Kate Russell
Hendersonville,TN
Summary
Seasoned Operations Manager and talented leader with 17 years of experience applying exceptional planning and problem-solving abilities toward enhancing business plans and day-to-day activities. Results-driven and resilient in developing teams while improving processes and increasing productivity. Bringing solid understanding of industry trends, excellent communication skills, talent for spotting areas in need of improvement and implementing changes with strategic approach.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER- DISTRIBUTION
Tractor Supply Company
05.2022 - Current
- Oversee team of 6 salaried executives, 26 salaried supervisors within a 850,000 square foot building operating a 24/7 operation
- 2 in overall volume withing a distribution network of 10 buildings serving 290 stores
- Report directly to General Manager
- Responsible for implementing weekly Talent Day for operation managers and weekly training for supervisors
- Directly involved and responsible for interviewing, selecting and training supervisors and operations managers
- Received green on annual audit
- Increased YOY KPI’s which equated to $500,000 in bottom line savings for 2023
- Reduced overtime with increase of productivity in all operational departments
- Overall engagement survey resulted in 85% engagement metric.
GENERAL MANAGER- DISTRIBUTION (Interim)
Mann+Hummel
02.2021 - 04.2022
- Oversee 400K sq ft distribution center that housed multiple customers
- Responsible for maintenance, operations, transportation, inventory departments
- Hourly employees of 300+, salaried team of 18 executives
- Developed timeline to reduce backlog from 21 days of orders to 2 days of orders and increase fill rate from 60% to 95% within 4 months
- Coordinated recruiting efforts with HR to increase applications in a COVID environment
- Assist in audit for ISO certification
- Focused on retention efforts of new hires through meaningful touchpoints, informative orientation and training mentors
- Designed daily check ins with upper management teams to increase transparency of inventory struggles
- Hosted multiple visits from SVP, CEO and Executive Team from Germany.
DISTRIBUTION CENTER MANAGER
Sherwin-Williams
01.2018 - 01.2021
- Overall manage distribution center for Sherwin Williams with a total of 95 employees and three full time salaried supervisors and approximately 260,000 square feet of space; 54 pieces of MHE
- Manage the flow, planning and shipping of volume to meet forecast and budget headcount
- Services over 375 Lowe’s stores across 7 south eastern stores
- Piloted and implemented labor management system for production
- Mentor and develop future leaders for supervisory positions
- Interview, hire, train, manage and develop all hourly talent across 3 shifts
- Manage multi million dollar budget; showing monthly updates and plans for spending
- Oversaw movement of distribution center to new building along with implementation of new picking automation
- Work closely with vendors; set up vendor management program in line with ISO 9000
- Oversee Safety and Maintenance budget and programs within DSC; oversee full time salaried executive
- Create, develop and execute on site visits from Lowe’s and top Sherwin Williams executives
- Ensure plans are created, planned and met so all stores receive freight on time, meeting all quality standards
- Delivered 100% year end numbers for 2018, 2020 which all hourly employees earned 100% of bonus
- Successfully moved distribution center to new building without any late deliveries in December 2018
- Implemented feedback roundtables with all hourly team members
- Promoted three hourly team members to salaried executives.
ACCOunt representative
Morrisette Paper Company
01.2016 - 01.2018
- Oversee multiple accounts and customers’ orders
- Visit customers daily or weekly to ensure product satisfaction
- Work with vendors to brainstorm solutions for customers
- Train and travel with peers and vendors, provide feedback on their performance and customer interaction
- Drive new sales through cold calling and establishing new customers
- Within first three months, established four new customers for the company that will generate estimate of $300,000 in sales annually.
operations manager
Quality Custom Distribution
03.2015 - 12.2015
- Oversee all transportation and warehouse activities that service three major food chain customers; directly lead warehouse manager and transportation manager that oversee 6 full time executives, 60+ hourly associates, 60+ full time drivers
- Focus on continuous improvement, inventory management and reduction of overtime
- Directly responsible for inventory counts, inventory cycle counts, inventory adjustments and warehouse inventory layout; current inventory value of three customers worth $8 million
- Established routines and relationship with human resources department to better align discipline and recognition, hiring and retention
- Directly report to general manager and fill in general manager duties in absence
- Focus on improvement of daily routines for executives, implementing monthly recognition program and organizing new progressive pay for associates
- Responsible for all recruiting, hiring and managing of talent for executive staff; collaborate on developmental growth plans for all current executives to drive results
- Develop relationships with outside customers through store visits and weekly check-ins; improve customer service and metrics with customer based requests
- Oversee operational, transportation and maintenance budget of $18 Million; responsible for monthly budgetary responsibilities for Warehouse and Transportation
- Responsible for truck fleet of 60 tractor/trailers; oversee relationship with third party truck vendor on repairs and maintenance.
Senior group leader
Target Distribution
07.2006 - 02.2015
- Promoted to senior group leader in August 2012 with a focus on Engineering and Facilities
- As the Engineering and Facilities Senior Leader, I led a team of 7 exempt and 40+ non-exempt team members plus one full time administrative assistant
- Fully automated 1.6M sq
- Ft
- Distribution center provides merchandise to 80+ retail locations across the south
- Responsible for performance of two distribution centers from March to July 2014
- Responsible for annual budget in excess of $4.2 million
- Developed and executed plans for continuous improvement in best practices, environmental compliance and equipment upkeep
- Familiar with FDA, OSHA and USDA requirements and compliance records
- Partnered heavily with third party vendors through meetings, goal setting and accountability of contracts
- Oversaw automated retrieval system (mini-load) that housed over +350,000 slot locations for merchandise
- As a member of the senior leadership team, developed action plans for talent development, production improvement and staffing needs
- Mentored multiple group leaders in their development to become better leaders and learn the distribution business
- Attended multiple recruiting events at universities and colleges to attain high caliber talent for distribution needs
- Evaluated and delivered reviews on quarterly basis for 7 full time, salaried executives; developed career planning goals and paths for each with tangible steps for growth
- Increased Best Team Survey results YOY with +5% growth in team engagement, team satisfaction and preferred work place
- Oversaw IT department within building; experience leading third party vendors through building issues; responsible for all communication to headquarters, building and third party relationships.
Group leader/production controller
Target Distribution
- Direct leader for teams of 30-35 hourly warehouse team members
- Ensure daily productivity goals were met through strategic planning, communication and talent management
- Responsible for safety of team members, partnering with human resources on coachings of team members to ensure consistency
- Partner with senior team daily on production goals, budget compliance and best practice goals
- Maintained green in best practice audits for 5 years continuously
- Chosen from executive pool across 27 distribution centers to be on 2009 start-up team in Newton NC which consisted of 60 executives.
Education
Masters of Art; Student Affairs Administration -
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI06.2004
Bachelors of Science; Marketing/Management -
College of St. Catherine
St. Paul, MN07.2001
Skills
- Conflict resolution
- Policy implementation
- Supply chain management
- Change management
- Team leadership
- Scheduling coordination
- Staff training
- Budget development
- Facilities management
- Operational efficiency
- Performance management
- Inventory control
- Continuous improvement
- Time management
- Performance Tracking
- New Employee Hiring
- Operations Management
Timeline
ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER- DISTRIBUTION
Tractor Supply Company
05.2022 - Current
GENERAL MANAGER- DISTRIBUTION (Interim)
Mann+Hummel
02.2021 - 04.2022
DISTRIBUTION CENTER MANAGER
Sherwin-Williams
01.2018 - 01.2021
ACCOunt representative
Morrisette Paper Company
01.2016 - 01.2018
operations manager
Quality Custom Distribution
03.2015 - 12.2015
Senior group leader
Target Distribution
07.2006 - 02.2015
Group leader/production controller
Target Distribution
Masters of Art; Student Affairs Administration -
Michigan State University
Bachelors of Science; Marketing/Management -
College of St. Catherine
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