Tara L. Deans is a dynamic manager with extensive experience in consultative sales and operational management in the home building industry. She has a track record of growing businesses, improving efficiency, and achieving high customer satisfaction scores. Her skills include marketing, sales management, customer service, and leading organizational change to reduce costs and streamline operations.

1. Tara L. Deans
8708 Waynick Drive ♦ Raleigh, NC 27617 ♦ (919) 625-4100
taradeans@yahoo.com
SUMMARY
A dynamic manager, possessing both creativity and business savvy along with extensive consultative sales
experience. Intensely customer focused with a talent for product merchandising and development. Unique skill
combination of big picture thinking and detail orientation. A nose for talent; ability to seek the best employees,
hire, train, coach and retain. Can do attitude; a person that people want to work with and for. Ability to run a
highly successful business in a challenging market. Adept at designing and implementing processes to increase
efficiency, profitability and customer experience. Exceptional analysis and communication skills.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
KB Home Corporation, Raleigh, NC 7/07 to 12/08
Regional Studio Director
Raleigh Studio Director
Centex Homes, Raleigh, NC 5/98 to 6/07
Design Center Manager And
Design Sales Consultant 8/93 to 10/96
On-site Sales Counselor
Creative Computer Training Center, Charlotte, NC 2/97 to 4/98
Training Director
SELECTED ACCOMPLISHMENTS
OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT
• Directed KB Home Studios in Raleigh and Charlotte, managing 9,000 and 12,000 sq. foot showrooms,
multiple product lines and designer teams, serving customers personalizing their homes.
• Nominated to national council for Centex Homes, based on successful leadership in Raleigh Design Center
business, ultimately defining national best practices and systems.
• Led a computer training program in the North Carolina Community College System. Secured government
contract and public sales; educating students for job placement through affiliated staffing service.
SALES MANAGEMENT
• Grew design center option sales business from an average of $21,000 per home to $58,000 in 4 years.
Focused on customer needs, design trends, sales team performance, pricing, merchandising and new option
development which generated $13 million dollars in yearly revenue.
• Optimized revenue in a market downturn by focusing on cost savings, streamlining of offerings and
overhead reductions; producing bottom line results of $12 million in Charlotte and $15.5 million in Raleigh,
providing approximately 45% as corporate profit.
Tara L. Deans, page 1 of 3

2. • Created division sales contests that kept the team engaged and supported up selling opportunities which
resulted in achievement of targeted sales goals and customer satisfaction scores.
• Led national sales contests by developing sales strategies and incentives that earned approximately $10,000
in extra funds used directly for team building events and monetary employee rewards.
• Earned additional revenue from business partnerships with telecommunication companies and trade
partners, contributing $200,000 yearly. Specifically chosen by Corporate Studio to launch business
partnership with FLOR, based on strong sales performance.
CONSULTATIVE SALES
• Experienced Design Consultant gifted at meeting customer needs. Consistently surpassed all quarterly sales
goals, earning promotion to sales leader.
• Provided creative solutions to achieve customer’s dream home by working with buyer and Mortgage
Company to maximize decorating budget.
• Ability to up sell the customer while still providing superior customer satisfaction.
MARKETING
• Coordinated merchandising and space planning of 3 retail Design Studios. Remodeled Studios several
times a year to keep the offerings fresh and stylish which provided convenient, one-stop shopping for
customers.
• Selected and designed options for model homes along with pool and club houses. Also crafted option
descriptions, catalogues and vignettes which provided an outstanding presentation of products and
excitement to the customer.
• Conducted monthly internal and competitive market analysis of all options sold versus big box competitors,
builders and other retail stores identifying opportunities to set pricing and adjust profit margins to achieve
maximum value and profit.
• Orchestrated Studio events, focusing on corporate green building program. Utilized partnerships with
vendors, citizen advisory board members, community partnerships and co-workers to deliver
demonstrations of environmentally friendly features in new homes to prospects which contributed sales by
positioning KB Home as leading Energy Star and environmentally friendly builder.
ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE
• Worked closely with purchasing and senior management to redesign Studio business. Performed detailed
SKU rationalization; streamlining offerings by 30% which resulted in cost savings from suppliers and
business efficiencies.
• Reduced fixed costs from 5.6% to 4.8% in 6 months by minimizing overhead, supplies and negotiating with
vendors for better rates.
CUSTOMER SERVICE
• Developed and executed plans to achieve JD Power customer satisfaction average score of 9.1 which was
integral to Builder’s overall achievement of best builder in the Raleigh area 5 years in a row.
• Raised score from 8.3 to 9.0 in 1 year, ranking as the most improved division in the nation.
• Ability to deal confidently with diverse situations; remaining calm during employee and customer conflict,
listening and offering clear problem resolution.
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3. EDUCATION
BA, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC 1992
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
Centex Management Development Training, Professional Selling System, Customer Experience Workshop, and
Production Management Training Program
KB Home Structured Sales and Management Training
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