Cassandra M. Vatalaro, MBA

**** ********* *****

White Lake, MI 48383

248-***-****

ac8vkv@r.postjobfree.com

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY AND OBJECTIVE

Purchasing and Sales professional with fourteen years of automotive industry experience in strategic planning and management, driven by a best cost approach and vertical integration where appropriate. A highly skilled individual and major contributor in the development of suppliers globally, cost reduction initiatives, advanced contract negotiations, budget setting, new product introduction and program management, return on sales improvements, team management and lean manufacturing principles.

EXPERIENCE

NA Lead Account Manager, Continental Automotive, Auburn Hills, MI 2018 – Present

Management of FCA account for business unit display, driver HMI and instrumentation. Negotiates customer contracts, program management and introduction of new product offerings to the customer, internal budget obtainment and annual revenues obtainment of greater than 20% return on sales on 212M Euro of sales. Leads additional improvements in return on sales from technical cost reduction and cost improvement measures within the plant, packaging, and assembly.

Category Manager – Display, Continental Automotive, Auburn Hills, MI 2015 – 2018

Management of North and South American purchasing activities responsible for advanced negotiation, vendor management quality, delivery, cost efficiency and sustainability of display and glass suppliers while identifying saving opportunities and communization of product application. Negotiates supplier contracts, sourcing activities, budget obtainment and annual price reductions from supply base with results in 2015 in excess of 8% globally on 600M Euro, results in 2016 in excess of 7% globally on 650M Euro, results in 2017 in excess of 7% globally on 943M Euro and results in 2018 in excess of 8% globally on 950M Euro. Additional cost reductions realized in negotiation and launching of FCA products yielding savings results in excess of $50M on multiple platforms, which was achieved through cost reduction and cost avoidance activities.

Global Commodity Manager, Magna Powertrain, Troy, MI 2013 – 2015

Led and managed the iron casting global commodity and team which yielded an annual spend in excess of $100 Million. Developed strategies for each commodity regionally and globally in order to identify savings opportunities, commonization of suppliers, localization of the supply base and reduce the suppliers within the supply base. Identified internal machining opportunities in order to vertically integrate the organization. Led lean manufacturing events at strategic supplier locations.

2014 results exceeded 5% cost savings on value add portion of spend and 2013 results exceeded 3% cost savings on value add portion of spend (Examples include: Localization of raw casting from Europe to Mexico yielding a one year savings of $626,270; Resourcing of finished product from USA to LCC with delivery point of Mexico yielding a one year savings of $772,076; Resourcing of CAT parts to LCC yielding a one year savings of $380,957 and negotiating a cost reduction plan with a North American Foundry yielding $187,000 per year for 3 years on CAT parts.)

Commodity Manager, NSK Steering Systems, Ann Arbor, MI 2012 – 2013

Led and managed global commodities and team of cast products, forgings, inner ball joints, tie rods, manual steer gear assemblies, rack and pinion, rubber, powder metal, logistics, motors, ECUs and electrical wiring which yielded an annual spend in excess of $500 Million in annual spend. Developed strategies for each commodity both regionally and globally. Global supplier development with a focus on Asian and European casting and machining facilities. Performed Make versus Buy analysis taking into consideration return on investment. 2012 Fiscal Year Savings totaling $1,733,880.73 and 2013 Fiscal Year Savings totaling $1,847,592.74 on a controllable spend of $150 Million. (Examples include: Resourcing of various products to LCC yielding a one year savings of $678,034.56; Logistics savings negotiation by modification of shipping standard and warehousing practices $226,157.71; and Negotiated supplier cost reductions yielding a one year savings of $444,021.69.)

Sourcing Manager – Capital Equipment/MRO, Oldcastle Materials, Canton, MI 2010 – 2012

Managed regional categories in excess of $100 Million in annual spend including knowledge in chemicals, steel, cast products, iron and filtering materials for use in asphalt production and limestone crushing. Monitored commodity market information including quarterly reporting of findings. Engaged stakeholders to find the best fit for plant operations. National category lead on steel wire products and electrical supplies. Founding member of strategic procurement within the road construction entities in Ohio and Michigan.

Purchasing Agent, Benteler Automotive, Auburn Hills, MI 2009 – 2010

Managed regional carbon stampings commodity which yield an annual spend in excess of $100 Million for the production structural, chassis and exhaust assemblies for automotive application. Six Sigma lead coordinator for procedural improvement in North America. 2010 Fiscal Year Savings totaling $2,043,000. (Examples include: Monitored supplier risk and negotiating cost savings of $200,000 from resource activities and avoided supplier shut down and Negotiated cost reductions of $565,000 with supply base.)

Senior Commodity Buyer, Inalfa Roof Systems, Auburn Hills, MI 2008 – 2009

Managed glass, sunshades and stampings commodity which yield an annual spend in excess of $15 Million for the production of sunroof assemblies. Negotiated a cost savings for sunroof component parts North America in the excess of $500,000 for 2008. Negotiated glass savings for North America in excess of $250,000 for 2009. Monitored annual budget for responsible commodities (glass, sunshades and stampings) and report out to management on a quarterly basis. Facilitated tool moves from current supplier to new suppliers and further consolidation efforts among the current supply base.

Strategic Buyer, General Motors - Powertrain, Pontiac, MI 2007 - 2008

Managed regional cast aluminum commodity which yield an annual spend in excess of $150 Million related to the component parts, miscellaneous tooling and outsource manufacturing for the production of engine assemblies. Negotiated a cost savings for engine component parts North America in the excess of $3 Million for 2007. Met cost savings target of $3 Million for 2008 within the first quarter of the fiscal year. (Examples include: Negotiated supplier cost reduction yielding a one year savings of $2,122,000 and resourcing activities yielding a one year savings of $440,000. Managed cost reduction efforts including the tracking of monthly reports to monitor savings, inflation, variances and forecasts.

Commodity Buyer, TRW Automotive, Livonia, MI 2005 - 2007

Managed regional cast aluminum and friction material commodity which yield an annual spend in excess of $50 Million related to component parts, miscellaneous tooling and outsource manufacturing for the production of braking, chassis and steering assemblies. Negotiated cost saving on raw aluminum parts for braking and chassis North America in the excess of $1.5 Million for 2006. Managed cost reduction efforts including the tracking of monthly reports to monitor savings, inflation, variances and forecasts. Resourced aluminum pinion housing business yielding a savings in excess of $5 Million from local source to best cost country.

TRAINING

- Karrass Effective Negotiating I & II - Legal and Ethical Decision Making

- Sarbanes-Oxley Procedures - ISO 9000 Procedures

- TS 16949 Procedures - Six Sigma Green Belt Certified

- Commodity Teams: Leveraging Value Across the Organization - Import and Export Trade Compliance

- NAFTA Compliance - C-TPAT Certification

- APQP Process Training - Lean Manufacturing

- GD&T Training - Cost Modeling

- 8-D / Problem Resolution Training / A3 Problem Solving - Franklin Covey: Leadership Training

- Franklin Covey: 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Logístics Incoterms 2010

- Executive Mentorship Program

EDUCATION

Wayne State University, Master of Business Administration January 2007- April 2012

Concentration in Supply Chain Management, Logistics and Marketing

Michigan State University, Bachelor of Arts, Economics August 2000-May 2005

Concentration in Business

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