John Friel

Experience

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  Pharma Plus Drug Marts

  Feb 1999 - Nov 2000

  Category Manager

  Accountable for the sourcing, negotiating and evaluation of various seasonal programs for the entire chain• Formulated merchandising strategies to consistently grow category sales and margins.• Developed and implemented successful seasonal programs.• Assumed leadership role in training colleagues in the use of sales tracking software.• Revamped and improved category store buying guide.

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  Shoppers Drug Mart

  Nov 2000 - May 2003

  Category Manager, Seasonal Confectionary

  Responsible for the sourcing, negotiating and evaluation of various retail programs for the entire chain• Planned for, and exceeded, yearly sales targets of over $100 million.• Negotiated with suppliers to obtain most competitive pricing.• Achieved 10-15% increases in sales and margin for numerous categories on a consistent basis.• Pioneered a new method of inter-store communication utilizing satellite television.• Represented the Merchandising Department in the planning, implementation and evaluation of a new specialty product line. Show less

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  The English Centre

  Sept 2003 - Aug 2004

  ESL Teacher

  - Provide English Language instruction for a variety of adults of various levels of English- Assess clients' level of fluency and provide feedback on a regular basis

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  International Language Academy of Canada

  Oct 2004 - Mar 2015

  Reporting directly to founders of company, responsible for the implementation and administration of all aspects of the academic program, including the management of 9 direct reports and a 130 member teaching team. • Developed a College/University Pathway bridging program for international students, which grew from one to as many as 16 classes over a 4-year period• Mentored a large team of teachers delivering a 96% company-wide approval rating from our learners• Introduced several innovative programs such as English through social media and an introductory post-secondary preparation course, as a result of needs analysis and feedback from clients, agents and trainers• Ensured the company’s fiscal viability by managing teacher-student ratios, payroll and course-related revenue/expenses Show less Program Manager, TESOL Teacher Training October 2010 – August 2014International Language Academy of Canada (ILAC), TorontoReporting directly to Founders, responsible for the implementation and administration of all aspects of the TESOL Teacher-Training program. This program was a recognized by the government of Ontario, Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities• Led and supported a team of 7 Trainers through coaching, professional development and an annual review process to ensure full potential was attained.• Liaised with the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities to ensure compliance with provincial standards• Reviewed and updated curriculum on a regular basis. Show less Planned, managed and evaluated numerous ESL courses with enrolments of up to 20 adult learners• Created academic instruction materials for international clients preparing for post-secondary education in Canada• Led professional development training workshops to improve peer teaching skills• Instructed and evaluated prospective teachers applying for ESL Certification• Achieved over 96% approval rating from client evaluations consistently• Conducted performance reviews to monitor and track clients' progress• Developed standardized student evaluation tools Show less

  • Director of Studies

    Oct 2010 - Mar 2015

  • TESOL Program Manager (Teacher-training program)

    Oct 2010 - Aug 2014

  • Assistant Director of Studies

    May 2010 - Oct 2010

  • ESL Teacher

    Oct 2004 - May 2010