Senior Ops & Supply Chain Leader (Director/VP) in Orlando Area

Joe Comella

Winter Garden, FL ***** (U.S.A. )

847-***-**** *********@***.***

Professional Summary

Strategic Supply Chain & Operations Leader with 35+ years of experience driving global planning, procurement, and ERP/MRP transformations. Proven record of optimizing inventory health, improving supplier performance, and leading cross-functional S&OP processes for organizations exceeding $100M in annual revenue. Expertise in SAP, JD Edwards, and D365 with a strong background in global supplier management, demand and supply planning, and MRP system implementation. Adept at balancing strategic leadership with hands-on execution to deliver measurable improvements in forecasting accuracy, service levels, and operational efficiency. Certifications

• Inventory Control

• Purchasing Management

• Production Control

• Transportation Management

• Six Sigma Yellow Belt

• Project Management

Skills

• SAP

• JD Edwards

• D365

• ERP Implementation

• Global Supply Chain Planning

• Demand & Supply Planning

• Forecasting Accuracy

• S&OP

• Operations Management

• Supplier Performance Management

• ERP Optimization

• Process Improvement

• Strategic Leadership

• Inventory Optimization

• Cross-Functional Collaboration

• International Procurement

• KPI Development & Monitoring

• 3PL

• Lean Manufacturing

• Integrated Business Planning (IBP)

Professional Experience

Privately Held Company - Greater Chicago Area, IL May 2002 – Present Principal Consultant

• Spearheaded ERP/MRP transitions (JDE SAP; NAV D365), ensuring seamless go-lives with minimal operational disruption. Designed and implemented MRP frameworks improving demand/supply visibility and operational efficiency. Partnered cross-functionally with IT, Operations, and Procurement to align system capabilities with supply planning strategy.

• Delivered projects on time and under budget, achieving measurable improvements in data accuracy and planning cycle times.

• I applied Integrated Business Planning by aligning demand, supply, and financial plans across departments for each project. This involved coordinating inputs from operations, finance, and commercial teams, translating strategic objectives into actionable plans, and using regular planning cycles and performance reviews to identify gaps and adjust priorities. By synchronizing resources, timelines, and budgets, IBP helped streamline handoffs, reduce bottlenecks, and improve overall end-to-end operational flow. Pet-Ag, Inc. - Greater Chicago Area, IL Aug 2023 – Mar 2025 Director of Operations and Supply Chain

• Directed global supply planning and procurement operations supporting $100M+ in revenue, optimizing inventory health across multi-site and international supply networks. Reduced total company inventory from $22.5M to $14M through enhanced demand and supply planning frameworks and improved forecasting accuracy. Increased order fulfilment rates to 98.7% with top-tier retail partners by aligning supply strategy with Sales, Product, and Operations teams.

• Led S&OP implementation, improving forecast accuracy and inventory turns while supporting business growth. Drove ERP data accuracy and planning efficiency through process improvements in SAP and Salesforce environments.

• I leveraged Integrated Business Planning to strategically align operational plans with departmental financial budgets.

Hearthside Food Solutions - Greater Chicago Area, IL Oct 2022 – Jul 2023 Supply Chain Logistics Manager

• Management of materials, including demand, releases, and receipts using SAP, supplier performance and supply management for assigned suppliers, products and facilities, manage material inventory plans for assigned items, align and coordinate efforts with operations and production planning to ensure timely receipt of all materials, develop unique inventory plans by category and customer, ensure realization of department goals and objectives, execute and maintain functional best practices.

• Manage location capacity planning 13 weeks rolling, in parallel to the labor capacity Handle designated customer accounts on a daily basis. Prepare, set up and train staff on new developments, projects and customers.

• Manage the external demand with our supply constraints to deliver customer service while optimizing our run strategy and establishing run rules.

• Reach out for help cross functionally to meet the on time, in full customer expectations Establish best practices with demand planning time fences, weekly cadence and external reporting.

• Responsible for inventory management and accuracy: inventory aging/usage, cycle count programs and material/finished good dispositions, Voice of the Customer for Sales when making priority decisions, Outbound planning of finished goods, Identifies and implement cost reductions

• Ensure material is available to eliminate line downtime.

• Assists with the development and implementation and sustainment of policies and procedures Identifies and drives best practices within total supply chain, including the development of supplier and supply related metrics.

• Manage the supplier Manage designated customer orders and schedule orders for delivery.

• Recommends potential issues to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs Schedule conference calls with customers or carriers to develop working relationships

• Facilitate training on new developments with SAP/Yardview.

• Interacts with customer and carriers via phone or e-mail. CGW Abrasives - Greater Chicago Area, IL Apr 2021 – Jul 2022 Sr. Director of Operations

• Responsible for strategy, planning and management of CGW Abrasives (USA) operations, procurement, inventory management and production functions.

• Manage 12 high-level department heads with 72 total employees. Visits with each department in the company and each company branch to connect with employees and ensure that Managers understand new policies or procedures.

• Design and optimize the operations, procurement, inventory management and production within the organization.

• Oversees the raw material supplies for two US manufacturing facilities, procurement and resource allocation, and forecasting of all inventory / replenishment – domestic and international. Closely collaborates with Israel HQ on forecasting models.

• Presides over the organization’s operations processes. Communicates with upper management to improve company operations. Aid upper management in promoting the business growth by maximizing company procedures and its relationship with their customers.

• Defining, implementing and revising operational policies and guidelines for the organization. Develops and executes new growth directives. Work with finance to develop plans and ensure company-wide operational compliance. Analyze the company’s revenue margins and conduct budget reviews to maximize profits.

• Responsible for setting budgets and financial goals for individual departments. Works closely with department heads and upper management personnel to identify ways to increase sales, employee retention or customer satisfaction. Ability to articulate risks in group settings and influence stakeholders to arrive at the best solution to resolve challenges.

• Utilize the Project Portfolio Management tools for planning resources, project milestones, risks and financials.

• Works with the HR department to implement hiring procedures, create job descriptions, hire competent personnel, oversee employee training programs and assist in the development and implementation of staff evaluation parameters.

Luminex Corporation - Greater Chicago Area, IL Apr 2018 – Apr 2021 Manager - Materials & Logistics

• The management of the flow of goods, services and knowledge, along with relationships within and among organizations to achieve or support the organization’s objectives and meet customer satisfaction. It includes the movement and storage of raw materials, work-in-process inventory, and finished goods from point of origin to point of consumption.

• Manage responsibilities of leading and driving overall performance of procurements. Create integrated processes amongst Operations, Purchasing, Marketing & Vendors which will manage Materials Planning function for goods and materials.

• Oversee the development of item specific production forecasts over a rolling time horizon to be used for ordering and inventory management purposes. Oversee the purchasing activities and management of key suppliers.

• Lead efforts as it relates to supply chain planning and execution systems, including best sourcing strategies Analyzing logistical problems and producing solutions.

• Create, and implement key performance indicators (KPI) to monitor performance and plan improvements.

• Prepare management reports as requested. Ability to work cross-functionally with departments including Quality Control, Manufacturing, Sales, and Global Marketing Have understanding of contract preparation and negotiations, and monitor agreement obligations. McNichols Company - Greater Tampa Bay, FL Mar 2016 – Jul 2017 Inventory Control Manager

• Develops, implements and ensures compliance with established inventory control procedures and implements process improvements; coordinates and manages daily inventory cycle counts to ensure accuracy; interviews, establishes schedules, and monitors staff performance.

• Minimizes inventory costs by analyzing inventory levels and demand and ensuring product availability; develops, tracks, and reports on Key Performance Indicators for inventory health; investigates / resolves inventory shortages and/or discrepancies.

• Additional Contributions / Achievements Assisted management in a few best practice inventory reports, processes and procedures.

• Collaborates with procurement and demand planning teams to establish efficient stocking levels and reorder points.

• Developed ABC classifications and cycle count program on handhelds. Ensures strong relationships with external and internal partners, suppliers, and other stakeholders.

• Minimizes inventory costs by analyzing inventory levels and demand; and by ensuring product availability. Barilla - Greater Chicago Area, IL Aug 2007 – Feb 2016 Inventory Manager

• Managed a 20% inventory reduction initiative for the division by limiting obsolete/aging inventory approaching shelf life at third party logistics (3PLs) warehouses. Scope of accountability includes logistics, inventory control, sales and operations, and manage destruction and disposal process of obsolete materials.

• High impact team player with proven ability to slash inventory variances and error rates through strong management practices and strict adherence to policies and procedures.

• Manage and maintain a variety of data and inventory control systems including Lean Logistics, 3PLs external resources, CHEP Portfolio Plus and Donor express – used in support of inventory control.

• Exemplary track record attained while managing inventory levels at 15 warehouses valued at 50 million dollars.

• Created all inventory control Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). Developed and standardized logistics reporting and key performance indicators (KPI’s). Integrated new third party logistics (3PL’s) warehouses into the network.

• Drove Continuous Improvement (CI) through Kaizen events including Swinlane procedure and Raci charts in SAP across all functional areas within the company.

• Created logistics policies and procedures for new product launches in coordination with all functional areas of the organization.

• Implemented Sales and Operations planning (S&OP) planning process Continuously manage 100,000 CHEP pallets.

O’Bryan Brothers, Inc. - Greater Chicago Area, IL Jun 2002 – Aug 2005 Director of Purchasing – Raw Materials

• Traditional and Contemporary $80M Wholesale apparel manufacturer

• Purchased raw materials for the Lorraine Lingerie (traditional apparel) and Cuddl Duds® (contemporary apparel).

Revere Mills International Group, Inc. - Greater Chicago Area, IL Aug 1998 – May 2002 Director - Inventory, Importing & Cost

• Responsible for the direction of scheduling of shipments and notifying concerning departments and customers of the arrival dates.

• Contacting customs officials to ensure release of incoming freight and resolve customs delays.

• Responsible for the planning and flow direction of air and ocean traffic to facilitate shipments direct from overseas manufactures to key accounts.

• Authorized the payment of invoices and the return of merchandise that was defective or unacceptable goods or services to the vendors.

• Established operational procedures for activities, such as verification of incoming and outgoing shipments, handling and disposition of materials and keeping warehouse inventory current.

• Reviewed bills of lading for incoming merchandise and customer orders to ensure outbound shipping activity meet customer requirements and routing guide standards.

• Generated purchase orders to foreign factories based on customers forecasts. Acted as an intermediary for foreign factories and domestic customers to resolve problems and arrive at mutual agreements. M.S. Distributing Co. - Greater Chicago Area, IL Jan 1997 – Aug 1998 Director Of Purchasing - Audio Division,

• Oversaw the buying of audio products including but not limited to CD’s, Cassette tapes and Records.

• Negotiate contracts and pricing, reviewed bids and establish payment terms.

• Built relationships with various vendors in order to receive competitive pricing and quality products.

• Selected and met with various types of suppliers and attended trade shows and conferences to seek out new suppliers and track trends in the industry.

• Created a budget for spending.

• Managed the flow of audio products to help determine inventory levels and needs. Tracked inventory and placed orders.

• Maintained an inventory record of products and supplies bought. Montgomery Ward - Greater Chicago Area, IL Jun 1995 – Jan 1997 Merchandise Planning Manager

• Responsible for managing various inventory programs and processes including markdowns, receipts, trends and open to buys. Determining markup and markdown percentages necessary to ensure profit/gross margin, based on estimated budget, profit goals and average rate of stock turnover.

• Partnered with Sourcing, Production, Logistics, Demand Planning, and Merchandise Planning to implement short and long-term inventory management objectives. Aligned with Logistics and Distribution Centers on flow planning.

• Reviewed the published inventory plans by item hierarchy and throughout the distribution network.

• Partnered with Merchandise Planners on issues arising during the demand planning process. Lead and managed the inventory deployment in the creation of plans ensuring alignment with inventory parameters.

• Ensured strategies/parameters were set to achieve targeted service levels for Vendors, DCs and Stores Partnered with Space Planning to oversee appropriate presentation levels in the planograms. True Value Company - Greater Chicago Area, IL Sept 1989 – May 1995 Assistant Merchandise Manager & Inventory Analyst

• Responsible for implementing new product lines, creating retail orientation programs, supervising market research and inventory data, pricing analysis, sales forecasting and coordinating inventory control and planograms.

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