Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Affiliations
Timeline
Kevin Balaska

Kevin Balaska

Columbia,SC

Summary

Results-focused Produce Category Manager with strengths in supply markets and category trends. Proactive leader with great collaboration skills and data analysis insights. Proficient in mitigating shrink risks and creating strategies for positive case growth. Managing concurrent objectives to promote efficiency and influence positive outcomes. Dependable to drive project management, team building, stakeholder relations and campaign optimization. Ready to offer 34 years of experience to new role dedicated to achieving exceptional results across multiple areas of service.

Overview

34
34
years of professional experience

Work History

Produce Category Manager

Sysco Columbia
Columbia, SC
01.2010 - Current
  • Lead by example and took responsibility for all actions cross functionally to drive and grow a culture of performance excellence.
  • Maximized profit by coordinating efficient team workflows, minimizing waste and controlling shrinkage.
  • Priced produce to achieve margin and sales goals while maintaining competitive pricing profile.
  • Used excellent verbal skills to engage customers in conversation and effectively determine needs and requirements.
  • Provided leadership, insight and mentoring to newly hired colleagues to supply knowledge of various company programs and systems.
  • Monitored inventory levels and placed orders to achieve high service levels while mitigating shrink.
  • Used strong issue resolution and communication skills to cultivate and strengthen lasting customer and vendor relationships.
  • Reviewed financial statements and sales reports to continually meet or exceed company and regional goals.
  • Executed multiple projects simultaneously, coordinating and prioritizing tasks.
  • Collaborated with cross-functional teams to execute initiatives and drive brand growth to some of the highest percentages in the enterprise..

Manager

Senn Brothers Inc.
Columbia, SC
01.1989 - 12.2010
  • Monitored staff performance and addressed issues.
  • Trained employees on additional job positions to maintain coverage of roles.
  • Exercised good judgment and decision-making in escalating concerns and resolving issues.
  • Completed thorough opening, closing and shift change functions to maintain operational standards each day.
  • Assigned tasks to associates to fit skill levels and maximize team performance.
  • Led team meetings and one-on-one coaching sessions to continuously improve performance.
  • Helped customers find specific products, answered questions and offered product advice.
  • Engaged customers in friendly, professional dialogue to determine needs.
  • Developed trusting relationships with customers by making personal connections.

Education

Some College (No Degree) - Geography

University of South Carolina - Columbia, Columbia, SC

Skills

  • Sales Forecasting
  • Cross-departmental Alignment
  • Relationship Building
  • Detail-Oriented
  • Complex Problem Solving
  • Verbal and Written Communication
  • Marketing Strategy Development
  • Pricing Strategies
  • Strategic Planning and Alignment
  • Customer Retention Strategies
  • Root Cause Analysis
  • Marketing and Advertising

Affiliations

  • Benefit of numerous industry conferences, meetings and shows.
  • Completed company sponsored leadership course.
  • Continually growing with the culture of diversity, equity and inclusion.
  • Merchandiser of the year 2019
  • Hosted multiple local grower forums for aiding farmers and growers throughout our region in conjunction with SC and NC Departments of Agriculture.

Timeline

Produce Category Manager - Sysco Columbia
01.2010 - Current
Manager - Senn Brothers Inc.
01.1989 - 12.2010
University of South Carolina - Columbia - Some College (No Degree), Geography

Similar Profiles

CREATE PROFILE
Kevin Balaska