ROBERT CHALFANT
Coldwater,MI
Summary
Dedicated Lead Budtender at Herbology Cannabis Co with 10+ years of customer experience management, sales development, and business operations. Skilled in product knowledge, staff training, and compliance, including METRC and inventory control. Proven track record in maintaining high store standards, supporting customer loyalty programs, and meeting KPIs. Collaborative team player with a focus on process improvements and fostering a positive, professional environment. Strong foundation in retail operations, merchandising, and leadership, eager to transition into a managerial role to contribute to continued growth and success.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Lead Budtender
Herbology Cannabis Co
07.2022 - Current
- Leads by example as senior budtender, receiving 100+ reviews and fostering trust-based environments that make customers feel valued, respected, and excited to return
- Collaborates closely with management team to create personalized strategies that deepen customer loyalty, such as a VIP access, that would attract new clients through exceptional service
- Trains and mentors budtenders on POS systems, METRC compliance, inventory control, and customer service best practices. Assisting them daily, while observing service techniques to build confidence, camaraderie, and ensure consistent, high-quality experiences for every customer
- Builds lasting relationships with customers, vendors, and community partners, ensuring that each touch point reflects Herbology's mission of inclusivity, creativity, and collaboration
Personal Development
Sabbatical
06.2020 - 04.2022
- Worked closely with local communities (slums) for 6 months to create an all natural deodorant that addressed lower and middle-class needs. Gaining valuable insights into challenges and rewards of sustainable business development in emerging markets
- Fully engaged with Kenyan culture over a two-year period, where I imported and produced natural body building supplements. Along side those, I developed recipes for deodorants, soaps, and body butters, and collaborated with local distributors to sell directly to consumers.
Director of Sales & Marketing
Ms.GIS
01.2020 - 04.2020
- Led business development efforts in the US, collaborating weekly with our engineering team to create marketing materials and strategies for our software platform. Built key relationships through monthly national and local conferences, deepening partnerships with organizations like San Francisco Public Works, NIST, and the Austrian Chambers.
- Worked directly with data scientists to implement our product with the city of San Francisco and develop educational seminars with NIST. Produced impactful videos that demonstrated our platform's capabilities, including real-time geo-location demos.
Membership Manager
Galvanize
04.2019 - 11.2019
- Managed campus membership sales, exceeding monthly and quarterly revenue targets with $140k+ in new sales. Developed targeted campaigns for brokers and past suite members, achieving 90% of Q2 and 100% of Q3 plan-to-goal.
- Strengthened community engagement through 1-3 networking events per week. Increasing our reach and partnerships with Techstars, VCs, and the Chamber of Commerce. Organized workshops and curated peer-to-peer learning experiences, fostering deeper connections between mentors and startups, and increasing leads for our coworking space.
Operations Manager
24 Hour Fitness
10.2018 - 03.2019
- Led hiring, training, and team development for Service Representatives and Kids' Club staff, ensuring high-quality member experiences and operational excellence. Achieved department targets in member service, cleanliness, revenue, and retention through effective leadership and process optimization.
- Engaged with club members through weekly satisfaction surveys, and community-building initiatives, fostering a clean, friendly, and well-maintained environment that contributed to increased member retention and a stronger club community.
Director of Client Relations and Case Management
Strategic,LLC
11.2016 - 06.2017
- Collaborated with private investigators and plaintiff attorneys to gather information and strengthen legal cases. Managed a team of 20 callers, overseeing training, phone etiquette, and daily operations to ensure consistent client experiences.
- Built client relationships through national conferences and educational seminars, offering personalized customer service and fostering strong professional connections.
Business Owner and Operator
Male Fashions
04.2011 - 05.2015
- Acquired and successfully grew a men's retail store, doubling its value in 3 years by enhancing the customer experience through store renovations and creating a more inviting environment.
- Increased top-line revenue by 10% and bottom-line profit by 5% by focusing on high-margin suits and rentals, earning multiple awards for improved marketing, merchandise management, and customer buying patterns.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Management, Marketing
Purdue University
Lafayette, IN05-2006
Skills
- Customer experience management
- Training and staff development
- Sales proficiency
- Strong work ethic
- Business operations background
- Team leadership expertise
Accomplishments
- Achieved the highest number of reviews company-wide within a two-month period.
- Converted a walk-in customer into a loyal client, driving $10K in monthly revenue.
- Broke sales records as the sole budtender to exceed $20K in daily sales twice before Herbology, and now set the bar at $11K with the current pricing model.
Professional Affiliations
- Coldwater, MI, 2023 - Cross Country Coach - Coldwater High School
- Boulder, CO, 2015 - 2020, Lead Organizer for Techstars, partnered with Google
- Boulder, CO, 2015 - 2020, Board member, Boulder Triathlon Club
- Boulder, CO, 2015 - 2020, Volunteer for Engage Boulder
- Boulder, CO, 2015 - 2020, Mentor for CU New Venture Challenge
- Boulder, CO, 2015 - 2020, Mentor for SAGE and advisor to Innosphere
- Boulder, CO, 2015 - 2020, Advisor and consultant to Lydiard Foundation
Timeline
Lead Budtender
Herbology Cannabis Co
07.2022 - Current
Personal Development
Sabbatical
06.2020 - 04.2022
Director of Sales & Marketing
Ms.GIS
01.2020 - 04.2020
Membership Manager
Galvanize
04.2019 - 11.2019
Operations Manager
24 Hour Fitness
10.2018 - 03.2019
Director of Client Relations and Case Management
Strategic,LLC
11.2016 - 06.2017
Business Owner and Operator
Male Fashions
04.2011 - 05.2015
Bachelor of Science - Management, Marketing
Purdue University
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