Supply Chain Senior Manager

KARI FREEMAN, 561-***-****

**** ******** **, **********, *******, United States

***********@*****.***, www.linkedin.com/in/kari-freeman-florida

Summary

As the President/CEO of multiple businesses and a Senior Manager in Fortune 500 companies, I bring over 20 years of experience in senior management and a strong drive to succeed. I am a skilled entrepreneurial leader with expertise in marketing and procurement, and I have a proven track record of achieving profitable growth, establishing strategic partnerships, and managing high-performing teams.

My key competencies include managing costs, developing business, managing key accounts, fostering customer relationships, and building strong partnerships with suppliers and clients. I have effectively managed an annual spend of $400M across multiple categories, negotiated contracts with both domestic and international suppliers, and received multiple awards for my performance and results. My goal is to deliver exceptional services and value-added programs that exceed both company expectations and customer satisfaction.

Experience

President/CEO

Devoted Property Management, and Quick Fill Services, Lake Worth, Florida, Jun 2022 - Present

Owner of multiple successful businesses in the food, gas station, and real estate industries.

Lead Category Manager

The North West Company, Boca Raton, Florida, Sep 2021 - Aug 2022

Procurement and Marketing Manager for Technology, Electronics, Furniture, Appliances, and Office Supplies for CostULess locations in the Caribbean and Pacific Islands, serving commercial and retail customers.

Oversaw strategic sourcing initiatives to optimize procurement processes and enhance cost efficiencies across all categories.

Led category management strategies, ensuring product alignment with market demand and customer preferences.

Conducted financial cost analysis to evaluate supplier proposals, negotiate contracts, and drive cost savings while maintaining quality standards.

Developed and executed procurement and marketing strategies, including planning and ordering products, to support supply chain operations that drove profitable business outcomes.

Fostered strong supplier relations to secure favorable terms, enhance collaboration, and ensure consistent product availability.

Managed ownership of P&Ls, budgets, and category-specific strategies to achieve organizational objectives and deliver value to stakeholders.

Senior Procurement Manager

G4S Security Solutions, Jupiter, Florida, Dec 2018 - Dec 2021

Senior Procurement Supply Chain Manager for Corporate Services, Marketing, Telecommunications, Technology, IT Networks, and Office Supplies for 150+ corporate offices and 50,000+ employees.

Developed profitable strategies and executed successful projects designed to improve business productivity, reducing the total cost of ownership across multiple entities.

Spearheaded strategic sourcing initiatives and implemented robust category management practices to optimize procurement operations and drive cost savings.

Conducted in-depth financial cost analysis to identify opportunities for cost reduction, improve budget efficiency, and enhance return on investment.

Designed and executed procurement strategies that strengthened supplier relations and fostered long-term partnerships to ensure supply chain resilience and alignment with corporate objectives.

Negotiated and managed high-value contracts, ensuring compliance with corporate policies and delivering measurable value across multiple categories.

Senior Category Manager

Office Depot/Max, Boca Raton, Florida Oct 2016 - Apr 2018

Strategic leader with extensive experience in sourcing over $400M of office products distributed across 1,300+ retail stores, e-commerce platforms, and 3,000+ B2B accounts. Proficient in strategic sourcing initiatives, category management, and financial cost analysis, driving efficiency and profitability in highly competitive markets.

Directed all aspects of sales, merchandising, product marketing, budgeting, inventory control, and supply chain operations to optimize category performance.

Developed and implemented strategies to enhance supplier relationships, ensuring consistent quality, cost savings, and timely delivery of products.

Designed and launched innovative products and seasonal assortments, generating over $90M in annual margin dollars through targeted strategy execution, off-shelf promotions, and category growth initiatives.

Conducted comprehensive financial cost analyses to identify opportunities for margin improvement, achieving significant cost reductions while maintaining product quality.

Executed all supplier negotiations and procurement strategies, fostering long-term partnerships and securing competitive pricing for high-demand products.

Senior National Account Manager

Lexmark, Lake Worth, Florida Dec 2007 - Aug 2016

Established strategic sourcing initiatives and category management for a $350M revenue portfolio, encompassing Printers, Toner, Ink, and Software Services.

Conducted financial cost analysis to optimize procurement strategies, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.

Developed and implemented strategic contracts and pricing strategies in collaboration with C-suite executives, driving profitability and market share growth.

Built and maintained strong supplier relations to enhance collaboration, improve delivery timelines, and ensure competitive pricing.

Negotiated high-value contracts with Office and Mass retailers, Club wholesalers, e-commerce platforms, and B2B resellers, securing favorable terms and long-term partnerships.

Led cross-functional teams in marketing, supply chain, and budgeting to streamline operations and maximize revenue opportunities.

Senior Category Manager

Gottschalks, Fresno, California Jun 2006 - Dec 2007

Senior procurement leader for $150M in sales, merchandising, marketing, supply chain, and planning. Spearheaded strategic sourcing initiatives and category management, driving the development of exclusive impulse categories in Furniture, Accessories, Garden, and Toys with 100%+ margins that sold over 12x turns annually. Conducted financial cost analysis to optimize pricing strategies and enhance profitability. Designed and implemented procurement strategies that strengthened supplier relations, ensuring consistent quality, cost savings, and improved supply chain efficiency.

Senior Category Buyer

Staples, Framingham, Massachusetts, Sep 2000 - Jun 2006

Senior leader managing $500M in sales, merchandising, marketing, supply chain, and inventory planning. Reduced obsolete inventory and developed new Furniture items that doubled sales in 1,600 stores, e-commerce, direct marketing campaigns, and over 2,000 B2B accounts.

Portland Community College, General, Engineering Technology

Proficient with Microsoft Office XP and Google Suite: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Smartsheet, Outlook, Access, Essbase, SharePoint, Google Drive, Google Forms

Expert Software Operator: Oracle, Ariba, PeopleSoft, SAP, Coupa, Jira, Tableau, ServiceNow, Salesforce, Cognos, Agile, JDA, Marketing DoJo, iTop

Top Skills: Business to Business Sales & Marketing, Contract Negotiations, Retail Management and Financial Reporting, Strategic Financial Planning, Inventory Control and Forecasting, Cross-functional Team Leadership, Budget Formulation and Implementation, Project Management

Contact this candidate