Maria Piazza
Burnsville
Summary
Driven leader with extensive experience in sales, and a proven track record in customer experience management and sales strategy. Demonstrated expertise in driving productivity and profitability, with a strong dedication to improving customer satisfaction. Diligent in building and maintaining customer relationships by providing support, quick problem resolution, and attentive service. Dedicated and reliable professional, skilled at prioritizing multiple tasks while maintaining a positive outlook, showcasing outstanding strategic and analytical capabilities.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Customer Experience Specialist II
Principal Financial Group Inc
Des Moines
10.2023 - Current
- Maintained up-to-date, extensive knowledge of retirement products and processes, enabling efficient issue resolution for customers.
- Proactively educated customers about products and services to empower informed decision-making.
- Utilized telephone, email platforms, and chat to deliver outstanding customer service.
- Communicated feedback trends and suggestions to leadership for continuous improvement initiatives, and optimized customer experience.
- Engaged with customers through both inbound and outbound phone calls, using active listening to identify customer needs, conflicts, and uncover new opportunities.
- Collaborated with team members to create a positive work environment.
- Addressed complex customer inquiries and concerns by providing tailored support, solutions, and alternatives.
- Consistently adhered to company policies, applicable laws, and regulations, demonstrating integrity and ethical conduct.
- Built customer relationships by accurately and promptly solving problems, increasing productivity, and overall customer satisfaction.
- Utilized various software systems and web applications, such as Sales Force and Work Tracking, to document and monitor customer interactions, ensuring accurate record-keeping for future reference and escalation purposes, if needed.
Sales Manager
Agritach USA, LLC
Miami
05.2022 - 01.2023
- Managed customer portfolios to retain existing relationships and grow the share of business.
- Developed over 70 new accounts in less than six months.
- Collaborated with Marketing by suggesting new ads and concepts for all digital and physical content, including translating everything into Spanish.
- Assisted in product development and strategic vendor sourcing.
- I traveled to attend industry trade shows, conventions, and met with clients to nurture relationships, offer appropriate services, and expand market opportunities.
- Assisted in closing lucrative sale deals, including one with the biggest rental company in the U.S.
- Handled customer relations, issues, and claims, enabling quick resolution and client satisfaction. Identified and analyzed metrics to modify low-performing sales and services.
- Demonstrated products to show potential customers' benefits and advantages.
Major Accounts Manager
MEC Aerial
Fresno
10.2020 - 05.2022
- Assisted in supply chain management optimizations by creating, analyzing, and finalizing quotes, purchase orders, price lists, and implementing forecasting.
- Teamed up with sales, marketing, and management to develop solutions, strategies, and accomplish shared objectives.
- Provided world-class customer service to retain existing customers, and to develop new ones, to establish long-term business growth.
- Led a project about creating guidelines to improve order fulfillment, expediting processing time. Fulfilling orders within 24 to 48 hours.
- Identified key metrics to create reports to ultimately drive product and customer service value.
- Handled and documented customer orders, inquiries, product issues, and suggestions.
- Collaborated in contract negotiations with clients, presented new products, and shared awareness of tools and resources to optimize their success.
- Resolved customers' problems diligently and in a timely manner to strengthen relationships and increase the return customer base.
- Maintained Latin American customers' receivables and decreased the number of past due accounts through persistent follow-ups and prompt claims resolution.
International Sales Director
MinnPar, LLC
Roseville
03.2013 - 10.2020
- Managed a team of five customer service representatives.
- Successfully managed $1.7 million in sales volume.
- Consistently achieved and exceeded yearly sales goals.
- Increased profit margin by 13% by creating stronger relationships with major accounts, and negotiating rates.
- Handled escalated customer issues, order inquiries, and status.
- Embarked on business trips with the objective of finalizing contracts with new clients, and to cultivate existing clients' relationships to improve business growth.
- Researched and managed data to identify high-usage parts, to develop new product lines, and to grow our aftermarket offering.
- Worked with marketing, suggesting monthly offers, translating catalogs, flyers, brochures, and emails.
- Documented transactions and managed accounts using Salesforce and Epicor ERP systems.
- Utilized various computer programs such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint to perform presentations and performance reports. Assisted in AR/AP duties for Latin American customers and overseas suppliers, utilizing the Epicor system.
Education
Some College (No Degree) - Business Administration
CETCJ Technical School
Chihuahua, MexicoSkills
- Accounts manager
- Sales management
- Accounts receivables
- Accounts payable
- Collections specialist
- Review of contracts
- Analytical problem solver
- Relationship building
- Excellent verbal and written communication
- Order management
- Excellent organizational skills
- Detail-oriented
- Team leader and contributor
- Cash applications
- Aging reports analysis
- Accurate payment posting
- Product knowledge
- Active listening
- Performance reporting
- Market analysis
- Customer relationship management
- Process optimization
Languages
English
Full Professional
Spanish
Native/ Bilingual
Software and Web Applications
- Sales Force
- Work Tracking
- Sharepoint
- Epicor
- Unleashed
- CAD
- Sendinblue
- Oracle
- Citrix
- Microsoft 365 applications
- Quickbooks
- Power BI
- Paceport
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Customer Experience Specialist II
Principal Financial Group Inc
10.2023 - Current
Sales Manager
Agritach USA, LLC
05.2022 - 01.2023
Major Accounts Manager
MEC Aerial
10.2020 - 05.2022
International Sales Director
MinnPar, LLC
03.2013 - 10.2020
Some College (No Degree) - Business Administration
CETCJ Technical School