Nakia Guyden Email & Phone Number

Los Angeles, Ca, Us

Partner in leading all aspects of purchasing and procurement processes, to include the pricing, delivery and quality of incoming materials, while building and maintaining a dependable and high-performance supplier base. Proactively improve the cost and effectiveness of various systems and supplier performance through continuous supplier evaluations. Develop forecasts, determine inventory needs at multiple distribution sites, and lead the sourcing and development of new suppliers; submit alternative supplier and materials lists for qualification.• Review/improve processes to reduce costs and implement best practices; engage with suppliers to review forecast requirements and resolve delivery, quality issues and cost of materials.• Create and communicate information regarding lead times, price changes, blanket orders and potential supplier changes to material coordinators.• Continually challenge and improve cost structure and purchasing competencies, while sourcing potential new suppliers and maintaining relationships with existing suppliers.• Partner in developing procedures and identifying KPIs to manage quality, risks, lead time, and costs.• Implement expertise in tradeoffs between cost, volume, and quality in order to drive agreements that meet corporate performance criteria and ensure long-term supply continuity to avoid item shortages.• Develop forecasts for future demand, purchase based on lead-time, market conditions and needs, and implement initiatives that result in improved delivery performance and quality.• Monitor/track back orders and prepare weekly finished goods inventory adjustment reports.• Review requests for non-master items for compliance with purchasing policy and convert to purchase orders; review action plans to minimize unfavorable purchase price variances.

PURCHASING AGENT (2004-2007)Drove all aspects of sourcing, purchasing and procurement within assigned product categories, to include vendor management and negotiations, contract negotiations, and the strategic enhancement of processes, while building a strong vendor network and cultivating key vendor relationships to ensure continuous supply availability. Assisted in the development of procedures to effectively manage costs, quality, lead time and replenishment.• Identified, selected and qualified suppliers per category via strategic sourcing analysis; analyzed and measured overall supplier performance and ensured supplier compliance.• Monitored back orders and missing ETA items; worked with product manager to evaluate new suppliers and select those providing the best deals in cost and quality of goods.• Represented company during negotiations, assisted in formulating policies related to the purchase of materials and supplies, and helped coordinate all purchasing and procurement activities.• Partnered in sourcing potential new suppliers and maintaining relationships with existing suppliers, while constantly improving cost structure and purchasing competencies.• Reduced budget expenses and costs via renegotiation of pricing with suppliers.• Negotiated contracts with vendors to optimize purchasing strategies based on the total cost of product; maintained inventory levels and supported company stores in lowering inventory levels.Recognized as Employee of the Month (x2)

Partnered in managing all aspects of daily international and domestic freight coordination and logistics, to include budget management, pricing negotiation, working with teams to monitor pick-up and delivery shipments, managing freight shipment costs, logs and paperwork, and ensuring the accuracy, efficiency and quality of shipping operations. Successfully consolidated LTL shipments on a national level.• Worked with production and inventory to ensure fulfillment of orders worldwide.• Managed over 25,000 foreign and domestic loads annually and a multimillion-dollar budget, while coordinating distribution from multiple facilities on both coasts.• Negotiated contracts with carriers and developed/maintained key relationships with distributors and brokers to ensure the best pricing and terms.• Ran reports to ensure deliveries were shipping in a timely manner and acted as the first point of contact between custom service and carrier partners on shipping issues and questions.