Taj Travis, Ma Email & Phone Number

Los Angeles Metropolitan Area

• Oversees the entire collaboration process for complex high-value/high-risk services assigned.
• Integrates client requirements into the contracting and sourcing processes. Coordinates and facilitates proposal evaluations for complex Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and leads analysis required to determine most.
• Leads negotiations and the development of contract award recommendations.
• Evaluates supplier qualifications.
• Works closely with internal support organizations including the Law Department, Accounts Payable, and Risk Management. Develops and manages supplier alliance opportunities.
• Resolves conflict between suppliers and company.

Los Angeles Metropolitan Area

• Work in conjunction with project manager(s), project engineer(s) and suppliers to uphold SoCal Gas safety standards and processes within the Transmission’s Major Projects department requisitioning over $30+million.
• Performed integrity checks with all material related milestones the procurement process.
• Lead multi-valve RFQ solicitations leading to awards of performance based on best value. Awards accrued cost savings from 10%-12% per award while ensuring CPUC and Southern California Gas standards.
• Lead pre-construction meetings with all responsible stakeholders detailing end-to-end strategy, evolution and processes of construction related materials and obstacles.
• Stay abreast of market pricing, forecasting and pipe mill capacities.
• Coordinate and negotiate claims against suppliers and logistic partners.

Los Angeles International Airport - LAX

• Overseeing and managing all retail & raw inventoried goods to achieve plan of $750k+ weekly revenue
• Management of 9 different restaurant franchise F&B specs and retail needs while optimizing margin and overhead cost
• Continuous identification and updating of optimal sources of supply to include maximized margins to efficient logistic and inventory strategies
• Directing and fostering multiple divisions of the support team within the supply chain (2 purchasing supervisors, accounts receivable clerk and 10 union member delivery drivers)
• Streamlining and reduction of overhead cost through strategic inventory and costing practices
• Maintain and develop internal and external working relationships for preparation of forecast demand, managing supplier expectations while staying current with trends, technologies, products and services

Greater Los Angeles Area

Youth Inspiration Network (YIN) is a national non-profit dedicated to fostering new avenues for children from inner cities who don’t have the same opportunities as their more privileged peers to learn about different careers paths. The simple act of introducing a new idea can spark a passion that leads to a career to which these children would have.

Greater Los Angeles Area

• Managed the relationship between sourced labor agencies and the national chain of PT distribution centers
• Partnered with internal stakeholders to drive down excessive labor cost from +10% overtime cost to the company goal of 6-8% nationally
• Developed KPI’s to improve fill rates over 93% to drive down excessive and consistent labor cost
• Identified and maintained primary and back-up staffing partners that contributed and improved to the goals of the company
• Conducted regular agency meetings, contract audits and compliance reviews.
• Performed consistent analysis on performance (spend and labor hours) reports

Greater Los Angeles Area

• Continually identified and determined optimal sources of supply, while establishing back upsuppliers for all critical materials and new product development
• Evaluated and overhauled AP process in a cost savings initiative. Cost savings reflected the 2% savings from a $1.5MM production month. Initiative took the company out of credit holds held by 30% of company suppliers.
• Developed sourcing and procurement operating procedures that focused on reducing turnaround times from sales to procure to delivery timeframes.
• Managed several junior buyer day-to-day procurement activities to ensure negotiated rates and delivery times
• Negotiated terms (price, lead times, specifications) with suppliers using strategic and cost-effective pricing strategies and shipping techniques optimizing product flow with the greatest margin

Culver City, CA

• Coordination with various Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. (SPE) departments to assist with the strategic sourcing and contracting of various services of indirect spend across multiple categories to include legal.
• Developed, managed and facilitated Requests for Proposals, Quotes, and Information for various strategic spend commodities. To include the facilitation of requirements (SOW), communicated updated proposal requirements.
• Negotiate and draft large enterprise wide agreements that minimize financial and business risk and provide optimal terms and conditions.
• Reconciliation and management of multiple transactional and membership accounts with value over $800K annually.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships
• Submit and enter vendor information into ERP system

Culver City

• Item set up and maintenance including product bill of material (BOM) to ensure quality and accurate vendor pricing
• Resolve vendor purchase order price discrepancies and input related corrective measures

Culver City, CA

• Conversion of Enterprise market assets to a manageable, functional RFID (Radio Frequency ID) inventory system
• Conducted routine physical inventories, including floor-to-record, record-to-floor, spot checks, and wall to wall.
• Verifying need and distribution of assets according to mode of transport and authorization authority
• Reconcile inventory discrepencies; conduct cycle count; and lead efforts to resolve inventory flow issues

• Performed clerical and technical support screening of all incoming requisitions against the Federal Supply system.
• Purchased supplies, services, and repairs via a Government bank card with a revolving monthly balance of $75,000.00 IAW federal Micro purchase thresholds policies IAW the Financial Resource Management Manual.
• Individually processed 350 to 450 Micro purchase orders per year
• Managed $1 Million of annual Operating and Expenses account to sustain supply transactions based on micro purchase threshold Limitations while coordinating with requisitioning activity and the source of supply.
• Developed statements of work for each individual asset to obtain most efficient cost effective work.
• Extensive knowledge of the FAR and the application of its policies and procedures IAW small business and micro purchase thresholds of $3K for supplies, $2500 for services, and $2K for construction per acquisition.

Crafton, PA

• Operations of forklift (certified) to arrange, maintain, and reallocate large volume stock inventory for transportation.
• Operated double pallet jacks to transport inventoried items dockside for loading.
• Evaluated inventory needs to maintain floor stock needs to streamline floor selection times via company owned software intergraded with forklift and personal automated voice systems.
• Trained new employees to use intergraded voice command inventory control system used to efficiently select inventory for transportation.

Master’S Degree, Purchasing, Procurement/Acquisitions And Contracts Management

Bachelor'S Degree, Business Administration And Management, General, Gpa 3.5