Beth Backstrom Email & Phone Number

Melbourne, Fl, Us

Us

I help support the transportation function of Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corporation in a variety of ways. I work with suppliers, third party distribution partners, and carriers, to ensure product is where it needs to be, when it needs to be. I largely support a new Consumer Packaged Goods initiative, moving temperature controlled product from factories to storage and on to grocery customer distribution centers. This has involved creating SOPs, securing carriers, managing metrics, and process improvement. Additionally, I manage many ad-hoc shipments, including truckloads, LTL, white glove, and parcel. I work with suppliers to move ingredients and supplies into distribution locations, and ensure shops have much needed supplies to continue providing sweet treats to Krispy Kreme customers. I have also been involved in managing a large white glove project, rolling out over 1500 displays to grocery stores nationwide.

I came to Transplace as the Freight Audit Manager, tasked with improving turn time of carrier invoices and reducing overall outstanding carrier balances. During my time in this role, I reduced outstanding invoice count from 13,000 to 6300, and reduced average age of invoices by 5 days. The corporate team made the decision to move the audit function to another location; thus eliminating this role in April 2018. I am now in a Business Analyst role, helping identify opportunities for our customers with their supply chain and for Transplace to increase our value as a service provider.

I was responsible for administering our recently activated FTZ at the Greensboro distribution center. To prepare for this, I completed the customs broker exam training process, attended the spring NAFTZ seminar, and networked with other local operators to better understand the scope and responsibilities of an FTZ. I was also involved with preparing the FTZ standard operating procedures. I also prepared commercial invoices for export to Puerto Rico, Guam, and Canada. I identified opportunities for savings by combining shipments going to the same customer, with a potential to save approximately $155,000 annually. I took the initiative to train other associates on the usage of various carrier websites to pull reports and research shipment discrepancies, and prepared a "Transportation 101" training deck for shipping and tracking associates. I utilized SAP on a daily basis for viewing orders and generating documents.

Mahwah, Nj, Us

I was transitioned to this role to manage new store construction as my full time responsibility, after increasing the new and remodeled project count per year from approximately 50 to almost 200, beginning in 2013 due to acquisitions. I quickly learned the processes of the acquired companies and was able to seamlessly integrate this into our operation. This role included managing all aspects of transportation for construction materials for new store builds and remodels, carrier selection for rollouts and retro fits for existing stores, conducting carrier RFP's, analyzing pricing, negotiating terms and rates, and implementing providers. I was able to build meaningful relationships with our new business partners by showing them I was committed to their success and making their jobs easier and more efficient.

Mahwah, Nj, Us

While in this role, I managed an outbound network distributing first to approximately 1000 retail locations, then implementing an additional 800 stores as our business grew through a merger. I was the key contact for the retail locations for any shipping or delivery issues. I also implemented a new tool for retail locations to create shipments and print labels for anything going outbound from their store, saving the company approximately $75,000 during the first year. During this time I also participated on a team to open the first retail locations in Canada, administering an RFP for transportation services and implementing the new shipping process, collaborating with cross-functional partners across the business to ensure successful store openings. These responsibilities were in addition to continuing to manage all aspects of transportation for new store construction.

Columbus, Oh, Us

I was brought in to Tween Brands as a consultant in May 2007 to develop processes for their new store transportation and reduce costs. After 3 months I had shown my value and was made a regular full time employee in August 2007. In this role I was responsible for all transportation of materials to new and remodeled stores, for approximately 100 projects per year. I audited freight invoices for payment, which allowed me to identify many opportunities for cost savings, totaling over $300,000 in the first year. I also wrote and distributed a vendor routing guide, ensuring vendors had proper instructions to follow our shipping requirements. I implemented a new parcel provider to ship replenishment from our DC for over 900 stores nationwide. This included preparing a customized communication packet for each store, detailing the changes in delivery schedules and receiving processes. I also became the key contact for the retail locations when faced with any issues involving their deliveries.

While with this small pickup and delivery company, I was responsible for all customer invoicing, receipts, and collections. I needed to work closely with the operations team to ensure customers were invoiced correctly for the services they received. I reduced the invoicing turnaround from between 48-72 hours to 24 hours, thus improving the company cash flow. Ultimately the business failed however, which is the reason for my short tenure in this role.

New York, Ny, Us

While employed by this leader in the textbook publishing industry, I was responsible for all freight payment activities. I supervised a team of 4 auditors, ensuring they had proper training and tools to accurately audit invoices. During my tenure, we improved our accuracy by partnering with operations and implementing an approval process for accessorial charges, which enabled my team to have these approvals up front, instead of stopping their work to research each one. I successfully hired and onboarded the 4th auditor, enabling me to more effectively distribute the work and even out each employee's workload.

While with this company, the internal distribution arm of Eddie Bauer and Spiegel Catalog, I was primarily responsible for the distribution and delivery of all products sold as non-parcel home delivery, such as home furnishings, fitness equipment, and outdoor furniture. This required a complete understanding of not only distribution, but also vendor drop ships, and the various types of residential deliveries, from curbside all the way up to full white glove services. As a cost savings initiative, I identified a product line that could be delivered with a different service level. I negotiated pricing and implemented a new carrier which saved in excess of $30,000 the first year. Additionally, I was the backup to the department director, supporting him in our e-commerce parcel distribution, conducting tracking samplings, updating routings, and coordinating holiday season service upgrades.