Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Interests
Product Specialist of the year 2016. Vendor of the year, Sysco Boston- 2018
Timeline
Generic

Ryan LaMere

Chicago,IL

Summary

Dynamic specialty procurement leader with deep experience in sourcing premium and innovative food products that align with Baldor’s mission to deliver the finest ingredients to chefs, retailers, and foodservice partners. Known for driving new item innovation, enabling sales teams with simple, high‑impact add‑on opportunities, and building strong cross‑functional alignment to ensure flawless execution from procurement through delivery. Combines a chef‑centric mindset with strong supplier partnerships and operational discipline to strengthen category performance and enhance Baldor’s reputation for quality, reliability, and culinary inspiration.

Core Highlights

Lead new item innovation by identifying premium, trend‑forward ingredients and specialty items that resonate with chefs and culinary professionals—supporting Baldor’s commitment to being first to market with differentiated offerings.

Enable incremental revenue by creating easy, high‑value add‑on opportunities that help Baldor’s sales reps seamlessly add line items to existing orders, expanding customer basket size without operational friction.

Translate product features, origin stories, and usage applications into clear, chef‑focused selling tools that empower sales teams to spark menu inspiration and drive adoption.

Foster cross‑functional collaboration across procurement, sales, marketing, culinary, supply chain, and operations to ensure new items are launched seamlessly and inventory is positioned for success.

Build strategic supplier partnerships to secure reliable access to specialty products, maintain Baldor’s quality standards, and support long-term category growth.

Apply data‑driven decision‑making to optimize assortment profitability, reduce risk, and ensure consistent availability for high-demand items.

Champion alignment and communication between departments to accelerate execution, enhance customer experience, and uphold Baldor’s service‑first culture.

Overview

21
21
years of professional experience

Work History

Category Manager

European Imports
01.2022 - Current
  • Enhanced supplier relationships through regular communication and collaborative problem-solving efforts.
  • Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop promotional campaigns that effectively increased category awareness and sales growth.
  • Spearheaded new product introduction processes from ideation through commercialization, delivering innovative solutions that drove category growth.
  • Consistently delivered top new‑item sales results, exceeding the next‑highest category manager by 50%+ each year over a four‑year period.
  • Managed a diverse portfolio of products, ensuring optimal mix between high-margin items and cost-effective options for customers.
  • Fostered positive work atmosphere by acting and communicating collaboratively with customers and internal stakeholders.
  • Led cross-functional project teams in the launch of new product lines, resulting in successful category expansion efforts.
  • Monitored industry trends to identify new business opportunities and emerging product categories for expansion.
  • Visited supplier offices and plants to investigate facilities and capacity to meet quality requirements, specifications and delivery dates.
  • Attended top European industry exhibitions twice yearly and participated in multiple hosted‑buyer programs.
  • Complemented major shows with targeted outreach to smaller, niche events to identify breakthrough products and bring first‑to‑market innovations into the U.S. assortment.
  • Collaborated with sales teams to understand customer needs, tailoring category offerings to increase customer satisfaction.
  • Drove innovation in product selection, introducing items that captured emerging market trends.
  • Oversaw preparation of marketing copy, images, videos, emails, and other collateral.
  • Wrote and distributed press releases to increase brand visibility.

Product Specialist

European Imports
06.2013 - 01.2022
  • Supported sales representatives during client meetings by providing expert knowledge on specific features or functionalities of the given product line.
  • Collaborated with cross-functional teams to streamline product development processes.
  • Assisted with demonstrations for all 4 categories to showcase functionality.
  • Developed comprehensive product training materials, significantly improving team knowledge and customer support quality.
  • Collaborated with sales teams to develop effective selling strategies and materials, boosting sales performance.
  • Conducted competitive analyses to inform strategic decisions, positioning products effectively in market.
  • Facilitated collaboration between merchandising and sales teams, enhancing product appeal and filling white space in market.
  • Engaged directly with key clients to gather product feedback, fostering strong relationships and repeat business.
  • Conducted training sessions for sales and customer service teams, enhancing product knowledge and messaging.
  • Spearheaded successful product launches, generating widespread brand awareness and interest from potential customers.
  • Monitored industry trends to anticipate market needs, guiding development of future product lines.
  • Trained and provided coaching to 100+ junior team members.
  • Tracked market and industry trends, regulations and practices through trade shows and publications.
  • Demonstrated products and specific features at customer locations and special events.
  • Optimized inventory management, ensuring timely availability of products for customers.

Marketing Associate

Sysco Foods of Connecticut
01.2005 - 07.2013
  • Handled customer relations issues, enabling quick resolution, and client satisfaction.
  • Overcame objections from potential clients by addressing concerns effectively and offering customized solutions based on their unique needs.
  • Increased sales revenue by developing and implementing effective sales strategies.
  • Built long-lasting client relationships through excellent customer service and consistent followups.
  • Developed comprehensive product knowledge, enabling tailored solutions for clients'' specific needs.
  • Consistently met or exceeded quarterly sales targets through diligent effort and persistence in closing deals.
  • Focused on internal brand growth exceeding sales goats by upwards of 40%
  • Provided ongoing training and mentorship for junior sales staff, fostering professional development and career growth.
  • Evaluated competitor offerings to adapt sales strategies and maintain competitive advantage.
  • Collaborated with marketing teams to create targeted promotional campaigns, driving customer engagement and sales growth.

Education

Radio Broadcasting Certificate - Communications

Connecticut School of Broadcasting
Farmington, CT
03.2012

Skills

  • Partnership development with suppliers
  • Pricing strategy optimization
  • Effective category strategy development
  • Team-oriented collaboration
  • Adaptability

Interests

  • Deeply passionate about food, cooking, and the hospitality culture that inspires chefs and drives menu innovation
  • Closely follow leading restaurant groups, culinary destinations, and emerging food trends with the same dedication others reserve for sports teams
  • Much of my personal travel centers around discovering regional cuisines and understanding how exceptional ingredients translate into exceptional dining experiences—insights that directly shape my approach to sourcing

My passion for the culinary world naturally fuels a sales‑enablement mindset: I source with the end user in mind, prioritizing items that are not only operationally sound but also easy for sales teams to position, add onto existing orders, and translate into meaningful customer value I focus on bringing in products that create conversation, spark menu inspiration, and help sales reps deepen relationships with chefs and buyers

Outside of food, I enjoy live music and the sense of community it creates—an energy similar to the connection shared around a great meal and a high‑performing team working toward a common mission

Product Specialist of the year 2016. Vendor of the year, Sysco Boston- 2018

  • Product Specialist of the Year – European Imports
    Recognized for driving exceptional category growth, leading new item innovation, and influencing purchasing behavior across a large, competitive sales organization.
  • Vendor of the Year – Sysco Boston - Billion Dollar Plus Operation Company
    Honored for outstanding supplier partnership management, delivering consistent service excellence, and aligning vendor capabilities with Sysco’s operational and customer needs.
  • Enabled Significant Sales Lift Through Strategic Add‑On Items
    Developed and promoted high‑value, easy‑to‑sell line‑item additions that increased basket size and strengthened customer retention.
  • Championed Cross‑Functional Alignment
    Successfully coordinated efforts between procurement, sales, culinary, operations, and supply chain teams to support product launches, improve communication flow, and ensure seamless execution.
  • Demonstrated High‑Impact Performance in a Fast‑Paced, High‑Volume Environment
    Awards reflect measurable business impact in one of Sysco’s largest OpCos, proving ability to excel under demanding scale and complexity.

Timeline

Category Manager

European Imports
01.2022 - Current

Product Specialist

European Imports
06.2013 - 01.2022

Marketing Associate

Sysco Foods of Connecticut
01.2005 - 07.2013

Radio Broadcasting Certificate - Communications

Connecticut School of Broadcasting

Similar Profiles

CREATE PROFILE