Susan Ekstrand
Butler
Summary
Dynamic leader with a strong focus on staff training, sales growth, and customer service excellence. Proven ability to foster a positive workplace culture and drive team performance through effective communication.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
General Manager
Thomas 5 Ltd.
Moon Township
12.2025 - Current
- Developed and implemented strategic plans for business growth and development.
- In the first two months, sales growth of 8-10% per week.
- Brought inventory costs down significantly.
- Focused on sales growth and budgeting spending for the highest possible net income.
- Implemented a positive workplace culture through effective communication and leadership.
- Managed and delegated all aspects of daily business operations, including budgeting, staffing, scheduling, inventory control, customer service, and sales.
- Training employees on duties, policies, and procedures, using the 4 Corner Training System.
- Established and maintained effective communication with staff members to ensure efficient operations.
- Managing inventory levels, and conducting corrective action planning to minimize long-term costs.
- Ensured compliance with local health department regulations regarding food safety standards.
- Held regular meetings with the management team to discuss hiring needs, food safety issues, policy, and procedure needs.
General Manager
Thomas 5 Ltd.
Butler
04.2014 - Current
- Developed and implemented strategic plans for business growth and development.
- Focused on sales growth and budgeting spending for the highest possible net income.
- Coordinated with managers to identify skill or knowledge gaps and implement training needs.
- Managed staff hiring, training, and performance evaluations for team members.
- Fostered a positive workplace culture through effective communication and leadership.
- Managed all aspects of daily business operations including budgeting, staffing, scheduling, inventory control, customer service and sales.
- Resolved customer complaints quickly, while maintaining high quality standards of service.
- Trained employees on duties, policies, and procedures using the 4 Corner Training System.
- Created schedules and monitored payroll to remain within budget.
- Established and maintained effective communication with staff members to ensure efficient operations.
- Built and maintained loyal, long-term customer relationships through effective customer service. Taught other managers how to maintain customer relationships, also.
- Managed inventory levels and conducted corrective action planning to minimize long-term costs.
- Ensured compliance with local health department regulations regarding food safety standards.
- Organized and coordinated training sessions for new employees.
- Held regular meetings with management team to discuss hiring needs, food safety issues, policy and procedure needs.
Training Store General Manager
Thomas 5 Ltd.
Chippewa, Beaver Falls
10.2024 - 12.2025
- Trained multiple new store managers using the 4 Corner Training System and the Shift Core Training Program.
- Trained and developed staff to enhance service quality and team productivity.
- Conducted regular performance evaluations to support employee and management development.
- Provided direction and coaching to staff on how best to interact with customers in order to maximize sales.
- Identified opportunities for improvement in store operations throughout the management training process.
- Implemented the 4 Corner Training program to ensure customer service excellence.
- Conducted regular manager meetings to discuss store performance, policies, and procedures.
- Collaborated with management to identify training needs and create tailored solutions.
- Organized and coordinated training sessions for new employees using the training template.
- Designed training schedules for the cross-training of existing employees.
- Implemented systems for tracking employee certifications; ensure Observation Checklists are used during every training session, and kept for follow-up.
Training Store General Manager
Thomas 5 Ltd.
Butler
08.2023 - 10.2024
- Sales growth of 6% YTD.
- Trained multiple new store managers using the 4 Corner Training System and the Shift Core Training Program.
- Trained and developed staff to enhance service quality and team productivity.
- Conducted regular performance evaluations to support employee and management development.
- Provided direction and coaching to staff on how best to interact with customers in order to maximize sales.
- Identified opportunities for improvement in store operations throughout the management training process.
- Implemented the 4 Corner Training program to ensure customer service excellence.
- Conducted regular manager meetings to discuss store performance, policies, and procedures.
- Collaborated with management to identify training needs and create tailored solutions.
- Organized and coordinated training sessions for new employees using the training template.
- Designed training schedules for the cross-training of existing employees.
- Implemented systems for tracking employee certifications; ensure Observation Checklists are used during every training session, and kept for follow-up.
Education
High School Diploma -
Altoona Area High School
Altoona, PA06-2012
Some College (No Degree) - Business Management
Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PASome College (No Degree) - Business Management
Clarion University of Pennsylvania
Clarion, PASkills
- Staff training/development
- Management development
- Leadership and team building
- Customer service
- Sales growth
- Time management/organized
- Problem solving and critical thinking
- Effective communication
- Adaptability
- Initiative/motivated
- Creative
- Hard-working
Certification
ServSafe Certified
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
General Manager
Thomas 5 Ltd.
12.2025 - Current
Training Store General Manager
Thomas 5 Ltd.
10.2024 - 12.2025
Training Store General Manager
Thomas 5 Ltd.
08.2023 - 10.2024
General Manager
Thomas 5 Ltd.
04.2014 - Current
High School Diploma -
Altoona Area High School
Some College (No Degree) - Business Management
Pennsylvania State University
Some College (No Degree) - Business Management
Clarion University of Pennsylvania