Manager Supply Chain
Resume:
Erin C. Heighton
**** ******** ***. • Orient, OH 43146 • 614-***-**** • **********@*****.***
Professional Buyer
Experienced, results-producing professional Buyer with a record of accomplishment in planning and
executing purchasing strategies in support of business goals and objectives. Demonstrate success in
managing inventory and project requirements to coincide with budget limitations. Create competitive and
honest procurement opportunities for established and potential vendors. Proven record of researching
sources and negotiation to meet both cost and quality standards for materials and services purchased.
Successfully manage and monitor vendor performance. Analytic skills used to review purchasing options and
make sound business decisions. Adept at communicating with upper management, vendors, and all internal
departments to coordinate overall purchasing efforts. Expertise in both domestic and import purchasing.
Professional Strengths
• •
Strategic Buying Communication
• •
Negotiation Inventory Management
• •
Product Sourcing Supply Chain
• •
Vendor Relations Microsoft Applications
Professional Experience
Purchasing and Inventory Planning, Sr. Manager, 2008 – Present.
Highlights Catalog, Inc. – Columbus, Ohio.
Direct vendors through all phases of product buying, including import and domestic. Control product
acquisition, packaging, assembly and inbound freight costs. Create seasonal forecasts to anticipate customer
demand and drive optimal inventory levels. Plan and execute solutions for reducing excess costs related to
inventory, including turns, warehouse space utilization, and product exit strategies. Control freight costs
through direction of third party logistics company for inbound freight. Coordinate receiving plans with
internal departments and third party distribution center. Source, negotiate and procure packaging needs for
outbound shipments, products, and assembly projects. Maintain open communication with internal and
external departments in regard to product status. Attend trade shows and use of networking to source new
products and services. Manage and train Purchasing Coordinator. Budget responsibilities for assembly and
inbound freight.
Key Contributions:
Requested to return to Catalog division to implement strategies to deplete inventory levels.
Successfully depleted 50% of existing overstock to improve cash position.
Initiated and implemented use of third party logistics company to manage inbound freight
resulting in lowering freight costs by 50% in initial year.
Development of key vendor relations resulting in successful product and service acquisitions.
Implemented business solutions with outside assembly vendors for packaging product mixes
resulting in 35% savings in budget.
Erin C. Heighton, page 2.
Product Buyer and Inventory Control, Manager, 2006 – 2008.
Highlights for Children, Inc. – Columbus, Ohio.
Source products to meet marketing promotional plans. Develop domestic and import sources to obtain
products that match pricing and quality requirements. Drive product development with vendors from
concept to completion. Serve as key communicator between internal departments and external vendors
throughout product development phases. Establish competitive cost structures through bids, quotes and
negotiations of product pricing and vendor services. Monitor vendor performance in accordance with agreed
upon services. Determine and maintain print schedules for six book clubs, including management of
multiple external printers and internal editorial schedules. Purchase direct-mail paper commodities and
marketing inserts, as well as product-oriented ancillary items including toys, packaging, teacher promotional
items and multi-media products. Develop forecasts for product usage, manage inventory and replenish
products in timely manner. Direct the payment of invoices and reconciliation of discrepancies. Manage
Purchasing Coordinator. Attend trade shows for product and resource development.
Key Contributions:
Stream-lined purchase of paper commodities to reduce printing and storage costs.
Initiated the automation of reporting to outside vendors to increase work efficiencies.
Successfully sourced product to meet budget and promotional requirements.
Purchasing and Inventory Planning, Manager, 2002 – 2006.
Highlights Catalog, Inc. – Columbus, Ohio.
Responsibilities same as current position with Highlights Catalog, Inc; promoted to Sr. Manager upon return
to department in 2008. The promotion included the management of Purchasing Coordinator.
Purchaser/ Inventory Planner, 1999 - 2002.
Highlights Catalog, Inc. – Columbus, Ohio.
Determine products to purchase, issue purchase orders and track incoming products. Monitor product
performance and determine appropriate replenishments. Negotiate competitive pricing with product vendors.
Maintain and develop positive vendor relationships as well as attend trade shows for product sourcing.
Coordinate product assembly packaging. Evaluate and recommend methods for liquidation of overstocks.
Department Assistant/Rebuyer, February, 1999 – October, 1999.
Highlights Catalog, Inc. – Columbus, Ohio.
Implemented new shipping and invoicing procedures; data input of all product and vendor information.
Assist in determination of products to replenish; prepare purchase orders. Monitor overdue shipments and
determine product availability. Negotiate product pricing.
Additional Professional Experience
Teacher, North Hills Elementary School, Winston-Salem, NC July, 1998 – January, 1999.
Employee Benefits & Real Estate Paralegal, 1989 – 1997.
Kahn, Waxman & Taub, P.C. – Boca Raton, Florida, 1995-1997.
Martin, Browne, Hull & Harper – Springfield, Ohio, 1993-1995.
Vorys, Sater, Seymour & Pease – Columbus, Ohio, 1989-1993.
Education
Master’s of Business Administration, Ashland University, Columbus, Ohio. August, 2008.
Bachelor of Science, Education (accelerated Ohio Teacher Certification), Urbana University, August, 1998.
Bachelor of Arts, Political Science and English, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. May, 1988.
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