Lauren Ensley
Atlanta
Summary
Results-driven professional with a strong background in account and logistics management. Expertise includes contract negotiation, customer satisfaction, and process improvement, supported by effective communication and analytical skills. Proven ability to build relationships and provide actionable insights that enhance decision-making and operational efficiency.
Overview
1
1
Certification
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Freight Planner
Northstar Recycling
East Longmeadow
07.2024 - Current
- Develop daily and long-term freight plans based on customer demand, carrier capacity, delivery windows, and costs.
- Built efficient loads, consolidated shipments, and selected optimal transportation modes and routes to enhance delivery performance.
- Coordinate with carriers, brokers, and third-party logistics (3PL) providers to secure capacity and negotiate rates.
- Monitored transportation KPIs like on-time delivery and freight costs, recommending actionable improvements to enhance performance.
- Address disruptions like weather delays, equipment shortages, missed pickups, or delivery exceptions while minimizing customer impact.
- Acted as primary contact for customers, providing timely shipment updates, resolving issues, and meeting service expectations.
Vessel Closeout Specialist
Ocean Network Express
Atlanta
02.2024 - 07.2024
- Resolved nonstandard closeout issues, providing effective solutions to internal and external stakeholders.
- Liaised with port operations, documentation, and customer service teams to streamline communication and improve service delivery.
- Tracked and traced containers via rail systems to ensure timely advancement, rolling, or reduction of ocean liner shipments.
- Reconciled port pairs with terminals to confirm all required containers are loaded.
- Submitted reports to US Customs and ensured all shipper documents are in place.
Operation Specialist & Carrier Sales
Fox Logistics
Starke
03.2022 - 10.2023
- Met monthly sales quota metrics consecutively over a 7-month span as Carrier Sales and Operations Specialist.
- Managed freight accounts as liaison between shippers and carriers, facilitating communication to ensure timely and safe delivery of critical freight loads.
- Evaluated and contracted prospective truck carriers to support the brokering of quality transportation for customers; identified and hired reputable, safe carriers for freight services.
- Managed shipments via tracking and tracing to provide status updates to ensure goods arrive promptly and undamaged.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to coordinate shipping and delivery schedules, enhancing operational efficiency.
- Built strong relationships with customers, while negotiating prices and preparing spot quotes for shipments.
- Researched and monitored market and industry trends in transportation to inform strategic decision-making.
Account Manager
Hub Group
Atlanta
08.2018 - 03.2022
- Acted as the primary contact between the customer and commercial retail accounts and transportation operations, while managing customer relationships through addressing and resolving concerns or issues.
- Monitored and analyzed order acceptance, maintenance, reporting, and billing; prepared account status reports to enhance customer engagement and retention.
- Negotiated contracts and closed agreements to maximize profitability.
- Built trusted advisor relationships with key accounts and executive leaders, facilitating effective communication and collaboration.
- Managed delivery appointments, maximized margin, and utilized network efficiency for on-time performance.
- Spearheaded regular status meetings to provide updates on monthly/quarterly initiatives to internal and external stakeholders.
- Cultivated existing accounts by identifying improvement areas and consistently exceeding sales quotas.
Customer Success Manager
N3
Atlanta
01.2020 - 04.2021
- Facilitated client onboarding, supported adoption while trying to expand their usage of cloud-based CRM platform, and navigating programs and software.
- Administered contracts and managed a portfolio of 50+ accounts while cultivating and maintaining strong customer relationships.
- Facilitated direct pipeline and drove revenue growth for digital customers through successful licensing renewals.
- Analyzed customer data and collected feedback to enhance onboarding processes and boost overall customer engagement, promoting exceptional service and value.
- Established clear client retention goals; maintained ongoing, recurring communication with customers.
- Nurtured positive relationships with partners through active listening and problem solving, ensuring timely responses and demonstrating empathy.
- Led end-to-end program fulfillment of partner marketing programs for Microsoft Azure, collaborating closely with cross-functional teams (e.g., engineering, IT, etc.)
Logistics Analyst & Imports Coordinator
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines
Atlanta
12.2016 - 03.2018
- Managed recovery efforts for service failures, cargo damaged in transit, resolved and settled invoice disputes.
- Monitored high priority shipments, tracked costs, timelines, and productivity; ensured key performance indicators (KPIs) were in place to manage performance.
- Facilitated and negotiated with suppliers, transportation resources, carriers, and vendors.
- Acted as the escalation point of contact for unresolved issues related to key account import and export shipments.
- Investigated and addressed complaints related to critical service incidents.
- Recorded service challenges in Salesforce and offered guidance based on transportation modes.
- Created, analyzed, and optimized logistics projects and SLA procedures.
Education
Bachelor of Science (BS) - Criminal Justice and Corrections
Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw, GA05-2014
Skills
- Supply Chain Management
- Data Analytics & Analysis
- Agile Methodologies
- Contract Negotiation
- Rate Negotiation
- Contracting Strategy
- Cross-functional Collaboration
- Stakeholder Management
- Strategic Planning
- Process Improvement
- Problem Solving
- Time and Problem Management
- Attention to Detail
- Communication
- Adaptability
Certification
- Azure Fundamentals, 05/20
- Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO), 08/23
Timeline
Senior Freight Planner
Northstar Recycling
07.2024 - Current
Vessel Closeout Specialist
Ocean Network Express
02.2024 - 07.2024
Operation Specialist & Carrier Sales
Fox Logistics
03.2022 - 10.2023
Customer Success Manager
N3
01.2020 - 04.2021
Account Manager
Hub Group
08.2018 - 03.2022
Logistics Analyst & Imports Coordinator
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines
12.2016 - 03.2018
Bachelor of Science (BS) - Criminal Justice and Corrections
Kennesaw State University