Gerald L. Reeves
Winchester,OH
Summary
Hardworking and driven sales management professional equipped to revitalize sales operations and align procedures to maximize profits and client acquisition. Successful at improving sales procedures to streamline and strengthen processes. A multifaceted leader with analytical and diligent approach to building and leading strong teams within agricultural chemical, seed and fertilizers. Goal-oriented with distinguished experience in the agricultural sector with proven leadership abilities. Expert in increasing productivity and customer satisfaction, driving revenue and sales, while optimizing employee talent.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Area and Technical Sales Manager - Midwest
Valagro USA
Coral Gables, FL
12.2018 - Current
- Established key working relationships with distributors, dealers and growers throughout Midwest
- Maintained professional relationships with customers, stakeholders, and leaders throughout agricultural industry
- Organized and executed field trial demos, field days, promotional activities, trade show, and other marketing activities
- Strategically set then achieved sales target of over $2.0 million and developed dealer marketing tools
- Delivered specific agronomic support on integrated crop solutions to key dealers - farmers in territory directly and/or indirectly through partnerships with distributors and independent technicians
- Responsible for first level distributor staff training on Valagro Nutritional Technology and solutions
- Collected market information on dealers, retail locations, growers, prices, agronomical trends, etc.
- Utilized Valagro's internal KM and CRM systems
- Managed key crops: Corn, Soybeans, Wheat, Vegetable & specialty crops
- Oversaw and managed a sales team of three Area Sales Managers with specificity to Valagro products
- Trained – managed new employees, direct reports, area sales representatives and interns while cultivating relationships with 220+ large dealers and growers
- Marketing included monthly webinars, direct mailings, YouTube educational video
- Valagro training academies, virtual field days, drone analysis, text messages and belly to belly selling
National Sales Manager
G & T Services, Inc
New Haven, IN
01.2016 - 12.2018
- Direct over-site of two salespeople and sales for railroad right of way work that included pole line removal, brush cutting, tie removal, ballast work, mainline - off-track - yard and sidings herbicide application as well as all special projects
- Hiring, training and Management of work crews’ placement and daily/weekly job assignments
- Developed specialized training material that was implemented companywide for hy-rail truck, herbicide application, and other equipment operators
- Stewarded high safety standard for whole company at all levels
- Reviewed all weekly reporting that included work/spray records, expenses and equipment maintenance/repair issues
- Prospected and sold over $10.0 million to all classes of railroads, utility companies, departments of transportation and county engineers
- Reviewed, prepared and submitted local, state and national bids and special projects as requested by the owner/president of G & T Services, Inc
- Managed team of 16 direct reports consisting of Sales Reps, Operators and Office Staff
Sales Manager
Red River Specialties
Shreveport, LA
12.2014 - 01.2016
- Managed 17-state territory with less than $500,000 in sales and grew it to over $2,000,000 in six months with total year-end sales of $4,200,000.
- Utilized industry and customer relationships to sell Red River chemicals and services.
- Made chemical technical recommendations for invasive or problematic weeds species that were cost effective and productive
- Oversaw marketing of chemicals across broad spectrum of customers including direct to big box retailers, farmers, ag retailers, commercial applicators, golf courses, and resellers.
- Supervised sales team of six people, stepping in to support employees and deliver smooth sales processes for clients.
- Territory stretched from Virginia to Maine and included Ohio, WV, KY and IN
- Created annual territory budget that was product specific and included forecasting yearly product mix
- Weekly reports, creation of unique marketing materials that included customer specific pricing and creative sales programs that included new product rollouts and spray plots, innovative strategic sales to national accounts
- Daily interaction with upper management that combined in-house marketing staff with private label sales opportunities and product enhancements
- Licensing, marketing, budgeting and business plan development/implementation.
Chief Operating Officer/Vice President
Mercier’s, Inc
Baltimore, MD / South Point, OH
01.2011 - 11.2014
- Oversaw operation and implementation of daily business process flows, departmental productivity, human resources, procurement and general needs
- Selected, trained and developed national sales team
- Directed sales and marketing team of 15, growing sales by 28% from $18.0 million to $23.0 million and increasing profit margins from 8% to 16%
- Developed marketing materials and sales go to market strategy, reviewed directed market segment growth and business unit planning
- Set quarterly/yearly financial objectives, budgets, implemented business plan, oversaw finances including managing work comp, GL, health insurance, benefits plan, all legal correspondence and work/revenue forecasting
- Cultivated key account relationships to grow business vertically and cement relationships at executive level
- Established protocol for all onsite work, managed OSHA safety guidelines, revised employee safety handbook to mitigate injury and manage risk
- Managed RFQ and bid opportunities making high level presentations consultatively
- Worked to nurture, mentor and develop future leaders in organization through hands on training and direct supervision
- Mercier’s, Inc. was a $23,000,000 company with over 220 employees
Regional Sales Manager
Alligare, LLC
Opelika, AL
06.2006 - 01.2011
- Hired to manage 18-state territory that was producing $750,000 in sales and achieved sales objectives by coordinating sales efforts, developing successful strategies, servicing accounts that culminated in $7.2 million in distributor, dealer, and grower sales
- Each year through research and referrals I added 18 new accounts and honed relationships with current accounts to grow business vertically
- Strong technical aptitude that includes specialty chemicals, IVM, agricultural, aquatic, range and pasture, forestry, defoamers, surfactants, dyes, and water conditioners
- As known "Trusted Advisor" made technical application recommendations that were unique solutions based on application environment, applicator goals, cost, and experience
- Charged with managing annual territory marketing budget, weekly work reports, setting and creating product pricing sheets, working with all applicators, special programs, new product plots and maintaining direct communications with upper management team
- Used SalesForce as daily/weekly sales monitoring and account tracking program.
National Sales Manager
Bio Gene Seed Company
Sardinia, OH
03.2004 - 04.2006
- Managed relationships, seed acres, bagging, reporting, settlement and planning, for over 125 seed conditioner affiliates in 15 mid-western states
- Developed selling dealer relationships with COOP, feed, fertilizer, seed and farmer sales locations as well as sales representatives
- Trained sales reps to market seed commodity products to farmers through direct in-house sales meetings/training
- In field hands on work utilizing farmer invited field days, riding combine and one on one kitchen table sales
- Exceeded targets by building, directing and motivating high-performing sales team.
- Managing territories with specificity to Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois and Michigan
- Designed and wrote quarterly agronomic and company newsletter
- Wrote grants pursuing federal, state and county monies for new soybean conditioning facility, genetic research and corporate improvements
- Worked within my own marketing budget, allocating spending, advertising, farm shows, dealer, farmer product meetings and district sales manager expenses
- Managed inventory issues with hybrids in production, bagging and quantities sold
- Collection of funds from sold commodities and creative payment plans were developed at times to accommodate large producers or unique farmer situations
- Have key relationships with many Agra-business commodity suppliers and associations
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Communications / Business, Bible and Music.
John Brown University
Siloam Springs, AR05.1988
Associate of Arts - General Education And Bible
Central College
McPherson, KS05.1986
Skills
- Excellent Communication and Leadership
- Above Average Negotiation Abilities
- Exceptional Presentation, Oratory, and Interpersonally
- Outstanding Management Capabilities
- Comprehensive Understanding of Business
- Keen Eye for Detail and Hardworking Nature
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Quote
Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.
Theodore Roosevelt
Timeline
Area and Technical Sales Manager - Midwest
Valagro USA
12.2018 - Current
National Sales Manager
G & T Services, Inc
01.2016 - 12.2018
Sales Manager
Red River Specialties
12.2014 - 01.2016
Chief Operating Officer/Vice President
Mercier’s, Inc
01.2011 - 11.2014
Regional Sales Manager
Alligare, LLC
06.2006 - 01.2011
National Sales Manager
Bio Gene Seed Company
03.2004 - 04.2006
Bachelor of Arts - Communications / Business, Bible and Music.
John Brown University
Associate of Arts - General Education And Bible
Central College