James Kolz, Csw, Css
About James Kolz, Csw, Css
James Kolz is a Region Chain Manager with extensive experience in the beverage industry, currently working at Brown-Forman since 2019. He has held various leadership roles at companies such as Diageo, Integrated Beverage Group, and E&J Gallo Winery, contributing to significant revenue growth and sales training initiatives.
Current Role at Brown-Forman
James Kolz serves as the Region Chain Manager at Brown-Forman, a position he has held since 2019. In this role, he is responsible for overseeing chain sales operations in the Greater Chicago Area. His leadership has contributed to significant depletion growth, achieving an average of 10.4% over four years. Kolz's focus on account-customized programming has also resulted in notable depletion growth of 16% in fiscal year 2019 and 10% in fiscal year 2020.
Previous Experience at Brown-Forman
Prior to his current role, James Kolz worked at Brown-Forman as the Division Retail Manager from 2016 to 2019. During his tenure, he managed retail operations and developed strategies to enhance sales performance in the Greater Chicago Area. His efforts in this position laid the groundwork for his subsequent role as Region Chain Manager.
Career Background in Sales and Marketing
James Kolz has extensive experience in sales and marketing within the beverage industry. He served as the Regional Vice President of Sales at Integrated Beverage Group for six months in 2015, where he achieved 120% of revenue targets within six months. His role as Commercial Director Central - Catalyst at Diageo from 2011 to 2014 involved managing a portfolio of over 20 brands across a seven-state region, where he successfully identified opportunities and motivated the salesforce.
Education and Academic Background
James Kolz studied at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Management from 1993 to 1997. His education provided a foundation for his career in the beverage industry, equipping him with the skills necessary for effective management and sales strategies.
Achievements in Revenue Growth
Throughout his career, James Kolz has demonstrated a strong ability to drive revenue growth. At E&J Gallo Winery, he developed a sales training manual that resulted in a 30% revenue increase by revitalizing a neglected sales channel. Additionally, he created a national account goal model at Terlato Artisan Spirits, leading to a 26% increase in program execution and depletion growth.