ROBERTO COSME

*** *. *******, ***********, ** ***40 • (C) 630-***-**** • advao4@r.postjobfree.com

DIRECTOR OF WAREHOUSE AND FACILITIES OPERATIONS

A senior-level manufacturing and distribution manager with a career history of successful operations, labor relations, quality control, safety and logistics. Partners with company executives to increase productivity, quality, cost effectiveness and profitability; partners with warehouse staff to ensure a productive, safe and team-oriented environment. A persuasive leader skilled in strategy planning and change management, whose responsibilities and projects often reach beyond the warehouse. Proficient in radio frequency inventory programs, Windows, Lotus and AS400; fluently bilingual in English/Spanish. KEY COMPETENCIES

Production/Distribution Planning Performance Improvement Staff Leadership/Development Inventory/Materials Management Cost Reductions & Controls OSHA/Safety Initiatives Process Redesign/Reengineering Quality Management Vendor Negotiations MACS (catalog/mail ordering) Epicore (manufacturing) MS Office suite PROFESSIONAL WORK HISTORY

Aquascape Inc., St. Charles, IL 2002 – Present

Director of Warehouse and Facilities Operations (promoted from Warehouse Manager, 2007) Recruited into this $65M manufacturing and distribution company to establish benchmarking and best practices for this 3-shift warehouse with an average of 55 employees.

● Facility responsibilities include quality assurance, safety, production and profitability for multiple entities: 260,000 sq. ft. Silver Leads Certified building (largest slanted prairie roof in North America), the Canadian warehouse and 2 additional properties of the company owner. o Aggressively initiate expense control for the multi-mm dollar freight process. Renegotiated the freight fees to a reduction of $3.2M annually – a 13% savings. o Conduct business transactions and negotiations with 500+ distributors on a weekly/monthly basis. Intercede between freight companies and distributors for best rates. o Manage the manufacturing division: set-up the rock drilling and the kit assembly processes; develop production numbers and standards; establish supervision for 24/7 production. o Spearheaded warehouse/manufacturing conversion to seasonal business model, requiring staff and customer schedule updates, and sensitive communications with personnel.

● Collaborate with operations and administrative managers to design the company’s new warehouse and is a lead negotiator when the parent company acquires smaller companies (three companies within eight years).

● Played key roll in the planning and design of new corporate office. o Oversaw the transport of $10M inventory; negotiated freight and labor cost for the move; overall set-up and coordination for the office and warehouse. o Purchased non-inventory items, computers and company vehicles for warehouse and sales.

● Established Canadian operation within 30 days – a 40,000 sq. ft. warehouse. Hired management and contracted for all vendors, including the facility’s build-out, equipment, decorator, etc.

● Serve as an on-site SME to Aquascape’s customers, working at their locations (warehouse environments) to reorganize and establish efficient operations.

● Developed and currently lead the company’s Emergency Response Team with ongoing training. Continental Furniture, Chicago, IL 2000 – 2002

Distribution/Warehouse Manager

Managed operations for 110,000 square foot warehouse and distribution center with $9.5M in inventory.

● Reorganized warehouse with new racking systems that better utilized facility’s square footage, and minimized accidents and occurrences of damaged products.

● Identified critical inventory errors; implemented and trained staff on Inventory Radio Frequency

(RF) program that improved shipping and receiving accuracy to 98%.

…Continued

Roberto Cosme 2/2

Waldo’s $1 Mart/Division Sales, Carol Stream, IL 1998 – 1999 Warehouse/Distribution Supervisor

Recruited specifically to launch the company’s 1st-time venture into operating a warehouse and distribution center in Mexico.

● Developed company-wide warehouse protocol for shipping and receiving functions, with a focus on expense control, accuracy and efficiency.

● Worked with company owners to establish proper channel management between newly-opened, 23,000 warehouse facility in Tijuana Mexico, and US facilities. This included storage of materials, inventory handling, quality assurance, shipping and transportation procedures. Dominick’s Finer Foods, Northlake, IL 1997 – 1998

Distribution Supervisor

Worked extensively with Union employees and Union leaders for this large-scale, multi-location food company.

● Managed 55 unionized warehouse employees who were responsible for accurate, timely and complete shipments to Chicagoland stores. Proper refrigeration/freezer/food handling guidelines were emphasized at all times.

● Key influencer in the launch of electrical scanning and radio frequency systems in Receiving. Chernin’s Shoes, Inc., Chicago, IL 1980 – 1997

Vice President of Warehouse Operations

Assumed control of inconsistent distribution channel with high turnover and poor customer service. Created plans to improve support, expand territory, grow brand awareness, and enhance market share.

● Received numerous promotions, ultimately earning full responsibility of the 115,000 sq.-ft distribution center that shipped to 14 business locations throughout Chicago. Managed and administered a

$1.5M annual budget with 2 millions products in inventory.

● Recipient of the Certificate of Achievement Award for the Job for Youths organization, for creating jobs within the community and Chernin’s Special Recognition Award for internal excellence.

(Other Chernin’s positions include Warehouse Manager, General Manager and Sales prior to 1980) EDUCATION

Completed classes in Business and Criminal Justice, University of Illinois at Chicago Training and certifications: Hazardous waste management course; US DOT HazMat Regulation course; HazMat Trainer Certification; HazMat Shipping Certification; Certified Emergency Response Team certification; OSHA certification; Step-by-Step Guide to Better Organizing a Warehouse; Fundamentals for Human Resources Management; Managing Emotions in the Workplace; Middle Management Supervisory Skills Enhancements; Managerial Skills for Experienced Managers