Michelle Leonard
Monmouth,IL
Summary
Results-driven Operations Manager with a strong background at Loves Travel Stop, focusing on strategic planning and effective team building. Led initiatives that converted struggling stores into successful training centers, boosting employee growth and customer satisfaction. Skilled in inventory management and conflict resolution, ensuring streamlined operations and higher profit margins.
Overview
3
3
years of professional experience
Work History
Operations Manager
Loves Travel Stop
Monmouth, IL
08.2020 - 08.2023
- Collaborated with management team to develop long-term strategic planning initiatives.
- Managed staffing needs through recruitment, selection, onboarding and training, disciplinary action as necessary.
- Maintained accurate inventory records to track stock levels and minimize costs.
- Resolved customer complaints in a timely manner while ensuring customer satisfaction remains at optimal levels.
- Assessed employee development needs and provided feedback on their progress towards meeting goals.
- Directed operations staff by providing guidance, training, and support in order to meet company objectives.
- Created detailed reports on the performance of individual departments within operations.
- Supervised daily workflow of employees, maximizing productivity and maintaining quality standards.
- Improved morale and management communication by creating employee recognition and rewards practices.
- Identified areas of deficiency and performed root-cause analysis to solve problems.
- Directed day-to-day operations by spearheading implementation of short-term and long-term strategies to achieve business plan and profitability goals.
- Motivated and evaluated personnel for performance improvement and goal achievement.
- Built strong operational teams to meet process and production demands.
- Provided leadership, insight and mentoring to newly hired employees to supply knowledge of various company programs.
- Completed thorough opening, closing, and shift change functions to maintain operational standards each day.
- I worked in Monmouth, IL, in August 2020 as a cashier. In October, I was promoted to shift leader, and in March of 2021, I was promoted to assistant manager and relocated to Jacksonville, Illinois. I worked in Jacksonville, Illinois, until January of 2023, when I was promoted to operations manager and moved to New London, Missouri.
- I went to Jacksonville, Illinois, to help them rebuild the store; they had lost their entire staff as COVID had hit us. Rebuilding the store, assisting on the restaurant side as well, when I left to go to Missouri in January of 2023, I had left the store as a training store, of which there are only about seven in a company of 600 stores.
Education
Some College (No Degree) - LPN for nursing
Carl Sandburg College
Galesburg, ILSkills
- Inventory management and data analysis
- Strategic planning and operational efficiency
- Employee development and performance evaluation
- Customer service and P&L management
- Team building
- Process improvement
- Conflict resolution
- Effective communication
- Leadership development
- Training programs
- Workflow optimization
- Operations oversight
- P&L management
Affiliations
- Ordained minister
- Hobby tattoo artist
- Strong love for animals as well as family
- A self-taught mechanic
- Freelance photography
Accomplishments
- Volunteer of the Year award for Orpheum Theater
Timeline
Operations Manager
Loves Travel Stop
08.2020 - 08.2023
Some College (No Degree) - LPN for nursing
Carl Sandburg College