Caryn Burgess

Experience

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  Carlson Wagonlit Travel

  Jan 1987 - Jan 1994

  Account Manager

  Account Manager 1991-1994• Served as one of three dedicated Account Mangers for Arthur Andersen's (AA) $100 million corporate domestic and international travel program • Trained AA executives and their assistants on customized travel programs and procedures Account Manager 1988-1991• Served as dedicated Account Manager for the $5 million dollar travel budget program for the 102 offices of the US Government General Services Administration (GSA)• Trained secretaries and travelers on customized corporate travel programs and booking procedures• Created and analyzed reports used to assist each office in ensureing travelers were in compliance GSA's travel policy and budgetSupervisor 1987-1988• Supervised a team of 10 travel agents dedicated to over 100 GSA offices in Chicago providing air, hotel and car arrangements Accomplishments: Promoted to Account Manager Show less

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  Travel Two Thousand Enterprises Corporation

  Jan 1994 - Jan 2002

  Independent Corporate and Leisure Travel Agent

  • Provided detailed travel arrangements for leisure and corporate clients• Developed niche domestic and international tours focused on food and wine, including partnering with local liquor store for California-based vineyard trips Accomplishments: Grew fledgling client base to over 150 individual and corporate clients

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  Wild Oats Markets

  Jan 2002 - Jan 2003

  Deli Team Memeber
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  Whole Foods Market

  Jan 2003 - Jan 2007

  Cheese Supervisor
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  Whole Foods Market

  Dec 2007 - Oct 2014

  Team Leader - Specialty Foods

  • Supervise an 8-member team in the Specialty Department, which includes cheese, wine, beer and coffee sub-teams• Hire, train, evaluate, promote, and mentor team members• Accounting and Finance – all bookkeeping responsibilities including billing, invoice/price discrepancies, credits, accruals • Project weekly sales forecasts and schedule supporting labor costs; accuracies resulted in departmental bonuses each month for the past 5 years • Manage and perform buying/ordering of perishables, dry goods and packaging materials, maintaining within budget goals and targeted inventory levels• Track, analyze and evaluate sales reports for opportunities and trends • Negotiate deals with vendors to ensure higher margins and profits• Develop and maintain relationships with vendors, fellow Team Leaders and regional coordinators to ensure successful achievement of goals• Conduct daily and monthly team meetings, and represent the Specialty Department at monthly store meeting before 175+ employees• Design and develop merchandising displays• Played key role in merger of Wild Oats Market and Whole Foods Market to restructure the Cheese Department to the current 4-team Specialty Department Show less

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  European Imports LTD

  Oct 2014 - Sept 2021

  Category Planner I

  Maintains national inventory levels while maximizing customer service levels Manage DSO, aged and obsolete inventory, spoilage and shrink to achieve set goals Forecast and demand planning for customer events, business and seasonal changes Provide training to planning team on procurement process Collaborate with local and market merchandising teams and suppliers Proficient on DPR (inventory planning tool) to drive team performance Works with logistics to maximize supply chain efficiencies Strategize with Operations to maximize efficiencies of receiving and warehousing Execute purchasing of new items and demand changes, resolve replenishment issues Works with IT to modify and improve search and reporting improvement in Tiny Term Imported and domestic purchase orders Show less

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  Village Gourmet Cafe and Catering

  Nov 2021 - now

  Kitchen Assistant