About
Thinking about marketing your products in the USA. Let us guide you along the way; Al Rykus is a seasoned professional.
Professional Experience:
START UPS / ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT / FIELD SALES DEVELOPMENT
TOSCA by Visentin: 2006-2007; Sales Manager-Hired 25 for national sales efforts. Opening 117 locations in 4 months. Directing all sales and marketing efforts.
MASCO (Chatsworth Bathrooms Inc.): 2000-2002; Director of Sales and Marketing -Revamping foreign business strategies and philosophies applying them to USA distribution networks while surpassing start up projections by 4 months. Planned sales and marketing strategies for the USA. Hired and managed 4 regional managers. Opening 65 locations in 3 months. Directing all communications with European partners.
Renaissance Glassworks Inc.,1999-2000; Sales Manager-Generated high sales gains by negotiating new distribution channels with mass merchandisers Deploying national sales force of 35 independent representatives within a six-month time period. Conceive and implementing sales/marketing strategies for a USA start-up by a foreign company. Opening 257 showroom locations in 6 months.Sales increases 250% during this period.
TEBISA 2001-2002 Regional Sales Development - Studied market potential for several regions in the USA. Provided assistance in Sales Administration and gave motivational lectures to inside sales force.
TURNAROUNDS/ TEST MARKETING/NATIONAL MARKETING CAMPAIGNS
Le Bijou Creations, 1998-2000; Sales Manager-Conceptualized national sales program achieving a 25% sales increase in one year. Repositioning company into e-commerce and as an OEM supplier to William-Sonoma and Waterworks.
Black Decker (Price Pfister Faucet Co.), 1997-1998; Account Manager-Creating, implementing a national rollout of full product line assortment. Restructuring and negotiating new corporate relationships after 10 years of mistrust. Opening order of $1.2 Million resulting in 50 new locations in 3 months with Ferguson Enterprises.
Ingersoll-Rand (The Broadway Collection), 1996 -1997; Sales Manager-Developing a national sales team of 35. Repositioned products into the wholesale distribution channel. Serving on the new products board for the company.
SALES MANAGEMENT / SHOWROOM DEVELOPMENT / MERCHANDISING
Watermark Designs: 2007-2008; President-Managing 35 independent reps, Developing and implementing all Sales Programs. Developing vendor agreements with Hajoca, increased sales Ferguson sales 20%.
Aquabrass International: 2002-2006; Sales Manager-Reorganizing sales territories resulting in 20% increase sales levels in key markets. Establishing new product introductions on a quarterly basis, Developing new product catalogs and price books. Directing all channel distribution with Home Depot and Ferguson Enterprises.
Rohl LLC: 1986-1996; Increasing sales in Los Angeles and Southeastern region, 65% in two years. Developing new sales teams. Outstanding sales achievements 4 years in a row.
EDUCATION – HONORS
Bachelor of Science, Business Administration /International Affairs.U. of Oregon
Bachelor of Science, Wallace School Community Service / Public Affairs, U of Oregon
Student of Jim Collins, Good to Great
Board of Directors, DPHA (Decorative Plumbing Hardware Association)
Board of Directors, FORTE (Buying Group for decorative plumbing dealers)
Outstanding Sales Achievements awarded by KWC Faucets
State of California Legislative Advisory Board.Lead in Water Issues
Awarded DPHA Distinquished Service Award