Melissa Garrison-Staats
Durham,NC
Summary
Highly skilled administrative professional with a 15+ year proven track record in office coordination and administration, seeking to leverage expertise in a mission-driven organization. Offers a comprehensive skill set including award-winning customer service skills, office management, event planning, executive and team support, HR administrative support, budget oversight, team leadership, and CRM system administration, honed across diverse organizational structures from startups to retail giants. Combines meticulous attention to detail, exceptional writing and communication abilities, and strong problem-solving skills to efficiently manage complex tasks and foster positive stakeholder relationships.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Office Coordinator & Administrative Assistant
Modern Energy
05.2022 - 05.2024
- Optimized office operations through innovative administrative systems and meticulous facility management
- Collaborated with finance to maintain precise expenditure budgets, consistently meeting or undercutting projections 98% of the time
- Delivered high-impact administrative support to CEO and leadership team, managing sensitive information, calendars, and critical action items with discretion and confidentiality
- Provided comprehensive maintenance for office equipment and equipment distribution in partnership with IT
- Orchestrated flawless meetings and company-wide events, both on-site and off-site, driving actionable outcomes and fostering team cohesion
- Championed company culture as a 'culture carrier,' fostering an inclusive environment and spearheading philanthropic partnerships
- Boosted employee engagement by 92% through innovative initiatives, including targeted surveys to optimize office perks and workspace effectiveness
- Initiated and oversaw facility maintenance and capital improvements while negotiating favorable vendor pricing to optimize resource allocation
- Versatile and capable of working remotely, in person, or a hybrid of both
- Also well-versed in safety compliance such as fire preparedness, First Aid, OSHA, DEI.
Administrative Assistant
Diamonds Direct
02.2019 - 04.2022
- Expertly managed high-priority initiatives in a fast-paced environment, providing top-tier administrative support to management and sales teams while managing complex projects and pricing strategies
- Streamlined financial operations by reconciling daily records, processing vendor invoices, and negotiating competitive pricing, resulting in an average cost savings of 48%
- Implemented comprehensive digital and physical filing systems, ensuring accurate record-keeping and efficient information retrieval
- Elevated inventory audit scores from 87% to 95% in one cycle by optimizing logistics and implementing rigorous shipping and receiving protocols
- Facilitated data-driven decision-making by compiling and delivering comprehensive weekly inventory reports to the corporate office and team members.
Business Manager | Sales Consultant | Training & Education
Diamonds Direct
02.2016 - 02.2019
- Consistently exceeded sales targets by 14% on average through client-centric strategies, comprehensive follow-up, and end-to-end project management from CAD renderings to final delivery
- Developed and delivered comprehensive New Hire onboarding programs as Training Captain, while serving as Brand Ambassador for luxury jewelry lines, increasing brand awareness and sales by 37%
- Demonstrated exceptional multitasking in a fast-paced environment, balancing team productivity, inventory management, and CRM initiatives
- Delivered exceptional, client-focused consulting services, cultivating lasting relationships and developing a loyal, long-term customer base.
Business Manager | Team Lead
Belk, Inc. / Bobbi Brown Cosmetics
07.2012 - 02.2016
- Led recruitment, onboarding, and strategic coaching of sales associates, enhancing product expertise and driving measurable KPIs by increasing SPH from 1.5 to 2.9 and IPT from 2.0 to 3.5, on average
- Analyzed market trends and leveraged B2B networks to plan high-impact events, consistently outperforming previous year averages by 8%+ in quarterly national sales events
- Collaborated across all management levels and inter-departmentally to develop and execute aggressive sales strategies, aligning with organizational objectives, and increasing annual sales performance by 18% on average for a mature business
- Orchestrated comprehensive new product launches, overseeing marketing initiatives, inventory management, and strategic promotional events to expand market share and enhance brand visibility.
Administrative Assistant | Sales and Training Coordinator
Belk, Inc. / Lancȏme Cosmetics
06.2008 - 06.2012
- Orchestrated high-energy training sessions, meetings, and events, driving sales team success by 23% to LY on average, and developing compelling training materials to accelerate performance
- Optimized sales team coordination through meticulous calendar and database management
- Elevated company-wide communication by crafting impactful emails and memos while spearheading new employee onboarding processes for seamless integration
- Partnered with leadership to implement robust systems for tracking sales performance and KPI growth
- Boosted customer service scores by implementing strategies to increase survey participation rates from 36% to 70%, driving continuous improvement.
Education
History, English Literature -
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Undergraduate Studies in Creative Writing, Theatre, and French. - undefined
Sarah Lawrence College
Skills
- Project Management
- Office Administration
- Meeting Planning
- Slack, WhatsApp proficient
- Confidentiality
- Document Preparation
- MS Office, G-Suite Proficient
- Zoom, Teams qualified
- Phone Etiquette
- Meticulous Follow-Up
- Research Projects
- Event Management
- New Hire Onboarding
- Timesheets
- Performance review management
- Clerical duties
- Invoice Processing
- Data Entry and Analysis
- Budget Management
- Proactive Problem Solving
- Expense Reports
- Time-Management
- Concur
- Correspondence Management
- Office Administration
- Inventory Auditing & Coordination
- File Organization
- Office Equipment Maintenance
- Calendar and inbox management
- Staff Management
- Client Relationship Management
- Account Reconciliation
- Expense Reporting
- Mail handling
- Customer Service
- Vendor Relations
- Process Optimization
- Bookkeeping
- Workflow oversight
- Travel Coordination
- Budgeting and finance
- 50 WPM typing speed
- Employee training and development
- Attendance record management
- Scheduling
Timeline
Office Coordinator & Administrative Assistant
Modern Energy
05.2022 - 05.2024
Administrative Assistant
Diamonds Direct
02.2019 - 04.2022
Business Manager | Sales Consultant | Training & Education
Diamonds Direct
02.2016 - 02.2019
Business Manager | Team Lead
Belk, Inc. / Bobbi Brown Cosmetics
07.2012 - 02.2016
Administrative Assistant | Sales and Training Coordinator
Belk, Inc. / Lancȏme Cosmetics
06.2008 - 06.2012
History, English Literature -
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Undergraduate Studies in Creative Writing, Theatre, and French. - undefined
Sarah Lawrence College