Demand Planner, Supply Chain Analyst

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JULIE CEKANSKY

Demand Planning Leader $*00M+ Inventory Experience Forecast Accuracy Expert

330-***-**** *******@*****.*** https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-cekansky North Canton, OH Professional Summary

Results-oriented demand planner with 20 years of experience in high-volume retail, specializing in forecasting accuracy, inventory optimization, and replenishment strategies. Managed $270M seasonal assortments across 800 stores and 3 DCs, achieving 85%+ sell-through and driving 30% sales growth in key locations. Developed baseline forecasts for 5,000 SKUs, overseeing 40M units annually with market-driven insights. Maintained 5% APE across 4.5M units yearly using Blue Yonder, ensuring precision in demand planning. Executed purchase order processes for $600M receipts, improving inventory availability and supply chain efficiency. Spearheaded cost reductions of 15% through vendor negotiations and international sourcing strategies, while streamlining allocation cycles by 50% with a custom web-based system. Delivered 37M units during COVID, scaling weekly allocations from 1M to 14M while cutting unit costs by 6%. Proficient in SAP HANA, Blue Yonder (JDA), Excel, and Tableau, leveraging data-driven insights to enhance decision-making and optimize supply chain performance. Core Competencies

Tools

SAP (ERP/HANA/BW) Blue Yonder (JDA Demand & Fulfillment) Sigma Computing Tableau Microsoft Excel (VLOOKUP/"IF" Statements/Pivot Tables/Complex Formulas) Purchase Order & Allocation Systems Microsoft Office (PowerPoint Word Teams Outlook) Google Sheets Inventory & Demand Planning

Forecasting & Demand Planning Supply Planning Inventory Optimization Inventory Management Statistical Analysis Scenario Planning Replenishment & Allocation S&OP Processes KPI Management Cost Reduction Strategies Sell-Through Improvement Purchasing Processes SLA Management Data & Trend Analysis Root Cause Analysis Leadership & Collaboration

Vendor & Supplier Management Stakeholder Management Cost Reduction Training Cross-Functional Collaboration Process Improvement Mentorship

Experience

JOANN Hudson, OH

Sr. Demand Planning Analyst 09/2023 - 05/2025

Oversaw demand planning for the company’s highest-volume, most dynamic business segment, representing half of total sales units.

Managed $270M seasonal/fashion assortment across 800 stores and 3 DCs. Optimized weekly SKU-level replenishment strategy to support an 85%+ sell-through and minimize stockouts. Collaborated with five merchant partners to expand and refine product availability, increasing sales by 30% in select stores.

Established baseline forecasts for 5,000 core SKUs—40M units, 20% of revenue factoring in seasonality, promotions, and market conditions.

Executed PO processes (creation, maintenance, tracking) for $600M receipts and five Buying Teams. Leveraged SAP HANA and Excel to analyze historical sales, create dynamic reporting, and optimize inventory levels. Streamlined allocation processes and improved efficiency by 15% through creation of Excel models.

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Experience

JOANN Hudson, OH

Sr. Demand Forecasting & Replenishment Analyst 10/2007 - 09/2023 Led end-to-end forecasting, replenishment, and vendor coordination for a core $250M business unit driving 20% of total company

revenue

Created and maintained item-level forecasts in Blue Yonder with 5% MAPE across 4.5M units annually by collaborating with buyers and planners.

Controlled inventory for 1,500 core and 3,000 seasonal SKUs while achieving high service level and in-stock goals. Partnered with 30 vendors to reduce costs by 15%, improve responsiveness, and mitigate supply chain disruptions. Oversaw vendor transitions and shifted sourcing strategies between domestic and international suppliers, resulting in a 5-15% cost reduction.

Spearheaded and launched a web-based allocation system that shortened allocation cycles by 50% and improved store- tier accuracy.

Trained 30 team members and authored new documentation for purchase order and allocation systems. Developed ad hoc reporting to support allocation decisions, achieving 85% sell-through and improving decision quality. Led emergency inventory expansion during the COVID surge, scaling weekly allocations from 1M to 14M units and delivering 37M units at a 6% lower unit cost.

Reached and maintained 75-90% DC service levels and 90% in-stocks during high-stress operational periods. Established inventory parameters including weeks of supply, safety stock, and reorder points for 1,500 core SKU's. JOANN Hudson, OH

Sr. Merchandise Planner 11/2005 - 10/2007

Built inventory and financial strategies for categories contributing 10% of total company revenue. Owned merchandise planning for multiple product categories with full accountability for results (KPI management). Created and owned category Open-To-Buy alignment and drive consensus discussions across teams. Collaborated with three Buying teams to develop and maintain sales forecasts, inventory plans, and data-driven buying recommendations to optimize product assortment and maximize profitability. Built store rankings and allocation models that lifted sell-through to 85% on Seasonal goods. Drove $1M in incremental revenue by identifying high-opportunity stores for niche SKUs. Education

University of Akron Akron, OH

Bachelor of Arts & Sciences

Industrial & Organizational Psychology and Management & Human Resources

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