This is a tough post to write, and I composed a few different versions of it in my head earlier today. I could have written something all sad and poetic-like, but I think I'm going to save that for a hunting story and just throw this out like I write it every day:
I'm losing my job. After this week, I'm on my own.
I've seen this coming for awhile; like many other lines of work, the landscape business in Northern Virgnia is not what it was a couple years ago. Many companies, including the one I work for and once thought I would retire from, are getting smaller, not bigger. I was hoping to stay with Property Services at least through the end of this year, but it looks like that's not going to happen.
I know I'm not the first person this has happened to, and I'm pretty sure I won't be the last. I'm not looking for sympathy; I'm looking for a job. If you've got an open position or a low-start-up cost business opportunity, I'd love to hear about it.
As most of you know, I am a writer and any job that involves writing is of great interest to me. In addition to my blogging, I worked as a full-time journalist for about three years and currently do as many freelance projects as I can. This year, my work has been featured regularly on the "Expert" page of www.bizymoms.com, where I am the featured hunting writer.
The bulk of my living during the last nine years, however, has been earned in the lanscape industry. I went to work as an account manager at Blake Landscapes around the time my first son was born. I later moved on to K&H Lawn Services, where I managed the firm's landscape installation division, and finally ended up at Property Services Landscape, where I have managed day-to-day operations and handled sales and customer service since early 2006. I will carry my title of vice president for five more days until I leave the company on Friday.
While I am certainly open to any sales, communications, marketing or management opportunity in some industry other than landscaping, another job or business opportunity within the "green" industry would be welcome as well.
My resume is pasted below (I know it doesn't look pretty in this format, so please judge it on content, not presentation.) Feel free to pass it on to anyone you think might be interested and to contact me at (703)932-2545 or email outdoorblogger@verizon.net if you have any questions or resume suggestions.
Wish me luck; I'm going to need it!
Matthew R. Coughlin
Leesburg, Virginia
(703)431-0182
Email: mattcoughlin2003@yahoo.com
Profile—Experienced small business and account manager with background in sales, marketing, customer service, writing and project management.
Education—Bachelor of Arts, Virginia Tech, 1994.
Professional Experience
Vice President, Property Services Enterprises Inc.;
Leesburg
,
VA
; Jan. 2006-present
Supervise all day-to-day operations of approximately $1M per year company.
- Developed and implemented contract program designed to retain and manage over 200 lawn maintenance accounts.
- Manage all aspects of the sales cycle and have a track record of finding and closing on new business as well as of generating enhancement sales from existing accounts.
- Responsible for management of all accounts.
- Supervised development of company website www.propertyserviceslandscape.com.
- Utilized landscape design and sales skills to add hardscape installation to the services offered by the company; oversee every aspect of installations from initial client contact to job completion.
- Secured and managed snow removal contract with federal government for three consecutive years.
- Solely responsible for all aspects of personnel management, including but not limited to recruitment, retention, payroll and benefits.
- Manage every aspect of this business, including but not limited to monitoring profit & loss, marketing, record keeping, contracts, collections and fleet management.
Landscape Manager, K&H Lawn Services, Inc.,
Fairfax
VA
; Feb. 2005-Jan. 2006
Supervised operations in Landscape Installation Department of approximately $4M per year company.
· Was solely responsible for management of 15-person workforce.
· Ordered plants and all other landscape material and scheduled all work.
· Monitored daily timesheets and material use to ensure profitability.
· Served as company’s primary client representative after a sale had been closed as well as handling add-on sales.
· Ensured that vehicles and equipment were properly maintained.
· Successfully instituted comprehensive training program.
Account Manager, Blake Landscapes, Inc.,
Leesburg
,
VA
; Jan. 2001-Feb. 2005
Duties included prospecting for new accounts, managing new and existing accounts and managing a workforce of up to 60 individuals. The territory encompassed all of
Northern Virginia
, with where I was responsible for residential, commercial and municipal target accounts.
· Successfully started residential maintenance division in March 2002, and assumed sole responsibility for its management and sales.
· Secured a major municipal contract in March 2004 and assumed sole responsibility for its management; projected enhancement sales were expcted to double the contract’s value.
· Played a key role in winning long-term renewal of the firm’s largest commercial account.
· Successfully instituted and managed English as a Second Language Program for non-English-speaking employees; this program received press coverage in the August 2003 issue of Loudoun Business.
· Initiated company involvement in a federally-funded telework pilot program.
Staff Writer/Account Executive, Leesburg Today,
Leesburg
,
VA
Dec. 1997-Dec. 2000
I worked as a journalist with a community newspaper specializing in government and public policy issues. I later moved into the advertising department, where I started from scratch and built an account base.
Foreman, Green Acres Lawn Care,
Round Hill
,
VA
, April 1990-Nov. 1997
I Worked summers as a college student and joined the company full time upon graduation, supervising crews of up to 10 people with responsibility for all aspects of landscape maintenance/install field operations.
Other Activities and Accomplishments
- Member, Business Networking International (BNI), Sterling Silver Chapter.
- Author and creator of the nationally known outdoor recreation blog www.brightideablog.com. I am also a founding member of the Outdoor Bloggers Summit, www.outdoorbloggerssummit.blogspot.com.
- Public speaking engagements have included BNI, the Nation’s Outdoor Sportsmen’s’ Show and
Evergreen
Church
in
Leesburg
,
Virginia
.
- Children’s sports coaching, including Town of Leesburg Parks & Recreation Flag Football, Loudoun Soccer and Central Loudoun Little League.
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