EMMY GJURGJIALI, CPA
Chicago,IL
Summary
Award winning business leader with a proven track record of delivering results and developing high performing teams. Business visionary with a leadership style rooted in building strong relationships cross-functionally as well as client facing for effective execution. Creative, out of the box thinker with a demonstrated ability to improve efficiencies, introduce new processes, and author fresh ideas to fuel the bottom-line results. Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to create new business units from scratch and thrive in a fast-paced environment.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Entrepreneur/Small Business Owner
Fetch! Pet Care
05.2023 - Current
- Successfully launched pet care business offering services such as dog walking, pet sitting, and pet taxi.
- Implemented business and marketing strategies resulting in 75%+ operating revenue growth month over month.
- Owned business operations managing all facets from hiring and training nine employees to creating streamlined processes for onboarding new clients.
- Groomed standout employee to become general manager owning day to day operations and staff management.
E-Commerce Sales Strategy Director
Ferrara Candy
04.2021 - 05.2023
- Recovered $2.1M in erroneous operational charges from Amazon through successful negotiation tactics.
- Improved service fill rates by 7.5% resulting in incremental sales of $9M by collaborating with internal partners during post-pandemic global supply chain crisis.
- Initiated sales strategy to drive drive channel EBITDA growth and increase market share, achieving #1 category leader for Amazon and a P&L favorability of 500 basis points
- Negotiated early adoption of cost increases by Amazon resulting in P&L favorability of $1.7M.
- Recruited, developed, and lead high potential team of 6 direct reports through recruiting, training, and mentorship to become best in class.
- Lead team to exceed $75M gross sales target by $15M.
- Received “Amazon Gold Standard Vendor” award by being a trusted advisor and building strong relationships with Amazon and Amazon Fresh business partners.
E-Commerce Strategy Senior Manager
Ferrara Candy
04.2020 - 04.2021
- Created eCommerce strategy playbook and go-to-market tactics, achieving #1 category leader.
- Lead consumer-inspired product development from conceptualization to commercialization by collaborating cross-functionally with key internal and external partners.
- Delivered results by leading product development of 68 channel specific SKUs, yielding margins of 35%+ and YoY growth rate of 50%+.
- Spearheaded launch of a new business unit by working cross-functionally with Sales, Operations, Finance and Legal.
- Lead go-to-market portfolio assortment strategy within D2C center of excellence task force,
- Adapted through two business acquisitions by onboarding a portfolio of existing SKUs yielding margins of 5% and optimizing to generate margins of 25% by end of year one.
- Partnered with sister company Ferrero Global on E-Commerce and go-to-market strategies, resulting in their eCommerce business reaching $4B in gross sales.
- Provided thought leadership by offering quarterly company-wide eCommerce Strategy 101 webinars.
E-Commerce Strategy Manager
Ferrara Candy
04.2019 - 04.2020
National Account Manager
Ferrara Candy
04.2018 - 04.2019
- Built strong partnerships with customers to develop and manage business aligned with joint business plans.
- Provided end-to-end ownership of Ferrara’s $50M business across Meijer and Hy-Vee.
- Saved $2.1M on the bottom line by effectively negotiating favorable contract terms with customers.
- Modified sales strategy based on customer needs, product innovations, and market conditions, achieving "Partner Of The Year" for Hy-Vee.
- Deployed innovative distribution drive, resulting in customer satisfaction and incremental net sales of $2.5M.
- Awarded “Ferrara’s Principles in Action” for growing business by 15% over annual sales plan.
Regional Sales Manager
Ferrara Candy
07.2017 - 04.2018
- Cultivated broker relationships to ensure effective go-to-market strategies when launching innovations.
- Provided end-to-end ownership of Ferrara’s $22M business across the convenience channel in MI and OH.
- Exceeded sales quota by $3.5M with a P&L improvement of 300 basis points.
Sales Operations Manager
Ferrara Candy
07.2016 - 07.2017
- Developed the Sales Operations functions to ensure effective cross-functional collaboration on annual budget setting and sales portion of S&OP process.
- Enhanced cross-functional relationships between sales, marketing, operations, and finance to better align strategies, serve customers, and achieve organizational goals.
- Recruited, trained, and supervised team of five senior analysts in sales strategy and business operations.
- Delivered end-user training on Salesforce to onboard sales teams.
- Supported implementation of new IT systems, including Business Objects, Salesforce, and Anaplan.
Assistant Controller
Walton Street Capital
06.2015 - 07.2016
- Serviced private equity real estate assets valued at $1B by performing detailed financial analysis, managing reporting and deadlines, and analyzing changes in period-over-period financial performance.
- Directed team of eight financial analysts to prepare annual and quarterly financial reporting and consolidation packages to assist operating partners with budget development.
- Collaborated with asset managers on closing of asset sales under strict buyer deadlines.
Senior Financial Analyst
Walton Street Capital
06.2014 - 06.2015
Financial Analyst
Walton Street Capital
09.2013 - 06.2014
Senior Associate - Assurance
RSM US LLP
10.2012 - 09.2013
- Orchestrated teams by planning and executing external audits for private equity funds and hedge funds.
- Enhanced client relationships by making recommendations for business process improvement to management, consistently seeking ways to increase efficiencies.
- Built relationships with client-side general partners, consultants, financial advisors, and senior management.
Associate - Assurance
RSM US LLP
01.2011 - 10.2012
Education
Bachelor of Science - Accounting
University of Illinois At Chicago
Chicago, ILSkills
- Sales and Sales Strategy
- Go-To-Market Strategy
- Value Creation
- Strategic Planning
- Cross-Functional Leadership
- Sales Operations
- Forecasting
- Business Planning
- Creative Problem Solving
- Strategic Thinking
- Focused Execution
- Data-Driven Analytics
Affiliations
- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
- National Association for Women Business Owners
- The Female Entrepreneur Association
- Ladies Who Launch
Certification
- CPA - Certified Public Accountant
Additional Information
- Co-Chair, Ferrara Women Who Lead
- Avid Volunteer, Junior Achievement and Anti-Cruelty Society
- Visual Artist
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Albanian
Full Professional
Spanish
Professional Working
Timeline
Entrepreneur/Small Business Owner
Fetch! Pet Care
05.2023 - Current
E-Commerce Sales Strategy Director
Ferrara Candy
04.2021 - 05.2023
E-Commerce Strategy Senior Manager
Ferrara Candy
04.2020 - 04.2021
E-Commerce Strategy Manager
Ferrara Candy
04.2019 - 04.2020
National Account Manager
Ferrara Candy
04.2018 - 04.2019
Regional Sales Manager
Ferrara Candy
07.2017 - 04.2018
Sales Operations Manager
Ferrara Candy
07.2016 - 07.2017
Assistant Controller
Walton Street Capital
06.2015 - 07.2016
Senior Financial Analyst
Walton Street Capital
06.2014 - 06.2015
Financial Analyst
Walton Street Capital
09.2013 - 06.2014
Senior Associate - Assurance
RSM US LLP
10.2012 - 09.2013
Associate - Assurance
RSM US LLP
01.2011 - 10.2012
Bachelor of Science - Accounting
University of Illinois At Chicago
- CPA - Certified Public Accountant
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