Claudia Thornton

Experience

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  American Hotel Register Company

  Jun 1991 - Sept 1996

  • Responsible for purchasing and management of service level and turns for over 1000 hospitality products.• Responsible for creating weekly Marketing sales flyers of hospitality products.• Conducted multiple training seminars for products. • Responsible for assisting customers with placing orders, tracking orders and return authorizations.• Training coordinator for Customer Service Department for "Service Plus" program.

  • Buyer

    Sept 1993 - Sept 1996

  • Customer Service Rep

    Jun 1991 - Sept 1993
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  Edward Don & Company

  Sept 1996 - Dec 2001

  International Operations Manager

  • Responsible for the purchasing and management of inventory for all imported products.• Responsible for New Product development for import products.• Conducted multiple product training seminars for over 300 sales reps.• Managed the Quality Control Program by providing product specifications to the warehouse manager who inspected the products before receiving into our inventory.

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  American Metalcraft, Inc

  Dec 2001 - Aug 2010

  Director of Purchasing/New Product Development

  • Responsible for purchasing inventory while upholding a 96% service level of top selling items in stock. Maintain quick turns of over 2000 products while sustaining low inventory.• Manage the Quality Control Program by providing product specifications to the Warehouse manager for inspection of products prior to receiving into inventory.• Maintain vendor relations with both U.S. and overseas suppliers by traveling to China, India, and Italy to visit factories to observe the manufacturing process.• Partnered with vendors to develop Quality Control programs to meet approved product specifications.• Design over 200 new products with suppliers to enhance our product offerings.• Attend industry trade shows in Germany, New York, San Francisco, and Las Vegas to keep abreast of new product trends.• Support the Sales Department at trade shows with product training seminars for customers.• Manage New Product Development projects for annual catalogs over the last 9 years including: *coordination of product creation with vendors *sending samples for approval *coordinating photo samples for the catalog *customizing retail packaging *purchasing product for inventory • Direct New product introductions of approximately 1800 items resulting in increase of company sales by 50% and significant increase to profit margins.• Proof read catalog copy and approved product photos for catalog by meeting all deadlines before going to the Publisher. Show less

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  Carlisle FoodService Products

  Apr 2010 - Jun 2011

  Senior Sourcing Specialist

  • Manage the supply chain relationships of $50M in annual spend with domestic and overseas suppliers.• Responsible for identifying cost reduction opportunities resulting in over $350,000 in cost savings within a 6 month period.• Manage all price negotiations within our $50M supplier chain.• Responsible for new sourcing opportunities resulting in possible $1M in annual sales within a 6 month period.• Partner with suppliers to develop Quality Control programs to meet approved product specifications.• Attend international trade shows in Hong Kong and China to keep abreast of new product trends and strategically source out alternative suppliers.• Responsible for monthly reporting and providing annual standard costing to the financial department. Show less

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  Cook's Direct

  Feb 2012 - Nov 2014

  Product Merchant

  • Management of over 300 Vendors/Manufacturers with $2.5M in Purchases consisting of Price Negotiations, Company Rebates, Extended Payment Terms, & Introduction of New Products.• Website Management of over 55,000 products on 4 of our websites consisting of modification/addition of product descriptions, images, specification sheets, as well as, adding over 2000 new products to the website within 1 year, resulting in 10% of new product sales.• SEO Management of the websites by enhancing each Shop by Brand Landing Page with the creation of new categories for popular searched vendors, enhancing keywords, back linking urls for complete optimization of our websites.• Management of monthly e-mail blasts by strategically planning products to be featured based on seasonality, high sales volume, and items with special promotions negotiated with the vendor.• Management of 170 pg Annual catalog, multiple flyers throughout the year consisting of reviewing of sales of products, vendor negotiations of discounted prices, determination of new products to be featured in the catalog/flyers, & proofing of catalog/flyers before going to print.• Management of Weekly Product Training Meetings. Show less

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  Chefwear

  Nov 2014 - May 2016

  Production Manager

  • Management of production for all apparel manufacturers consisting of providing over 300 patterns/markers for over 3000 products along with quality approved fabrics and trims. • Management of the weekly purchasing of over 3000 products from over 50 vendors/manufacturers for $500K in purchases including price and extended payment term negotiations.• Management of the weekly receiving of vendors/manufacturers products consisting of Quality Control inspection of all garments; receipts into the system; release of backorders.• Inventory Management of $2.5M of 6 Warehouses consisting of Finished Goods and Raw Materials.* Facilitated sale of over $25,000 of discontinued fabric.• Management of the Weekly Duties of the Production Team.• Management of Accounts Payable consisting of posting all vendor invoices into the system.• New Product Development of garments to compliment the Chefwear product line. Show less

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  Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices KoenigRubloff Realty Group

  Jul 2016 - Feb 2018

  Real Estate Broker
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  Hinsdale Chamber Of Commerce

  Jun 2017 - Sept 2021

  Marketing Director

  * Responsible for planning and implementing advertising, social media, and public relation activities. * Assistance with website updating and selling advertising opportunities through the website, annual community directory, and e-mail blasts (i.e. press releases, events, etc).* Collaboration with the Chamber staff in planning and execution of scheduled functions and annual events.* Manage 8 Major Community Events annually, which includes hiring vendors, sponsorship opportunities, advertising, etc. for our Fine Arts Festival, Summer Series 10-Week Concerts Event, Farmer's Market, Wine Walk, Christmas Walk, etc.* 2019 Accomplishments: Highest Sales for Uniquely Thursdays in 6 years; 1st Annual Hinsdale Wine Walk was a success.* Coordinate advertising in the Chamber's print publications, press releases, etc. Show less

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  @properties

  Aug 2018 - Sept 2021

  Real Estate Broker
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  Orland Park Area Chamber of Commerce

  Sept 2021 - Sept 2022

  Executive Director

  • Manage all aspects of the Orland Park Area Chamber office including:o Membership: Retention of over 360 business members with continuous member engagement offering complimentary networking and community events, marketing opportunities, and educational presentations. Increase new membership: new membership has increased by 50% YTD in 2022 vs YTD in 2021 (as of 6/30/22). o Marketing: Offering members marketing opportunities that include complimentary weekly Member-to-Member e-blasts, social media, as well as, Individual Member of the week e-blasts, sponsorship marketing opportunities for a fee.o Events: Management of 4 Signature Events throughout the year that includes: Orland Women’s Networking Luncheon, Golf Outing, Arts & Drafts, and Community Expo, as well as many networking events (Ribbon Cuttings and Business After Hours).o Chamber Staff: Management of 2 Staff members; Membership Coordinator and Marketing & Events Coordinator. Show less

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  ILLINOIS STATE LICENSE HOLDING COMPANY, INC.

  Sept 2021 - now

  Licensed Real Estate Broker
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  Berwyn Development Corporation

  Aug 2022 - Nov 2023

  Chamber Manager

  • Manager all aspects of the Berwyn Chamber including:o Membership: Retention of over 300 Chamber businesses by continuous engagement with electronic marketing (weekly e-blasts, daily social media posts), educational seminars and networking opportunities.• Unique BDC Chamber opportunities include:o Businesses can apply to participate in our Berwyn Internship for Small Businesses to have a website created and increase social media presence with our Morton College internship program.o Grant and Loan opportunities through our Economic Development department. Membership Growth.• Continue to set up in person visits and utilize our ambassadors for new business outreach.• Increased membership by 10% YTD in May 2023 vs May 2022.o Marketing: Management of 3 Annual Printed Publications (Community Resource Guide, 2 Berwyn Magazines) that mail out to over 33,000 Berwyn households and local businesses.• Ad sales, copywriting, proofreading. Social media and e-blast opportunities for Chamber members.o Events: Management of Chamber events that include monthly Women in Business meetings, Quarterly Nonprofit and Membership Meetings (new for 2023) educational meetings, Business After Hours and Annual Meeting.• Securing sponsorships, educational speakers, locations for all Chamber events. Collaborate with Special Events Coordinator on 6 Community Events that include Mini Golf Pub Crawl, Taste of Cermak, Rt66 Car Show, Oktoberfest, and Bags Beer and BBQ.• Chamber member outreach for sponsorship opportunities and participation at community events. o Chamber Staff: Management of Chamber Administrative Coordinator. Show less

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  Glen Ellyn Chamber of Commerce

  Dec 2023 - now

  Executive Director