Karen L. Gardner
Anchorage,AK
Summary
Results-driven Business Leader with 20 years of experience in business, sales, leadership, managed services, project management, training, coaching, ministry and communications. Intuitive and confident in building and managing customer relationships, providing a superior customer experience to increase retention, revenues and profits. Highly valued for ability to translate organization’s mission into results to impact the bottom line. Adept at managing competing priorities in a fast-paced, technological environment.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Client Account Manager III
Alaska Communications
07.2023 - Current
- Sell communications products and services to existing customers and win-backs by understanding and analyzing customer needs and requirements to expand sales
- Build and manage client relationships by responding to inquiries, identifying and assessing clients' needs, resolving problems, and following up with potential and existing clients.
- Facilitate client satisfaction and renew customer relations to drive growth by coordinating interdepartmental communications to address problems with accounting, billing, and service delivery to maintain and enhance client satisfaction.
- Negotiate and create pricing, bids, terms of sales and service agreements to close deals.
- Perform post-sale follow-up to resolve problems to ensure customer satisfaction, upsells, repeat business and referrals.
Client Solutions Executive
AT&T Corporation
01.2019 - Current
- Establish strong relationships with senior IT leadership to sell telecommunications and cybersecurity solutions to drive revenue growth
- Generate quotes for AT&T global account managers in contiguous United States to capture new business in Alaska
- Key Accomplishments:
- Currently top sales executive at 142% of plan
- Developed most new cybersecurity opportunities on team
Director & Instructor
Eagles International Training Institute
01.2011 - 01.2019
- Launched and executed marketing and start-up of online global prayer course and served as lead instructor
- Designed and delivered curriculum using integrated learning strategy consisting of webinars, videos, audios, coaching and assignments
- Recruited, trained, coached and mentored leadership team to provide superior students services for retention
- Key Accomplishments:
- Generated 45% increase in year one student enrollment 3 years straight
- Added second year of instruction retaining 63% of year one students
Services & Solutions Executive
Xerox Corporation
01.2002 - 01.2011
- Led account team in selling digital copiers, printing systems and outsourcing solutions to senior leaders, primarily IT, utilizing consultative selling skills to drive revenue growth
- Developed and executed marketing strategies to win new major accounts and retain existing ones
- Designed and delivered equipment and applications training to new clients ensuring smooth implementations
- Key Accomplishments:
- Led account team to sell strategic solutions generating 5% year-over-year growth
- Surpassed corporate customer service goals by earning 2004 top customer service award in Pacific Northwest (Alaska, Washington, Oregon and Northern California)
- Sold largest federal government contract valued at $2.7M earning 2004 top sales representative award in Pacific Northwest (Alaska, Washington, Oregon and Northern California)
Education
MBA - Leadership
Jack Welch Management Institute
Virginia 12.2024
Bachelor’s Degree - Telecommunications
Univ. of Florida
Gainesville, FL06.1986
Skills
- Customer Relationship Management
- Sales Project Management
- Leadership
- Business Strategy
- Service Level Agreement Delivery
- Versatile Communicator
- Data Management
- Network Management & Reporting
- Continuous Process Improvement
Accomplishments
2022 Award-Winning Toastmasters Speech Contestant, Area 52 and Division E
Toastmasters International Area 63 Director, Division F
Top Sales Representative, Xerox Corporation
Top Customer Service Representative, Xerox Corporation
Top Sales Representative Three Consecutive Years, Office Tech, Inc.
North to the Future Business & Professional Women's Club Careerist
Senator, College of Telecommunications Student Government, Univ. of Florida
Vice-President, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Certification
Certified Speaker - Toastmasters International
Certified Executive & Leadership Development Coach - The Academies
Certified Personal Development Coach - The CAPP Institute
Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt
Timeline
Client Account Manager III
Alaska Communications
07.2023 - Current
Client Solutions Executive
AT&T Corporation
01.2019 - Current
Director & Instructor
Eagles International Training Institute
01.2011 - 01.2019
Services & Solutions Executive
Xerox Corporation
01.2002 - 01.2011
MBA - Leadership
Jack Welch Management Institute
Bachelor’s Degree - Telecommunications
Univ. of Florida
Certified Speaker - Toastmasters International
Certified Executive & Leadership Development Coach - The Academies
Certified Personal Development Coach - The CAPP Institute
Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt
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