Gretchen Kirst
Summary
Coordinated Business Support Representatives ready to lead company-wide business optimization efforts. Valuable resource to everyone from senior executives to new hires. Skilled at connecting workers and business partners with resources. Eager to help companies form internal and external synergies to exponentially increase profit potential.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Business Support Supervisor
True Value Manufacturing
06.2023 - 10.2023
- Rendered on-demand support to senior leadership, connecting executives with appropriate management personnel to address concerns.
- Held meetings to communicate new policies and procedures to appropriate personnel.
- Designed onboarding process for new personnel, expediting full operational competency through standardized curricula.
- Liaised with human resource department to resolve employee conflicts and concerns in need of escalation.
- Communicated with customers and vendors positively with particular attention to problem resolution.
- Assisted with hiring process and training of new employees.
- Coordinated team schedules to keep shifts properly staffed during busy periods.
- Trained new staff on job duties, company policies, and safety procedures for rapid onboarding.
- Collaborated with manufacturing and supply chain management.
Quality Control Supervisor
True Value Manufacturing
07.2022 - 06.2023
- Trained workers with improved procedures designed to enhance quality and eliminate errors.
- Maintained testing equipment in good working order to effectively quality control with production lines.
- Coordinated disposal of discrepant materials unsuitable for rework or recycling.
- Managed staff hiring, training and supervision.
- Implemented policies and standard operating procedures for continuous improvement.
- Conducted performance reviews each quarter, offering praise and recommendations for improvement.
- Trained personnel in proper sampling techniques, raw materials testing protocols and finished product inspection and testing strategies.
- Supported audits and led teams to fully investigate quality control processes and root out deficiencies.
- Supervised and directed quality control personnel through effective mentoring, coaching and work delegation.
Master Scheduler
True Value Manufacturing
02.2021 - 07.2022
- Answered customer questions and fulfilled specialized client needs.
- Communicated with manufacturing floor and scheduling teams to determine production plans.
- Maintained customer-focus by interfacing with order entry for on-time deliveries and resolving problems.
- Collaborated with planning, operations teams to improve material planning metrics for work order on-time deliveries.
- Performed analysis of materials to maximize product planning, capacity, product completion and delivery efficiency meeting customer and site requirements.
- Directed strategies for procurement of raw materials and complete parts.
- Created and monitored production schedules from start to finish.
- Tracked production progress and made changes for efficiency.
- Coordinated and prepared for new product launches, planned bills of material to plan finished products and reviewed customer-driven demands to determine product plans and master schedule requirements.
Customer Service Representative
True Value Manufacturing
03.2018 - 02.2021
- Handled customer inquiries and suggestions courteously and professionally.
- Actively listened to customers, handled concerns quickly and escalated major issues to supervisor.
- Answered constant flow of customer calls with minimal wait times.
- Answered customer telephone calls promptly to avoid on-hold wait times.
- Maintained customer satisfaction with forward-thinking strategies focused on addressing customer needs and resolving concerns.
- Developed customer service policies and procedures to meet and exceed industry service standards.
- Delivered exceptional customer service to every customer by leveraging extensive knowledge of products and services and creating welcoming, positive experiences.
- Developed highly empathetic client relationships and earned reputation for exceeding service standard goals.
- Calculated correct order totals, updated accounts, and maintained detailed records for inventory management.
- Cross-trained and provided backup support for organizational leadership.
Senior R&D Technician
True Value Manufacturing
06.2004 - 03.2018
- Reviewed formulations in production to ensure optimization.
- Recorded and analyzed data to produce reports of results.
- Adhered to laboratory safety procedures to maintain compliance with quality control standards.
- Participated in lab meetings and project presentations.
- Assisted scientists by collecting and organizing laboratory data.
- Prepared reagents and solutions following standard laboratory formulas and procedures.
- Troubleshot and resolved equipment and process issues.
- Operated and performed preventative maintenance on laboratory equipment and instruments.
- Participated in research projects by designing and executing experiments.
- Prepared action plans for problematic processes and assets.
- Ordered all supplies for laboratory
- Remodeled laboratory for ease of flow, including implementing and tracking all capital expenditures.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration
Columbia College
C03.2015
Skills
- Statement Reconciliation
- Contract Management
- Employee Management
- Customer Relationship Management
- Team Building and Leadership
- Cross-Functional Communication
- Analytical Thinking
- Performance Evaluations
- Customer Relations
- Customer Service
- Process Improvement
Timeline
Business Support Supervisor
True Value Manufacturing
06.2023 - 10.2023
Quality Control Supervisor
True Value Manufacturing
07.2022 - 06.2023
Master Scheduler
True Value Manufacturing
02.2021 - 07.2022
Customer Service Representative
True Value Manufacturing
03.2018 - 02.2021
Senior R&D Technician
True Value Manufacturing
06.2004 - 03.2018
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration
Columbia College