Robert Braden Email & Phone Number

Russell, Ky, Us

Direct accountability for quality, production uptime and logistics supporting five coke production facilities (4.3 million+ annual tonnage, 800+ ovens) and three terminals with more than 35 million tons of throughput and 2 million tons of storage with truck, rail and barge transportation capabilities. Oversee coal quality, sampling, quality auditing, mine evaluations, field coal inventories, transportation, material handing and terminal performance. Evaluate coal mine sites and docks to ensure proper blending, quantity accuracy and quality. Conduct terminal quality inspections, including evaluating coal docks, processes, maintenance programs, conveyors and coal sampling equipment calibration. Manage relationships with strategic customers, suppliers, vendors and regulatory agencies. Team Leader, Freeze Conditioning Procurement Team: Lead team responsible for vendor sourcing, vetting, contract negotiations and onboarding new vendors. Member, Coal Terminal Acquisition & Integration Team: Instrumental in evaluating financial and strategic value of terminal acquisitions. Led integration of terminals. Team Leader, Stock Pile Survey Project Team: Conduct stock pile surveys and field audits at all facilities. Project Leader, Winterization Process Improvement & Standardization: Developed standardized processes to improve winterization process at all facilities. Member, SunCoke Quality Systems Team: Member of corporate leadership team providing requirements and overseeing testing, deployment and go-live for a coal quality software package.Logistics Field Leader resolving coal mine or transportation delays; partner with coal mining facilities and transportation providers to resolve issues to ensure coke production stays on schedule. Instrumental in developing and implementing company’s first coke exporting initiative. Developed and implemented survey scheduling to improve field audit efficiencies. Created and deployed Stockpile Safety Program.

Ashland Ky

Contracted solely with Suncoke Energy until hired full-time.

Ashland, Ky

Partnered directly with owner of this small, closely-held commercial and industrial general contractor to refine company’s business, financial, scheduling and labor management operations. Developed and implemented policies and procedures in scheduling, accounting, finance, change order management and bidding. Completed OSHA training and served as Safety Coordinator in plant maintenance.

Ashland, Ky

Senior leadership role for this coal brokerage and logistics/transportation provider with up to $7 million in annual sales. Managed all areas of business operations, strategy, finance, sales, marketing, asset acquisition, procurement and compliance. Managed, trained, coached and developed a team of five office resources (accounting, logistics, procurement, customer service), as well as up to seven drivers. Directly managed customer and supplier relationships focused mainly on national power/utility companies. Strategic control for all areas of budgeting, production, sales & operations planning (S&OP), supply chain planning, inventory management, safety, technology, forecasting, compliance, human capital, finance, sourcing, risk management and asset management. Launched continuous improvement programs, standards, supply chain and operational standards to professionalize and standardize inbound, outbound, inventory management and customer management operations. Delivered cost savings in transportation, dispatch and logistics via consolidations, routing and refined load planning.Secured and oversaw IT partner to develop a company-wide software to improve tracking and management of business, quality and financials, as well as automate several manual processes.

Louisville , Ky

Managed high-volume, critical rail yard at Ford Motor Company truck plant leading a team of up to 25. Directed inbound and outbound scheduling of trains ensuring strict accuracy and schedule adherence meeting Ford requirements. Trained, coached and developed employees. Developed and launched a safety program, including implementing new training, changing organizational culture and improving employee engagement. Reduced safety issues from well-below goal performance to one of the top performers in CSX: Achieved zero reportable injuries throughout tenure.

Ashland , Ky

Served in multiple operational and leadership roles in a coal brokerage and 3PL business reporting directly to owner/president. Led various business operations, including sales, account management, procurement, demand/capacity planning, transportation planning/routing/dispatch and finance. Secured company financing for asset acquisition. Managed supply chain planning, transportation and logistics between ports, railroads and truck loading terminals. Led analysis of expenses and service performance issues for corporate-owned truck fleet. Developed new transportation strategy delivering top performance in total cost, quality, lead-time and customer satisfaction. Analyzed operations, customer service and supply chain and developed new forecasting and demand planning tools.