JV WILLIAMS

CAREER PATH (chronological)

Walters Foods (Reinhart Foodservice/Reyes Holdings), Milwaukee, WI http://www.reyesholdings.com

      Distributor Sales/Supervisor      05/1981  to  05/1987           

Established, developed and managed street sales territory. Initiated "program selling" with Direct Order Entry (DOE) system resulting in company’s first major program account sales. Used Center of Plate (COP) as driver with high rate of Chemical & Beverage installs. Attained Salesperson of the Year, Highest Volume Producer, and 2nd in Margin Performance topping out at 2.6 million annualized. Promoted to Sales Supervisor. Develop and manage branded meats programs. Sales, forecasting, inventory, order placement, and general merchandising as well as excess inventory responsibilities over and above primary role in sales and sales supervision. Privately-held broadline distributor. (Acquired - recruited by Swift-Eckrich)

  
Armour Swift-Eckrich (Beatrice/ConAgra/Smithfield Foods), Chicago, IL http://www.smithfieldfoods.com

      National Multi-Unit Manager      05/1987  to  07/1991

Developed and managed company’s largest value-added deli/foodservice distributor account. Responsible for multi-unit operator and distributor level business. Pioneered deli/foodservice segments for pre-cooked beef, prime rib, sausage, and bacon products with top National Accounts and many Regional Chains. Negotiated, set-up, forecasted and monitored inventory of further processed COP product lines for 18 Distribution Centers. Trained COP Merchandisers (Buyers) on PO system that tracked claims, promo / rebates, and reconciled invoicing. Built business direct and then managed with and through national distribution and broker networks. Extensive work and collaboration with Corporate and Distributor Associates, Division Presidents and Core Team Members to establish congruency throughout supply chain. Worked in the field with over 600 Sales, National Account, and Merchandising personnel. Recruited, trained and developed national deli and foodservice sales specialist team over a 4 year period of rapid growth, acquisitions, and change. Profitably spearheaded Multi-Unit business from 20 to 60 million dollars in organic growth reaching 100 million mark with end-user mergers. Publicly held value- added meat processor. (Started own business to eliminate extensive travel due to firstborn child)

Brynwood Café & Deli, Rockford, IL 

      Owner/Operator      07/1991  to  09/1994

Successfully acquired, designed, gutted, laid out, stocked, opened and operated full service high-volume deli/cafe business. Cross functional hands-on management of Corned Beef & Pastrami House. Personally made payroll as an owner/operator. (Sold business)

IFD (Indianhead Foodservice Distributor), Eau Claire, WI

http://www.callifd.com

      DSR Business Development      11/1994  to  10/1997

Recruited to revitalize and further develop Minneapolis/St. Paul Metro market for medium size independent distributor. Sold primary vendor agreements utilizing DOE / Inventory / Cost software. Positioned territory for fold out of multiple territories to create new metro District. Recruited 2 DSR’s transitioning each into matrix territories out of more than 2 million dollars with average drop size of 1k dollars as a result of program selling. Held 700k in added business for new DSM to manage into a third territory. Privately held regional broadline distributor. (Recruited by Alliant Foodservice)

Alliant/US Foodservice (CDR/AHOLD/CDR), San Francisco, CA http://www.usfoodservice.com   

      Divisional/Regional Manager      10/1997  to  09/2000

Division Sales Manager 10/1997 to 04/1998 Recruited to reestablish Northern Minnesota Division with committed Duluth-based shuttle/turn around site and immediate rapid recruitment, hiring, training and development of multiple district sales personnel. Following acquisition of Omaha based independent broadliner, capital equipment was reallocated to Omaha and Northern Division plan went on hold causing lay-off of newly hired personnel with change in direction. While working interim projects over a 15 month period exploring options, took position with U.S. Foodservice Northern CA Division as Regional Sales Manager 07/1998 to 09/2000 as member of an attempt turn-around team. Mission was to build up Central Region sales organization in effort to offset loss sales in San Francisco region due to serious post acquisition, union, and sales turnover issues. Took on additional responsibility for initiating service alternatives outside the San Francisco Bay area to protect high margin chain business and newly established Central CA business. Assisted in the plan of locating and ultimately transferring operations to Fresno, CA facility. Assisted in division closure, out placed all newly hired personnel, and completed transition of chain business from San Francisco to Fresno facility, Privately and publicly held broadline food distributor and custom meat processor. (Reallocation of capital resources, corporate turmoil, division closure, recruited by Skylark Meats)

Skylark (Rosen Diversified/American Foods Group), Omaha, NE http://www.americanfoodsgroup.com

      Vice President Distribution      09/2000  to  05/2003

Officer with EBIT accountability for all distribution sales of non-processed and company processed Center of Plate products going to both Foodservice and Retail channels. Accountable for all purchasing, managed limited product lines, inventory turns, and excess or obsolete inventory positions. Monitored inventory to achieve service level goals, verified pricing, vendor invoice reconciliations, claims, contract compliance commitments. Negotiated and implemented vendor programs. Transitioned commodity product lines into exclusive branded programs. Spearheaded and co-managed complete premium branded beef program start-up, from 1st custom fabrication through vendor acquisition of state-of-art plant, with and through 12 area managers in the Midwest. Today branded beef program is internationally recognized as one of USA's premium programs. General management of distribution facility, operations, finance, customer service, purchasing, sales, and transportation. Positioned commodity distribution sales business to be sold to a foodservice/retail distributor. Privately held meat and custom cut steak processor. (Change in direction, relocate back to WI/IL)

Thoms Proestler Company (PFG/Blackstone/Wellspring), Rock Island, IL

http://pfgc.com

      Sales Manager      05/2003  to  05/2004

Following PFG's acquisition of TPC, agreed to an interim arrangement. Revitalized established but failing 18 million dollar district. Responsible to 10 district sales representatives as their manager, coach and change agent. Immediately addressed vulnerable district based multi-unit chain business by working with appropriate sales, support and decision making personnel. Addressed mediocre performance while recruiting long term District Sales Manager. Spearheaded introduction of corporate branded beef program while positioning new DSM for sustainable consistent and profitable long-term growth. Manage all excess inventories and worked very close with VP Merchandising and Purchasing Director to see them through before ending one year interim agreement. Today District is top performing in both sales and profit positioned for fold out. Public and privately held broadline food distributor and custom cut meat processor. (Interim one year agreement, mission accomplished, recruited by Hollymatic Corporation)