Sarah Spano . 2209 Bluegrass Lane . Burlington, Ontario, L7L 6L5
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SUMMARY OF SKILLS
Strong interdisciplinary business skills, including marketing and sales
Extensive customer service training and experience, including crisis management
Excellent written and oral communication skills, including copywriting and presenting
Comprehensive computer skills (PC and Mac) and advanced experience with MS Office suite
Accomplished in independent as well as team-based work environments
EXPERIENCE
Marketing Specialist, Commercial North America
July 2017 to current
Grodan (Roxul Inc) – Milton, Ontario
Currently responsible for strategizing, planning and executing all marketing activities for the commercial vegetable greenhouse market in North America (including Canada, USA and Mexico)
Provide additional support, as needed, for North American Cannabis market
Activities include planning and executing tradeshows and customer events, creating and updating marketing materials (copywriting, editing and some design), editing technical articles, creating and implementing new marketing programs and initiatives etc.
Customer Service Representative
February 2015 to July 2017
Grodan (Roxul Inc) – Milton, Ontario
Responsible for order placement, ocean freight logistics and tracking for over 700 containers (approximately $20 million dollars in product) per year for Grodan’s largest US customer, Hydrofarm
Past responsibilities included handling Commercial Canada orders and logistics
Built strong relationships with various departments within Grodan (Sales, Finance, Logistics, Production etc.) both in Milton and overseas in The Netherlands and Poland
Accomplishments:
Lead on BEAT Power Pricing project and part of the Project Gecko (Customer Experience) team
Owner/Lead Designer
July 2006 to October 2014
Hip Ink - Burlington, Canada
Handled all aspects of a successful design company, specializing in high-end custom invitations for weddings and events
Created integrated marketing/PR strategy and plans including traditional print and web advertising, trade shows and customer events
Accomplishments:
Featured in numerous high-profile wedding blogs and publications across North America, including Style Me Pretty, The Knot, Today’s Bride, WedLuxe and Toronto Life Weddings
E-Marketing Coordinator
August 2002 to May 2003
Softchoice Corporation – Toronto, Canada
Responsible for coordination and execution of all customer-targeted Web and Email marketing activities, company–wide (reaching over 300,000 customers at 12,000 active company accounts)
Implemented new processes around current eMarketing activities, and created new e-newsletter and email programs
Position included copy-writing, creative direction/input and/or design for web, email, direct mail, catalogs etc. (working closely with web and print-production teams)
Responsible for coordination of employee incentive programs, involving $100,000+ in vendor funds
Original position also included vendor marketing support, executing all channel marketing programs for specific assigned vendors
Accomplishments:
Created and executed brand-new e-Marketing initiatives and introduced vendor ROI reporting as the first employee in this newly created position
Increased web traffic conversion and email campaign response rates by 100%+ over past activities
Winner of Operations Award for Outstanding Achievement for Q4 2002
Senior Inside Sales Representative
May 2001 to August 2002
Softchoice Corporation – Toronto, Canada
Identified and provided software product and licensing solutions for retail and business-to-business customers (ranging from Purchasers to CEOs) via telephone and online chat
In Senior (Team Leader) role, delivered high-level service for Fortune 500 clients and resolved escalated customer complaints
Supported Outbound sales force, including up-selling and cross-selling, as well as lead generation
Provided customer service and sales training to new and existing sales representatives, including development of sales and technical certifications
Accomplishments:
Team Leader of the US South Pod (inbound team)
Winner of Operations Awards for Outstanding Achievement for Q3 2001 and Q1 2002
EDUCATION
Graphic Design for Print and Web Certificate
Completed in November 2003
Humber College, Digital Imaging Training Centre – Toronto, Canada
Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing Major/Communications Minor) Completed in June 2001
Ryerson Polytechnic University – Toronto, Canada