Melissa Riyevski
West End,NC
Summary
Proactive and goal-oriented professional with excellent time management and problem-solving skills. Known for reliability and adaptability, with swift capacity to learn and apply new skills. Committed to leveraging these qualities to drive team success and contribute to organizational growth.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
Work History
Sales Associate
Persistent Systems
03.2025 - Current
- Managed stakeholder relationships to ensure alignment, transparency, and high levels of customer satisfaction across programs and initiatives.
- Participated in recurring team meetings and training sessions for continuous process improvement, knowledge sharing, and professional development.
- Processed purchase orders and prepared customer quotes while maintaining KPI performance exceeding 80 percent accuracy, ensuring data integrity and compliance.
- Act as a liaison between Sales, Business Development, Operations, Marketing, and Programs/Contracts teams to coordinate workflows.
- Collaborated closely with Programs and Contracts teams to support customer needs, manage expectations, and ensure adherence to contractual and program requirements.
- Coordinated planning and preparation for trade shows, managing timelines, logistics, and cross-functional inputs; provided on-site support as needed.
- Maintained and governed operational records for the sales function using SalesForce, Microsoft Dynamics (E2E), Infor, and related systems to support reporting and forecasting.
Director of New Product Development
Spiritus Systems
01.2023 - 03.2025
- Oversee product design and roadmap and coordinated key phases of development and rollout, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities, schedules, and resource constraints.
- Managed complex timelines across product teams, consistently meeting strict deadlines through structured planning and workflow orchestration.
- Regularly collaborated with stakeholders in weekly meetings to provide status updates.
- Conducted time and motion studies to establish accurate production metrics, supporting capacity planning, scheduling, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Developed and maintained standardized technical documentation and work instructions to support consistent execution and knowledge transfer across production teams.
- Supported cross-functional teams as needed to resolve operational issues and maintain momentum on projects.
- Maintained proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Microsoft Dynamics (ERP), and collaboration tools such as Miro to support reporting, documentation, and process alignment.
- Conducted annual performance reviews, contributed to workforce planning, and supported capability development through training programs.
- Coordinated participation in trade shows, supporting planning and logistics.
- Maintained experience in operating industrial sewing machines.
Production & NPD Assistant Manager
Spiritus Systems
03.2022 - 01.2023
- Identified operational inefficiencies and proposed actionable process improvements to enhance workflow effectiveness and consistency across teams.
- Supported team alignment and execution by providing clear direction, coordination, and ongoing operational support.
- Utilized QuickBooks and Microsoft Office Suite to track activities, support reporting, and maintain accurate records in alignment with program objectives.
- Developed and updated standardized technical documentation to support repeatable processes and knowledge management.
- Participated in recurring meetings to provide status updates, track action items, and support cross-functional communication.
Assistant Sewing Manager
Spiritus Systems
01.2021 - 03.2022
- Coordinated production floor activities to maintain steady workflow and support adherence to schedules and delivery commitments.
- Served as a primary point of contact and operational resource for sewing personnel, resolving issues and escalating risks to minimize disruptions.
- Led training and knowledge transfer for newly introduced products, ensuring teams were prepared to execute according to defined requirements and timelines.
- Oversaw remediation of items rejected by Quality Control, coordinating corrective actions to maintain quality standards and reduce rework.
- Supported preventive maintenance and diagnostics of production machines to reduce downtime and mitigate operational risk.
- Participated in recurring meetings to provide status updates, track action items, and support cross-functional communication.
Sewing Trainer
Spiritus Systems
01.2021 - 01.2022
- Implemented structured feedback mechanisms to support continuous improvement and governance of training programs.
- Collaborated with subject matter experts and key stakeholders to develop standardized, engaging training materials aligned with organizational objectives.
- Improved team performance and productivity through targeted training initiatives designed to address program needs and delivery timelines.
- Mentored and onboarded new hires, supporting workforce readiness and consistent execution across programs.
- Evaluated training effectiveness by tracking participant progress, analyzing performance metrics, and incorporated feedback to drive ongoing optimization.
Industrial Sewing Machine Operator
Spiritus Systems
03.2020 - 01.2021
- Executed production tasks using industrial sewing equipment in alignment with defined specifications, schedules, and program requirements.
- Followed standardized work instructions and technical documentation to ensure consistent execution across varying materials and product types.
- Maintained compliance with safety regulations, industry standards, and organizational policies.
- Performed routine machine maintenance to minimize downtime and support schedule reliability.
- Conducted quality inspections on completed products, identifying defects and escalating issues to support quality assurance objectives.
- Demonstrated versatility by mastering multiple industrial sewing platforms, enabling flexible resource allocation and improved throughput.
Kennel Technician
Paws on the Duck
12.2018 - 03.2020
- Maintained kennel facilities in accordance with established procedures and hygiene standards, supporting operational compliance and risk mitigation.
- Executed daily care activities based on defined schedules, ensuring timely feeding, sanitation, and consistent service delivery.
- Monitored animal wellbeing and behavior, identifying issues and escalating concerns to support quality assurance and welfare objectives.
- Contributed to continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to streamline cleaning workflows while maintaining safety and quality standards.
- Supported onboarding and training of new staff by reinforcing standard operating procedures for maintenance, animal care, and feeding protocols.
- Maintained clear communication with team members to ensure task coordination, accountability, and consistent execution.
Sewing Technician
Southeastern Pant LLC
07.2017 - 12.2018
- Contributed to process standardization by following and providing feedback on technical documentation, supporting consistency and repeatability across production runs.
- Tracked task completion and communicated status updates to supervisors to support schedule adherence and workload planning.
- Maintained compliance with safety, quality, and operational procedures to support governance and risk mitigation efforts.
- Executed specialized production tasks using a variety of industrial machines to support program schedule and quality requirements for law enforcement and military products.
Education
Diploma - Automotive
Hickman County High School
Centerville, TN05.2015
Skills
- Manufacturing operations
- Product team leadership
- Product lifecycle management
- Product enhancement
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Time management
- Attention to detail
- Problem-solving abilities
- Multitasking
- Critical thinking
- Organizational skills
- Microsoft office
- Computer proficiency
- Customer service
- Problem-solving skills
- Problem-solving
- Goal oriented
- Meeting facilitation
- MS Excel
- Project status reports
Timeline
Sales Associate
Persistent Systems
03.2025 - Current
Director of New Product Development
Spiritus Systems
01.2023 - 03.2025
Production & NPD Assistant Manager
Spiritus Systems
03.2022 - 01.2023
Assistant Sewing Manager
Spiritus Systems
01.2021 - 03.2022
Sewing Trainer
Spiritus Systems
01.2021 - 01.2022
Industrial Sewing Machine Operator
Spiritus Systems
03.2020 - 01.2021
Kennel Technician
Paws on the Duck
12.2018 - 03.2020
Sewing Technician
Southeastern Pant LLC
07.2017 - 12.2018
Diploma - Automotive
Hickman County High School