Juan Zarate
Chicago,IL
Summary
I've had a mix of experiences that have shaped my professional journey. At BMO Financial Group, I was part of the Loan Processing team, providing support, advice, and guidance, collaborating with stakeholders, and working on strategic initiatives. Before that, I worked in Everyday Banking as a Contact Center Representative, ensuring smooth customer transactions while following policies.
Prior to my time at BMO, I wore different hats as a Warehouse Supervisor at Ruggable, where I managed workflow, ensured safety, and fostered communication between departments. Before that, I was a Print Operator, taking care of printers, troubleshooting, and maintaining quality printing standards.
Back in the day, I drove for Uber Eats, making sure deliveries were on time and customers were happy. I also worked at Little Caesars, handling food prep, maintaining a clean workspace, and managing transactions.
My early experiences included being a Sales Associate at The Home Depot, where I learned about products, maintained inventory, and focused on providing a safe shopping environment.
So, whether it's finance, customer service, or managing operations, I've had a taste of various roles that have contributed to my diverse skill set.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Lending - Loan Processing
BMO Financial Group
Chicago, IL
03.2023 - 11.2023
- Provides first and/or second level business support, advice, and guidance to sales and service colleagues (i.e Business Help Desks)
- Acts as trusted advisors to stakeholders, providing a source of business process, policy, procedure, product and/or system expertise
- Provides extensive business knowledge in an effective, responsible and timely manner to aid in delivering business results and/or minimizing risk
- Develops solutions and makes recommendations based on an understanding of the business strategy and stakeholder needs
- Provides advice and guidance to assigned business/group on implementation of solutions
- Supports the execution of strategic initiatives in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders
- Builds effective relationships with internal/external stakeholders
- Ensures alignment between stakeholders
- Breaks down strategic problems, and analyses data and information to provide insights and recommendations
- Leads and participates in team projects, keeping up to date on new initiatives and processes
- Executes work to deliver timely, accurate, and efficient service
- Provides coaching guidance to junior team members
- Analyze data and information to provide insight and recommendations
- Provides first point of contact operational support to internal business partners and end clients
- Provides excellent service and support for all in-scope business groups, products, policies, and procedures
- Maintain solid knowledge within subject matter specialties
- Notifies and provides regular updates on operational issues to business partners
- Ensures Incident Management Processes are followed
- May support change management of varying scope and type; tasks typically focused on execution and sustainment activities
- Supports the development of tailored messaging, which may include writing, editing and distributing communications
- Organizes work information to ensure accuracy and completeness
- Coordinates and executes specific activities for the implementation of strategic initiatives; includes tracking metrics and milestones
- Focus may be on a business/group
- Thinks creatively and proposes new solutions
- Exercises judgment to identify, diagnose, and solve problems within given rules
- Works mostly independently
- Broader work or accountabilities may be assigned as needed.
Contact Center Representative- Everyday Banking
BMO Financial Group
Chicago, IL
03.2022 - 03.2023
- Provides efficient and accurate handling of customer requests and transactions in a professional and timely manner
- Ensures all required policies, guidelines and standards are met as they provide service to BMO customers
- Includes a mix of customer service and customer fulfillment activities
- Processes customer application to fulfill customer requests from set up to settlement in accordance with policies and standards
- Assists in processing more complex customer application/requests
- Collaborates with internal and external stakeholders in order to deliver on business objectives
- Analyzes data and information to provide insights and recommendations
- Supports change management of varying scope and type; tasks typically focused on execution and sustainment activities
- Completes administrative activities to ensure the smooth operation of the unit; including scanning and filing documents as required
- Investigates and addresses specific customer issues
- Organizes work information to ensure accuracy and completeness
- Provides customer service by responding to general questions via phone, mail or fax in a timely and professional manner; includes acting as a main point of contact for certain customer requests
- Refers more complex and specific requests, questions or issues as required
- Gathers additional documentation from the customer and/ or internal/external stakeholders to ensure all required information is available to fulfill client requests
- Recommends workflow improvements to deliver a more efficient operation
- Manages customer documentation to ensure that records are maintained in a proper manner
- Completes complex & diverse tasks within given rules/limits.
Warehouse Supervisor
Ruggable
Chicago, IL
01.2020 - 03.2022
- Set goals for performance and deadlines in ways that comply with company's plans and vision and communicate them to subordinates
- Organize workflow and ensure that employees understand their duties or delegated tasks
- Monitor employee productivity and provide constructive feedback and coaching
- Receive complaints and resolve problems
- Maintain timekeeping and personnel records
- Pass on information from upper management to employees and vice versa
- Prepare and submit performance reports
- Decide on reward and promotion based on performance
- Hire and train new employees
- Ensure adherence to legal and company policies and procedures and undertake disciplinary actions if the need arises
- Become an expert on all parts of the printing process and oversee all activities of rug printing
- Participate in planning personnel safety and ensure the safety and productivity of all employees assigned to designated shift while driving plant safety culture
- Ensure security of facilities during designated shift hours
- Enable effective communications between department heads to coordinate printing activities with other functions such as warehouse and production operations
- Ability to motivate others to meet demands established by the schedule
- Train new employees and coach existing employees
- Perform related duties as assigned or as the situation dictates
- Daily scheduling of print and production roll plan
- Troubleshooting printers and computer software with operators, techs, and IT.
Crew Member
Little Caesars
Chicago, IL
12.2019 - 04.2020
- Prep, cook, and serve food
- Achieve high customer satisfaction
- Work in a fast pace, team-oriented environment
- Maintain clean work environment
- Performs cash management accurately
Print Operator
Ruggable
Bedford Park, IL
11.2019 - 02.2020
- Be responsible for the overall maintenance of printers, including starting, stopping, and cleaning of machine
- Set-up, changeover, troubleshoot, and operate equipment
- Identify material with poor quality and seek assistance if correction is needed
- Be responsible for learning the designs being printed, and must have the ability to identify defects during the printing process
- Handling production of the printed materials, including the printing and racking process, to ensure it meets the specification and is ready on schedule
- Performing test prints to ensure they meet quality standards
- Load and unload product in print machines
- Follow the print schedule.
Uber Eats Driver
Uber
Chicago, IL
02.2017 - 05.2019
- Manage time appropriately to deliver food to customer within the time frame
- Provide exceptional customer service greeting and answering any questions / concerns.
Sales Associate
The Home Depot
Bedford Park, IL
04.2016 - 05.2019
- Learn about products using our tools and provide information to customers to sell the entire project
- Greet, quality and recommend to every customer know how to handle basics in adjacent departments
- Maintain the in-stock condition of assigned areas, and ensure it is clean, shop-able, and safe
- Responsibility of providing a safe working and shopping environment by following all safety policies & standards, completing specified safety training, immediately correcting hazards & unsafe conditions or reporting conditions to the Manager on Duty, and working safely as not to endanger themselves, coworkers, vendors, or customers
- Work in cooperation with Department Supervisor and other associates in department as well as other departments.
Education
High School Diploma -
Hubbard High School
Chicago, IL2016
Skills
- Time Management
- Sales
- Forklift
- Order Picker
- Print Operator
- Management
- Delivery Driver
- Google Suite (Docs, Sheets, Slides)
- Manufacturing
- Equipment repair
- Team management
- Safety
- Continuous improvement
- Shipping & receiving
- Warehouse distribution
- Computer Networking
- Processing Documents
- Completing Interviews
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel and PowerPoint)
- Information Verification
- Financial Document Review
- Banking
- Regulatory Compliance
- Document Verification
- Application Preparation
- Reviewing Financial Paperwork
- Legal Compliance
- Problem-Solving Skills
- Answering Questions
- Data Entry
- Account Updating
- Customer Service
- Call Documentation Skills
- Technical Troubleshooting
- Inbound Phone Call Management
- Communicating With Clients
- Training Experience
Accomplishments
Awards:
Customer Service Excellence Award (Everyday Banking)
Team Collaboration Award (Lending)
Accomplishments:
Efficiency Enhancement (Warehouse Supervisor)
Process Optimization (Print Operator)
Honors:
Employee of the Month (Print Operator)
Safety Leadership Recognition (Warehouse Supervisor)
Languages
English
Native/ Bilingual
Spanish
Native/ Bilingual
Certification
- Forklift
- Order picker
- Food Handler
Affiliations
Continuous Learning: I have a keen interest in personal development and lifelong learning. From attending workshops on financial literacy to exploring new skills and hobbies, I believe in the power of continuous education to broaden perspectives and enhance personal growth.
Fitness and Well-being: Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is a priority for me. I enjoy staying physically active through activities like jogging, cycling, and hitting the gym. Balancing mental and physical well-being is not just a habit but a fundamental part of my lifestyle.
Timeline
Lending - Loan Processing
BMO Financial Group
03.2023 - 11.2023
Contact Center Representative- Everyday Banking
BMO Financial Group
03.2022 - 03.2023
Warehouse Supervisor
Ruggable
01.2020 - 03.2022
Crew Member
Little Caesars
12.2019 - 04.2020
Print Operator
Ruggable
11.2019 - 02.2020
Uber Eats Driver
Uber
02.2017 - 05.2019
Sales Associate
The Home Depot
04.2016 - 05.2019
High School Diploma -
Hubbard High School