Madeleine Gordon
Dacula,GA
Summary
Versatile Sales and Training Professional experienced in consultative sales and customer service. Achieved strong customer relationships and team performance through effective coaching and clear communication. Focused on developing people and aligning training initiatives with business goals.
Overview
1
1
Language
28
28
years of professional experience
Work History
Sales Associate
Havertys Furniture Company
Buford, Georgia
03.1999 - 09.2026
- Guided Havertys Furniture clients in product selection and style, enhancing their shopping experience.
- Built rapport with shoppers through attentive service and product knowledge.
- Coordinated follow-ups with customers on orders and inquiries, ensuring satisfaction and building loyalty.
Senior Corporate Trainer
Havertys Furniture
Atlanta, Georgia
09.2007 - 04.2020
- Coached associates, managers, and designers on presentation standards and client communication.
- Scheduled training sessions with store leaders and corporate teams to enhance knowledge sharing.
- Ran workshops that strengthened learning retention through role-playing, case studies, and group discussion.
- Prepared training materials for furniture product knowledge and customer service.
- Completed training needs assessments to identify knowledge and skill gaps.
- Built customized corporate training programs based on assessment findings.
- Tracked changes in business objectives to align curriculum design and delivery with organizational goals.
- Reviewed feedback with management teams to refine curricula based on learner needs.
- Advised senior leadership on resource use for employee development planning.
- Provided one-on-one support for challenging situations and difficult conversations.
- Developed and maintained comprehensive training processes to ensure consistency and effectiveness.
Marketing and Merchandising for Atlanta Market
Havertys Furniture
Duluth, Georgia
09.2005 - 12.2009
- Helped increase sales through targeted merchandising plans.
- Updated merchandising plans to align with seasonal sales goals.
- Built visual merchandising standards for sales floor presentation.
- Worked with vendors on promotions and in-store displays.
- Kept brand message consistent across ads, signage, and customer materials to support recognition.
- Built marketing campaigns using print ads.
- Planned special events, including product launches, to train associates.
- Tracked competitor activity to identify industry trends and guide decisions.
- Directed merchandise layout and organization to improve visibility and customer flow.
Regional Sales Trainer
Havertys Furniture
Duluth, Georgia
06.2004 - 01.2009
- Created and executed regional training programs to equip sales associates with essential skills, ensuring alignment with sales goals.
- Trained showroom sales associates on product knowledge and Havertys' selling process.
- Coached associates on customer needs discovery and consultative furniture selling.
- Conducted one-on-one coaching sessions with sales team members to improve performance and build relationships.
- Demonstrated upholstery, case goods, and bedding features for retail teams.
- Supported store managers with sales floor training and daily coaching.
- Created training materials such as presentations and handouts for use in workshops.
- Developed interactive exercises designed to engage learners while reinforcing key concepts taught during workshops.
- Reinforced POS procedures, order entry, and financing application step.
- Implemented follow-up procedures after each workshop to track attendee progress and support ongoing development.
- Delivered presentations on relevant topics related to sales techniques and customer service protocols at local conferences or events.
- Created and coordinated group training classes in alignment with company sales objectives.
- Evaluated training programs to assess effectiveness and enhance employee retention strategies.
- Provided feedback on individual and team progress, offering solutions to any challenges that arose.
- Assisted in developing assessment tools to evaluate employee knowledge and identify areas for improvement.
- Established strong working relationships with colleagues from other departments to facilitate effective communication between teams.
- Facilitated team building activities to strengthen collaboration and communication. designed to foster collaboration among regional staff members.
- Produced supplementary training materials to reinforce learning outcomes.
- Collected and structured training manuals and guides for accessibility., guides and visual materials for development and training purposes.
Education
Some College (No Degree) - Medicinal Chemistry
University of Dayton
Dayton, OHSkills
- Product knowledge and guidance
- Point of sale systems
- Sales coaching
- Training facilitation and strategies
- Product showcases
- Sales strategy
- Customer service excellence
- Sales goal achievement
- Business initiatives
- Store opening and closing
- Analytical thinking and mediation
- Problem-solving expertise
- Attention to detail
- Task prioritization and multitasking
- Team collaboration and support
- Building rapport with clients
- Effective communication skills and proficiency
- Active listening skills
- People engagement
- Adaptability to diverse groups
- Business development initiatives
Languages
Spanish
Native/ Bilingual
Accomplishments
- Million Dollar Club 2021, 2022,2023
- Making Strides Against Breast Cancer
Affiliations
- Volunteered and led Havertys' campaign directive from 2007 to 2019. The company raised over $250,000 in that time period
- Volunteered in design of the Hope Lodge waiting area in Atlanta
- Volunteered at Saint Vincent DePaul
Timeline
Senior Corporate Trainer
Havertys Furniture
09.2007 - 04.2020
Marketing and Merchandising for Atlanta Market
Havertys Furniture
09.2005 - 12.2009
Regional Sales Trainer
Havertys Furniture
06.2004 - 01.2009
Sales Associate
Havertys Furniture Company
03.1999 - 09.2026
Some College (No Degree) - Medicinal Chemistry
University of Dayton