My Experience

Career Profile

Procurement leader with over 10 years of expertise, managing direct and indirect spend categories ranging from $110M to $600M annually. Skilled in leading teams of up to 15 direct reports and collaborating cross-functionally to exceed savings targets, ensure compliance, and drive operational excellence through data-driven strategies that optimize cost, quality, and delivery timelines.

Career Highlights

  • Directed a cross-functional initiative with Finance, Supply Chain, IT, and Operations to implement a VMI and consignment MRO model, achieving $3M in savings on a $30M spend through data-driven supplier negotiations and enhanced working capital efficiency.

  • Led the establishment of a procurement department for a $1.5B company, developing processes, KPIs, and savings dashboards while negotiating contracts and authoring RFPs, scorecards, and templates to ensure compliance and efficiency.

Professional Experience

Engineered Transportation, Athens, TN
Strategic Sourcing Manager | Feb 2022 – Present
Directed procurement for $600M in DoD contracts and high-stakes categories (steel/aluminum, MRO/Safety, new product development), leading a high-performance team to drive cost savings and operational excellence. Currently manage a group of 4 team members.

  • Developed and maintained strong relationships with key suppliers, ensuring reliable, high-quality supply for $600M in DoD projects, achieving 20%-40% per-piece cost reductions through strategic negotiations, RFPs, and supplier development.

  • Analyzed market trends to identify new suppliers, driving $4.5M in first-year savings via supplier consolidation, RFQ/RFP optimization, and SKU rationalization.

  • Drafted and negotiated contracts for DoD sourcing, ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements while monitoring performance to enforce terms.

  • Collaborated with logistics and production teams to streamline supply chain processes, revamping the PPAP process to accelerate cost-saving rollouts and improve delivery timelines.

  • Utilized data analytics to identify cost-saving opportunities, consistently exceeding savings targets through advanced aggregation and analysis.

  • Implemented inventory management strategies to minimize stockouts and excess inventory, achieving 15% improvement in inventory efficiency through localized supply, supplier safety stock agreements, and VMI/consignment models.

Volkswagen Group of America, Chattanooga, TN
Buyer Analyst | Apr 2021 – Feb 2022
Managed $110M in critical crash-related components, optimizing supply chain efficiency and cost for a global auto manufacturer.

  • Built relationships with suppliers to address capacity constraints, improving on-time delivery and fulfillment for $110M in spend.

  • Conducted market research to identify cost-saving opportunities, securing $2.7M (2.5%) in annual savings through cost breakdown analyses and material cost negotiations.

  • Assessed and mitigated supply chain risks by resolving supplier labor and process issues, ensuring compliance with stringent specifications.

  • Participated in production meetings to align procurement with manufacturing needs, following up on plant issues to ensure efficient operations.

U.S. Xpress Inc., Chattanooga, TN
Procurement Manager | Jan 2019 – Apr 2021
Led the creation of a procurement department for a $1.5B company, establishing processes and tools to drive efficiency and compliance. Managed a group of 3 team members.

  • Fostered long-term supplier collaborations by developing processes and tools, including RFPs and scorecards, to ensure high-quality supply.

  • Implemented best practices in strategic sourcing, such as supplier consolidation and risk management, through KPIs and savings trackers.

  • Negotiated contracts and monitored performance, ensuring compliance with legal standards and optimizing terms for cost savings.

  • Trained and mentored purchasing personnel, implementing best practices to enhance team performance and stakeholder buy-in across departments.

  • Helped establish approval levels for purchases and verified approvals for purchases over specified amounts, ensuring compliance with financial controls and minimizing financial risk.

Wacker Chemie AG, Charleston, TN
Logistics Engineer | Jan 2018 – Jan 2019
Procurement Specialist | Apr 2016 – Jan 2018
Managed $250M in spend across North American plant locations, focusing on supply chain optimization and cost efficiency for MRO and spare parts.

  • Pioneered a VMI/consignment model as Logistics Engineer, saving $3M on $30M spend by leveraging data-driven insights and supplier negotiations.

  • Oversaw procurement of MRO and spare parts, ensuring cost efficiency and supply chain reliability across multiple plants.

U.S. Lumber, Mobile, AL
Warehouse & Logistics Manager | Aug 2014 – Apr 2016
Oversaw daily operations of a distribution center, managing a team of 15 warehouse employees and 5 drivers to optimize supply chain efficiency.

  • Optimized load assignments and routing, improving operational efficiency and reducing costs.

  • Managed a team of 20, fostering collaboration across departments to meet organizational needs.

Education

University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
M.S. Supply Chain Management | Dec 2023

Athens State University, Athens, AL
B.S. Supply Chain Management | 2014