VP / Director - Operations

Summary

My goal is to learn, grow and make a difference in people's lives.
Liz Bieter has built and led operations functions that deliver bottom line results. She has consistently maximized productivity, customer satisfaction, quality and profitability in organizations that serve demanding B2B and B2C clients in intensely competitive markets.

Well rounded, she has additional experience in sales management, marketing, customer service in multiple industries. She has earned frequent promotions and selection to lead critical projects and programs.

Building and leading top-performing, low-turnover teams at all levels are among her hallmarks. She has a talent for finding ways to attain and surpass ambitious organizational goals. Others have described her as a mentor, leader and executive advisor. Using her outstanding education and her varied experience, she has pioneered effective organizational change to cope with rapidly changing markets and economies.

Functionally she is broad. Organization development, HR, finance, process improvement are skills she has demonstrated in viable organizations as well as in turnaround, startup and revitalization scenarios. She knows how to balance cost and value in environments where financial and other resources are limited. Conversely, she has a talent for knowing how and when to invest in growth and change.

CAREER HISTORY

  1. -
    Director of Sales and Marketing, Duluth Timber Company

    Designed and maintained brochures, web site, portfolio and print advertising. Served as company representative at educational conferences, trade shows and local meetings. Prepared annual marketing plan, including budgets and forecasts. Recruited and trained all employees. Established customer care programs. Lead enterprise wide safety initiatives. Led a team of nine employees.

  2. -
    Owner, EL Consulting

    Coached and mentored sales teams and managers. Monitored and tracked emerging trends in order to develop effective promotional and marketing strategies. Evaluated change issues and recommended action for organization transitions.

    Representative engagements:

    • Managed fundraising campaign for a non-profit organization and successfully raised over $1M.

    • Worked with decorative tile company to restructure sales force by initiating new training, regular sales meetings (to keep representatives informed about collective and individual progress) and creating a new incentive program designed to provide sales representative with a base salary plus incremental incentives; resulted in increased sales.

  3. -
    Sales and Service Manager/District Manager, AmeriGas Propane

    Built and staffed new plant in only 90 days (sourced location, managed relocation process and staff recruitment). Selected as Chair of Safety Committee for the market ; successfully reduced safety incidents by 22%. Recognized as Distribution Champion for Midwest. Led a team of 36 employees.

  4. -
    Area Sales Manager, AmeriGas Propane

    Trained Customer Relations Representatives in customer service and sales techniques. Developed implemented strategic growth plans. Managed advertising and marketing budget for market. Coached SSMs to confidently make successful decisions regarding the use of marketing funds.

  5. -
    Area Director, AmeriGas Propane

    AmeriGas Partners, L.P. is the largest retail propane distributor in the United States

    Promoted to lead the Area’s Sales and Service Managers (SSMs). Developed strategies to improve staff (153) performance. Improved safety consciousness. Tracked and adjusted pricing to enable each district to better achieve overall financial health for the market.

  6. -
    Manager - Public Utilities - Customer Service, City of Duluth

    Recruited to lead a team of 102 management, professional and support personnel and to maximize quality, customer satisfaction and productivity. Prepared and controlled budgets. Represent the Division to the City Council on financial, human resource and training matters.

  7. -
    Divisional Manager, Thompson Gas/Como Oil and Propane

    Acquired by Thompson Gas in 2015, Como Oil and Propane is the top oil and propane supplier in Minnesota and Wisconsin

    Recruited to develop and lead all employees (47) in the office and plant, develop best practices for work production and efficient use of resources. Also responsible for creating marketing programs that focus on community involvement and employee engagement, financial activities, fleet, and safety.

FUNCTIONAL ASSETS

  • Project Management
  • Training & Development
  • INTEGRATIONS
  • ACQUISITIONS
  • Business Process Improvement
  • STARTUPS
  • TURNAROUNDS
  • Customer Service
  • STRATEGIC PLANNING
  • Organization Development
  • Operational Effectiveness
  • Business Development
  • SALES SUPPORT
  • saLES

Experience Highlights

  • Participated in five acquisitions.
  • Established sales training improving customer retention.
  • Cut customer loss 42% in the first year.
  • Highlight Title
  • Transitioned company to process of managing for gross profit.
  • Created a culture of safety, reducing incidents from seven to zero in the first year.
  • Normalized management and union relations.
  • Revamped workflow process, increasing profits.
  • Boosted productivity, supporting addition of 1000 new customers without adding staff.
  • Revitalized stagnant office, exceeding EBTIDA goal by $500K.
  • Reversed business loss and grew sales 13% in 18 months.

EDUCATION

  • B.A. in Philosophy (Ethics)/History (American), with Honors
    College of St. Scholastica, Duluth, MN
  • M.A.M. in Management/Organization Development, with Honors
    – College of St. Scholastica, Duluth, MN
  • Ph.D. in Organization Development/Crisis & Change Management
    Capella University, Minneapolis, MN
  • Ph.D. in Organization Psychology
    Walden University