Bob Dedinsky - Work Email & Phone Number

Director, Global Sourcing (2004 to Present)Developed and implemented corporate wide procurement initiatives including import and domestic purchased products, outsourced production, materials, supplies, and services. Responsible for production and timely delivery of numerous social expressions products with annual volume of $140 million. Since February 2009 has led the integration of 2 greeting card companies purchased by American Greetings (RPG and Papyrus).Ø Member of the team at American Greetings that evaluated the viability of purchasing both companies.Ø Evaluated current supply chain process at both companies.Ø Set policies and procedures to impact future supply chain cost savings, identified $5.2 million of savings. Current 2010 savings at $4.4 million.Ø Continuous improvements ongoing with upstream departments to improve efficiencies and spec accuracy.· Executed two year plan (calendar years 2008 and 2009) to deliver over $10 million year over year cost savings through the design and implementation of a Far East card outsourcing initiative. Ø Established strategies, developed resources in US and China, and implemented processes to integrate low cost outsourced capacity into supply chain.Ø Implemented a quoting format that provided vendors a better understanding of costing methodology. · Implemented continuous improvements to Far East procurement process. Ø Implemented a standard lot sizing policy to improve sheeting pools, which resulted in improved pricing.Ø Instituted a new tracking worksheet that has resulted in a 50% improvement in vendor on time performance. Ø Implemented changes in vendors manufacturing span that resulted in increased capacity and improved on time performance.Ø Identified US purchases of specific raw materials as an obstacle to price and on time performance. We now have several qualified raw materials suppliers in Asia.

· Trained, developed, and promoted two assistant managers in nine months. · Full P&L responsibility for a location that had annual volume of $4 million.· Responsible for negotiating terms and pricing with vendors.· Inventory management responsibilities for nine distribution centers servicing 1800 stores.

· Responsible for opening two new locations. This included: hiring staffs of over 100 people, overseeing and directing merchandising, writing policies and procedures, and concepting new merchandising techniques for future stores.· Developed merchandising plans to be used in future locations.

· Full P&L responsibility for a location that had annual volume of $2 million.