Continuous Improvement Construction
Resume:
Howard M. Herman
Temecula, CA 92592
********@***.***
Professional Summary
Corporate procurement professional with 33 years procurement experience. Proven ability to drive for efficiencies and continuous improvement in multi-property environment. Ability to strategically align Purchasing Department structure with the needs of each operating departments served. Successful experience at cost cutting, property renovation, and new construction.
Experience
PECHANGA CASINO & RESORT Director of Purchasing
2011 to Present Temecula, California
Responsibilities: Implemented costs savings and efficiency measures in largest casino hotel in California. Oversees procurement, receiving, storerooms, warehousing, 6 retail stores, uniforms, and records retention with a staff of 84.
Key Accomplishments:
Generated over $3.2m in cost savings each year.
Increased retail store earning 50% during tenure.
Initiated KPI measurements for vendor performance and inventory levels
Established leadership in the procurement function to avoid appearance of impropriety and confidence in a fair process. Reduced tension between the procurement/receiving area and the operating department by establishing mutually acceptable operating procedures.
2015 Award for Leadership Excellence
RESORTS ATLANTIC CITY Executive Director of Purchasing & Support Services
2010 to 2011 Atlantic City, New Jersey
Responsibilities: Managed Purchasing & Receiving staff of 24 plus 72 Engineering managers and union trades.
Key Accomplishments: Oversaw reorganization during takeover including property sale, splitting department from parent company, establishing company policies. Supervised renovations in 500 room hotel tower including procurement, logistics, construction, installation and room availability.
HARRAH’S (CAESARS) ENTERTAINMENT
2008 to 2010 Regional Director of Purchasing, Eastern Region
Responsibilities
Procurement, Receiving, Storerooms, Warehousing and Records Retention for 5 casinos encompassing over 100 food and beverage outlets as well as hotel and gaming facilities in Harrah’s Atlantic City Region, including: Caesars, Harrah’s Resort, Showboat, Bally’s, House of Blues, Harrah’s Chester. Worked with operating personnel to determine food, beverage, MRO, hotel and gaming purchasing needs and requirements. Development, implementation and administration of standardized RFP and RFI. Responsible for evaluating regional spend and analyzing cost savings opportunities through various sourcing efforts. Operating budget of over $1 billion.
Key Accomplishments: Initiated cost-savings programs saving over $35 million in 12 months. Innovator in finding alternate sources of capital in economically challenging times through novel vendor programs. Leader in LEAN activities resulting in efficiencies and staff reductions. Fund raising initiatives raising $300,000 for a host of local charities including United Way and Richard Stockton College.
LAKES ENTERTAINMENT Vice President of Purchasing
2006 to 2008 Minnetonka, Minnesota
Responsibilities
Part of team responsible for the design, construction and operation of 8 new and existing casinos, including Four Winds Casino & Hotel in Michigan, Red Hawk Casino in Sacramento and Cimarron Casino in Oklahoma.
Pre-opening responsibilities include the establishment and monitoring of a construction and preopening budget of between $400 million and $600 million per property includes product selection, procurement, delivery and installation of gaming, hotel, public space and back-of-house capital items and supplies in a wide spread geographic area. Liaison with construction staff to sequence deliveries, staff selections and opening schedule. Establish budgets for procurement in these areas as well as personnel levels and required start dates, policies and procedures for Purchasing, Receiving and Warehousing. Establishment and procurement of all operating supplies required for function of property. Writing and administering RFPs for all service contracts.
Post opening responsibilities includes initiating and implementing corporate purchasing programs for all operating casinos with procurement goals and review with property level Executive Committees. Reviewing property budgets for operating, staffing and capital.
Key Accomplishments: Openings and renovations occurred on time and at or under budget. After opening, successful record of improved profitability through continuous improvement.
AZTAR CORPORATION (later Tropicana Entertainment)
1996 to 2006 Assistant Vice President of Purchasing
Atlantic City, NJ
Responsibilities
Developed and implemented corporate procurement, warehousing and distribution strategies for Tropicana’s parent company, the Aztar Corporation’s five hotel/casinos encompassing over 5800 hotel rooms and more than 25 food & beverage outlets in widespread geographic areas.
Key member of expansion project team constructing 502 new hotel rooms and highly themed 200,000 sq. ft. retail, entertainment and dining complex called The Quarter opened fall 2004. Coordinated construction bidding, specified and purchased furniture fixtures and equipment for highly successful project. Managed leased retail and restaurant space for 42 national tenants including The Palm Restaurant, Cuba Libre, White House/Black Market and Chico’s.
Completed construction of 624 new hotel rooms in 1996, 250 rooms in 1999. Key member of hotel operations department coordinating room repairs in Housekeeping, Engineering and Front Desk. Spearheaded fundraising programs for local hospital and political candidates raising over one million dollars.
Key Accomplishments: Improvement profits by initiating cost savings of over $20 million of operating expenses. Completed numerous construction and renovation projects in casino, hotel and food & beverage outlets on time and at or under budget.
TRUMP TAJ MAHAL Director of Business Development
1994 to 1996 Atlantic City, NJ
Responsibilities & Accomplishments: Negotiating procurement, sponsorship sales and leasing agreements. Successfully negotiated over $60 million for retail and restaurant space leases for Donald J. Trump with tenants including Hard Rock Cafe, Rainforest Café, AllStar Cafe, Starbucks, Cinnabon, and Host/Marriott.
Sneaker Seller Owner
1982 to 1993 Hamilton, New Jersey
Responsibilities: Responsible for development and overall function of three athletic footwear retail stores. Business sold 1994.
Education
Boston University Graduated Magna Cum Laude
Bachelor of Science Finance & Marketing
LEAN certification
Six Sigma certification
Continuous Improvement certification
Community Service
Board Member - Gilda’s Club, South Jersey, Chairman Strategic Planning Committee
Former board member - Greater Atlantic City Chamber of Commerce
Systems Experience
Stratton Warren
Materials Management System (MMS)
Infinium
Ariba
Oracle
Epicor
CrunchTime
Kronos
PeopleSoft procurement suite
KeyWatcher
Microsoft Office Suite including Excel, Word, & PowerPoint
Range of MAC software
Lotus Notes & Spreadsheet
MS Visio
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