I try and do carpentry, painting, housecleaning, chores in warmer months.  I love doing that sort of work. 

  And I've also done that kind of work as "odd jobs" or "sidework" alongside working for others.  My professional resume includes lots of work like this in addition to my scholarly and writing work.  But the bulk of my work life (since I was 12 years old) has been as merchant of food, services, and product.  I have over forty years of sales and customer service experience.  That's a lot of learning time!  I love learning while doing...experiential plus making money.

Lara Lynn Lane

1106 Heathwood Dairy Road       Apex, NC  27523

Also, PO BOX 14364   Knoxville, TN  37914

919-607-3859   //   lane36266@gmail.com

 

Currently working at Sonic, 5003 Millertown Pike, Knoxville 37917

Tel  865-525-9551     Manager:  Jennifer

 

Spring 2024    Waitressing at Shoney’s, 4032 N. Broadway, Knoxville, TN 37917

Tel  865-687-5432     Manager:  Trish

 

EGGS UP GRILL, 1421 Kelly Road, Apex, NC 27502    

Position:  Dishwasher, January-March 2024

Focus:  Reliability, back kitchen organization, efficiency.  Great team to work with as we came out of winter and into spring warm-up.

References:  Owner, Krystal Nichols, 201-627-9226 and Supervisor, Tina, 919-618-9986

 

Food Lion #1496, Apex, NC 27523     919-362-1986     Reference:  Gladys, a Front End of Store Manager

Positions:  Receiver (2023), cashier (2023), front office assistant (’21-’22), cashier (2021)

Focus: Customer Service, attention to detail, accuracy, efficiency, dependability, participating in the routine of staff and customers; learning the culture of the company; being an example of compliance with rules and regulations--especially important in grocery!  Learned system of sales, called "POS" or "point of sale" at registers in Retail.  Learned how to do daily reports and summaries for "End of Day" in both Front and Back End.  I worked in "center store" or on the salesfloor in conjunction with pulling stock and shelving.  Late in '23 I was arriving early to the Loading Dock Area and helping trucks keep on schedule by checking in product/inventory, and keeping the offload area clean, neat, and organized.  In my time at Delhaize-America's Apex, NC Food Lion #1496 Store I had exceptional training in-store with Tony, Store Manager; Gladys & Travis on the Front End; and Department Managers that have long-time developed expertise.  Also, the Delhaize Corporation offers work-tools through digital-training.  Overall, Food Lion does an exceptional job of letting workers maintain professional integrity and this helps a giant operation be timely behind-the-scenes and outward-facing with a positive attitude.

 

Kentucky Fried Chicken, Apex, NC 27523     919-303-7997     Reference:  Andrew, General Manager

Positions:  Cashier, counter, prep, dishwashing (late 2022-early 2023)

Success for me at challenges of learning how to do customer service and food prep the proper KFC way, and quickly!  Also, learning experience of working with different crew to meet goals and keep facility up to par.  I appreciate the fun-ness in the on-boarding and training and the opportunity to learn about the Colonel's start in business with an emphasis on hospitality: Service as welcoming friends.  And I see great value in how KFC is building on its roots as a company to move forward into the future.  Working with GM (General Manager) Andrew, and Shift/Team Leaders like Anita, Rene, and Valerie let me learn every aspect of associate-level work and how to be most helpful when managers need extra hands but restaurant timing needs everyone to stay customer-focused.

 

Guardian Angel Thrift, Inc.    Apex, NC          919-303-8180      

Reference:  Manager, Crystal Waterman

Position:  Assistant Store Manager, March 2021-February 2022

Focus:  Retail-side of non-profit raising resources for Alzheimer's Awareness.  Duties included--data entry, banking, receiving, cleaning donations to re-sell treasures, inventory management, pricing, sales, customer relations, working with staff at daily routine and in organizing fundraising events, register coverage, sales floor supervision and coverage.  To say appreciate in this work opportunity would be a great understatement.  I had the privilege of working with Founder Laura Gaddis, her daughter Sherry, and others like Apex Manager Crystal Waterman, who've been with this organization

Lara Lane, 919-607-3859, Professional Highlights, pg. 2             lane36266@gmail.com

                         

 

since its beginning.  As a student of charitable and non-profit--the successful Guardian Angel has raised over three million dollars!--business, there's no better group of people to learn from and work with administrative-ly and in-store.

 

Lowe’s Home Improvement   Apex, NC       919-303-4200    

Reference:  Store Manager:  Brian Brannock

Positions:  Fulfillment Clerk, Millwork Sales Associate, 2018-2021

Accomplishments: Helped develop the Pick Up In Store (PUIS) program.  Worked with all departments to acquire inventory, stage product, complete sales.  And worked with other Lowe's stores and Receiving to secure and transport inventory through the receiving and delivery phases of customer service.  We hustled!  And grew logistics and management of our PUIS team into a million $/yr revenue generator.  At the time I was primarily working with Kim Kelly and Sherry Ray under direct supervision of Store Manager Brian Brannock.  Everyone at Lowe's is part of a strong team and business-culture focusing on sales, "shrink", and safety to achieve how we can better, improve store security and safety customer satisfaction.  Staying focused on sales helps us achieve goals so everybody profits; awareness of shrink--gets everybody in-tune with loss and gain that occurs in retail and helps fine tune technique; and safety has to be a number one priority in any private-open-to-public-work-environment.  I'm the type of person that's always learning so at my level of workmanship in the trades--carpentry, and in Retail and Administration, every day in an environment that encourages learning as part of the job is skill-building that leads to mastery.

     To the Millwork Department I was able to transfer my small business owner/trade experience in carpentry plus a successful track-history in Sales, and this helped me mediate between customers and Installation Specialists, Vendors/Representatives of other Companies and Corporations, and co-workers.  Designing home features using available software programs, putting together contracts, helping keep projects on schedule, understanding products and product comparison, tending to and ordering inventory, daily in-store sales, putting together "package sales", offering store credit and helping with installation bids, listening to customers on needs and budget, working with people who have varying degrees of familiarity of product and process and service...made for challenge to be met with professional acumen and positive attitude.  Inventory control and management (including sales floor "security" and ordering specialty products for Millwork; the safe use of power equipment (kept all licensing up-to-date and got lots of practice in Lumber with Tim and Ray as Supervisors); using muscle and determination; keeping up team spirit; going the extra mile every day, each shift--early and mid and late--made my work very dynamic.  I loved applying my skills and talents at Lowe's and earned several Service Star Awards in my time there.

 

Msanna/Poster’s Arts, Crafts, and Framing     Fairfield, CT

Position:  Sales Associate/Keyholder, 2015-2018        

Direct Supervisor:  Store Owner, Alexandra Moutran

On a mission to keep a small, independent establishment vibrant for customers.  At this long-time business in a merger-challenged industry we worked diligently at customer service, inventory control and management, pricing, framing detail/"specs" (measurements and customers' preferences), and keeping a consistent schedule of opening and closing the store.  Meeting with Vendors/Salespeople/Representatives of other businesses and experimenting with products was fun.  But not the slime, so much, though our children-visitors seemed to have fun with it.  We did enjoy showing off our knitting/crochet skills, drawing and mixed-media talents, and being part of the area's art scene as merchants.  My favorite also-work-tasks at this job were helping Scouts with Derby racing cars, making a board game for learning about the English Language, and making models of landscape and buildings in history.