Distribution Center & Supply Chain Operations Leader

JOHN WATTA

DISTRIBUTION CENTER MANAGER * SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGER

817-***-**** (Cell) *********@*******.*** PARRISH, FL

SUMMARY:

Twenty five years of multi-site End to End supply chain experience with a primary focus in food manufacturing and distribution industry. Extensive exposure working with suppliers and vendors globally using LEAN principles to facilitate getting product into either their manufacturing or distribution sites in the most cost-effective way. Proven aptitude for logistic and inventory planning, distribution center management, and performance improvement. Highly adept at managing the internal functions of a Distribution Center to efficiently distribute product(s), as well as a thorough understanding of how the end user is affected by the supply chain, and the importance of why it needs to be functioning properly at the store level. A highly analytical leader than uses data to support decisions and effectively communicate to the appropriate stakeholder(s) in the organization to include the Sales and Operations Planning Process (S&OP).

Professional/Technical Expertise:

Demand Planning • Master Scheduling • Forecasting • Purchasing and Procurement • Strategic Program Planning • Team Leadership • Quality Improvement• SAP/ERP/WMS• Labor Management • Budgets/P&L• Negotiation • Microsoft Dynamics AX ERP

EDUCATION:

University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, WI

B.S., Criminal Justice, 1995

EXPERIENCE:

Elevate Healthcare (Sarasota, FL)

Logistics Manager (June 2025 to Present) Leading all global aspects of Logistics for the company to include Shipping, Receiving, Warehousing and Demo Fleet. Responsible for the accuracy of $20M inventory (6000 plus items) a $2M Demo Fleet in both the United States and Germany.

•In 6 months the warehouse for Physical Inventory was organized, resulting in a .7% dollar variance, compared to the year prior of a 7% inventory dollar variance

•Increased On Time Delivery from 82% to 99%

•Reduced Outbound Revenue Freight Expense by 28.1%

•Successfully Supported 199 Demo Events, which was a contributing factor in the company achieving its best Revenue and EBITA year

Lantmannen Unibake (St. Petersburg, FL)

Warehouse Manager (Jan 2023 to June 2025) Leading a team of warehouse personnel and CDL drivers in a 24/7 food manufacturing environment. Overall accountable for all inbound/outbound operations, warehousing, drivers, truck fleet, inventory management and 3PL management of two sites.

• Worked Cross functionally with demand planning, customer service, scheduling and purchasing to fill gaps within organization to make it more efficient and cost effective.

• Spearheaded cost savings of over $600K in FY 2024-2025 through ship point management, carrier negotiation, labor and equipment efficiency.

• Created a plan to move to a second 3PL to store overflow product from the primary 3PL to create a better flow of product from the producing plant, and increase daily inbound/outbound capacity at primary 3PL.

• Started a monthly cycle count program to ensure accuracy of inventory for the purchasing department, which has contributed to us increasing our fulfillment rate above 99% and resulted in a 1% inventory variance value for our 2024 annual physical inventory.

Vetio Animal Heath (Jupiter, FL)

Supply Chain-Contractor (July 2022 to Dec 2022) Contracted to evaluate, restructure and improve the end-to-end supply chain for the organization and department; to include Procurement strategies, Plant/Production Scheduling and Warehouse Optimization with internal stakeholders to improve plant efficiencies and regain customer confidence.

• In the first 30 days the warehouse capacity was reduce from 150% to 110%; cleared up 70 past due PO’s; Dispositioned of 70 expired items, which saved the company $30K; streamlined new PO process and identified a pricing conversion in SAP Business 1 that created wrong pricing on all items ordered in kilograms.

Fresh Meal Plan (Boca Raton, FL)

Director of Fulfillment (Sept 2021 to April 2022 (Laid Off) Responsible for leading all local and national fulfillment operations (staffing, development, warehousing, packaging procurement, picking, packing, shipment, delivery and 3PL management) for 2500 plus local customers and 1000 plus national customers weekly for one of the fastest growing fully cooked regional subscription meal plan companies.

• Lead and executed the successful consolidation of local routes on weekly basis, reducing warehouse and delivery labor by 20%.

• Lead and executed a packing change that reduced our cost per box by 25%, and converted all packing to 100% recyclable material, which increased customer satisfaction.

• Negotiated a storage and delivery agreement with a packing supplier that saved the company $5000 in monthly offsite storage fees.

• Developed and executed a plan to reduce UPS shipping costs, by partnering with Southwest Airlines and UPS. Annualized savings were estimated at $213K with current volume.

• Develop and implement the first performance-based picking system in the company's history. In the first 3 months pick rates increased by 17% and pick errors were reduced by 25%, through data collection, analysis and team member coaching.

Italian Rose Gourmet Products (Riviera Beach, FL)

Supply Chain Manager (Sept 2019 to Sept 2021) National Logistics Manager for the largest Fresh Salsa producer in the United States. Responsible for the End to End supply chain and the safe and efficient operations of 6 sites, which include 3PL’s and Company Operated facilities in both Florida and California. Strategically reduced transportation costs, while ensuring on time delivery criteria is not jeopardized, by partnering with Operations, Sales and Quality. Evaluated staffing needs across the company and created a plan for cross training and future needs of the company. Created reporting on fill rates and sales that is presented weekly to the Board of Directors.

• Lead two successful 3PL moves in 3 months without affecting the customer fill rate or on time delivery.

• Within the first 9 months, reduced the transportation spend by $900K (20%) through lane and ship point analysis and carrier negotiations.

•Worked in tandem with the Purchasing Manager and Sr. Director of Quality to have a continuous flow of fresh produce (tomatoes, peppers, onions, jalapenos) during the pandemic, and continue to meet or exceed our customer fill rate and quality goals

Owens and Minor (Sunrise, FL) Distribution Center Manager (Feb 2017 to Sept 2019)

Golden State Foods (Lexington, SC) Warehouse Manager (April 2013 to April 2015)

General Mills Sold to ARYZTA (Vinita, OK) Shipping, Receiving and Safety Manager (January 2007 to April 2013)

TARGET DISTRIBUTION (Pueblo, CO) Warehousing Department Supervisor (May 2004 to December 2006)

SURLEAN FOODS (San Antonio, TX) Production Manager (November 2001 – May 2004)

FRITO LAY (Jonesboro, AR) Production Supervisor (January 2000 – October 2001)

MILITARY EXPERIENCE: U.S. ARMY First Lieutenant (P) (1995 to 1999) Honorable Discharge. Ordnance Officer specializing in maintenance management, logistics and supply chain. Responsible for leading the safety, health and welfare of 7 Non-Commissioned Officers (supervisors) and 110 soldiers.

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING:

Continuous Improvement Certified Trainer

SPC Control Charts and Process Control Training

Quality Systems/Food Safety Audit Training

Warehouse Technical Business I and II

Process Safety Management/Risk Management Programs Training Garden City Kansas Freezing Technology of Frozen Dough (AIB International)

HAZMAT Awareness Level Training Food Defense Training (Oklahoma State University)

HACCP Certification (Oklahoma State University)

ISO 14001 Certified Auditor

Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) for Human Food Certified

Lean Focus Training

OSHA 10 HR General Industry Course

DOT Reasonable Suspicion Certified

IATA DGR 66th Edition Certified

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