Cristina "Nina" Perez
162 Harding Ave North Plainfield,NJ
Summary
As a Sales Manager for A&D in the Northeast, I leverage my interior design background and sales expertise to deliver innovative, high-end solutions for custom home builders, interior designers, and architects with Kallista products. With over eight years of experience in the decorative plumbing industry, I am a proven leader known for building strong relationships and driving results.
I hold an MBA with a concentration in Digital Marketing from Fort Hays State University, where I expanded my skills in business strategy, team building, and data-driven decision-making. My goal is to combine my passion for design and sales to create meaningful value for clients and fuel sustainable growth.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Sales Manager A&D - East
Kallista
Kohler, WI
12.2025 - Current
- Lead A&D sales strategy for the Northeast across a multi-state cross-border territory from Chicago all the way to Toronto Canada, serving as the primary brand representative for Kohler’s luxury Kallista line within the design community.
- Drive specification across high-end residential and boutique commercial projects by building relationships with architects, interior designers, custom home builders, and procurement teams.
- Actively engage top A&D firms, including AD100 designers such as Rockwell Group, Roman and Williams, and Yabu Pushelberg, across NYC and the Northeast through CEUs, lunch & learns, dinners, and private product presentations, positioning Kallista as a premium specification choice.
- Manage and support regional rep agencies across multiple markets, aligning on strategy, pipeline development, and consistent brand execution.
- Contribute to a district generating $20M+ in annual sales, with a focus on increasing share within the luxury segment.
- Partner cross-functionally with marketing, showrooms, and wholesale partners to execute targeted events, activations, and product launches that drive designer engagement and specification.
Leader, Showroom and Custom Home Builder
Lixil Americas
Piscataway, NJ
12.2021 - 11.2025
- Managed a territory of 80+ showroom, builder, and wholesale accounts across NJ, Eastern PA, and DE, driving growth for brands including American Standard, DXV, and GROHE.
- Increased territory sales by 6% year-over-year, contributing to a district exceeding $22M in annual revenue.
- Drove a 30% increase in new business by developing builder programs, targeting custom home builders, and expanding showroom partnerships.
- Influenced product specification on multi-family and custom residential projects, including a $1.2M plumbing package win with Toll Brothers, displacing competitor brands.
- Secured placement of new product lines in 15+ showrooms, increasing brand visibility and sell-through.
- Built strong relationships with architects, interior designers, and showroom consultants, supporting projects from design development through final selection.
- Delivered 40+ CEUs and product trainings annually, strengthening brand credibility and driving specification opportunities.
- Leveraged Salesforce CRM to track pipeline, forecast revenue, and manage strategic follow-up campaigns.
Outside Sales Representative
Martin & Smith Inc.
Warminster, PA
11.2020 - 11.2021
- Represented American Standard, DXV, and GROHE as an independent rep, managing relationships with 50+ showrooms, plumbers, contractors, builders, and the A&D community across Eastern PA and NJ.
- Supported specification efforts by working directly with designers and builders on product selection and project planning and increased sales within key accounts by 15% through targeted outreach, product training, and consistent follow-up.
- Conducted product trainings, showroom merchandising updates, and sales presentations to increase product adoption.
- Maintained a consistent pipeline of opportunities by conducting weekly field visits and account reviews, strengthening relationships and identifying new business.
Showroom Sales Consultant
General Plumbing Supply
Green Brook, NJ
11.2017 - 11.2020
- Consistently met $100K monthly sales targets, increased showroom revenue by 7% year over year, and maintained a 95% customer satisfaction rating. Built strong relationships with builders and contractors, driving a 20% increase in repeat business and referral growth like with Magnolia and Bellari.
- Consulted with homeowners, interior designers, contractors, plumbers, custom home builders, and remodelers on luxury plumbing, furniture, tile, and lighting selections for residential projects.
- Managed 50 to 75 active client projects at a time, guiding customers through product selection, finish coordination, and budget alignment.
- Specialized in mid to high-end product lines, positioning premium brands and increasing average order value.
- Delivered a high-touch, consultative client experience, contributing to consistently strong customer satisfaction and long-term relationships.
Assistant General Manager
Panera Bread - Catering
Florham Park, NJ
10.2016 - 11.2017
- Oversaw catering operations, including food prep, scheduling, and event setup, while managing and training a team of 20+ staff.
General Manager
Qdoba Restaurant Corporation
Union, NJ
12.2012 - 10.2016
- Managed daily operations, including inventory, staffing, and customer service, while successfully leading a team of 12 employees.
Education
MBA - Digital Marketing
Fort Hays State University
Hays, KS12-2024
Bachelor of Arts - Interior Design
Kean University
Union, NJ12-2016
Skills
- Customer Service, Client Relations, and Account Management
- Salesforce, Power BI, SAP, and Tableau
- Microsoft Excel, Power Point, and Word
- Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, and Dropbox
- CEUs, Product Training, and Presentations
- AutoCAD, Photoshop, Revit, and SketchUp
- Sales Operations, Team Building, Onboarding, and Hands-on Coaching
Accomplishments
- Drove brand visibility for Grohe and DXV at the 2025 Mansion in May showhouse by specifying fixtures for a high-profile designer home, permanent placement enabled photography for marketing campaigns, increasing DXV and Grohe inquiries by 12%.
- Recognized by Influential Women as a 2025 Influential Woman for leadership and impact.
- LIXIL Best of the Best Award 2024 District 10 team achievement for top company performance.
Timeline
Sales Manager A&D - East
Kallista
12.2025 - Current
Leader, Showroom and Custom Home Builder
Lixil Americas
12.2021 - 11.2025
Outside Sales Representative
Martin & Smith Inc.
11.2020 - 11.2021
Showroom Sales Consultant
General Plumbing Supply
11.2017 - 11.2020
Assistant General Manager
Panera Bread - Catering
10.2016 - 11.2017
General Manager
Qdoba Restaurant Corporation
12.2012 - 10.2016
MBA - Digital Marketing
Fort Hays State University
Bachelor of Arts - Interior Design
Kean University