Katie M

Accomplished Supply Chain leader with demonstrated success in production planning, procurement and inventory control, supplier management, product development, and global supply chain operations in the Consumer-Packaged Goods (CPG) and Health / Wellness industries. Proven record of building and managing high-performance teams and reducing costs by standardizing processes, streamlining supplier channels, forging stakeholder relationships, and driving process improvements to support project operations and customer objectives. Recognized for increasing operational efficiencies and affecting sustainable gains in performance, revenue, and profitability.

Purchasing Manager / Head of Procurement - Solesence, Inc. - Bolingbrook, IL

(2023-01)

Successfully created, developed, and lead high performance procurement team by optimizing cost, improving supply reliability, and driving cross-functional value creation across global supply chains, transforming procurement into a strategic business partner.

• Led the procurement organization of 6 team members, on and offshore, overseeing raw materials, packaging components, global ingredient sourcing, MRO & safety supply operations across $15 million annual spend.
• Delivered 10% cost savings through strategic supplier consolidation, competitive bidding, and category strategy redesign.
• Established procurement governance frameworks, increasing material availability compliance from 23% to 99%
• Partnered with Finance, Operations, and Engineering to implement TCO (total cost of ownership) methodologies across key categories.
• Developed sustainability sourcing guidelines, reducing emissions or increasing supplier ESG compliance by 60%.
• Negotiated long-term agreements with global suppliers, improving supply continuity and reducing lead times by 20%

Senior Supply Chain Manager - Whisps Cheese Crisps - Remote / Elgin, IL

(2021-01 - 2023-12)

Oversee production planning and product lifecycle operations by partnering with the manufacturing plant and providing daily / weekly forecasts for all raw materials to support farmers, baggers, and packaging vendors to produce $80M in product annually.

• Optimize integrated processes with all external partners and provide detailed production forecasts to inform vendor capacity planning
• Collaborate with new product development for packaging testing, artwork, and label information and work with Sales to ensure that vendor partners receive accurate forecasts
• Cross-functionally partner with Finance to prepare inventory rationalization plans and deliver billed materials / costs to CFO to extrapolate into ERP and MRP systems
• Work directly with the CEO to improve relationship between operations and production and provide costs for P&L reviewed monthly by the executive team

Supply Chain Manager - DERMAFLASH - Remote/Contract

(2020-01 - 2022-12)

• Created and executed SOPs for all Supply Chain functions across Purchasing, Transportation, Warehouse Operations, Production, and Distribution.
• Led and managed direct reports and 3PL warehouse personnel to ensure accuracy of inventory counts, receipts, import/ export documentation, distribution, and work order fulfillment
• Qualified new international shipping partners that led to freight contract term changes and saved 8% in international export costs and up to 25% in freight costs
• Spearheaded cost analysis for high level decisions including Formulation Tech Transfer, 3PL sourcing, and vendor selection for New Product Development
• Managed operational activities in New Product Development to ensure successful launches and led selection, testing, implementation, and budgeting for new ERP software

Senior Project Manager - Universal Beauty Products - Glendale Heights, IL

(2019-01 - 2020-12)

Led the project management team in product development, design, manufacturing process optimization, and quality management initiatives to ensure successful new product launches. Supported Sales and Marketing teams in production innovation and process improvement across four corporate divisions representing 15+ multi-cultural and multi-gender skincare / haircare brands.

• Managed corporate communications on all production and product related issues and worked cross-functionally with Sales, Marketing, Operations, and Supply Chain to resolve them
• Collaborated with Brand Managers to execute product ideation and develop production requirements

Strategic Sourcing Manager - Image Skincare - Lantana, FL

(2016-01 - 2019-12)

Oversaw all aspects of Operations and Supply Chain, including purchasing, budgeting, planning, and logistics coordination to ensure gross profit goal attainment and on-time delivery execution.

• Served as the operations lead in development, planning, analysis, and logistical performance of primary and secondary components that enabled turnkey implementations and led to reductions in production and labor costs
• Reduced overall manufacturing costs and consumer goods by average of 10% through strategic relationships with contract manufacturers, package suppliers, and various critical partners
• Key business partner in 360 initiatives to move overstock and liaison between Sales, Marketing, Education, and Operations to accomplish field sell-through, inventory turn, disposal reduction, and product launch execution
• Collaborated with Marketing to design, develop, and source promotional goods, worked with global and offshore vendors to build valuable relationships to enable marketing concepts, and ran all forecasting to support Sales and Marketing planning
• Partnered with VP of Supply Chain to interview, hire, and train candidates and led department onboarding processes

Director, Inventory & Forecasting - Keratin Complex - Boca Raton, FL

(2014-01 - 2016-12)

Inventory Analyst, Prestige Haircare, Pro Sun Care, and Pro Nail - Ulta Beauty, Inc. - Bolingbrook, IL

(2013-01 - 2014-12)

Senior Buyer / Purchaser - Dunnet Bay Construction - Glendale Heights, IL

(2005-01 - 2013-12)

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) - Business Management - National-Louis University

Associate in General Studies (A.G.S.) - Business Management - College of DuPage