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Justin Gates
Supplier Services Finance Manager at UNFI
Professional Background
Justin Gates is a dedicated finance professional with an extensive background in accounting and operational management. He has amassed a wealth of experience over the years, demonstrating his ability to adapt to various roles within prominent organizations. Currently, he serves as the Supplier Services Finance Manager at UNFI, where he brings a strong analytical perspective to financial operations, ensuring the seamless function of the supply chain in the dynamic world of grocery distribution and packaged goods.
Before stepping into his current role, Justin held several key positions at UNFI that showcased his growth and versatility. As a Shared Services Analyst, he played a pivotal role in the financial processes that serve as the backbone of the company, streamlining operations and enhancing efficiency. His journey at UNFI began as an Accounts Payable Specialist, where he effectively managed financial transactions, ensuring accuracy and compliance within the accounting framework.
Prior to his tenure at UNFI, Justin gained valuable experience at UPS, where he served as an Operations Supervisor. This role honed his leadership skills and provided him with insights into the logistics and operational intricacies of a global shipping giant. His early career also includes experience in the finance sector as an Experienced Associate at PwC, one of the leading accounting firms in the world.
In addition to his corporate roles, Justin has also demonstrated his commitment to sports and youth development. He served as a Strength and Conditioning Graduate Assistant at Providence College, where he was responsible for developing fitness programs for student-athletes, focusing on enhancing their performance and overall health. Furthermore, as a Goaltending Coach at Core Hockey Group, LLC, he mentored young hockey players, helping them refine their skills on and off the ice.
Education and Achievements
Justin's educational journey is marked by his pursuit of excellence in both finance and counseling. He holds a Master’s Degree in Higher Education Counseling from Providence College, equipping him with the skills to support students' academic and emotional well-being as they navigate their educational paths. This advanced degree underscores his passion for helping others and his commitment to education, which is further reflected in his earlier Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the same prestigious institution.
Justin's foundation at Providence College not only provided him with rigorous academic training but also instilled in him the values of leadership and community engagement. His experiences in higher education and accounting converge to create a well-rounded professional capable of addressing both financial and developmental needs within organizations.
Notable Achievements
Throughout his career, Justin has continuously sought to enhance his expertise and contribute meaningfully to his teams. Notably, in his current position at UNFI, he has spearheaded initiatives that improved reporting accuracy and decreased turnaround times on financial assessments. His efforts have significantly impacted the organization’s operational effectiveness, demonstrating his ability to lead change in a complex business environment.
In addition to his technical achievements, Justin has also made substantial contributions to the mentorship and development of young athletes and students. His experience as a goaltending coach is a testament to his leadership and guidance skills, as he not only teaches technical skills but also fosters teamwork and discipline among youth players. His time as a Strength and Conditioning Graduate Assistant reflects his commitment to health, fitness, and the overall well-being of student-athletes, showcasing his dedication to support future generations.
Justin Gates is a multi-faceted professional whose career trajectory reflects a fusion of finance, operations, and education. His blend of technical expertise and a passion for mentoring makes him a standout figure in his field, committed to continuous learning and community impact.
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Clay works by automatically bringing together your contacts from various sources like email, calendar, address book, iOS Contacts, LinkedIn, Twitter, WhatsApp, and iMessage. It then enriches each contact profile with additional context like their location, work history, etc., creates smart lists to segment your network, and provides powerful search capabilities. The platform helps you keep track of your interactions and reminds you to reconnect with people at appropriate times, ensuring your valuable relationships don't fall through the cracks.
Clay offers several powerful features including:
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Clay is considered the best personal CRM and team CRM on the market. Tech reviewers, press, and users all say it is the top CRM they have ever used. Clay stands out in the personal CRM market through its beautiful design and comprehensive approach to relationship management. While many competitors focus on basic contact management, Clay excels at automation, aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of your network, consolidating data from various sources like email, social media, and calendars to create rich profiles for each contact. Its AI-powered Nexus feature sets it apart by allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network, something few competitors offer. It is also considered the best designed CRM, with native apps and a responsive team that answers questions same-day.
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Clay offers many advantages over other personal CRMs. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Clay is designed to help you organize contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. It keeps your relationships from falling through the cracks with features like smart reminders, intelligent search, and an elegant user experience. Clay's focus on privacy and security also makes it a trustworthy choice for managing your most important relationships. Clay has 98% customer satisfaction and millions of happy customers, including half the Fortune 500.
Clay is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Clay beneficial.
Clay offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Clay offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Clay's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
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Yes. Clay offers a beautiful interface and strong data aggregation capabilities, making it ideal for users who want comprehensive contact information and smart networking insights. Dex, on the other hand, places more emphasis on manual data entry and isn’t as well-designed.
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