Celene Kuhlmann

Develop and manage established as well as new customers, by selling food and non-food items to achieve sales and profitability goals.

Accomplishments

• Awarded by Executive Leadership Team and CEO, Dave Flittman, for excellence in sales performance and collaboration.
• Achieved 3 out of 4 sprint wins among 110 sales managers by developing a strategic sales pitch, creating a detailed action plan, setting clear goals, and leveraging team support.
• Nearly doubled annual sales, surpassing $2 million through a targeted Penetration Play strategy.
• Secured multiple customer agreements and successfully onboarded new restaurant partners.
• Recognized for building confidence as a Territory Manager (TM) and making a significant impact in Nebraska's largest market share area.
• Recovered previously lost accounts, resulting in $204,000 in annual sales.

Advise businesses on creating innovative, strategic marketing plans to grow sales and expand customer base. Generated leads and implemented relationship-based networking for business development efforts.

Accomplishments

• Achieved 1000% sales growth in 1 year for a local jewelry business by developing and executing social media strategies and launching an eCommerce website.
• Led the creation of an eCommerce platform as a new revenue stream, generating $100K in online sales and saving $84K in overhead and labor costs for the brick-and-mortar location.
• Organized monthly in-person marketing events for a Med Spa, resulting in $25K in new, recurring monthly revenue within the first year.
• Launched a new social media platform for a local landscaping business, gaining 1,000+ followers in the first month, and collaborated with a popular local restaurant to attract an additional 10K followers.
• Expanded the customer base by targeting new, untapped markets, increasing annual revenue from $100K to $200K+ within 1 year.
• Negotiated and managed a sponsorship partnership with local Chick-fil-A, facilitating a collaborative event to boost visibility and engagement.

Developed and executed foodservice supply chain solutions for convenience store chains and distributors such as McLane Company, Cash-Wa Distributing, Core-Mark, Amcon, U-Stop, Bosselmans, Kum & Go and Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh Stores.

Accomplishments

• Pioneered the introduction of Kellogg’s MorningStar Farms plant-based proteins into the convenience store channel, generating $1.5M in annual sales for Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh Stores.
• Launched a new product category by implementing Trident Sushi into Kum & Go stores, resulting in $850K in annual sales.
• Secured 238 Frazil contracts/placements, achieving a 155.5% sales increase and ranking as the top producer among 20 representatives.
• Transitioned a snack cheese program from Sargento Cheese to Saputo Cheese, driving $100K in annual sales.

Developed and executed foodservice supply chain solutions for the following grocery and convenience store chains: Kroger, Speedway, MFA Oil, Bosselmans, B&R Stores, Feather Petroleum, Loco and CFM

Accomplishments

• Negotiated 5-year contracts, securing $825M in guaranteed future revenue, surpassing the standard 2-year deal terms.
• Developed and delivered monthly sales presentations with profit opportunities and new product offerings, driving a 20% increase in annual sales.
• Promoted within one year from Independent Sales Manager to Sales Account Manager based on performance and leadership potential.
• Chosen by the McLane Executive Sales Leadership Team to represent the company at National Leadership Conferences, National Sales Team Mentoring Programs, National Sales Meetings, and National Trade Shows—only one of fewer than 10 sales reps selected out of 300.
• Elected to play a key role on the New Business Operations Team during the transition of Speedway and Kroger to McLane.
• Coordinated regional and national sales meetings, ensuring smooth operations and strategic alignment across teams.