Salt Water Fishing
Scuba Diving
Remodeling Houses
Family and Grandkids
Derek Powell
Chattahoochee,FL
Summary
Results-driven professional with 20+ years of experience in retail, plant operations, packaging, and EDI management. Skilled in strategic planning, team leadership, and analytical decision-making. Known for improving inventory control, strengthening vendor relationships, and delivering measurable cost savings.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
Work History
Packaging & EDI Manager
Pro Health Potatoes
McKinney, TX
06.2018 - Current
- Have held multiple positions within the organization during tenure; many of them overlapping, handling multiple jobs simultaneously.
- Plant Manager...Forest Park, GA...2 years, until decision to close facility
- Interim Plant Manager...Dalhart, TX...1.5 years, until we found a candidate; commuted from GA to TX multiple trips per month.
- Directed daily potato production workflows to maintain consistent quality and output.
- Coordinated inventory control, shipment schedules, and order fulfillment across operations.
- Supervised staff performance, training, and compliance with safety procedures.
- Interim Vice President of Sales...2 years, until we found a candidate; this job was remote, however overlapped with plant manager in Texas
- Managed and motivated employees to be productive and engaged in work.
- Controlled costs to keep business operating within budget and increase profits.
- Managed budgets effectively, ensuring optimal financial performance while investing in necessary resources for business growth.
- EDI Manager, ongoing.
- Implemented EDI processing with 90% of the customer base and multiple vendors, to reduce and minimize data entry errors
- Trained sales team on how to properly use EDI, to expedite order processing, invoice processing and payment collection.
- Packaging Manager, ongoing
- Reduced operational costs through comprehensive process improvement initiatives and resource management.
- Streamlined workflows by identifying bottlenecks in existing systems and implementing appropriate solutions.
- Oversaw inventory management, optimizing stock levels, and reducing waste.
- Trained onsite staff to effectively manage on hand inventories on a daily, weekly & monthly basis.
- Reduced on hand packaging inventories by over $2M
- Implemented "just in time" inventory procedures across the company.
- Implemented an RFQ system for tonnage packaging items, reducing costs year over year.
Small Business Owner
Batteries Plus Bulbs
Tallahassee, FL
02.2021 - 10.2026
- Directed store operations, aligning sales, service, and inventory processes with Batteries Plus Bulbs retail standards.
- Managed battery, bulb, and device inventory to maintain product availability and reduce stock discrepancies.
- Oversaw customer service for battery replacement, lighting solutions, and device repair inquiries.
- Increased sales 30% year over year for 5 years consecutively.
- Supervised merchandising and product displays to improve store organization and buying experience.
- Trained staff on product knowledge, repair procedures, and customer service expectations.
Vice President of Retail Operations
General Produce Company
Forest Park, GA
06.2001 - 06.2016
- Started career as a buyer and worked up to VP of Retail Operations my final 5 years of employment.
- Directed retail operations strategy across produce departments, aligning merchandising, inventory, and service standards.
- Optimized fresh product flow through purchasing, replenishment, and store-level execution.
- Evaluated sales trends and adjusted assortment plans to support customer demand.
- Led multi-unit teams through seasonal transitions ensuring smooth rollouts of promotional campaigns which maximized revenue opportunities.
- Oversaw regional P&L analysis and budget planning to effectively manage financial resources for optimal results.
- Implemented business strategies, increasing revenue, and effectively targeting new markets.
- Negotiated price and service with customers and vendors to decrease expenses and increase profit.
- Reduced operational risks while organizing data to forecast performance trends.
- Identified and qualified customer needs and negotiated and closed profitable projects with a high success rate.
Store Manager
Kroger Company
Atlanta, GA
01.1996 - 06.2001
- Managed financial aspects of store operations, including budget planning, expense tracking, and accurate record-keeping to maintain fiscal responsibility.
Education
No Degree - Entrepreneurship
Jim Moran Institute For Global Entrepneurship
Tallahassee09-2025
High School Diploma -
Avon Park High School
Avon Park, FL06.1987
Skills
- Inventory optimization
- Budget control
- Vendor management
- Task prioritization
- Strategic planning
- Analytical decision-making
- Problem solving
- Team leadership
- Resilient leadership
- Communication skills
- Detail orientation
- Microsoft Office proficiency
Affiliations
Leadership Tallahassee, Class 43, 2025
Interests
Timeline
Small Business Owner
Batteries Plus Bulbs
02.2021 - 10.2026
Packaging & EDI Manager
Pro Health Potatoes
06.2018 - Current
Vice President of Retail Operations
General Produce Company
06.2001 - 06.2016
Store Manager
Kroger Company
01.1996 - 06.2001
No Degree - Entrepreneurship
Jim Moran Institute For Global Entrepneurship
High School Diploma -
Avon Park High School