Susan Hightower
Jonesboro,AR
Summary
Proven leader and adept Salesforce.com user, I spearheaded sales teams at Curves Fitness to surpass targets through innovative strategies, enhancing customer satisfaction and loyalty. My expertise in business development, coupled with exceptional negotiation and team collaboration skills, led to a significant market share expansion. Achieved a notable increase in client retention by prioritizing personalized service and strategic relationship building.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Manager on Duty
Curves Fitness
Royal Palm. Loxahatche, FL
09.2004 - 07.2009
- Handled customer relations issues, enabling quick resolution, and client satisfaction.
- Increased sales revenue by developing and implementing effective sales strategies.
- Built long-lasting client relationships through excellent customer service and consistent followups.
- Led a successful sales team by providing motivational coaching and performance-based incentives.
- Organized regular sales meetings to review progress, share best practices, and set achievable targets for continued success.
- Maintained relationships with customers and found new ones by identifying needs and offering appropriate services.
- Managed key accounts with strategic planning and relationship building, resulting in increased customer loyalty and repeat business.
- Consistently met or exceeded quarterly sales targets through diligent effort and persistence in closing deals.
- Overcame objections from potential clients by addressing concerns effectively and offering customized solutions based on their unique needs.
- Developed comprehensive product knowledge, enabling tailored solutions for clients'' specific needs.
- Provided ongoing training and mentorship for junior sales staff, fostering professional development and career growth.
- Analyzed market trends to identify new business opportunities, leading to expansion into profitable territories.
- Assisted in recruiting top talent for the sales team, contributing to a high-performing work environment.
- Evaluated competitor offerings to adapt sales strategies and maintain competitive advantage.
- Fostered culture of continuous improvement, encouraging feedback and implementing best practices in sales operations.
- Optimized sales funnel management, enhancing lead generation and conversion rates.
- Exceeded sales targets consistently, through strategic planning and execution of targeted sales initiatives.
- Negotiated partnerships with complementary businesses, creating synergies and expanding customer base.
- Pioneered adoption of sustainable practices in sales operations, leading to recognition as industry leader in sustainability.
- Achieved significant cost reductions by negotiating better terms with suppliers and vendors.
- Expanded market share by identifying and penetrating untapped markets.
- Boosted customer retention rates, establishing robust follow-up system and personalizing client interactions.
- Streamlined sales processes for efficiency, adopting new CRM tools and technologies.
- Spearheaded launch of new products, conducting market research and guiding development team on customer needs.
- Drove regional sales growth, implementing innovative marketing strategies and cultivating key partnerships.
- Enhanced sales team morale and cohesion, organizing team-building activities and maintaining open communication channels.
- Implemented comprehensive customer relationship management strategy, improving client satisfaction and loyalty.
- Increased sales force productivity by introducing sales automation tools and streamlining administrative tasks.
- Improved sales forecasting accuracy, utilizing data analytics to predict market trends and adjust sales strategies accordingly.
- Elevated brand visibility, coordinating with marketing to launch successful promotional campaigns.
- Developed competitive analysis framework, enabling proactive adjustments to sales tactics and strategies.
- Conducted comprehensive market research to identify new opportunities and trends.
- Built relationships with customers and community to establish long-term business growth.
- Achieved sales goals and service targets by cultivating and securing new customer relationships.
- Exceeded sales quotas and increased profitability through effective sales strategy and business planning.
- Resolved problems with high-profile customers to maintain relationships and increase return customer base.
- Implemented systems and procedures to increase sales.
- Organized promotional events and interacted with community to increase sales volume.
- Held one-on-one meetings with sales team members to identify selling hurdles and offered insight into best remedy.
- Managed accounts to retain existing relationships and grow share of business.
- Demonstrated products to show potential customers benefits and advantages and encourage purchases.
- Recruited, interviewed and hired employees and implemented mentoring program to promote positive feedback and engagement.
- Compiled and analyzed data to determine approaches to improve sales and performance.
- Engaged in product training, demonstrations, consumer awareness, branding, and acquisition initiatives to raise awareness and revenues.
- Prepared sales presentations for clients showing success and credibility of products.
- Enhanced profitability by developing pipelines utilizing marketing and sales strategies.
- Managed revenue models, process flows, operations support and customer engagement strategies.
- Communicated product quality and market comparisons by creating sales presentations.
- Increased profit margins by effectively controlling budget and overhead and optimizing product turns.
- Boosted marketing, reviewed pricing strategies and expanded distribution channels to increase sales revenue.
- Maintained financial controls, planned business operations and control expenses while identifying and pursuing opportunities to grow business operations and boost profits.
- Aligned company goals with customer outcomes and increased satisfaction by automating contact management systems.
- Facilitated business by implementing practical networking techniques.
- Delivered recommendations to long-term accounts to promote brand awareness to key audience.
- Collaborated cross-functionally with headquarters, regional and other teams nationally to maintain consistent message and experience.
- Developed compelling presentation decks to gain approval for ideas and communicate results.
- Collaborated with advertising group to create uniformity between advertising messages and retail incentives.
Tour Guide/ Trasslator
MMI
Memphis, TN
09.2000 - 09.2003
Floral Manager
Under Contract to Sams Coving Pike Location.
Hills Houston Tx
07.1999 - 09.1999
Sales Manager
Jan’s Tux and Bridal
Jonesboro AR
04.1995 - 09.1997
Education
Bachelor Of Arts - Art History
University of Memphis
Memphis, TN09.2004
Skills
- Advanced Salesforcecom user
- Customer service focus
- Delegation capabilities
- Sales and Marketing
- Staff Training and Development
- Scheduling proficiency
- Policy Enforcement
- Industry Awareness
- Staff Management
- Goal-Oriented
- Training and mentoring
- Inventory Oversight
- Processes and procedures
- Financial Management
- Complex Problem-Solving
- Employee Motivation
- Expectation setting
- Business Administration
- Operations Management
- Schedule development
- Staff Discipline
- Business Development
- Inventory Control
- Process Improvement
- Industrial hygiene
- Staff Development
- Project Management
- Negotiation
- Priority management
- Process Monitoring and Improvement
- Contract Management
- Waste Reduction
- Data Analytics
- Customer Service
- Teamwork and Collaboration
- Problem Resolution
- Goal Setting
- Professional and Courteous
- Team Leadership
- Decision-Making
- Shift Scheduling
- Hiring and Training
- Customer Relationship Management
- Work Planning and Prioritization
- Documentation And Reporting
- Team Development
- Task Delegation
- Employee Coaching and Mentoring
- Schedule Management
- Performance Evaluations
- Idea Development and Brainstorming
- Schedule oversight
- Cost Control
- Staff Training
- Good Judgment
- Interpersonal Relations
- Administration and Reporting
- Scheduling and Coordinating
- Performance reviewing
- Performance Tracking and Evaluation
- Budget Management
- Managing Operations and Efficiency
- Employee Development
- Lead Generation
- Project Planning
- Needs Assessment
- Business Analysis and Reporting
- Onboarding and Orientation
- Brand Management
- Technical Proficiency
- Preventive Maintenance
- Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
- Human Resources Management
- Training and Development
- Business Planning
- Budget Administration
- Emergency Response
- Fiscal Management
- Positive Attitude
- Problem-Solving
- Time Management
- Attention to Detail
- Problem-solving abilities
- Multitasking
- Multitasking Abilities
- Reliability
- Excellent Communication
- Organizational Skills
- Team Collaboration
- Active Listening
- Effective Communication
- Adaptability and Flexibility
- Relationship Building
- Team building
Accomplishments
I have a specialty in historic floral design and have had my work published in ‘Victorian Homes’ magazine. I’m very proud of the years I worked for Memphis Museums Inc. during my tenure I worked as an educator, guide, fund raiser and ambassador.
Although I rarely show my work, I was a winner on the young mid-south artist award and proud to have a painting in the Brooks Museum for several weeks. I also hold 5 Barrett-Hamilton awards.
I gave up showing my work to focus on Art History and donations to keep these programs going.
I play the piano, flute, piccolo and oboe, though just as a hobby now.
Additional Information
I do speak partial Spanish. If it’s menu driven I can figure it out quickly. I’m well spoken. I’m well and dressed. I hate anything beyond that.
Languages
American Enlist some Spanish, bit of Germain
Elementary
Certification
Guide and educator for MMI
Certified trainer for Curves Gym
Multiple scuba and life saving skills.
Timeline
Manager on Duty
Curves Fitness
09.2004 - 07.2009
Tour Guide/ Trasslator
MMI
09.2000 - 09.2003
Floral Manager
Under Contract to Sams Coving Pike Location.
07.1999 - 09.1999
Sales Manager
Jan’s Tux and Bridal
04.1995 - 09.1997
Bachelor Of Arts - Art History
University of Memphis