Russell Strout
Woodgate,QLD
Summary
Experienced farm manager Self-motivated professional highly proficient in developing creative solutions and implementing objective decision making. Maintains positive attitude and works hard to build team relationships.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
Work History
Farm Co Ordinator
Cutri Fruit
Swan Hill, Victoria
04.2022 - 09.2024
- Leadership and team building
- Planning and execution of work
- Hands on work with teams - 12 Palm Scheme workers + 40 contractors
- Seasonal workers from different nationalities and ethnic groups
- Harvest quality control - plums, peaches, nectarines & avocados
- Orchard wellbeing - pruning, thinning, picking, snail control, weed control
- Spraying for nutrition, insects, fungus
- Record keeping of weekly wages for permanent staff and seasonal workers
- Maintaining and control of equipment
- Ensure daily /weekly & monthly tasks are completed with excellence within budget targets
- Work in extreme weather conditions
- Walk the rows constantly to ensure work is up to standard - fine eye for details
- Implement instructions and use own initiative
- Constantly aim to improve all aspects of production and continually improve our knowledge and yield on an ongoing basis
Farm Manager
JS Bruwer Boerdery (Pty) Ltd - Farms Unipack Fruit (Pty) Ltd - Export Packhouse
01.2017 - 07.2022
- Company Overview: Ashton/Bonnievale/Robertson, Western Cape Region
- Leadership and team building
- Planning and execution of work
- Hands on work with team - 21 permanent staff & +- 130 seasonal workers
- Seasonal workers from different nationalities and ethnic groups
- Harvest quality control - plums, apricots, citrus
- Orchard wellbeing - irrigation, pruning, snail control, weed control, fertilization through irrigation
- Spraying for nutrition, insects, fungus
- Record keeping of weekly wages for permanent staff and seasonal workers
- Maintaining and control of equipment
- Ensure daily /weekly & monthly tasks are completed with excellence
- Work in very hot conditions 12-14-hour days in summer
- Walk the rows constantly to ensure work is up to standard - fine eye for details
- Implement instructions and use own initiative
- Constantly aim to improve all aspects of production and continually improve our knowledge and yield on an ongoing basis
- Ashton/Bonnievale/Robertson, Western Cape Region
Operations & Sales Manager
Healthy Brands
01.2014 - 12.2016
- Sole importer of Atkins Dietary Products into South Africa (imported from Europe)
- Cold-Calling for new business opportunities
- Servicing on current clients to build relationships for increased revenue generation
- Negotiating of deals with buyers at store level
- Finding new opportunities and sourcing new business
- Introducing new brands into the retail outlets
- Managing stock levels within the retail outlets as well as warehouse level
- Ensuring customer satisfaction
Farm Owner - Stone Fruit, Vineyard, Cash crops
New Beginnings Farm
08.2009 - 03.2014
- Company Overview: Montagu, South Africa
- Responsible for full management of operating the farm, maintaining a high standard of crop which is supplied for export
- Budgeting
- Management of staff
- Forecasting and Planning
- Cash Flow Management
- Operational planning in terms of seasonal requirements
- Strategy implementation
- Montagu, South Africa
- Reason for Leaving: Sold Farm
- Purchased New Beginnings Farm in Montagu, South Africa to adopt a change in lifestyle
Dealer Principal
Oaks Auto
Kokstad, South Africa
01.1996 - 08.2009
- Company Overview: Ford / Mazda Dealership & Fuel Station
- Responsible for the management of the full dealership as a whole
- Responsible for ensuring the overall profitability of the dealership
- Setting and implementing of the overall strategic plan and long-term goals of the dealership
- Constant monitoring of dealerships expenses and budget
- Constantly driving sales to ensure targets and objectives were achieved monthly and annually
- Analyzing sales figures in line with weekly/monthly set-out targets and the achievement thereof
- Ensured all departments were efficient and key personnel were employed at all times
- Constantly monitoring customer satisfaction
- Liaising with Franchise Head Office
- Dealing with manufacturers targets, objectives and standards
- Management and leadership of various heads of departments within the dealership ensuring that they all understood how their roles supported the business
- Management of a staff complement of 52 employees
- Representing and the company at CCMA hearings adhering to company policies and procedures
- Implementing HR procedures within the company, following discipline and incentive policies
- Ford / Mazda Dealership & Fuel Station
- Reason for Leaving: Relocated to the Western Cape - Purchased a small stone fruit farm
Skills
- First Aid Certificate
- Fire Warden
- Work Safe Procedures and inductions
- Pest and disease modules
- Management and business acumen
- Team Performer
- Negotiation Skills
- Organizational skills
- Communication Skills
- Interpersonal Skills
- Computer Skills
- MS Office
- Internet
Forklift license
True
Computer literacy
- MS Word
- MS Excel
- Outlook
- Internet Explorer
- Employment Hero
- Tatou Field
Sports hobbies interests
- Kayaking
- Cycling - Road & Mtb
- Keen interest in all Sports
References
Available on request
Languages
English
Educational details and achievements
First Aid Certificate, Fire Warden, Work Safe Procedures and inductions, Numerous - pest and disease modules ongoing, Strong Management and business acumen, Excellent Team Performer, Sound negotiation Skills, Strong organizational skills, Communication and Interpersonal Skills, Computer Skills (MS Office, Internet and E-mail), Ford / Mazda Sales Manager of the Year: New & Used Car Sales 1993 / 1994 / 1995 / 1996, National Award for Recruiting and Management of the best sales team for Ford Motor Company 1996, Promoted to Dealer Principal in 1996, as a shareholder, again winning numerous accolades. These were target achievements and outstanding customer service and performance awards., Successfully completed National Credit Registration Examination in 2001., Completed 10 Cape Argus Cycle Tours, 7 Day Sela Cycle Tour - Mpumalanga
Personal Information
- Available: Immediate
- Nationality: South African
- Driving License: Non Restricted Australian Licence
- Marital Status: Married
- Visa Status: TSS 482 Med Term Visa
Timeline
Farm Co Ordinator
Cutri Fruit
04.2022 - 09.2024
Farm Manager
JS Bruwer Boerdery (Pty) Ltd - Farms Unipack Fruit (Pty) Ltd - Export Packhouse
01.2017 - 07.2022
Operations & Sales Manager
Healthy Brands
01.2014 - 12.2016
Farm Owner - Stone Fruit, Vineyard, Cash crops
New Beginnings Farm
08.2009 - 03.2014
Dealer Principal
Oaks Auto
01.1996 - 08.2009
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