Matthew Richards
Hurricane,WV
Summary
Knowledgeable Director of Operations with proven track record of successfully managing and growing business. Leveraged strategic planning and operational expertise to enhance productivity and drive profitability. Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and implement innovative solutions.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Operating Owner
Soaring High Enterprises LLC Dba The Foam Garage
08.2018 - Current
- Managed day-to-day business operations.
- Developed and maintained strong relationships with clients, resulting in repeat business and referrals.
- Oversaw daily operations, ensuring all tasks were completed accurately and efficiently by team members.
- Increased customer satisfaction by implementing efficient business processes and providing exceptional service.
- Managed financial aspects of the business, including budgeting, financial reporting, and tax preparation.
- Implemented marketing strategies to increase brand awareness and attract new customers.
- Negotiated contracts with suppliers for better pricing and terms, reducing overall costs for the business.
- Established foundational processes for business operations.
- Achieved financial growth with strategic planning, cost control measures, and targeted marketing efforts.
- Organized and attended trade shows and special events to showcase products, network with other businesses and attract new customers.
- Enhanced operational efficiency and productivity by managing budgets, accounts, and costs.
- Evaluated industry competition regularly to maintain a competitive advantage in the marketplace.
- Successfully navigated challenging economic conditions by making informed decisions that protected the business's financial stability.
- Monitored market conditions to set accurate product pricing and take advantage of emerging trends.
- Generated revenues yearly and effectively capitalized on industry growth.
- Optimized supply chain operations, negotiating with suppliers to ensure timely delivery of high-quality products.
- Fostered strong relationships with clients to boost retention rates, conducting regular feedback sessions.
- Developed and implemented strategic plans for revenue growth, focusing on diversification and market expansion.
- Expanded business into new markets,
- Elevated brand awareness with targeted marketing campaigns, leveraging social media and digital platforms.
- Interacted well with customers to build connections and nurture relationships.
- Managed purchasing, sales, marketing and customer account operations efficiently.
- Negotiated price and service with customers and vendors to decrease expenses and increase profit.
- Cultivated and strengthened lasting client relationships using strong issue resolution and dynamic communication skills.
- Handled problematic customers and clients to assist lower-level employees and maintain excellent customer service.
- Recruited, hired, and trained initial personnel, working to establish key internal functions and outline scope of positions for new organization.
- Tracked trends and suggested enhancements to both challenge and refine company's product offerings.
- Reduced financial inconsistencies while assessing and verifying billing invoices and expense reports.
- Updated and resolved incidents and managed accessorial charges objectively while maximizing profit.
- Supervised creation of exciting merchandise displays to catch attention of store customers.
Operations Manager/ASM
1A Smart Start LLC
01.2014 - Current
- Retained by Smart Start after buy back of Franchise in2014
- Job duties like previous position remained with additional duties and additional focus and growth in the following areas
- -Hiring technicians using new protocols with the hiring process Smart Start used and technology they provided to hire the best suited people that applied
- -Terminating technicians that failed to follow or uphold Company policies and or WVDMV regulations and requirements
- -Increased use of reports and understanding the power of knowledge they provide to gain insight to patterns they can uncover down to the shop level
- Became highly proficient understanding Inventory reports, Service reports, Client reports, Log Files, Budgeting, Tampering, Expense, and Equipment reports and how they can be utilized in reducing costs and increasing revenue
- -Trained technicians how to proper address clients and treat them with respect and understanding as to create a good relationship with the clients to get referrals to keep growing numbers
- Trained Technicians how to keep shop clean and presentable to clients and WVDMV Inspectors as well as my inspections
- -High Level of customer service paying attention to what clients are saying to decern root of any issues they are facing so a resolution could be found to assist the client on completing their program with the fewest hiccups possible
- -High Communication skills in speaking with clients, technicians, fellow corporate employees, and WVDMV employees, managers, and directors
- -Strong Understanding of/and utilizing processes for Inventory and distribution
- Shop/Office supplies replenishments
- And managing Shipping cost to keep expenses low
- -Time Management to ensure tasks or reports are where they need to be when needed, also tracking technicians time punches to ensure they do not abuse the timecard system, or purposely use overtime when it is not warranted
- -Strong knowledge and use of SmartTrac/Word/Excel/ Reports/and email to achieve informative display of information to achieve goals
Operations Manager
Mountaineer Smart Start
01.2010 - 01.2014
- -Opened/set up12 shops within the state of West Virginia for the Franchise setting and rewriting the standard at the shops to improve the client experience at the shops to the point WVDMV took notice and then adopted a policy that held the competitor to the same clean and professional shop appearance standard
- -Built and Maintained relationships with the WVDMV Interlock Department
- Helped WVDMV with cleaning up the expectations for the interlock companies with a clear and precise order of operations
- Assisted in developing a shop inspection checklist that WVDMV still uses today when they do the random inspections
- -Trained the WVDMV inspectors on a proper installation of an interlock, and expectation of standards that technicians were to adhere to while Installing, Servicing, or removing Interlock equipment from clients’ vehicles
- -Hired and trained all technicians to adhere to company polices and WVDMV Rules and Regulations
- And on occasion having to terminate technicians’ employment for violations of company policy and or WVDMV rules and regulations
- -Managed inventory and shop supplies so shops always had what was needed and did not run out of equipment
- -Managed budgets to ensure franchise was profitable and reduced loss
- -Grew client numbers to exceed2,800 clients through active management within the shops and around the state
- -Traveled around the state of West Virginia visiting shops and up training technicians on any policy or rule change and showing better ways to install vehicles and run the shops
- -Troubleshooting any issues shops would have with computers and or equipment
- -Was the primary contact for WVDMV and Shop issues that arose from clients or technicians and assisted clients with understanding how their equipment would work in their vehicles
- -Trained clients and installed Ignition Interlocks
Education
Skills
Small business operations
- Relationship building
- Verbal and written communication
- Operations management
- Strategic planning
- Staff management
- Team oversight
- Financial management
- Staff hiring
- Business launch
- Business administration
- Business marketing
- Business development
- Negotiation
- Employee development
- Financial planning
- Cost reduction
- Regulatory compliance
- Talent development
- Profit and loss analysis
- Contract negotiation expertise
- Attention to detail
- Decision-making
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Team leadership
- Effective leader
- Inventory management
Hobbies and Interests
Classic Muscle Cars/ Model Trains/Model Cars/ Baseball/Football
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Spanish
Elementary
Timeline
Operating Owner
Soaring High Enterprises LLC Dba The Foam Garage
08.2018 - Current
Operations Manager/ASM
1A Smart Start LLC
01.2014 - Current
Operations Manager
Mountaineer Smart Start
01.2010 - 01.2014
Similar Profiles
Susan SchalkSusan Schalk
Senior Credit & Collections Analyst at Mallinckrodt Enterprises, LLC Dba SpecGx LLCSenior Credit & Collections Analyst at Mallinckrodt Enterprises, LLC Dba SpecGx LLC
Allen ThorsonAllen Thorson
Owner/Operator at Thorson Enterprises LLC (DBA) The Pop ShoppeOwner/Operator at Thorson Enterprises LLC (DBA) The Pop Shoppe
Luann NeumannLuann Neumann
VP Design at Fashion Enterprises (DBA) Trend Lab, LLCVP Design at Fashion Enterprises (DBA) Trend Lab, LLC