Dona Lopez

My sales journey began in 5th grade as the top cookie seller in my Girl Scout troop, an early spark that grew into a lifelong career in financial services and relationship-driven sales. From a teen internship at Washington Mutual to roles at Altria, Nordstrom, Luxottica, Kraft, and VSP, I built a strong cross-industry foundation in sales and strategy. In recent years, I’ve led strategy at American Express, Capital One, and Papaya Global earning a reputation for simplifying complex financial solutions, uncovering whitespace, and delivering measurable ROI for clients. Today, as an Independent Consultant, I help businesses and individuals strengthen their financial strategy by: -Advising on corporate card optimization to capture maximum rewards, rebates, and efficiencies -Designing cost-saving strategies that improve cash flow and unlock long-term value -Supporting accounts payable transformation through automation, virtual cards, and vendor payment solutions -Partnering with a boutique wealth management firm to provide 401(k) planning, investment advisory, and long-term financial strategy I’m in a season of designing a career with intention rooted in purpose, experience, and service. Whether through consulting, strategic partnerships, or future ventures, I’m always open to aligned conversations and the right next step. My focus is on helping businesses and individuals achieve the right balance between financial efficiency and growth.

As a trusted advisor to business owners and CFOs, I delivered consultative financial solutions that optimized payments, unlocked working capital, and streamlined accounts payable. I built strong C-level partnerships by diagnosing inefficiencies, designing card-based payment strategies, and quantifying ROI through cash back and expense management savings. -Partnered with controllers, CFOs, and business bankers to restructure AP workflows, shifting check/ACH payments to card-based Pay Vendor solutions for improved liquidity. -Consulted mid-market and enterprise businesses on maximizing unlimited 2% cash back, driving six- and seven-figure annual savings. -Built a reputation as a strategic partner by aligning with client objectives on growth, risk mitigation, and vendor management. -Leveraged financial acumen to deliver cost savings analyses, benchmarking, and spend optimization strategies, positioning Capital One as a long-term corporate liability solution.

Led enterprise sales across global payroll and workforce management solutions, helping companies navigate the complexities of cross-border employment. I applied a consultative, solution-oriented approach to identify inefficiencies in global operations and deliver technology-driven outcomes. -Engaged with C-level leaders to diagnose global payroll challenges and architect scalable workforce solutions. -Guided clients on compliance, risk management, and automation strategies that reduced costs and manual errors. -Strengthened Papaya’s market presence by building global partnerships and demonstrating ROI for multinational clients.

Promoted into a full-cycle acquisition and expansion role managing strategic growth opportunities.Owned complex sales cycles and partnered with executive decision-makers to deploy tailored B2B payment and expense solutions. -Delivered enterprise-level acquisition wins while simultaneously driving client expansion within existing strategic accounts. -Created financial ROI models that showcased measurable impact on working capital, rebate optimization, and expense visibility. -Navigated multi-stakeholder deal cycles across Finance, Treasury, and Procurement. -Recognized for ability to translate financial products into measurable business value, driving adoption across competitive accounts.

Transitioned into a hybrid role focused on both retention and new client acquisition. Acted as a trusted advisor to finance leaders, building business cases for adopting Amex’s global payment solutions. -Secured net-new clients while continuing to drive expansion within existing portfolios. -Led multi-threaded sales cycles with CFOs, Controllers, and AP teams to align payment strategies with business goals. -Strengthened Amex’s presence in the Dallas market by building a pipeline of high-potential accounts.

Partnered with existing small and mid-market clients to deepen relationships and expand card adoption. Took a consultative approach to uncover business needs, optimize working capital, and strengthen expense management strategies. -Consistently exceeded retention and growth targets by positioning Amex as a strategic financial partner. -Uncovered whitespace to drive incremental spend, unlocking new supplier acceptance and increasing account profitability. -Provided insights on cash flow optimization, expense control, and supplier negotiations to help clients scale efficiently.

As a Regional Manager, I focused on developing people, driving sales performance, and delivering exceptional customer experiences across a multi-unit territory. Highly goal-oriented and committed to exceeding targets, I built energetic, inspiring workplaces where teams thrived and results followed. My leadership approach was grounded in strategic pillars: market expansion, brand portfolio management, financial discipline, and the development of talented, committed employees. By setting clear objectives, fostering accountability, and celebrating success, I created a culture of growth, performance, and shared vision. -Set clear sales objectives and performance expectations across the region. -Recruited, trained, and developed top talent through individualized coaching and development plans. -Drove a culture of “Celebrate. Observe. Develop” to inspire and sustain high-performing teams. -Fostered a fun, customer-focused environment to consistently deliver the Sunglass Hut Experience. -Leveraged customer feedback to improve service, strengthen engagement, and enhance results. -Promoted continuous growth by identifying strengths and development opportunities across stores.

As Regional Trainer, I was responsible for developing talent and driving sales performance across a multi-unit territory. I coached leaders and associates on sales strategies, executed company initiatives, and ensured stores consistently delivered the Sunglass Hut Experience. By modeling best practices and instilling a customer-first culture, I elevated both employee engagement and customer satisfaction, helping align the region with brand objectives. -Delivered ongoing training in sales and service to elevate performance across stores. -Cultivated a customer-centric culture that strengthened loyalty and brand alignment. -Partnered with leadership to execute initiatives that translated directly into sales growth.

As Center Director, I led a multi-segment center, overseeing sales, training, onboarding, and recruiting. I developed leadership teams and sales consultants with a focus on driving revenue, strengthening product knowledge, and aligning performance with brand goals. -Coached leaders and consultants on consultative selling and brand positioning. -Oversaw business analysis, forecasting, scheduling, and payroll to optimize efficiency. -Built a high-performance culture that balanced financial discipline with customer excellence.

As Center Manager, I oversaw four high-volume stores within a diverse market, delivering growth through people development, strategic sales planning, and customer experience leadership. Responsible for 18–20 team members, I set business objectives, analyzed performance data, and built plans to close gaps and consistently hit sales targets. -Delivered the Sunglass Hut Experience, fostering emotional connection with brand and customers. -Recruited and onboarded management and sales teams, building high-energy, motivated workplaces. -Drove business results by aligning team objectives with company initiatives.

Managed one of the largest-volume luxury locations in the market, responsible for both operational performance and sales leadership. I created an inspirational, motivating atmosphere where employees thrived and customers experienced best-in-class service. -Coached and developed leadership/associate teams to consistently exceed sales goals. -Maintained high operational standards in a premium luxury retail environment. -Elevated customer service to serve as brand ambassadors for the portfolio. Served on Luxottica's Non-Profit Organization | OneSight: OneSight Region Council Jan 2015 - May 2016 Represented the OneSight Foundation, leading fundraising and awareness campaigns across the region. As Ambassador, I inspired teams to connect emotionally with the mission of giving the gift of sight. -Region rose from bottom rankings to top 12 nationally for fundraising. -Served as liaison to inspire leadership teams and drive results. -Modeled brand values through philanthropic leadership. Represented the OneSight Foundation, leading fundraising and awareness campaigns across the region. As Ambassador, I inspired teams to connect emotionally with the mission of giving the gift of sight. -Region rose from bottom rankings to top 12 nationally for fundraising. -Served as liaison to inspire leadership teams and drive results. -Modeled brand values through philanthropic leadership. OneSight Ambassador Jan 2014 - Jan 2015 Served as a liaison between our zone and region to inspire, motivate, and drive engagement in support of OneSight, a non-profit dedicated to providing vision care to underserved communities. By leading with passion and modeling commitment, I helped elevate our region’s performance from the bottom rankings to #12 nationally, with my store ranking #17 company-wide. This role was both humbling and impactful, as it combined leadership, advocacy, and philanthropy to create measurable change in people’s lives while uniting teams around a meaningful cause.

Delivered high-touch client experiences in a luxury retail environment, where I honed my ability to anticipate client needs and build trust through relationship-driven service. Developed a loyal book of business through referrals and personalized outreach. This early experience shaped my client-first approach and reinforced the importance of tailoring solutions—skills I’ve carried forward into financial services and consulting.

Managed multiple territories across the Arizona market, consistently delivering annualized sales goals and strengthening Kraft’s market position across diverse retail channels. Beyond hitting numbers, I applied a consultative approach—analyzing business trends, tailoring go-to-market strategies, and partnering with clients to unlock growth. -Revitalized two underperforming territories through data-driven business analysis, localized strategies, and targeted product positioning. -Increased distribution and shelf share, driving incremental revenue across multiple product segments. -Developed trusted partnerships with account managers and retail clients, acting as a strategic advisor on category growth and customer engagement. -Built a foundation of business analysis, forecasting, and client-first selling that I continue to leverage in financial consulting and B2B sales leadership today.

• Elected Pledge Class Treasurer; tracked dues, managed class budget, and coordinated payments • Participated in professional development, recruiting, and chapter service initiatives

• Supported sales execution across a mixed territory of convenience stores, liquor stores, and retail chain accounts, ensuring consistent in-store standards and account follow-through. • Pitched new product introductions, secured new placements and improved speed-to-shelf through consistent follow-up. • Negotiated pricing and promotional terms with store owners/managers within program guidelines to win distribution, increase trial, and strengthen retailer margin economics. • Conducted store visits to audit distribution, shelf placement, pricing, and promotional/display compliance, documenting gaps and recommending corrective actions. • Partnered with store managers and key contacts to strengthen inventory discipline and reduce out-of-stocks through improved ordering habits and backroom checks. • Assisted with merchandising and planogram alignment, validating shelf sets and identifying opportunities to improve visibility at point of sale. • Gathered and summarized competitive intelligence (pricing, promotions, placement, merchandising tactics) and shared insights with the sales team to inform account strategy. • Supported retail chain execution by tracking program requirements across locations and escalating issues impacting compliance or availability. • Maintained organized territory notes and action plans; provided weekly updates on progress, priorities, and next steps to field leadership. • Contributed to route planning and call cadence improvements to maximize coverage across high-priority accounts and seasonal peak windows. • Collaborated with distribution/field partners to resolve store-level issues impacting availability, execution, and speed to shelf. • Delivered a final presentation on territory findings and recommendations to improve distribution expansion and retail execution across the account base.

Bachelor of Arts in Business Communication with a minor in Spanish.