STRATEGIC SOURCING & PURCHASING EXECUTIVE20+ years of successful, progressive experience in CPG, direct mail and retail companiesDirect and In-Direct Procurement Visionary, dynamic strategic supply chain leader with strengths in global sourcing, supplier relations, and performance management skills as well as supply/demand planning. Organized, energetic, and productive - accomplishing heavy workloads with quality. Diplomatic, charismatic leader well-versed in international business protocols (Europe, Mexico, Asia Pacific, US). Adept at maintaining close communication with global suppliers, ensuring supplier performance and follow-through on all details. Effective mentor and direct manager of buyer and analyst support team. Analytical with strong quantitative skills, balancing cost, quality, and delivery factors for hundreds of products in demanding, deadline-driven environments with many NPI cycles. Skilled in SAP, AS400 and Microsoft office. Cost and commodity focused negotiator – initiated value analysis on several existing products packaging resulting in COG reductions worth $1MM annually. Negotiated reduced tooling investments by $1MM annually by streamlining existing tools with modifications for 3 key product lines. Engaging, professional communication and negotiation skills, collaborating effectively with suppliers, operations, executives, finance and accounting, new product R&D, product management, and shipping / expediting teams. Recognized by managers and peers as a focused, decisive performer who exceeds expectations while modeling professionalism and integrity in demanding, deadline-centered environments. Repeatedly attained highest annual review rankings from senior management.

Category Product ManagerA multi-task position managing a $29MM product line within four distribution centers. Primary focus placed on:  Forecasting and demand planning for the entire category – “owning” inventory and achieving yearly corporate inventory turning goals. Managed weekly “fill rate” order fulfillment for all DC’s across 30,000 SKU’s and 200+ suppliers – achieving an average 97.6% fill rate in order completion overall. Chose promotion products for monthly direct mail offerings and negotiated improved unit costs to cover promotional ad. Managed cost reduction strategy – i.e. – condensing and re-balancing inventory across DC’s for better inventory controls. Initiated a multi-year cost de-escalation agreement negotiations – resulting in higher yearly margins. Collaborated across the enterprise and worked with key supplier contacts to streamline new product introduction.

Purchasing Agent Managed $1.8MM spend on contracted transportation and office equipment leases for east coast stores. Reduced supplier base to leverage better contract costs resulting in a $225,000 savings on deliveries. Prepared and reported to senior management final fiscal budgets for lease and contract spends.