France Lachapelle: Marketing and Sales Management Consulting in San Diego, CA

Provide professional advisory services to SME and start-ups in sales management, sales operations, and related business processes, marketing and brand management, strategic planning, training, and go-to-market strategies. Major contributions: developed and re-focused business plans; improved sales management processes and operations; designed organizational restructuring for greater effectiveness and speed-to-market; right-sized short & long terms capital & operating budgets; developed marketing and brand enhancement plans; and fine tuned product and service pricing strategies based on customer needs.

Tahoe Blue Gallery Wine Bar is a European-style wine/martini bar, restaurant exhibiting fine art for sale. Ground up Business Development. Accountable for supervising application schedules of new construction, and final sign-offs with local environmental agencies such as the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA), obtaining all operating permits and licenses, including food/restaurant operations, art gallery/entertainment and wine & liquor sales. Major contributions: Instrumental in exploring and implementing necessary IT infrastructure to manage business. Primary Liaison for devising and implementing financial pro-forma’s, operating budgets, HR policies, benefits and payroll, reported business activities as needed by government agencies in both Nevada and California. Collaborated with partners and controlled shut down operations to focus on other out of state assets.

Responsible for providing Management consulting services comprising information on market opportunities; evaluation and development of the business plan, creation of short-term & long-term capital and operating budget; marketing plan, pricing strategy; and advice on cost structure management.

James Jennings Furniture Inc is a privately held company with growth opportunity; it designs, manufactures and sales luxury furniture. Led a 360 - degree assessment of the operations. Developed and implemented action plans to improve operating efficiencies, grow sales, and maximize the value of the business for potential investors. Major contributions: increased sales by 11% under financially challenging circumstances and limited working capital. Negotiated and structured the sale of the company to potential angel investors.

W.R. GRACE, Cambridge, Massachusetts is a chemical conglomerate and world-class provider of specialty chemicals for the construction industry. It has 7,000 employees in 40 countries with annual sales of $3.2 Billion. Played a key role in developing a strategic vision and tactical plans for continual growth. Accountable for: the global marketing efforts, the international sales expansion, the domestic & international business development through alliances and, the domestic sales repositioning. Major contributions: as a Key executive member, established a fully integrated business unit and increased profitable sales by 26% during the first 12 months, and 37% in year two.

TYE-SIL is a private manufacturer of Patio Furniture, located in Montreal, Canada Developed a transformational marketing plan and led its execution throughout Canada and United States. Recommended and implemented improvements to manufacturing and procurement processes. Major contributions: managed multiple SKU’s and redirected turnaround strategy achieving sales growth of 5.6% totaling $35.6M in eight months, relative to the company’s average 10.5% decrease in sales annually for the two years prior.

AGROPUR is a Canadian Manufacturer, Importer, Exporter, and Distributor of dairy products headquartered in Quebec, Canada with annual sales of $3.8 Billion and 6,300 employees. Responsible for sales and marketing activities for brands generating $24M in annual revenues/year. Accountable for Brand Management including all company major brands from France (LAUGHING COW, MINI BABYBEL, etc.) from Switzerland (FROMALP, SWISSVAL Swiss fondues etc.) and many other domestic products. Played a key role as part of a turnaround team to redress a financially challenged division. Major contributions: as a Transformational leader, managed and re-positioned multiple SKU’s, transitioned division into a profit center by generating 8% net profit level in 6 months and exceeded sales objectives by 26.5%.