouth, OHWest Portsmouth, OH
Bachelor of Business - Business Management
Shawnee State University
Portsmouth, OH03-2026
Skills
- Performance Management
- Employee Relations
- Recruiting & Hiring
- Team Leadership
- Workplace Investigations
- KPI Management
- Operational Efficiency
- Attendance Management
- Supply Chain Management
- ADP
- HRIS
- Infor Workforce Management
- Microsoft Excel
Systems Technology
- ADP HRIS
- Infor Workforce Management
- Warehouse Management Systems
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Adobe Acrobat
- Oracle
- Epicor Eagle
- Enterprise Ticketing System
Operations Leadership Impact
- Increased conveyor productivity by 35% by aligning employee strengths with operational needs
- Increased production throughput by 1,000-2,000 cases per hour
- Oversaw operations processing 4,000-5,000 customer orders daily
- Reduced labor costs by 15% through strategic scheduling and staffing adjustments
- Maintained 15 consecutive months without a recordable safety incident
- Managed labor hours and overtime during peak operational demand
- Led daily operations for 40+ associates across multiple functional areas
- Identified workflow gaps and implemented process improvements to increase efficiency
Hr Employee Relations Experience
- Conducted employee relations investigations involving attendance violations, policy breaches, and workplace conflicts
- Prepared disciplinary documentation including corrective actions and performance improvement plans (PIPs)
- Managed attendance tracking and accountability using ADP and Infor workforce systems
- Interviewed candidates for entry level and leadership tier positions supporting hiring decisions
- Conducted 40+ annual performance evaluations and structured coaching conversations
- Partnered with HR on performance management decisions and employee relations matters
- Mediated workplace conflicts and resolved employee concerns before escalation
- Maintained strict confidentiality with sensitive employee information
- Reduced turnover by 80% through engagement, accountability, and leadership presence
- Developed internal leadership pipeline resulting in 6 promotions (4 Department Leads, 2 Area Managers)
Accomplishments
Associate of the Month — Rural King Distribution Center (June 2022)
Timeline
Area Manager
Rural King Distribution Center
06.2024 - 01.2026
Department Lead
Rural King Distribution Center
01.2022 - 06.2024
Warehouse Associate
Rural King Distribution Center
07.2019 - 01.2022
High School Diploma -
Washington Nile Local School District
Bachelor of Business - Business Management
Shawnee State University