Catherine Dunko
Summary
Experienced professional in merchandising and buying with a proven ability to increase company sales through product assortment and creative displays. Skilled in optimizing design and functionality by utilizing knowledge of space planning, furniture proportions, and color coordination for displays. Proficient in market purchasing, product curation, sales evaluation, spatial organization, and developing planograms to elevate customer satisfaction.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Permit Coordinator
Waltbillig & Hood General Contractors
04.2024 - Current
- Oversee all aspects of permitting for construction projects. Consistently manage large scale projects throughout multiple municipalities from pre-construction through project completion.
- Monitored progress of ongoing projects closely, consistently over 50 permits at a time, addressing any unexpected changes or hiccups proactively.
- Advised clients on required documents and necessary steps in obtaining permits to streamline their experience.
- Developed strong relationships with key stakeholders, leading to smoother coordination efforts.
- Enhanced workflow efficiency by implementing a digital permit management system.
Permit Coordinator
CJM Construction
07.2020 - 01.2024
- Oversaw all aspects of permitting for construction projects. Consistently manage large scale projects throughout multiple municipalities from pre-construction through project completion.
- Monitored progress of ongoing projects closely, addressing any unexpected changes or hiccups proactively.
- Advised clients on required documents and necessary steps in obtaining permits to streamline their experience.
- Developed strong relationships with key stakeholders, leading to smoother coordination efforts.
- Created permitting SOP's for company training, organized file system and job tracking for ease of project organization and trained new employees to assist the permitting department.
Visual Merchandising Manager
Capitol Lighting
01.2017 - 04.2020
- Assisted in end of year category sales review in preparation of new market buys. Reviewed top and bottom performing categories to assess where to make product changes or improvements.
- Attended market to make plans for new vendor and item purchases and assisted in selections and purchases post market.
- Collaborated with wholesale partners and cross-functional teams to develop solutions for balancing product assortments.
- Improved customer navigation and flow within stores by designing intuitive floor plans and trained store teams to understand product placement.
- Increased sales with strategic placement of high-margin products in key traffic areas.
- Communicated visual merchandising information and standards via in-store training and regular meetings.
- Coached fixture installers on building products, merchandising standards, and product lifestyles/ trends through use of newly developed display and merchandising manual.
Visual Coordinator
White House Black Market
09.2011 - 01.2017
- Managed collecting product samples and partnered with corporate setting displays to ensure brand accuracy for executive walkthrough and photo shoot.
- Facilitated all visual merchandising aspects of 21 new store openings. Led large teams to ensure visual accuracy prior to the opening.
- Partnered with District and Regional managers to train store teams on visual brand standards. Led visual workshops with store teams who consistently demonstrated increased kpi's due to training and new product layout.
- Worked closely with corporate visual manager to understand current floor set document and other visual communication. Provided that communication to all districts on weekly conference calls.
- Managed project timelines, successfully completing visual merchandising initiatives within tight deadlines.
Sales Associate
Neiman Marcus
05.2009 - 09.2011
Education
Bachelor of Science - Fashion Merchandising
Western Illinois University
Macomb, ILSkills
- Trend analysis
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Organization skills
- Vendor evaluation
- Merchandise selection
- Staff supervision
- Store layout optimization
- Time management
Certification
Certified Interior Decorator, Certified Interior Decorators International, Inc.
Timeline
Permit Coordinator
Waltbillig & Hood General Contractors
04.2024 - Current
Permit Coordinator
CJM Construction
07.2020 - 01.2024
Visual Merchandising Manager
Capitol Lighting
01.2017 - 04.2020
Visual Coordinator
White House Black Market
09.2011 - 01.2017
Sales Associate
Neiman Marcus
05.2009 - 09.2011
Bachelor of Science - Fashion Merchandising
Western Illinois University
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