KENT SPARKS

• Dollar General Distribution Center, Safety Compliance and Sanitation Manager, South Boston, VA, 01/01/2023, Responsible For safety and accident prevention for 800 employees. Set up safety committees and programs to reduce the accident rate by 40% with a TIR from 2.68 to 1.34. Set up Sanitation department to clean and sanitize 1.2 million sq ft distribution center. Reviewed GMP procedures and increased Company Standards. Conducted FDA audits and OSHA Compliance audits to review the distribution center readiness.
• CJ Logistics America, Safety, Training and Maintenance Manager, Colonial Heights, VA, 01/01/2010, 12/31/2023, Responsible for Safety for 200 employees per OSHA standards, LPC for accident prevention, Building and Forklift Maintenance/ Risk Analysis for 70 lifts and battery maintenance. Maintained a TIR accident rate 0f 1.48 or lower and reduced accidents by 20%. Monitored and set up OSHA standards for an 850,000 square ft. warehouse including set up and maintaining SDS manual, LOTO standards and First Aid. Recognized by CJ Corporate by providing additional Safety Training, OSHA walks, Train the Trainer classes for new and existing facilities in the US.
• Tractor Supply, STORE MANAGER, Farmville, VA, 01/01/2007, 12/31/2010, Managed personnel, shrink, inventories and monitored budgets, retail sales, marketing displays, training personnel, provide leadership and direction to the store team, ensured the positive customer shopping experience and performed operational activities, as organizing, stocking and inventory of warehouse and side lots.
• Home Depot, KEY CARRIER / DEPARTMENT HEAD– MILLWORKS, Greenville, SC, 01/01/2003, 12/31/2006, Key Carrier manages / monitors the total operations of a Home Depot store with average sales of 36 million and 150 employees. Manage operations for the millwork department. Direct and train 6 employees: monitor and implement sales goals, product displays and stock. Met with customers and design products. Prepare reports and maintain high customer service levels. Manage the safety committee, conduct weekly meetings and work w/ all departments to maintain a safe environment.
• JC Rose and Associates, OPERATIONS MANAGER, Greenville, SC, 01/01/2000, 12/31/2003, Managed all aspects of the operations of a trade show exhibit company. Met with clients to gather initial design requests. Established budgets and timelines for projects and monitored projects to ensure completion within an established time frame and budget. Assisted with project design as needed. Directed and evaluated 20 employees. Trained employees on OSHA guidelines and inventory procedures. Monitored daily activities including items ordered, shipments sent, deliveries and pickups completed. Scheduled transportation for shipments, conducted job analysis, monitored costs, and wrote additional work orders as needed. Controlled inventory for 31 clients.
• Black and Decker, FACTORY SERVICE MANAGER, Charlotte, NC, 01/01/1998, 12/31/2000, Managed the complete operations of a service center with retail sales. Responsible for planning and implementing budgets, forecasting sales and maintaining inventories. Managed 12 employees and 10 Authorized Service Centers and maintained customer relations programs. Administered salary information. Implemented safety policies and procedures. Ensured quality on finished products and planned sales promotions for outside salesperson. Monitored 3 Authorized Service Centers.
• Hitachi Power Tools, SERVICE MANAGER, SHOW MANAGER, Norcross, GA, 01/01/1996, 12/31/1998, Responsible for the operations of Authorized Service Centers in the United States and 3 Factory Service Centers. Managed 12 employees in the service and reconditioned tool department. Planned, developed, and implemented a reconditioned tool area to inspect, refurbish, test, package and sell returned tools. Established a defective product report system for warranty repairs. Set up the distribution of technical information to service centers and salespeople. Created a trade show department, designed budgets, managed show properties, and controlled inventory for 30 trade shows in the United States and Canada.
• Makita USA, Inc., REGIONAL SERVICE MANAGER, Duluth, GA, 01/01/1983, 12/31/1996, Managed 30 employees, 8 Factory Service Centers and Authorized Service Centers in the S.E. Responsible for all aspects of service operations. Development and implementation of training for customer service technicians, salesmen, and authorized service center personnel. Reviewed costs and implemented Management by Objectives goals. Managed inventories and personnel policies. Designed and established factory service centers and authorized service centers. Implemented safety, quality control and reconditioned tool programs. Coordinated information on new and existing tools with the manufacturing division, and all other branches in the United States.

Hobbies - Golfing on weekends, ATV riding, I love to use my power tools and build projects.