Manager Project

Sophie Godon

*** ****** ****, *** *, Upper Montclair, NJ 07043

248-***-**** ● E-mail: ************@*****.***

PROFILE

Versatile, perceptive and achievement-driven multi-lingual Program Manager, long-respected for advanced abilities in project management,

strategic planning, goal setting, scheduling, analysis, presentation, and negotiations. Outstanding blend of expertise in all areas of

communication, creative problem solving, and coordinating simultaneous projects to meet strict timelines. Adeptly decodes complex situations

and deploys business instinct to present logical plans, then delegates effectively, remains committed to outcome, and embraces flexible ways to

achieve goals.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Strategic Planning & Goal Setting

Program / Project Management

Forecasting & Analysis

Presentation & Communication

Team Building & Motivation

Continuous Improvement

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2008/ present POCHET OF AMERICA, Wayne (NJ) (Parent company: Verreries Pochet et du Courval, France)

World’s leading maker of glass bottles for prestige fragrances and cosmetics. Pochet expertise covers glass and decoration

techniques (silk screening with enamel and ink, pad printing, sand blasting, gluing of parts and accessories).

Account Executive,

• Demonstrated exemplary leadership attributes in all areas of the planning, logistics, and administrative functions for the world’s

leading maker of glass bottles

• Leverage proven relationship management skills to forge, nurture, and maintain professional relationships with key clients including

Chanel, E.Arden, Cosmo, Boom!, Victoria’s Secret, and Interparfums.

• Provide the highest standards of professional and courteous service and support to company clients, skillfully processing and

expediting orders in accordance with client needs and contractual obligations.

• Utilize solid critical thinking skills to evaluate customer orders vs. forecast and production delivery schedules, resolving and/or

eliminating production problems to ensure on-time delivery.

• Work closely with Production Managers to troubleshoot and resolve problems associated with on-time delivery and glass availability,

• Serve as the primary liaison to the French export department, exercising outstanding interpersonal and analytical skills to resolve

diverse client inquiries without loss of goodwill or risk of further escalation.

• Participate in weekly production/planning meetings with the production team, review sales forecasts and client requirements, evaluate

inventory status, and create and implement achievable production plans.

• Achieve optimum inventory targets by reviewing and monitoring all inventory reports or sales forecast reports and facilitate inventory

information to customers

• Secure consistent levels of referred and repeat business from a vast client base through successful relationship management, account

management, customer service, and ongoing communication.

Selected Highlights

• Successfully reduced the finished goods inventory level and maintained optimum inventory levels in accordance with historic and

forecasted sales data, reducing WIP costs and expenditure

• Skillfully improved OTIF performance and scorecard results, working closely with multidisciplinary colleagues

• Established an innovative rolling plan method with major customers that improved the accuracy of the forecasting function, improving

customer satisfaction, retention, and referrals.

2000/ 2008 SMW AUTOMOTIVE, Troy (MI) (Parent company: Concord International)

SMW Automotive specializes in the design, validation and manufacturing of aluminum, cast iron and forged steel

control arms, knuckles, and brake corner assemblies for North American trucks and passenger cars.

Program Manager,

• Skillfully managed simultaneous manufacturing projects from initial concept and proposal phase to start of production consistently meeting and

exceeding project deliverables.

• Demonstrated expertise with General Motor’s, Chrysler’s, Nissan’s, Ford’s, DPCA China and Tier One’s programs and an in-depth knowledge of the

automotive quality system (APQP, FMEA, PPAP, QS 9000).

• Developed and maintained strong client relationships with new, existing, and prospective clients, and formed strategic business alliances with vendors

and suppliers, optimizing company performance.

• Worked closely with interdepartmental colleagues from engineering, manufacturing, operations, quality, purchasing, account management, logistics,

and finance to achieve project goals and business metrics.

• Managed the prototype launch system, coordinating production efforts to develop prototypes and pre-production vehicle builds for customer review

and approval.

• Employed vast program management experience to plan and define the project scope, create schedules, identify resources.

• Devised and implemented APQP plans (Advanced Product Quality Planning), providing detailed updates for AQPQ deliverables, improving visibility

in all areas of the project for cross-functional team members.

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Sophie Godon ~ Page 2 of 2

• Create and maintain program timing. Ensure corrective action plans are designed and implemented to address actual vs. plan

variances.

• Displayed solid financial acumen in all aspects of budget planning and administration, cost control, and expense management,

conducting post project audits to determine compliance and overall profitability.

• Delivered detailed presentations to customers on project status and proposals and provided consistent levels of follow up and

communication, improving the value and volume of repeat and referred business. Schedule and run kick off meetings and all Design /

Project Review meetings, enhancing the flow of communication across all parties.

• Participated in vendor and supplier selection and verification, utilizing superior negotiation skills to procure components and services

at highly competitive prices.

Selected Highlights

• Promoted rapidly to the role of Program Manager based on an exemplary work ethic, meticulously management and organizational

skills, and a proactive, positive leadership attitude.

• Successfully launched and managed more than 20 complex programs from concept to conclusion, delivering 100% of projects on time

and within budget, earning client recognition for achieving goals.

• Utilized recognized coaching, mentoring, and supervisory talents to lead cross-functional teams throughout all project phases,

consistently achieving and/or exceeding program goals.

1999/ 2000 SMW AUTOMOTIVE- Birmingham (MI) (Parent company: Concord International)

Advance Purchasing,

• Seamlessly handled a complex workload with responsibility for advance purchasing, vendor selection and retention, creation and

improvement of purchasing systems, and management of the RFQ system.

• Sourced and purchased high quality raw materials and finished products from global sources, negotiating cost effective prices with a

vast portfolio of vendors and suppliers in accordance with company policies.

• Worked with the purchasing management team to maintain optimum inventory levels and ensure an adequate supply of materials in

compliance with manufacturing goals and production forecasts.

• Championed an environment of continuous improvement, developing and implementing best practice procedures that improved

performance and reduced costs through effective global vendor sourcing.

Selected Highlights

• Developed and implemented best practice procedures and guidelines for this position

• Significant cost reductions were achieved by finding/ sourcing new worldwide suppliers

1997/ 1999 CONCORD INTERNATIONAL– Birmingham (MI); Concord International specializes in global management

consulting with a focus on strategic market analyses, competitive and benchmarking studies. Through its foreign affiliates,

Concord assists medium-size corporations with the development of their operations in North & South Americ and Europe.

Marketing Assistant,

• Fulfilled all the duties of a Marketing Assistant with responsibility for market analysis, research, new business development, event

planning and execution, sales support, and corporate presentations.

• Completed in-depth research and analysis of the North American market position for European, American, and Asian clients,

preparing detailed reports of findings and conclusions for client presentation.

• Promoted effective consulting services and marketing expertise to European prospects in France, Spain, and Italy, consistently

generating new, repeat, and referred business.

• Developed innovative marketing collateral, brochures, promotional data, flyers, technical and sales literature, and corporate

presentations that supported short and long-term marketing and revenue goals.

• Handled additional functions including mailings, phone screening, website maintenance and updates, and booth coordination for trade

shows, enhancing company visibility from a local to global level.

Earlier Professional Experience…

Office Manager, SAES Getters Spa, Luxembourg, Luxembourg, 02/97 to 07/07

Export Assistant, GESAN S.A., Zaragoza, Spain, 02/96 to 07/96

EDUCATION

D.E.S.S - Diplôme d’Etudes Supérieures Spécialisées” in International Commerce and Marketing

University of Nantes, France & University of Zaragoza, Spain, 1996

(French equivalent of a Master’s Degree in International Business)

Maîtrise L.E.A - Langues Etrangères Appliquées” - Majors in Languages and Marketing

University of Poitiers, France, 1994

(Equivalent of a B.A. in Applied Foreign Languages)

B.T.S- Brevet de Technicien Supérieur in International Commerce (Equivalent of a Vocational Certificate)

The Business School of Gien, France, 1991

ADDITIONAL SKILLS

Computer Skills: MS Windows OS; MS Office Suite: MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, MS Outlook; MS Project; PhotoShop, and

Internet Applications

Language Skills: Fluent French, Spanish, and English

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