Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Achievements & Highlights
Community Involvement
Software
Languages
Interests
Work Preference
Timeline

Shawn Nelson

Candler,NC
You miss 100% of the shots you never take.
Wayne Gretzky

Summary

Dynamic Operations Leader with over 20 years of experience optimizing business performance, developing high-performing teams, and enhancing customer satisfaction in fast-paced, high-volume environments. Expertise in streamlining processes, improving service delivery, and significantly reducing operational costs, demonstrated by a proven track record of achieving a 30% increase in service speed within three months. Skilled in recruiting, training, and mentoring staff to achieve measurable outcomes while consistently exceeding sales targets and driving market growth through strategic planning and strong client relationships. Committed to leveraging extensive operational knowledge and customer service acumen to transition into a new industry that values strategic problem-solving and people development.

Overview

17
17
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Operations Manager

Waffle House Inc.
01.2021 - Current
  • Streamline daily operations to maximize staff productivity, performance, and efficiency.
  • Recruit, coach, and develop high-performing teams, ensuring alignment with brand and operational standards.
  • Mentor team leads and managers, instilling a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, workforce engagement, and customer focus.

C-Store General Manager

Enmarket
01.2020 - 01.2021
  • Oversaw $1M+ annual revenue operations with full accountability for P&L, compliance, staffing, and service delivery.
  • Improved store performance by streamlining labor scheduling, enhancing vendor partnerships, and optimizing inventory control.
  • Delivered consistent top-tier customer experiences by upholding cleanliness, speed of service, and operational safety standards.
  • Executed dynamic fuel pricing strategies, including competitive analysis and real-time adjustments.
  • Built and led a results-driven team, achieving performance goals through proactive leadership and coaching.

Area Sales Manager

Kurressence
01.2019
  • Opened four retail locations across NC and hired/trained all staff.
  • Strengthened operational oversight across multiple locations using Point-Of-Sale (POS) analytics and real-time inventory tracking.
  • Elevated customer loyalty by resolving service issues quickly and delivering consistent, high-quality engagement.
  • Delivered outstanding service by quickly greeting customers, determining their needs, and addressing their concerns or inquiries.

Co-Owner / Retail Sales & Operations Manager

Artisan Vapor & CBD Burlington
01.2016 - 01.2019
  • Directed the opening, marketing, and management of 2 new stores in VT and TX
  • Skillfully developed and implemented store-level marketing strategies, including social media campaigns aligned with sales targets.
  • Closely monitored company inventory and sales performance using a POS System.
  • Trained and managed front-line staff while ensuring operational compliance and high standards of service execution.

Vice President of Operations

NRG Home Solar
01.2012 - 01.2013
  • Directed operations for multiple solar lease installations, integrating finance, logistics, and customer service functions.
  • Managed cross-functional teams and provided executive-level reporting on project performance and financial metrics.

Senior Vice President of Lending

Gulf Credit Union
01.2010 - 01.2012
  • Streamlined loan operations and enhanced compliance standards, driving branch efficiency and consistency.
  • Strengthened client relationships by implementing responsive service protocols and real-time resolution strategies.

Assistant Vice President

Gesa Credit Union
01.2009 - 01.2010
  • Successfully improved decision turnaround times and service levels, contributing to a more loyal and satisfied member base.

Education

Master of Arts - International Relations

Norwich University
01.2024
Present

PhD - Business Management & Organizational Leadership (ABD)

University of Phoenix

Master of Science - Business Management

University of Phoenix

Bachelor of Science - Business Management

University of Phoenix

Skills

  • Relationship building
  • Sales presentations
  • Sales team supervision
  • Territory management
  • Competitor analysis
  • New account development
  • Presentations and proposals
  • Consultative and relationship selling
  • Territory and account management
  • Sales presentation
  • Rapport and relationship building
  • Account monitoring
  • Sales tracking

Certification

Serv Safe Certification

Achievements & Highlights

  • Increased service efficiency by 30% in 90 days by standardizing workflows and implementing targeted training programs; Waffle House Inc.
  • Cut employee turnover by 20% within 6 months through a structured onboarding and leadership development initiative; Waffle House Inc.
  • Reduced expenses by 5% through inventory optimization and labor cost management; Waffle House Inc.
  • Drove a 28% increase in revenue within 6 months by optimizing sales and staff performance; Kurressence
  • Designed hands-on training programs that resulted in a 20% sales lift within 90 days; Kurressence
  • Increased repeat customer traffic by 70% in 3 months through personalized service initiatives and loyalty engagement; Artisan Vapor & CBD, Burlington
  • Boosted positive customer reviews by 35% in 6 months by launching a feedback-driven service improvement process; Artisan Vapor & CBD, Burlington
  • Raised productivity by 30% within 6 months through departmental restructuring and workforce development programs; NRG Home Solar
  • Cut costs by 15% by optimizing supply chain practices and reallocating resources based on performance analytics; NRG Home Solar
  • Increased ancillary revenue by 80% in 6 months by launching new lending products and cross-selling initiatives; Gulf Credit Union
  • Improved team productivity by 20% and customer satisfaction by 25% through process redesign and staff development; Gulf Credit Union
  • Led creation of a student loan product that expanded borrower access by 50% in 6 months; Gesa Credit Union
  • Reduced delinquency by 1% through enhanced collection procedures and customer engagement practices; Gesa Credit Union

Community Involvement

Treasurer of the Board, Houston Congregation for Reform Judaism; 2008 – 2010

Software

Microsoft Office

Languages

English
Native or Bilingual

Interests

History

Geo-Politics

Literature

Collegiate Sports

Work Preference

Work Type

Full Time

Location Preference

On-SiteRemoteHybrid

Important To Me

Career advancementCompany CulturePersonal development programs

Timeline

Operations Manager - Waffle House Inc.
01.2021 - Current
C-Store General Manager - Enmarket
01.2020 - 01.2021
Area Sales Manager - Kurressence
01.2019
Co-Owner / Retail Sales & Operations Manager - Artisan Vapor & CBD Burlington
01.2016 - 01.2019
Vice President of Operations - NRG Home Solar
01.2012 - 01.2013
Senior Vice President of Lending - Gulf Credit Union
01.2010 - 01.2012
Assistant Vice President - Gesa Credit Union
01.2009 - 01.2010
Norwich University - Master of Arts, International Relations
University of Phoenix - PhD, Business Management & Organizational Leadership (ABD)
University of Phoenix - Master of Science, Business Management
University of Phoenix - Bachelor of Science, Business Management