Melissa M. Herron

Purchaser, Buyer & Procurement Professional

**** ********* **., ** *****, CA 92019 Ph: 619-***-****

Email: acshi8@r.postjobfree.com

QUALIFICATIONS & ACHIEVEMENTS

Expereinced in analyzing department reports, data coordination, customer service, inventory management, purchasing, and merchandising with a proven track record of success; instrumental in negotiating and standardizing vendor managed inventory systems, allowing annual savings and a reduction of stagnant inventory.

Expertly streamlined, automated, and standardized the procurement and product supply management process saving valuable time and money; responsible for $100M in sales and $60M in gross profit across the US.

Hired and managed 20 employees; fostered relationships, motivated and influenced employees, peers and superiors to accomplish goals.

Negotiated with Multi-million dollar suppliers to consolidate products, lower cost and enhance back-end agreements; maintained 99% Fill Rate while maintaining Turn goals.

Well-developed organizational skills; identifies work plans, considers priorities, forecasts problems, and envisions solutions.

Created innovative sales contest for Customer Service team, increasing sales by 17%.

Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills with proficiency to promote confidence and build and maintain strategic business/client relationships, while interfacing positively with people of diverse backgrounds.

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Results-focused performer with extensive accomplishments in the areas of procurement, vendor management, and contract negotiations; experienced managing complex projects involving diverse stakeholders to secure timely, quality focused results. Genuine talent for identifying supplier and company needs to effect profitable, long-term solutions.

Strengths in locating, bidding and procuring a wide variety of products and services, while striving to improve processes and reduce cost; focused on customer retention, and revenue generation. Empowered and highly motivated individual, results oriented and extremely organized, excellent communication, relationship-building skills and a team player with a desire to succeed.

KEY SKILLS & AREAS OF EXPERIENCE

Technical: Direct experience ands proficient with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook), Servigistics, TCS, Kana, GUI, Sieble, MDM and Access, MRP with Oracle, Lawson and SAP.

Materials Management: Establishes long term contracts with key suppliers utilizing appropriate negotiation skills to establish optimal pricing and delivery terms that benefit the company and provide predictability and reliability in cost forecasting.

CAREER EXPERIENCE

Souplantation / Garden Fresh Corp.; San Diego, CA 08/12 - 3/15

Inventory Control Specialist

Charged with maintaining target inventory levels for two warehouses in line with forecast and advertising plans while optimizing inventory turns.

Expertly maintained effective relations with customer service teams to facilitate timely and accurate processing of orders and confirmations.

Souplantation / Garden Fresh Corp. experience Con’t

Processed and managed PO’s for approximately 100 vendors; worked closely with two Distribution Center Teams to handle issues; replenished over 125 Restaurants.

Quickly resolved and communicated issues on incoming orders from suppliers, including shortages, and quality issues; managed internal weekly transfer truck between distribution centers.

Developed complex forecasts and monthly orders for future menu items; managed excess and slow inventory items by presenting solutions and keep culinary team aware of items.

Communicated information and changes to the field and helps resolve problems relating to purchasing (shortages, returns, mis-pulls). MRP Oracle and Lawson.

HD Supply; San Diego, CA 12/98 - 10/11

Associate Merchant (02/08 - 10/11)

Implemented the assortment selection process within Millwork, Cabinet, Countertop, Mirror and Window Coverings. Selected, negotiated and merchandised items for the catalog and mailer; responsible for coordinating layout design in catalog and mailer pieces in conjunction with departments; managed the growth of top dollar Sales and Margin Dollars.

Facilitated vendor meetings and negotiations and maintained and negotiated all vendor term agreements; maintained all part information.

Researched new product lines and continuously shopped for competitive prices; worked hand in hand with the Nationwide Sales team; spearheaded all vendor training classes.

Analyzed daily, monthly and yearly sales for all categories; analyzed Micro Market stats.

Conducted vendor Line reviews to insure the receiving lowest cost for all product lines.

Managed Promotional pricing while managing margin dollars and unit sale; created competitive pricing for the annual catalog, marketing pieces and tabloids for Healthcare, Multi-family, Government and Hospitality.

Customer Service Supervisor (03/07 - 02/08)

Expertly managed over 20 associates daily, coaching and developing associates to be successful with sales metrics. Assisted with Customer Solutions and difficult customers; tracked and analyzed daily reports.

Maintained service level, recorded all KRONOS logs.

Provided Quality Assurance, coaching sessions and side by sides; mentored and assisted with ACU sales goals. Recognized team members for minor and major accomplishments; worked with all allocated warehouses.

Headed Add Sell, Up Sell and Cross Sell sales contest, quality work life improvement processes.

Conducted all new CSR interviews and processed all CSR merit and non-merit reviews.

Inventory Management - Purchaser (04/04 - 03/07)

Effectively and efficiently managed an assigned base of 85 vendors to meet and exceed individual and team standards, while working with other departments to achieve company goals.

Reviewed, evaluated, and selected appropriate purchase quantities to maintain sufficient inventory levels.

Expedited purchase orders to insure timely delivery of product to each warehouse location.

Maintained strong vendor relationships; negotiated issues with vendors.

Reviewed daily reports and took appropriate and timely action to prevent, address, or resolve problems by communicating with vendors, merchants, warehouses and customers as appropriate.

Managed over 2,000 SKU’s in 36 Distribution Centers, maintaining at least a 99.0% Fill Rate.

Quote Specialist II (12/02 - 04/04)

Researched and sourced all Electrical, Lighting and Hospitality items; processed Special Order returns request and reconciling all invoice discrepancies.

Provided margin quotes to positively impact the sales of THDS and processed quotes in a timely manner while working all returns and inventory in the distribution centers.

Customer Service Team Leader (11/01 - 12/02)

Handled Customer and CSR phone calls with accuracy, clarity and correctness.

Continuously confirmed and work toward company sale goals; created and implemented plan of action when sales and performance activity did not meet department expectations.

Charge with motivating team members to successfully accomplish performance goals; successfully communicated to all team members weekly/monthly statistics, productivity progress and department issues.

Reporting Coordinator (1/01 - 11/01)

Quickly developed, maintained, verified accuracy and distributed departmental and agent performance reporting for the ICSC Management Team as well as the Home Depot Corporate Headquarters.

Provided maintenance of gift card databases, along with reporting on various Home Depot initiatives.

Worked extensively with detailed reports on customer communication tracking software and agent call performance.

EDUCATION / TRAINING / AWARDS

Granite Hills High School - Diploma

Training: ROP courses for EXCEL and Supervising Associates / Award: HD Supply Hero Award for Productivity

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