Brad Carlson Email & Phone Number

Olathe, Ks

Serve as a liaison between IT and Operations teams. Manage multiple projects with varying scopes of work and deadlines. Manage monthly executive business performance review documents, Forecast to Budget reporting, support systems and processes on a global level, execute/implement ad hoc reporting to support growth initiatives. Ability to work and communicate across multiple areas of the company including Operations, Finance and IT. • Support the forecasting process through the Demantra forecasting system. Problem solve user issues in a timely fashion and escalate as needed. Leverage experience and previous knowledge to establish scope for enhancements to current/new forecasting system. Established a team of subject matter experts to formulate clear and concise forecasting strategies.• Creation, design, and implementation of Forecast to Budget reporting. Created improved visibility to management of future dollarized forecasts on all key performance indicators. Initiated strategic discussions on forecast impacts versus financial budgets.

Kansas City, Missouri Area

Topeka, Kansas Area

Manage corporate financial plans to support $1.8B in sales of footwear and accessories in 2800 stores. Create top-down plans at multiple levels to support priority business units. Manage in-season performance analysis, Open-to-Buy, aging control, along with ad hoc reporting to support growth initiatives. Ability to work and communicate across multiple areas of the company including Merchandising, Finance and IT. • System Matter Expert for the Makoro planning system that was assigned to work with technical team and outside consultants to design new planning system. Utilized experience and retail math knowledge to establish a new multi-channel planning system to create clear and concise financial strategies.• Creation, design and implementation of a 5-year trending tool to allow for better visibility and analysis of future forecasts on all key performance indicators including sales, markdowns, inventory, retails and margin.• Creation, design and implementation of hands-on mentoring/training program for 8 potential Merchandise Planners and 2 newly appointed Merchandise Planners. Led a group of experienced planners in development of pertinent training materials and key focal points to be presented to mentee group.

Kansas City, Missouri Area

Planned and executed all Seasonal Gift and Gift Presentation to 25+ National Accounts and over 15,000 locations. • Partnered with Category Managers and National Sales Managers to gain consensus on proper inventory levels to fulfill customer sales plans while maximizing Hallmark margins.• Appointed to a 4 person Merchandise Planning task force. Established strategic guidelines, processes and meetings around each seasonal product to gain Senior Management approval on strategies. • Added additional logic to an Excel based planning tool for Seasonal Gift product to facilitate better inventory sell-through, lower discards and better margins while maintaining customer displays.

Kansas City, Missouri Area

Planned all key financial metrics for Seasonal and Everyday product (fragrance, consumables, accessories, and entertaining) using JDA planning system for 400 Corporate Gold Crown stores.• Created and implemented clear, concise Open-to-Buy reporting that allowed Planning and Buying team’s vision into sales and markdown forecasts, accurate inventory levels and margin forecasting.

Topeka, Kansas Area

Managed corporate financial plans to support $250M in sales of footwear and accessories in 400 stores encompassing 11 countries. Created top-down plans at country levels to support priority business units.• Created and implemented a new pricing system to support cost/retail structures for all countries and exchange rates. Allowed for clear and concise pricing messages across product classifications and delivered Planned IMO%. • Received Pinnacle Award for integral role in opening new ventures in Jamaica including market research, pricing and system integration.

Topeka, Ks