Chad A. Ostby

Seasoned professional with over 25 years of Purchasing and Supply Chain experience with a diverse range of companies.

Director of Supply Chain - Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative

(2019-01)

Head of Purchasing group / Storeroom Group and Supply Chain Management

• Develop Strategy for organizational improvements with focus on Continuous Improvement
• Work directly with Suppliers on large contracts and agreements
• Implement strategic initiatives to focus on cost savings and risk reduction
• Develop overall goals with CEO and implement process improvements
• Direct day to day activities for group of 14 staff
• Identify potential problems and work to address root cause solutions
• Participate in Leadership and Board of Director strategic planning process
• Develop process and continuous improvement initiatives
• Develop, monitor, and measure Supplier Partnerships
• Part of Senior Leadership team that develops direction and strategy for the Cooperative

Head of Purchasing - Gowan Construction Inc. - Grand Forks, ND

(2015-01 - 2019-12)

• Develop and implement a complete sourcing strategy which supports allocation and reduces risk
• Develop and implement initiatives to optimize inventory levels and lead times, and leverage supplier abilities to reduce total cost of ownership
• Evaluation and selection of vendors based on total cost, quality, and sustainability of supply
• Review and analyze vendor contracts to ensure compliance and reduce risk
• Identify and implement continuous improvement initiatives in the company's supply chain operations
• Monitor and track supplier performance, inventory levels, cost savings
• Attend relevant trade shows and other Vendor meetings to establish collaborative relationships

Supply Chain Manager - Swanson Health Products - Fargo, ND

(2013-01 - 2015-12)

• Lead and set strategic vision for team of 13 buyers within Company Purchasing Department
• Develop and implement Strategic Sourcing initiatives such as Cost savings, Supplier Partnership, and Supplier improvement plans
• Manage and report company-wide inventory analysis, and inventory turns reports
• Evaluate performance of staff and facilitate support for career development and growth
• Facilitate supplier consolidation and rationalization efforts
• Work closely with other departments such as Quality Assurance, Accounting, Marketing, and Inventory Control to develop processes and improve existing workflow with a focus on elimination of non value-added tasks
• Set strategic vision for future quarters and fiscal calendars
• Initiate and participate in various company meetings to establish direction and set objectives
• Develop relationships with key Suppliers and resolve issues when Purchasing staff is unable to find solutions
• Attend Trade Shows and meet with potential new suppliers to develop relationships and look for opportunities to improve overall Supply Chain
• Build, develop, coach, and support an effective leadership team to drive achievement of organizational objectives, by identifying opportunities for growth and learning while fostering a high performance culture.

Director of Sourcing - Otter Tail Corporation - Fargo, ND

(2008-01 - 2013-12)

• Set the vision, strategic direction, expectations, and annual objectives for the overall procurement organization
• Through collaboration with Operating Companies, establish overall governance, policies, procedures, systems, quality standards, and best practices to enable the company to optimize the management of Supplier spend and Supplier relationships
• Communicate on a consistent basis with Executives and Platform Leaders in order to establish and execute Sourcing initiatives throughout organization
• Develop, implement, and leverage a repeatable, disciplined approach to implement best practice agreements throughout the organization. Focus on total cost effectiveness, enhanced service levels, improved coordination, and risk reduction.
• Lead, develop, and execute strategic sourcing strategies, best practices, and initiatives that support aggressive improvements in supplier quality, delivery, pricing, lead-times, payment, and other areas as identified.
• Develop and deliver aggressive cost reduction goals through unit price, rebates, payment terms, and vendor process improvements such as VMI, Kan Ban solutions, and consignment programs.
• Drive consolidation of spend and seek out synergies across Operating Companies where applicable.
• Benchmark, track, and analyze annual performance metrics and sourcing trends against budget and vendor performance to demonstrate continuous improvement and progress against strategic objectives.
• Serve as a change agent and innovative leader for business initiatives and assures the human element is understood and considered.
• Effectively represent the company to external organizations, community organizations, local businesses, trade associations, and Suppliers in a manner that maintains the integrity and enhances the reputation of the Company.

Strategic Senior Buyer - Coloplast Corporation - Mankato, MN

(2002-01 - 2008-12)

• Facilitate highly specialized and multi-disciplined resources to redesign sourcing and supply chain processes to better support key business objectives across the company
• Provide leadership to individual Purchasing Departments creating sourcing opportunities which capture the greatest cost savings
• Act as an advisor to VP Procurement on the selection of suppliers and facilitate extensive market research and internal data collection
• Establish/ Direct strategic sourcing objectives to sustain continuous cost reduction programs for the company's largest controllable expenditures
• Develop/ Facilitate relationships with major players in the marketplace to understand and stay abreast of industry changes which may impact various business management programs as it relates to pricing/technical trends and new products
• Utilize economic and market trends within assigned disciplines to develop long and short term sourcing strategy for implementation by applicable program owner
• Develop Category plan for direct material purchasing with a focus on improved quality, PPV, Supplier impact, and Supplier performance
• Participate in lean manufacturing projects for Material flow through value stream mapping. Implement JIT solutions such as Kan Ban, VMI, and consignment programs

Purchasing Supervisor - Minn-Kota Trolling Motors - Mankato, MN

(1998-01 - 2002-12)

• Utilize experience and process change skills to identify opportunities to lower costs.
• Act as resource for small groups of sourcing management professionals
• Understand customer specifications and processes but also seek to influence those requirements through marketplace research and best practice assessment
• Ensure compliance across the larger organization
• Participate in and develop training to Strategic Sourcing group and general Procurement team
• Share best practices across all divisions

Bachelors Degree - North Dakota State University (1998-01)

Material Control and Supply Chain Specialist - Fort Lee Military School (1991-01)