Stephen La Font

Managed all aspects of relationship for our national clients including Home Depot and FedEx

•Project manager for the product development and launch of Kobalt power tools program. Strategic program launch with on-going senior executive oversight and reporting. Multi-million dollar program consisting of over 14 different models sold as combination kits and individual SKUs covering both cordless and corded power tools. •Managed the product selection and specification, manufacturer selection and daily management, and packaging. Working with QA and overseas sourcing team, developed comparative and benchmark testing and protocols. •Currently working on phase two product development, sourcing and vendor selection. •Additional responsibilities include for the growth and development, including the import P&L of Lowe’s sourcing programs in Millwork, Lumber and Building Materials divisions. •Previous additional responsibilities included the Rough Electrical and Rough Plumbing merchandise divisions comprised of over 1600 skus. Achieved 2010 sales plan by over 14% (38% to LY).

•Recipient of 2008 Unsung Hero Award for successfully managing the reset and liquidation of over $60 million in discontinued product. Second highest recognition given to merchant managers. •Conducted comprehensive product line review for hand held power tools subdivision including both power tools and power tool accessories with retail sales in excess of $800 million. Developed and implemented both short and long term strategies minimize disruptions to store operations while maximizing sales in a down economy. •Grew market share in power tools by 320 basis points and power tool accessories by 410 basis points. •Successfully negotiated a 520 basis point improvement in margin contribution in the accessories category. •Other responsibilities include developing and managing quarterly promotional activity including Super Friday item selections. Also responsible for sales, margin, turn and inventory managed to a yearly budget and forecasted monthly to senior management. •Successfully managed the product development and launch of the Kobalt Hand Tools Program, encompassing screwdrivers, cement/masonry tools, and drywall tools. Programs continued to perform double digit and single digit comp store sales growth for the next 18 months after resets and provided margin growth in excess of 1000 basis points.

•MBA Leadership Award recipient. Nominated by classmates, faculty and administration in recognition for superior academic achievement, class leadership, professional promise and overall contribution to the UT MBA program. •Selected professor of MBA communications, to teach and present to the first year MBA class. Wrote, developed and delivered lectures on giving executive level presentations. •Researched and prepared comprehensive market opportunity analysis for Dell Corporation including both primary and secondary research, competitive analysis, macro-environmental forces and trends, and customer value hierarchies. •Developed and prepared strategic marketing analysis of generation “Y” for Cingular Wireless. Presented findings and specific recommendations to Cingular executives.

•Developed from scratch, negotiated, and managed over 150 client relationships valued at over $20 million in assets under management. •Developed strategic relationships with major corporations including AT&T, Federated Department Stores, and Johnson and Johnson. Provided federally mandated employee ERISA / investment education programs. •Discussed client situations, negotiated services and products, preformed risk analysis and allocation models, and developed solutions to meet specific clientele financial objectives. •Grew sales over 25% through development and distribution of highly targeted marketing campaigns.

•Assigned responsibility for all aspects of district with sales exceeding six million. Responsible to each stores sales, margin, shrink and expenses. •Managed five teams; each consisting of a manager, at least two assistant managers and fifteen to twenty employees at each location. •Completed three new store openings including team development and merchandising. Four of the stores exceeded year over year sales projections with a combined average of 9.8%. •Successfully developed multiple store management teams that allowed myself to be a member of seven merchandising teams, responsible for the fixture and merchandise layout for new store openings. •Assigned turn-around and renovation duties of the 7th best store in the company (Huntsville, AL.). Opened a satellite location during store renovation to clearance out-dated inventory. Generated a 7.2% increase of prior year’s sales with shrink at .04% (lowest in company). •After two months with company, assigned turn-around responsibility for Jackson, MS. With a history of negative sales trends, achieved 5% increase in year over year (comp) sales by year end, utilizing existing staff.