Ashleigh VanNess

Enterprising, creative, and dedicated professional; adapts quickly and easily to new routines and challenges; excellent background in marketing and management; strong business ethics.  Enthusiastic self-starter with proven leadership and organizational skills; adaptable skills ranging from event planning and managing daily functions, to inventory control and team member training; known for service based on trust and cooperation. Strong problem solving skills with the ability to use measured judgment and stay calm under pressure to arrive at workable solutions.

NORTH BRANCH NURSERY, Pemberville, OH 2016 - Present

Wholesale Sales Co-Manager, Full-Time

Co-Manage an approx. $3.5 million Wholesale Department in an $8 million company with only 3 sales departments

Manage a continually expanding department, actively work to grow the WS Department and business as a whole

Build & maintain positive customer relationships with hundreds of Wholesale clients, resolve customer complaints 

Oversee orders through entire process from taking order through billing, pulling materials, and loading

Redesigned, maintain database of all WS accounts for mailing purposes, update client info on multiple platforms 

Create social media, newsletter, & other print and electronic content to connect with multiple customer bases 

Created, maintain a 350+ page Wholesale Department Booklet documenting all department operations

Revamped policies & procedures; created and implemented SOPs, best practices, signage, and other documents for more effective & efficient workflow; contribute to idea generation for efficiency & growth 

Participate in webinars, regional conferences, and other trainings to continue product knowledge and keep up with industry trends, best practices, changes, and discoveries

Assisted with creating new hire position to grow department and co-manage new hire training

Coordinate, set up, and manage trade show booths with goal of attracting new customers

Reconnect with clients who had negative experiences and encourage clientele to return 

Promoted to Wholesale Sales in June 2020 and promoted to Co-Manager in January 2021 

Garden Center Staff, Seasonal Full-Time         

Engage and assist customers in finding merchandise, answering questions, and design ideas

Complete daily tasks including inventory, plant care, merchandising, stocking, cleaning, and paperwork 

Assist other departments, as needed, with tasks

Work closely with new team members in implementation of policies, procedures, safety, and operations

Regularly recognized by guests and fellow team members for exceptional work and product knowledge

Manage and assist with multiple Farmer’s Markets, including choosing plant materials, loading and unloading all plant materials, and arranging displays of materials for sale

Trained in 5S Lean processes and tasked with implementing and maintaining 5S standards throughout company

CENTERPOINT ENERGY (formerly VECTREN) DAYTON AIR SHOW, Dayton, OH, 2008 - Present

Event Staff, Facilities Management, Summer Seasonal   

Facilitate communication between front office management, facility set-up crew, and routinely manage groups of 20 or more volunteers from diverse backgrounds to assist in the event staging

Managed military jet demo team hangar, including setup and restock of food and drink throughout show

Assist media relations, air ops, and other crews as necessary to aid in pedestrian and vehicular traffic control, security, and additional jobs on an as-needed basis   

Streamlined several processes for faster setup

Work closely with the team that familiarized new employees and volunteers on the implementation of operations, procedures, and safety.  Solely responsible for the landscaping for 11 sign areas

Started as a volunteer; recognized for exceptional work standards and ethics, and was made an employee 

ARTFUL LEIGH CRAFTED, LLC., Fremont, OH, 2018 - Present, Owner          

Create jewelry and crafts, market, and tend to all bookkeeping associated with running a small jewelry and craft business

Manage inventory from raw product to final sale 

Engage customers and assist with finding merchandise and answering questions

TERRA STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, Fremont, OH, 2015 - 2020

Adjunct Faculty, Business Division and Writing Center Tutor                                                                    

Generated detailed syllabi, lesson plans, lecture topics, PowerPoints, and exams

Worked both online and in-class to provide content and assignments to students

Educated students from high-school ages to non-traditional adults in topics such as Marketing, Advertising, Leadership, Management, Retail Management, Selling, and Public Relations

Tutored students who visit the Writing Center and assist with Composition; Citations; Résumé Writing; Speech; Ethics; Critical Thinking; and additional English, Writing, Business, and more course work. 

Voluntarily assisted at job fair, partook in active shooter drill, and participated in faculty workshops

SIMONTON WINDOWS & DOORS, Columbus, OH, 2013 - 2014

Merchandising Specialist, Full-Time                                  

Through analysis and revision of process, saved company $30,000+ annually in training materials and distribution

Analyzed data and recommended adding four product lines to HomeDepot.com, more than tripling the Home Depot online presence; continued to manage online presence and enrich product pages within the guidelines set by Home Depot

Coordinated training materials and launched new Master Consultant sales training course

Generated purchase orders and followed up with Accounts Payable to ensure timely payments

Assisted DSMs and trainers in organizing customer training events, coordinated shipments of pre-training and post-training materials, and managed list of trainees who attend events

Process mapped 2 training programs and 1 plant tour 

Created recommendations for in-store promotional pieces, literature makeovers, and other marketing and merchandising samples and tools; oversaw changes to literature and vendor production of samples, including video

Tracked inventory of key training and merchandising pieces and set reorder points 

Contributed to team development of blitz campaign materials, traveled to key sales areas to assist in campaign execution 

Partnered with customer engagement and communications and customer marketing groups to initiate and outline training website homepage currently in development

Served as representative from Corporate Office Marketing team at 2014 Home Depot Product Walk (the largest annual show for all of Home Depot’s regional managers)

Created and executed strategic business travel plan to survey Home Depot associates and used feedback for merchandising solutions

Created and executed survey to improve installer trainings.  Analyzed feedback and created new materials to assist DSMs in training promotion and execution 

Recognized for outstanding performance and contributions less than 6 months into position

MENARDS, Lancaster, OH, 2011 - 2013

Manager Millwork, Full-Time                                                                                                 

Directed and improved department operations and training

Conducted department meetings

Maintained detailed employee schedules to balance business needs, guest traffic, and allotted payroll

Trained, disciplined, and counseled subordinates

Resolved customer problems with vendors

Executed responsibilities associated with First Assistant position, at advanced level

Manager First Assistant Millwork, Full-Time                                                

Completed daily tasks around the department including inventory, scheduling, to-do lists, plan-o-grams, stocking, facing, cleaning, and paperwork

Worked closely with new team members on the implementation of policies, procedures, safety, and operations

Assisted in hiring new team members for the department

Assisted guests in finding merchandise, placing special orders for merchandise, answering questions, selling and properly ordering entire projects, and handled guest complaints

Regularly recognized by guests and fellow team members for exceptional work and product knowledge

Started in Sandusky, OH as a Manager Trainee, promoted to First Assistant and transferred to Lancaster after three months

THE INDEPENDENT COLLEGIAN, Toledo, OH, 2008 - 2009

Copy Chief, Supervising Editor                                                  

Reviewed and edited news articles for consistency, clarity and accuracy

Revised articles and stories tightening up wordy prose and smoothing out awkward transition while always meeting deadlines

Worked directly for the Editor-in-Chief; wrote news and editorial articles

Supervised up to three Copy Editors; interviewed, hired, and trained them 

UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO, Toledo, OH

Master of Business Administration in Marketing Management and International Business, Graduated with 3.75 gpa

UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO, Toledo, OH

Completed the Major of Entrepreneurship, Family and Small Business, Achieved Dean’s List every semester

LAKE ERIE COLLEGE, Painesville, OH

Bachelor of Science in Biology, magna cum laude, Achieved Dean’s List every semester