LINN EKVERN
River Falls,WI
Summary
Dynamic business leader with a proven track record at LSG Sky Chefs, excelling in sales leadership and client relationship management. Achieved a remarkable $220M in annual revenue through strategic planning and high-level negotiations. Expert in team building and financial analysis, driving exceptional customer retention and business growth in competitive markets.
Overview
32
32
years of professional experience
Work History
Business Owner & Founder
EKVERN-JAMME INC
River Falls, WI
01.2014 - Current
- Visionary creator and business leader driving strategic plans, developing and expanding business, managing projects, securing bids, leading supply chain management, negotiating contracts, delivering exceptional customer service, launching marketing initiatives, delivering remarkable finances, and instituting pricing strategies.
- Build, train, mentor, and coach top-performing teams to exceed expectations.
- Achieving a +20% Year over Year (YoY) revenue increase through optimized strategic planning, solution selling, and leveraging a competitive environment with superior quality while outperforming market competition.
- Optimizing client successes by 25-65% through data analysis, restructuring strategies, and optimal training paired with team building.
- Launching exceptional Customer Service programs to drive 100% client retention maximizing profitability.
- Initiating automation of back-office operations and restructuring supply chain management to achieve a 30% decrease in labor costs.
- Actively leading consulting appointments with key stakeholders from multiple companies to drive positive growth by recommending effective business development, strategic planning, and market-specific consulting strategies.
- Inventing and developing a successful exclusive brand in a niche market by conducting market & business research, building strategies and financial analysis, defining contract language, minimizing risks, and securing funding while defining the sales process.
- High-caliber lead of all aspects of project management from initiation to finalization, including procurement, logistics, finance & lead strategies execution.
Vice President, Sales & Services
SKY CUISINE
Remote
01.2014 - 01.2015
- Drove business development initiatives and sales management.
- Steered complex projects for both internal & external clients by developing optimal business plans to boost sales.
- Oversaw customer communications and led negotiations to identify new business opportunities, attend trade fairs, and network at key events.
- A 40% customer increase was achieved by designing and instituting innovative strategic plans to spark organizational growth.
- Decreased transportation costs by 20%, resulting in breakthrough sales.
- Renegotiated customer and supplier contracts to secure improved terms.
Director of Sales & Services
LSG SKY CHEFS
Minneapolis, MN
01.2009 - 01.2014
- Managed global accounts by overseeing business development initiatives, executing strategic plans, steering project management, developing marketing strategies and forging customer relations to increase sales.
- Identified emerging issues to remove roadblocks impacting overall performance.
- Strategically negotiated global contracts and secured new growth opportunities to maximize profits.
- Instrumental in generating $220M in annual revenue for food & food service products for key accounts with high-profile airlines.
- Cultivated solid relationships with C-Suite executives in the aviation industry to complete multi-channel, multi-cultural projects.
- Extensively traveled to customer sites to evaluate individual needs, SaaS selling, and active user of Salesforce, Microsoft Office.
- Unveiled innovative solutions & services to satisfy customers’ diverse goals.
- Trained, led, and drove the team to breakthrough results and proactively expanded 95% of expiring contracts, securing improved terms.
- Successfully closed 85% of new strategic planning initiatives.
- Excellent P&L, price action, and budget management.
- Drove increased customer satisfaction by 25% with tactical strategies.
- Reduced negative performance results by 180% through clear communications with key stakeholders to optimize sales operations and improve customer experiences.
- Slashed staffing needs by 30% through reassigned tasks to sharpen direct reports’ productivity.
- Leadership role in conducting market intelligence research and driving competitive brand awareness, leading Global Strategic Development to focus groups and assessing industry surveys to identify new market opportunities and boost sales.
- Salvaged lost accounts by building robust partnerships with important leaders in the airline industry.
- Earned recognition as a market leader by triumphing in a highly competitive, complex industry landscape, achieving key wins for major accounts, and driving Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) efforts to increase annual revenue.
Director of Sales & Services
LSG SKY CHEFS
Minneapolis, MN
01.1996 - 01.2009
- Drove Sales & Services execution by creating customized marketing strategies to secure new business opportunities, strategically positioning the company as a leading global provider of quality catering & food services to accounts with airlines in the portfolio.
- Controlled a $100M global account through relationship building, strategic planning, and customer service.
- Oversaw daily project management goals by leading teams, problem-solving, and assessing performance evaluations.
Marketing & Customer Service Manager
CATERAIR
Paris, France
01.1994 - 01.1996
- Developed marketing and sales strategies, client relations & customer service programs to generate $40M in annual revenue for African Airlines & Northern Europe.
- Developed prices and negotiated approval internally and externally.
- Drove customer advocacy through networking and collaboration.
- Discovered cross-selling & up-selling opportunities, boosting customer loyalty and increasing retention while addressing client issues.
Education
BBA - Hospitality Management
UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO
San Francisco, CA05-1994
Coursework
Culinary Institute of America
New York, NY01-1994
Law School Coursework
UNIVERSITY OF OSLO
Business School Coursework
Business Institute
Oslo, NorwayLaw School Coursework
HANDELS UNIVERSITY
Skills
- Sales leadership and management
- Client relationship management
- Customer retention
- Business development
- Team building
- Financial analysis
- Conflict resolution
- Financial planning
- Regulatory compliance
- Consulting
- Purchasing and planning
- Sales strategics
- Operations management
- Strategic planning and vision
- Relationship building and development
- Business development and growth
- High-level negotiations
- Consultative sales techniques
- Customer retention strategies
- Project lifecycle management
- Team development and collaboration
- Financial oversight and management
- Territory expansion strategies
- Brand positioning and growth
Volunteer Experience
Volunteer Dog therapy team, 01/01/24, Active in community 4H training and other community volunteering.
Awards
- NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL WOMEN
- VIP Woman of the Year Award
- PRESIDENT’S LEADERSHIP ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
- Outstanding Leadership & Results Award
- PRESIDENT’S AWARD
- Outstanding Negotiation & Results
- Creative Thinking & Implementation
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Business Owner & Founder
EKVERN-JAMME INC
01.2014 - Current
Vice President, Sales & Services
SKY CUISINE
01.2014 - 01.2015
Director of Sales & Services
LSG SKY CHEFS
01.2009 - 01.2014
Director of Sales & Services
LSG SKY CHEFS
01.1996 - 01.2009
Marketing & Customer Service Manager
CATERAIR
01.1994 - 01.1996
BBA - Hospitality Management
UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO
Coursework
Culinary Institute of America
Law School Coursework
UNIVERSITY OF OSLO
Business School Coursework
Business Institute
Law School Coursework
HANDELS UNIVERSITY
Similar Profiles
Courtney FernCourtney Fern
Registered Nurse at Childrens MinnesotaRegistered Nurse at Childrens Minnesota
Jeremy RoseJeremy Rose
Small Business Owner /Certified Licensed Massage Therapist at Massage Therapist - Cascade Bodyworks LLCSmall Business Owner /Certified Licensed Massage Therapist at Massage Therapist - Cascade Bodyworks LLC
Matthew ReeseMatthew Reese
Student Custodian at UW-River FallsStudent Custodian at UW-River Falls
Chelsei ReynagaChelsei Reynaga
Patient Relations Coordinator at St Croix TherapyPatient Relations Coordinator at St Croix Therapy
Walid AwadWalid Awad
Business Owner /Founder at Port Link Cargo LLCBusiness Owner /Founder at Port Link Cargo LLC