CORI FLOWERS
Elburn,IL
Summary
Senior-level business development, procurement, and finance professional with 9+ years of experience driving strategic growth, vendor partnerships, and operational performance within manufacturing and CPG environments. Expertise in strategic sourcing, contract negotiation, financial analysis, and executive relationship management, with a proven ability to align commercial strategy with organizational objectives and revenue growth initiatives.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Insurance Broker
National Brokers Group
10.2025 - Current
- Hold active life insurance licenses in multiple states
- Assess client needs and recommend customized life insurance solutions
- Build strong relationships through trust, honesty, and clear communication through application to issue process
- Maintain ongoing client support and policy reviews
Director of Business Development
Paramount Enterprise Group
01.2025 - 03.2026
- Drive revenue growth by developing and executing business development strategies that expand our client base across multiple industries
- Analyzed industry trends to identify growth opportunities
- Partner with HR and Talent Acquisition leaders to understand workforce needs and design recruiting solutions (direct hire, contingent, and project-based)
- Build and maintain C-level and executive relationships, establishing trusted partnerships that shortened hiring timelines and improved retention
Client Relationship Manager
Paramount Enterprise Group
08.2023 - 01.2025
- Identify and pursue new business opportunities across all industries
- Build and maintain strong relationships with HR leaders and decision-makers
- Understand client hiring needs and create customized recruiting strategies
- Collaborate with internal recruiters to source and place qualified candidates
- Negotiate service agreements and manage client accounts to ensure satisfaction
Buyer - Perishables
Performance Foodservice
06.2024 - 06.2025
- Maintain product costing and pricing and ensure accurate purchase orders
- Effectively manage the disposition of obsolete perishable inventory
- Managed $2 million in inventory, 2k separate SKUs across opco location with 99.5% stocking accuracy and 19 DIOH
- Revenue Task Force Committee Procurement Representative
Accountant
Light Efficient Design
11.2023 - 06.2024
- Daily review of cash and all banking operation
- AR and AP functions
- Monthly/annual close
- Process journal entries & account reconciliations
- Prepare monthly financial statements
- Provide support for bank, tax, and external audits by preparing PBC's & schedules
Procurement Analyst
TC Transcontinental
01.2023 - 08.2023
- Analyzed financial data to identify trends, patterns and strategies
- Led an audit review of directors and supervisors dedicated to resolving errors in the audit report
- Monitored the progress of projects by communicating with project managers across multiple plantl locations
- Analyzed and evaluated supplier performance to identify areas of improvement
Item and Cost Analyst
US Foods
02.2022 - 01.2023
- Primary focus included financial reporting, forecasting and department efficiency improvements
- Weekly review of the Last Invoice Cost Book report and resolve issues
- Inventory revaluation report including auditing any inventory gains
- Worked with vendors to ensure pricing is correct on all purchase orders and invoices
Corporate Grocery Buyer
US Foods
02.2019 - 02.2022
- Delivered on KPI's for desk specific goals such as: Service Level, DIOH),(E&O) and Spoilage
- Purchased and monitored over 5k items and 250 vendors at a 98% stocking rate
- Coordinated with the logistics team to identify and achieve freight consolidation in order to maximize net income
- Monitored commodity stock trends, market trends and market suppliers to evaluate opportunities to reduce costs
- Executed forward-buy opportunities to achieve profitability for period or year-end based on targeted goals
Management Apprentice Program
Chicago Diversified Foods
01.2018 - 02.2019
- Accurately counted all cash and charge slips for bank deposits
- Ensured that all locations were routinely checked for conformity with food safety and health laws
- Monitored employee performance to ensure they are meeting company standards for quality and speed of service
Education
Bachelor of Science in Accounting -
Purdue Global University
Remote08-2022
Bachelor of Arts in Communication -
Boise State University
Boise, ID12-2017
Associate of Arts - Animal Science
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX02-2015
Skills
- Effective Communication
- Problem-Solving
- Highly Motivated
- Inventory management
- Customer Relations
- Process Improvement
- Critical Thinking
- Cost Analysis
- Project Management
- Supplier Relationship Management
- Supply Chain Optimization
- D365, SAP, Foodstar, Prism, MDM, JDA, PowerBI, Microsoft Office, Excel, Outlook
Certification
- Licensed Insurance Broker
Timeline
Insurance Broker
National Brokers Group
10.2025 - Current
Director of Business Development
Paramount Enterprise Group
01.2025 - 03.2026
Buyer - Perishables
Performance Foodservice
06.2024 - 06.2025
Accountant
Light Efficient Design
11.2023 - 06.2024
Client Relationship Manager
Paramount Enterprise Group
08.2023 - 01.2025
Procurement Analyst
TC Transcontinental
01.2023 - 08.2023
Item and Cost Analyst
US Foods
02.2022 - 01.2023
Corporate Grocery Buyer
US Foods
02.2019 - 02.2022
Management Apprentice Program
Chicago Diversified Foods
01.2018 - 02.2019
Associate of Arts - Animal Science
Texas A&M University
Bachelor of Science in Accounting -
Purdue Global University
Bachelor of Arts in Communication -
Boise State University