MELISSA K.

JOSTAND
14 Iowa St. B1 – PO BOX 622, Arnolds Park, IA 51331 • 712.320.6654 jostandm@hotmail.com

January 24, 2010

Bausch and Lomb

Territory Manager, Vision Care - Minnesota-SOUTH
Req# 5474BR

Dear Sir or Madam:

In reading your recent advertisement for a Territory Manager, I was excited to see the match between your
job requirements and my skills, education, and experience. Subsequently, I am submitting my résumé for
your consideration. In the five and a half years since completing my BA in Business Management, I have
started up and built two businesses into thriving enterprises. I identified a relatively untapped local
market, developed a sound business plan, established partnerships and funding sources, and aggressively
pursued and secured major accounts, such as Pure Fishing (Berkley, Stren, Abu Garcia, Johnson, Mitchell,
Fenwick, Spiderwire), Polaris Industries, Goodrich and The United States Post Office.

My dedication and commitment to hard work came early in life, growing up in the Midwest. I offer your
company my unique combination of skills in finance, sales, human resources, marketing, and business
management with superior customer service and client management experience. You will find me to be
resourceful, determined, and tireless in accomplishing personal and company goals.

In assessing my credentials, please note the following career highlights:

• Achieved year-over-year business and sales growth despite a slumping economy and lack of recognized
presence in the marketplace: 98% sales growth 2005, 94% sales growth 2006, 130% sales growth
2007, 88% sales growth 2008. These sales were achieved through a combination of B2B sales, cold
calling, and word of mouth.
• Received numerous awards (listed on resume) for creating promotional products that met and exceeded
clients’ needs while exhibiting high-quality production values.
• Successfully oversaw business operations that required quick turnaround time and high levels of
organization to maintain cost effectiveness.
• Trained and mentored sales staff; provided sales and product training.

Confident in my ability to make an immediate contribution, I welcome the opportunity of speaking with you
to discuss my qualifications. Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to meeting you!

Sincerely,

Melissa K. Jostand
Enclosure
 MELISSA K. JOSTAND
14 Iowa St. B1 – PO BOX 622, Arnolds Park, IA • 712.320.6654 jostandm@hotmail.com
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

Self-motivated, hardworking, and entrepreneurial business and sales professional seeking to leverage solid skills
in client development, human resources, account management, marketing, and B2B sales into a successful
career in Sales Management. Perceptive in identifying and capitalizing on emerging opportunities for market
share growth, territory expansion, and successful new products and services rollouts. Apply business acumen
and superior communication skills in networking with company owners, purchasing managers, marketing staffs,
and high-net-worth clients. Demonstrate broad-based strengths and accomplishments in:
Business Startup
Contract Negotiation Cold Calling
Lead Generation & Close
Team Building Staff Training
Creative Team
Leadership Key Client Retention Staff Recruitment
Sales
Growth/Development Performance Improvement Market
Research/Analysis

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

OKOBOJI PROMOTIONS, Spirit Lake, IA Jun. 2008 – Present

Founder & President – Co-founded online and traditional B2B/B2C products distributor that markets more
than 26,000 promotional items. Quickly grew company from startup into a promising enterprise.
•Developed Business Plan and Researched options identifying this business segment as likely to
prosper in a hard economy as companies expand their marketing collateral to increase visibility and boost
sales.
• Oversee all ordering, pricing, customer service, and sales.
• Managed clients full marketing budgets from: advertising, training, promotional items, events,
catering,

television, internet, and print.

• Wrote weekly newsletter promoting business and featuring products and tips
BOJI FILM PRODUCTIONS, Spirit Lake, IA Jun. 2003 – May 2009
Founder & President – Started company upon graduating from BVU after recognizing a need for marketing
video production services in the local market. Manage and mentor sales staff in sales techniques and product
knowledge.
•Established company to provide safety, promotional, training, and varied marketing videos for business
clients. Structured and implemented programs and policies in the area of training, compensation
structures, benefits, incentives and new-employee orientation.
• Built business from zero to 400+ accounts
•Write scripts, film footage, and edit entire video from start to finish; produce copies, label and package
videos, and ship internationally; and prepare slideshows and transfer film to CD and DVD.
• Achieved year-over-year business and sales growth despite a slumping economy and lack of recognized
presence in the marketplace: 98% sales growth 2005, 94% sales growth 2006, 130% sales growth
2007, 88% sales growth 2008. These sales were achieved through a combination of B2B sales, cold
calling, and word of mouth.
•Grew business to produce approximately 6,500 media files (compact flash, CD, and DVD) each
year.
•Developed major account, Pure Fishing, securing contracts for videos on new product development
covering research and development and testing. Handle all company’s video needs, including managing
their entire library of 1,000 DVDs. Create, duplicate and ship videos to customers throughout the US and
Canada.
•Established a presence on YouTube to attract a younger customer base; expanded market share by
appealing to youth-oriented trends such as social networking.
 •Secured and managed key accounts such as US Postal Service, Goodrich Turbine Fuel Technologies,
Polaris Industries, Camp Foster/YMCA, Kentucky Fried Chicken/Long John Silver’s, Rome Limited, and Pure
Fishing.
•Managed the entire sales cycle from prospecting and cold calling to successful close and follow up.
• Interfaced with Marketing Director, Product Manager, Marketing Communication and Brand
Manager, Graphic Services Manager, Promotional Coordinator, Executive Administrator, and Director of
Human Resources.
• Personally connected with every client to ensure optimal outcomes.
•Earned numerous industry awards in multiple categories for videos produced from the Iowa
Motion Picture Association; including 2007 Award of Achievement and Excellence for Appearance is
Image (USPS), 2007 Achievement Award for Corporate and Community Marketing and for Voiceover
(Goodrich), 2007 Achievement Award for Iowa Great Lakes Remembers Documentary, and 2005 Award of
Excellence for Corporate Training (USPS Carrier Pickup Safety).
•Extended services to include filming of weddings and private parties; assemble display monitors that
play specialty videos in retail stores.
• Performance Improvement – Implemented a program called “Hour by Hour” to all employees
including myself. This program logged hourly what you did daily. If hours weren’t logged employees were
reprimanded with a chance of losing bonuses. This greatly increased employee efficiency and made them
liable for their actions.
• Non Profit – Teamed up with the board of Arnold’s Park Amusement Park to establish the “Arnolds Park
Turtle Races” to drive a comprehensive rural tourism program promoting family fun at the Amusement
Park in hopes to increase admissions.
• Market Research - Conducted market studies including: test groups, surveys, live Q and A, regarding
new products determining price, audience, shelf placement, and best chain of distribution.
• Designed Websites promoting businesses and their products.
CAPTAIN’S GETAWAY, Arnolds Park, IA 1998 – 2003
Human Resource Manager – Financed education working full time in extremely busy and fast-paced
establishment located on Lake Okoboji. Managed, hired and trained wait/bus/bar/kitchen staffs.

EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS/MEMBER SHIPS

BUENA VISTA UNIVERSITY, Storm Lake, IA

Bachelor of Arts in Business Management, 2003

GRADUATION OF NAPRx PHARMACOLOGY/PHARMACEUTICAL SALES TRAINING PROGRAM

CNRP Certification #569182009

CERTIFIED REAL ESTATE AGENT, Iowa

IOWA MOTION PICTURE ASSOSIATION, Member

ASI Member, #382610

SOFTWARE

Microsoft Office 2007 Adobe CS4 QuickBooks Pro

REFERENCES

Jill Harms – President

Blink Marketing
(712) 330-3103

Brad Sanderson - Owner

Carlson-Sanderson Real Estate
(712) 320-9610

Jason Christensen – Owner

Captain’s Getaway
(712) 320-5148

Todd Fine – Pharmacy Manager

Wallgreens
(712)330-8669