Kristin Smith

Director

2015 – 2024

• Lead statewide federally funded program to support growth and success in at-risk communities • Develop, grow and maintain outstanding relationships with 300 manufacturers across 15 counties, organizing in-depth training sessions and communicating key programs to ensure strategic and profitable solutions • Conduct needs assessments with entrepreneurs and business managers, connecting them with resources and solutions for improved profitability, sales, and enhancing business operations • Developed a network of 20 businesses who learn directly from each other to improve business functions • Established a group of professionals to share promising practices in lean manufacturing and continuous improvement, incorporating expert panel discussions and active learning models Key accomplishments: o 6 participating companies attributed participation in the group to: (in aggregate) 31 new jobs, $200,000 in sales, and $160,000 in cost savings o Adapted and pivoted programming to a virtual format during pandemic; group grew from 12 to 35 and is the only regional group of its kind that is still going after pandemic restrictions were lifted. o Successfully transitioned from grant funding to membership funded steams for long term sustainability o Received special recognition and honorable mention from the Governor of Michigan • Partner across multiple departments and organizations, bringing independent goals and perspectives together, ensuring competing organizational, grantor, and departmental goals are met • Expanded community impact and company engagement by providing free lean consultation to local nonprofits Key accomplishments: o Creation of standard work to the largest community event allowing it to run smoothly despite the highest number of attendees in event history o Application of standard work to an understaffed event allowing it to run smoothly without the need for additional resource inputs. Impressed vendors shared the plan forward with other event organizers. o Implemented 8 Wastes of Lean, eliminating and reducing waste for an organizational fundraiser resulting in increased net revenue and ideas for continued improvement at future events. Plan was shared with 75 other conservation districts for implementation.

Account Manager

2013 – 2015

• Collaborate directly with 40+ high-worth clients to identify gaps, determine best practices, and ensure comprehensive review of available products and services. • Effectively resolve all client issues, proactively anticipate and track upcoming concerns and events in a client’s lifecycle, and work diligently to prevent and/or mitigate any risks, and to maintain lucrative relationships. • Ensure targets for sales, revenue, and customer growth, and forecast and build a pipeline to achieve aggressive sales and business development goals, resulting in new relationships and existing growth improvement of 10%. • Analyze and monitor sales/marketing programs, provide expert feedback and recommend areas for improvement, resulting in maximized profitability, and best-in-class support and service. • Foster loyal partnerships by tailoring, developing and presenting proposals for multi-million dollar clientele, providing industry-leading solutions, persuasive guidance, and revenue generation recommendations. • Collect, analyze, and summarize data in support of worldwide brand development initiatives, and collaborate with global subsidiaries to uncover areas of opportunity as well as possible threats. • Maintain consistent presence with clients through active follow-up and extensive face-to-face contact, present ideas on optimal product utilization, and articulate advantages of product and service enhancements. • Proactively build rapport with key stakeholders both internally and externally and actively document, track, and discuss critical issues that strengthen long-term relationship and other revenue-building initiatives.

Program Analyst

2010 – 2013

• Provided full-spectrum training, operations and IT support and analysis for software programs related to parking/meter management, citation processing, field statistics and dispatching, ensuring efficiencies. • Took on additional challenges, including organizing outreach programs and meetings to discuss community concerns as well as facilitate learning and acceptance of new systems, leading to a positive shift in customer trust. • Developed in-depth reports from scratch that analyzed the effectiveness and efficiency of daily operations, uncovered current trends, and proactively gauged financial impact. • Assigned as Project Manager for high-value St. Louis contract, managing crew of 18 in repairing almost 10,000 meters, acting as go-between for company and city officials, and training eventual project replacement. • Hired, trained and mentored team of technical and business experts, resulting in exceptionally trained workforce with knowledge of client needs, operational know-how, and adherence to high standards.

Application Trainer

2008 – 2010

• Began as Application Configuration Analyst and promoted within one year for success as Project Lead for high-visibility projects, and for taking on additional IT functions such as planning, configuration, setup, maintenance. • Designed and delivered comprehensive training programs, and maximized performance by assessing administrative and operational performance across 60 different US municipalities. • Developed and presented detailed reports and analyses detailing key issues, operational progress, and areas for improvement, resulting in a continuous learning environment. • Worked collaboratively with teams to plan, brainstorm, and share ideas to enhance problem solving and critical-thinking skills, and ensured that training and instruction was aligned with standards. • Played key role in all system-related phases including requirements analysis, design, development, testing and implementation, resulting in flawless integration and go-live planning and production activities.

Bachelor of Science Computer Information Systems and Marketing

1999 – 2004