Joe Rutledge
National Accounts Manager
Grayslake,IL
Summary
Business development leader known for delivering simple strategy, revenue growth, service excellence, and performance improvement while cultivating brand mindshare through client relationships. Broad based expertise for both inside and outside sales leveraging internal and external business dynamics. Experience closing sales, managing funnels, account management, training, presentations, and collaboration with local, national, corporate and OEM accounts. Results-oriented National Account Manager effective at expanding territories and building retention. Highly organized with excellent communication and planning abilities. Offering 20 plus years of experience in fast-paced sales environments.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
6020
6020
years of post-secondary education
Work History
National Account Manager
Continental Sales and Marketing
San Leandro
08.2023 - Current
- Managed, supported and grew business relationships with existing accounts and developed strategies to increase sales revenue 10% in 2024 and doubling SKU count.
- Strengthened relationships with key clients by maintaining consistent communication and providing tailored solutions.
- Brought lapsed suppliers back to active status and providing additional revenue.
- Fostered an environment of collaboration and open communication with internal teams to ensure seamless execution of national account initiatives.
- Negotiated contracts for favorable terms, resulting in increased profitability and client satisfaction.
- Efficiently resolved sales, service and account issues to maximize customer satisfaction. and score card.
- Coordinated regular meetings with product managers to review performance metrics, address concerns, and discuss potential areas of improvement and expansion.
- Provided clients with detailed performance reports highlighting successes, areas for improvement, and recommendations for future initiatives.
- Developed customized proposals that demonstrated a deep understanding of each client''s unique needs and goals.
- Played an instrumental role in launching new products or services within assigned national accounts
- Built strong relationships with key decision-makers at the executive level within national accounts organizations.
- Provided product demonstrations to share features, answer questions and overcome concerns.
- Tracked sales data to assess trends and make proactive strategy changes.
- Implemented systems and procedures to increase sales.
- Exceeded sales quotas and increased profitability through effective sales strategy and business planning.
- Managed accounts to retain existing relationships and grow share of business.
- Held one-on-one meetings with sales team members to identify selling hurdles and offered insight into best remedy.
- Engaged in product training, demonstrations, consumer awareness, branding, and acquisition initiatives to raise awareness and revenues.
- Boosted marketing, reviewed pricing strategies and expanded distribution channels to increase sales revenue.
Business Development Manager
Pexco LLC
Atlanta, GA
06.2020 - 08.2023
- Generated new business with marketing initiatives and strategic plans with Electrical Distribution Business unit by 13%.
- Reached out to potential customers via telephone, email, and in-person inquiries adding new distribution diversity.
- Increased client base by identifying new business opportunities and cultivating strong relationships with key decision makers for distribution and OEM customers.
- Developed customized solutions for clients based on a deep understanding of their unique pain points, delivering value and driving repeat business.
- Established relationships with key decision-makers within customer's organization to promote growth and retention.
- Performed client research and identified opportunities for account growth, account penetration, and market expansion on product line.
- Consistently met or exceeded monthly quotas through diligent prospecting efforts, relentless follow-up activities, and expert negotiation skills.
- Kept meticulous client notes and updated account information in company databases.
- Drove revenue growth by identifying and securing new business opportunities in untapped markets.
- Strengthened client relationships, conducting regular follow-up meetings to ensure satisfaction and uncover additional needs and plan through production challenges.
Manufactured Specialties Incorporated
Regional Account Manager
St Charles, IL
12.2018 - 06.2020
- Collaborated with team members to achieve targets, resulting in increased productivity and timely order fulfillment.
- Consistently met deadlines by prioritizing tasks effectively and efficiently managing resources to exceed sales goals through supply chain challenges.
- Streamlined inventory management to ensure optimal stock levels, minimizing waste and maximizing resource utilization.
- Prospected new Accounts and engage declining accounts resulting in 18% growth
Key Account Manager
Chiorino America
Suwanee, GA
01.2018 - 11.2018
- Conducted regular account reviews with clients to assess performance, identify areas for improvement, and strategize future growth opportunities.
- Proactively identified potential issues within key accounts, taking corrective action to prevent loss of business or dissatisfaction.
- Delivered exceptional customer service by resolving field application issues quickly and efficiently.
- Analyzed market , identifying opportunities for distribution partners to strategically grow new business.
- prospecting new end user applications to promote product solutions to grow business and drive leads
Technical Sales Manager
Continental Contitech
Fairlawn, Ohio
01.2012 - 12.2017
- Manage $17 Million in annual sales revenue
- Achieved Growth revenue targets in three of 5ive years
- Develop and promote trade show strategies and follow through
- Act as a liaison to educate internal teams on resources needed to grow revenue at online and Catalog Account offering fit with Grainger, Fastenal, McMaster Carr and other online catalog account efforts
- Understand both our channel and customers channel to promote value and close sales
- Work cross functionally with marketing and leadership during line review and growth opportunities
- Understand and work cross functionally with our team on data projects, for product line expansion and new initiatives
- Partner with associates to drive regional targeted growth efforts
- Network with Key Customers to identify Specific needs
- Develop and maintain relationships to ensure long term success at all levels
- Negotiate contracts
- Cross reference projects to drive growth and promote brand equity
- Sales call assistance for both inside and outside sales reps
- Strategy meetings with product management groups and marketing
- Research, developed, and hunted new account opportunities and targets for growth
- Reviewed and Critiqued catalog pages for strategy and sales
- Performed safety seminars as needed at plants and Universities live and webinars
- Provided technical expertise and recommendations to improve systems and processes, establish cost savings and increase productivity.
- Fostered positive relationships with team members to improve company culture and increase productivity.
- Prepared and delivered samples and quotations to customers while providing technical expertise to convert prospects into sales.
- Partnered with marketing team to contribute towards marketing strategy by monitoring competitive products and industry reactions.
- Promoted company products and services by attending trade shows and industry conferences.
- Traveled to customer locations to analyze technical challenges, create dynamic strategies and rapidly implement energy efficient solutions.
- Negotiated profitable contracts with key stakeholders, securing long-term business agreements.
- Expanded market share by identifying new opportunities and aggressively pursuing them.
- Conducted thorough competitor analysis to identify gaps in the market and seize untapped opportunities.
Account Relationship Manager (Corporate, Commercial and Contractor Accounts)
W.W. Grainger Inc.
Lake Forest, IL
01.2004 - 01.2012
- Manages $12 Million in annual sales revenue
- Drove profitable growth ranking in the top quartile of peers five of eight years
- Managed projects to drive efficiency at department and customer: corporate accounts
- Developed Corporate, Commercial, Government, and Contractor Account strategies
- Articulated Grainger's value proposition through promotion of business drivers, partnering with vendors and internal specialists
- Drove key initiatives in online order penetration achieving greater than 50% order revenue online from a 36% start
- Served as Subject Matter Expert for Lighting initiatives and Online Safety for my team
- Presented Quarterly Business Reviews and Corporate Accounts training sessions receiving the one of the highest vendor grade marks from Aramark
- Cultivated business relations C Level down to identify opportunities
- Negotiate bids and close business pipelines
Education
MBA -
Lake Forest Graduate School of Management
Lake Forest, IL09-2014
B.S. Degree - Political Science
Illinois State University
Normal, IL05.1993
Fundamentals of Project Management -
Fred Prior
08.2012
Skills
Goal oriented
Sales coordination
Goal setting and achievement
Self motivation
Business development and planning
Problem-solving
Teamwork and collaboration
Account development
Strategic planning
Progress reporting
Sales presentations
Client relationship building
Client relationship building
Business growth and retention
Accomplishments
- Presidents Club, Gates Rubber Company
- Three Year Goal Achiever, Grainger
- High Potential Candidate, Imperial Eastman
Timeline
National Account Manager
Continental Sales and Marketing
08.2023 - Current
Business Development Manager
Pexco LLC
06.2020 - 08.2023
Manufactured Specialties Incorporated
Regional Account Manager
12.2018 - 06.2020
Key Account Manager
Chiorino America
01.2018 - 11.2018
Technical Sales Manager
Continental Contitech
01.2012 - 12.2017
Account Relationship Manager (Corporate, Commercial and Contractor Accounts)
W.W. Grainger Inc.
01.2004 - 01.2012
MBA -
Lake Forest Graduate School of Management
B.S. Degree - Political Science
Illinois State University
Fundamentals of Project Management -
Fred Prior
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