Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College

Louisiana State University, Paul M. Hebert Law Center

Golden Gate University

Alcee Fortier High School

"Most Recommended" on LinkedIn for New Orleans & Southeast U.S. - Award-Winning Resume Writer & Executive Career Coach  -  8,000+ Endorsements, Hundreds of Testimonials  -  Creating 6-Figure Success for Jobseekers

Greater New Orleans Region

- Create Strategic Resumes & Enhance LinkedIn Profiles for Rising Achievers
-    Propel High-Performing Professionals & Executives to Land the Best Opportunities
-    Maintain a Secure 5-Figure Database of Resumes & Business Plans I Have Authored
-    Meet Clients Virtually & In Person at Our New Orleans Magazine Street Office 6 Days a Week
-    Create "Best in Class" Strategic Resumes & LinkedIn Profiles That Attract Offers & Open Doors
-  Serve as National Resume Judge (9 years consecutively) for TORI Awards
-  Elected to the Board of Directors (2022) for National Resume Writers Association-NRWA, the nation's largest nonprofit resume writing association
-    Business Travel & Conferences: New York, Chicago, San Diego, San Francisco & Bay Area, San Jose, Los Angeles, Annapolis, Washington DC, Las Vegas, Seattle, Portland, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Orlando, San Antonio, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Macon, Nashville, Asheville, Charlotte, Oklahoma City, Kansas City, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Colorado Springs, Savannah, Jackson, Mobile, Shreveport, Monroe, Hattiesburg, Lafayette, Baton Rouge, New Orleans
-  Won National "Presidents Award" at 2015 CDI Annual Conference in Orlando, FL
-  Selected as Career Coach for Fortune 500 Outplacement Clients, 2016
-  More than 21,400 First-Level Connections on LinkedIn as of 2017
-  Appear on local & national TV/radio, published in national media and professional journals
-  Featured as Speaker, Seminar Presenter, and Panelist at national conferences
-  Scored #3 in U.S. by independent consumer panel
-  Ranked in the Top Tier of LinkedIn Resume Writing Experts out of 340 worldwide
-  Wrote 150+ weekly New Orleans Job Guru columns for Gambit Magazine-circulation 40,000
-  1 of only 6 Resume Writers quoted in Martin Yate's Knock 'em Dead Secrets & Strategies
-  Write blog articles for LinkedIn, American Express, Twitter, Facebook, and more
-  "Pay It Forward" by donating, time, resources, and funding to nonprofits & community groups
            

    
    

    
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Strategic Resumes - Career Coaching - Business Plans

Certified Resume Writer, Career Coach & Business Plan Writer, Founder of Strategic Resumes

- Savascript® Value Services, Inc. is launching a new product offering into the healthcare marketplace.
-   Despite Covid-19, as well as the challenges of a volatile regulatory environment, Savascript® is introducing a new Prescription Discount Card Service delivering  consistent value and better health outcomes for millions of Americans, while rewarding and empowering nonprofit organizations.
-   Savascript® Value Services, Inc. was founded during the Spring 2020 Coronavirus pandemic by a group of executives from Healthcare, Insurance, HR & IT sectors to assist consumers in lowering prescription costs.
-   The Savascript® Founding Team designed an innovative system allowing non-profit & community-based organizations to augment revenues by distributing Savascript® Discount Cards to their members, families, stakeholders, and communities.
-   Utilizations deriving from Savascript® card transactions will trigger donations to nonprofit organizations who promote its Savascript® cards.
-   Savascript® Groups will receive cards affixed with their Group number & logos.
-   An instructional video & materials will show their teams the best practices in distributing the cards.
-   All regulatory & ethical compliance rules will be observed.
-   Due to the downturn in non-profit funding during the Coronavirus Pandemic, nonprofit and community organizations were hard hit, with many organizations losing funding, and revenue.
-   The Savascript® Program was launched to help these vital organizations in meeting their budgetary challenges, and will emerge as a leading prescription discount card program from coast to coast.
-   The Savascript® Team has deep connections and reach into regional and national networks, including the leaders of major membership-based organizations that serve literally millions of Americans.
-   Savascript® will make it a #1 priority to create the best outcomes and put the consumer at the center of the most important touchpoint in the healthcare system.
            

    
    

    
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Savascript®

VP Strategic Partnerships / Board of Directors

- New Orleans native Grant Cooper, the founder of Strategic Resumes® & Business Plans, empowers his clients to reach their highest goals by creating attractive & persuasive business plans, and pitch-winning proposals.
-  Grant ensures that his clients have a competitive advantage. Grant won CDI International President's Award (Orlando) & presented on Business Plan Writing at NRWA Conference (Seattle).
-  Grant appeared as a featured guest on CBS, ABC & FOX, and contracted with the U.S. Air Force, Kinko's, the Louisiana Dept. of Labor, the NFL, the NBA, universities, regional banks, VIP celebrities, and major corporations.
We have prepared successful business plans for a variety of launches, businesses, and entrepreneurial ventures.
-  Grant's clients have been funded by local banks, angel investors, partners, the SBA, Jedco, and even Brad Pitt!
-  Winning Business Plans are full-color, digital and printable documents, provided in both MS Word & PDF formats.
-  Grant also can also generate a custom logo if you do not already have one at a modest additional fee.
            

    
    

    
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Winning Business Plan

Founder & President

- Facilitate executive, professional, and dedicated jobseekers in discovering their dream careers and mapping out an effective path to desired jobs.
-    Utilize best practices in one-to-one coaching both in office and virtually. Elevate client job search processes into high gear via intensive coaching, featuring the following services:

-  Personal Intake & Assessment Session by Phone or Walk-In
-  Strategic Resume Writing that is ATS-Compliant
-  Strategic Cover Letter Creation & Template
-  Dynamic LinkedIn® Profile Boosting
-  Job Search Plan & Strategy Session
-  Transition & Elevator Pitch Session
-  StrengthsFinder® Assessment
-  Social Media Strategy Session
-  Networking Strategy Session
-  Salary Negotiation Coaching
-  Company & Industry Research
-  Decision Maker Contact List
-  Email Script for Networking
-  Branding Statement Session
-  Interviewing Skills Session
-  SWOT Analysis Section
-  Executive Biography
            

    
    

    
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Career Coach & National Resume Leader

- Write and edit resumes, business plans, marketing proposals, brochures, bank loan requests, non-profit organization plans, grant requests, speeches, graduate school application materials, and other writing projects.
-   Utilize desktop publishing, word processing, and laser printing to produce finished documents.
-   Provide resume instructional seminars, conduct in-depth resume critiques for clients, and meet with clients for comprehensive career assessments and job search strategy sessions.

-  Negotiated successful purchase of business in 1994.
-  Increased revenues by more than 200% within 6 months.
-  Volunteered Parish “Project Independence” Career Counselor.
-  Delivered workshops to single mothers in the AFDC (Welfare-to-Work) Program.
-  Lectured on career search strategies and interview techniques.
-  Donated free customized resumes to all participants.
            

    
    

    
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CareerPro Resume Service, LLC

Certified Resume Writer / President

- ZATS Restaurants Inc. is a New Orleans, Louisiana based casual dining restaurant concept currently working toward a national chain rollout, with the first operating unit planned to open in mid-2020.
-    ZATS is planning on a launch of up to 26 restaurants, each with seating for 344 guests.
-    ZATS is a start-up restaurant corporation bringing an authentic, full-flavored Louisiana dining experience to its guests.

-   ZATS will build its first several restaurants in Louisiana with future restaurants across the Gulf Coast I-10 corridor and then throughout the U.S.
-  ZATS will base its rollout on factors including product distribution centers, income and age demographics, and traffic pattern and flow.
-  As VP/HR, duties consist of hiring corporate headquarters staff as well as approximately 90 full and part-time staff for the first 26 restaurants over a 6-year period.
-  Developed and executed all recruitment, training, workplace procedures, payroll, benefits administration, staffing, retention, discipline, motivation, incentives, AA/EEO, safety, management development, regulatory requirements, and personnel administration.
-  Additionally served on the Founding Executive Team, assist in capital raise, participate in special projects, and reported directly to the CFO.
            

    
    

    
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ZATS Restaurants, Inc.

Vice President / Human Resources

- Mr. Cooper was appointed on a competitive selection basis by the New Orleans Saints NFL team and its Executive Vice President Arnie Fielkow as a founding member of the Saints Fan Advisory Board.
-   The Board met periodically during the the five NFL seasons Grant served at sessions attended by VP Arnie Fielkow, owner Tom Benson, various NFL coaches, Saints players, Saints staff, and others.

-  Duties consisted of developing, discussing, and approving new ideas for team marketing, season ticket holder issues, pre-game/half-time/post-game activities, game day entertainment, fan behavior, community outreach, and team imaging.
-   Assigned to serve as Fan Representative during games, assisted Club Members during pre-game, and provided feedback from fans to the team.
            

    
    

    
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New Orleans Saints

Appointed Fan Advisory Board Member

- Worked in all phases of operations for a successful Bay Area natural foods manufacturer and distributor (Natural Choice Distributors & Alfalfa Omega).
-   Distributed to more than 200 major supermarket and health food accounts in 6 Central / Northern California counties.

-  Reorganized delivery routes, rescheduled production times, refined preparation processes, and increased sales through innovative point of sale and in-store merchandising.
-  Products distributed included both perishable and non-perishable products with over 12 varieties of chips, numerous salsas prepared on-site, sandwiches, natural juices, smoothies, natural sweets, whole grain breads, frozen tropical fruit purées, tofu, various dips, and more.
-  Directed by Operations/Administrative Manager and Owner to develop new in-store marketing and "demo" techniques for salsa, chips, dips, and natural fruit smoothie ingredients.
-  Credited by owner with dramatically increasing sales during tenure by over 200%, and implementing effective new production procedures.
            

    
    

    
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Natural Choice Foods

Production / Marketing Coordinator

- Managed a team of 8 Sales Representatives for Pacesetter Home Improvement. Drove sales of home improvement contract products and services (finer-quality, high-priced double-paned windows, doors, patio covers, siding, and more) throughout Central and Northern California.
-   Conducted ongoing two-week training sessions, with 4 hours classroom instruction and 4+ hours of field training per day. Utilized statistical feedback on all Reps to increase sales team results.
-   Initially hired as Sales Representative; received plaque and cash bonus for winning Division Sales Award out of over 150 Sales Reps nationwide.

-  Selected to travel to Sacramento, California to train Sacramento area Reps and Managers in new programs.
-  Earned reputation in field for ability to close business, upbeat attitude, consistently high sales volumes, and resolving customer service issues quickly and effectively.
-  Personally closed an $18,000+ order in first solo day in field.
Received plaque for breaking Division Sales Record for May 1991.
            

    
    

    
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Pacesetter Sales & Associates

Division Sales Manager

- Directly supervised up to 50 employees per shift. Duties included interviewing, hiring, orientation, instruction, training, evaluation, discipline, motivation, mentoring, EAP, labor relations, and EEO.
-   Served as Safety & Health Representative, EEO/Affirmative Action Coordinator, Career Development Director, and Recreation Coordinator.

-   Organized the office's first-ever “Career Awareness Nights” and invited regional guest speakers, instructing employees on preparation of Federal résumés & PS-991.
-   Utilized zero hours sick leave in total career, had record for volunteering to work most 7-day weeks, most 6-day weeks, and most holidays; won national cash awards for suggestions adopted.
-   Selected by MIS Director Ken Fennell for special assignment at San Jose GMF; received Letter of Commendation for outstanding achievement in solving operational problems.
-   Reorganized incoming trucking schedules, employee work assignments, and mail flow logistics to significantly improve timely mail distribution performance.
            

    
    

    
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USPS

Supervisor

- Company founded by award-winning exhibit designer, New Zealand native Athol Fahey.
-   Provided consultative sales, design development, and client services for custom-made trade show exhibits and booths in the $10,000 - $50,000 range.
-   Client portfolio included Verbatim, Memorex, Caere, Northern Telecom, Rolm, Quantum, Harris Microwave, Gill Cable, SpectraPhysics, Valid Logic, Polaroid, and more
-   Attended trade shows (including Comdex, Wescon, and Consumer Electronics) in Las Vegas, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Chicago to assist clients.

-  Successfully utilized cold-calling to develop client base; held record for highest monthly average sales.
-  Sold highest priced exhibit in company history to Gill Management Systems, a cable operator and cable billing vendor in Santa Clara County.
-  Initiated a successful business trade arrangement with a Silicon Valley trade publication (Rich’s Silicon Valley Business Guide) which dramatically increased Exdyn’s market presence in high-tech markets.
            

    
    

    
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Exdyn, Inc., Exhibit Dynamics

Account Executive

- Assisted in organizing, market planning, and operating a successful chain of novelty singing telegram businesses in seven U.S. cities (Baton Rouge, Birmingham, Indianapolis, Tampa/St. Petersburg, Orlando, and New Orleans, Bay St. Louis-MS Gulf Coast).
-   Personally set up two franchises (Indianapolis, IN + Birmingham, AL), principal role in all functions of management and administration; accounting, marketing, media relations, and customer service.
-   Launched and owned/operated Surprise Express Singing Telegrams in Birmingham, with a #1 ranking in the market.

-  Conducted all recruitment, interviewing, hiring, training, and supervision of employees, primarily drawing talented, attractive, and outgoing candidates from university drama departments.
-  Utilized performances to and for major politicians, celebrities, and business leaders to generate free publicity.
-  Wrote and copyrighted singing telegram songs for Birthdays, Retirements, Anniversaries, All Occasions, Weddings, and more.
-  Appeared on television features (Entertainment Tonight), talk & news shows, in addition to numerous radio broadcasts and print articles.
-  Negotiated trades with the #1 Nielsen-ranked Birmingham FM radio station which greatly increased market penetration and revenues.
            

    
    

    
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Merry Minstrel Singing Telegrams ♫ / Surprise Express Singing Telegrams ♫

Unit Manager / Franchise Operator

- Opened and operated the first natural foods restaurant in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and a separate retail natural foods store location on Perkins Rd. during university attendance.
-   Duties included business planning, site selection, ordering, inventory, packaging, marketing, hiring, training, bookkeeping, menu and logo development, equipment purchase, leasing, and customer service.

-  Successfully resolved a serious Sherman Anti-Trust matter concerning a higher priced competitor attempting to put Azalea out of business, working directly with the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office.
-  Worked 12+ hour days while simultaneously attending undergraduate school and law school (LSU).
-  Approached by local real estate (shopping center) firm owner to open a Natural Foods café located one-half block from the LSU campus, with highly favorable start-up and lease negotiations.
            

    
    

    
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Azalea Natural Foods & Small Planet Cafe

Owner / Operator

- Worked as cook at New Orleans' first and second natural foods vegetarian restaurants. Shambala was located on Decatur St. in the French Quarter. Jerusalem Gardens was located adjacent to the Old Mint Building in the French Market.
-  Initially hired as dishwasher at Shambhala and promoted to cook due to work ethic. Served as Lunch Cook and Produce Buyer at Jerusalem Gardens. Responsible for menu development, kitchen prep, preparing dressings and salads, and cooking vegetarian entrees.

-  Assisted in menu development and assigned to buy produce each morning at the French Market.
-  Served VIP & celebrity guests, including Peter Frampton and his band (at the time), Humble Pie.
            

    
    

    
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Jerusalem Gardens & Shambhala Restaurant

Natural Foods Cook

- Recruited by a southern Civil Rights organization to serve in a salaried, full-time, staff position as SSOC Southwide High School Organizer.
-  SSOC was a group of Southern activists promoting Civil Rights, Student Rights, Community Organizing, Anti-War, Women's Rights, Economic Justice & Labor Rights.
-  Organized high school students for civil rights, anti-racism, student power, freedom of speech, and antiwar activism.

-  Cities included Nashville, TN, Richmond, VA, Durham / Chapel Hill, NC, Oak Ridge / Knoxville, TN, Atlanta, GA, Jackson, MS, New Orleans, LA, Birmingham, AL, Gainesville, FL, and Little Rock, AR.
-  Trained in community organizing, publication production, and organizational effectiveness by SSOC President Lynn Wells, SSOC Officer David Nolan, and SSOC Treasurer Mike Welch.
-  Founded, wrote, edited, and published a Southwide High School Newspaper, "The Iceberg," with a circulation of 5,000, distributed to high school students throughout the South.
-  Responsible for designing, writing, editing, typing, graphics, printing, mailing, and distributing the publication to students throughout the South.
-  "The Iceberg" back issues archive available through University of Virginia Library.
-   Organized a successful Southwide High School Conference during Easter weekend (1969) held at The Church of the Master, Atlanta, GA, with registration at The Great Speckled Bird Newspaper offices and by mail.
-  Speakers included Carl Oglesby, Harry Boyte, Lynn Wells, and Dave Simpson. Workshops were held on High School Organizing, Radical Southern History, Black Power, Women's Liberation, Underground Media, and The University.
-  Attended, organized, and appeared at regional & national events of up to 500,000 protesters, including several in Washington, D.C.
-  Participated in movement meetings & conferences in Washington, D.C., Atlanta, GA, Nashville, TN, Knoxville, TN, New Orleans, LA, Charlottesville, VA, and Detroit, MI. Co-authored & submitted position papers.
            

    
    

    
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