valerie dean-sotham

Territory sales and B2B account management professional with 10+ years driving territory growth, new business, and customer retention across CPG and natural health. Experienced in consultative selling, CRM‑driven planning, and strategic account execution that expands distribution and delivers profitable results. Former National Sales Manager with strong financial acumen, forecasting expertise, and a proven ability to solve complex service, delivery, and operational challenges. Brings deep operator insight from culinary and procurement roles, enabling credible, value‑based support for independent restaurants and food service customers.

NATIONAL SALES MANAGER 
Atrium Innovations (Nestlé) → Nestlé Health Science — Victoria, BC | Jan 2022 – Nov 2025

• Delivered $25M+ in annual national sales revenue, consistently surpassing forecasts and driving profitable growth.

• Supported national sales performance across hundreds of B2B accounts by coaching and guiding a team of nine regional managers.

• Acted as a national escalation point for key accounts, resolving complex delivery, service, and inventory challenges to protect customer satisfaction and retention.

• Strengthened customer relationships through proactive communication, strategic business reviews, and consultative selling.

• Collaborated cross‑functionally with marketing, operations, supply chain, and customer support to ensure seamless execution of national programs.

• Directed forecasting, pricing strategy, and executive reporting to expand market share and support territory‑level growth.

• Leveraged CRM tools to track performance, analyze trends, and identify high‑value opportunities.

• Supported credit, AR, and compliance considerations by ensuring accounts remained healthy and aligned with corporate policies.

TERRITORY SALES MANAGEMENT 

Garden of Life (Account Manager) — Victoria, BC | Jan 2017 – Jan 2022

Naturally Pure Brokerage (Partner & Strategic Lead) — Victoria, BC | Jan 2016 – Dec 2017

Flora Manufacturing & Distributing (Account Manager, Contract) — BC | Aug 2014 – Sep 2015

The Vitamin Shop (Product Advisor) — Victoria, BC | Feb 2012 – Aug 2014

• Managed 100–400+ B2B accounts across Vancouver Island, the Interior, Vancouver, Sunshine Coast, and Gulf Islands, consistently driving territory growth and customer retention.

• Built strong customer relationships through regular in‑person visits, strategic planning, and consultative selling tailored to operator needs.

• Identified and secured new business opportunities, on-boarding new accounts and expanding category penetration across diverse customer segments.

• Executed promotional programs, merchandising plans, and annual sales initiatives to increase distribution and brand visibility.

• Secured listings with major chains and expanded distribution across competitive categories through value‑based selling and market analysis.

• Represented brands at trade shows and industry events, strengthening market presence and supporting customer education.

• Prioritized high‑value opportunities and independently managed large territories with strong time‑management and field‑execution discipline.

• Strengthened retailer and distributor partnerships by providing product training, promotional support, and proactive communication.

• Built foundational consultative selling skills as a Product Advisor, recommending solutions based on customer needs and developing strong product knowledge.

FOOD & HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT

International Yacht Management (Head Chef & Hospitality Lead) — East Coast USA, Caribbean, Bahamas | Feb 2008 – Jul 2011 

Island Gourmet Catering (Head Chef) — Victoria, BC | Aug 2007
Kettle Catering (Head Chef) — Victoria, BC | Sep 2002 – Apr 2008

Innovation Catering (Head Chef) — Victoria, BC | Oct 2003 – Jan 2004

• Managed procurement and ordering through Sysco and other distributors, selecting products that balanced quality, cost, and operational efficiency.

• Planned menus, engineered recipes, and optimized food costs to maintain margins in high‑volume environments.

• Oversaw kitchen operations, staff scheduling, and back‑of‑house workflows to ensure consistent service execution.

• Maintained strict inventory controls, storage standards, and food safety compliance.

• Coordinated provisioning, logistics, and vendor relationships for private yachts and large‑scale events.

• Resolved operational challenges under pressure, ensuring seamless service and customer satisfaction.

• Administered complex travel schedules and supported high‑profile events with precision and professionalism.

• Registered Holistic Nutrition, CSNN (2012)
• Advanced Symptomatology, CSNN (2011)
• Silver Service Certification, Florida (2009)
• Safety Training Certificate, Florida (2008)
• Culinary Arts Degree, Camosun College (2006)
• Independent Business Course, Reagar Group (2003)
• Undergraduate Studies, Trent University (1999–2000)