Cornell Ewell
Madison Heights,MI
Summary
Dynamic purchasing professional with extensive experience at Ford Motor Company, excelling in strategic sourcing and supplier negotiations. Proven track record of managing over $100 million in direct spend while enhancing supplier performance and compliance. Adept at aligning quality, cost, and timing objectives, leveraging SAP for effective procurement management.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
Work History
Project Buyer / Direct Spend- Global
Erdrich USA
04.2025 - Current
- Responsible for all purchasing activities for assigned projects, in alignment with Erdrich USA and group purchasing targets.
- Procure goods and services at the required quality, while achieving defined cost targets, and meeting agreed delivery timelines.
- Lead direct spend sourcing activities, including RFQs, supplier selection, and commercial negotiations.
- Work closely with internal customers to translate technical and commercial requirements into sourcing strategies.
- Collaborate with Central Purchasing to ensure alignment with group purchasing strategies and governance.
- Ensure compliance with company rules, legal obligations, and purchasing policies.
- Maintain cooperative, trust-based supplier relationships to support long-term performance.
- Generated over $3 million dollars in profit to date
Purchasing Manager
Hollingsworth LLC
01.2024 - 09.2024
- Led purchasing activities for automotive programs, supporting cost, quality, and timing objectives.
- Managed direct spend, supplier negotiations, and commercial agreements to improve margins.
- Supported $7M in new business awards, and $3M in new quoting opportunities.
- Coordinated international logistics, tariffs, and supplier communications.
- Ensured purchasing compliance with internal procedures and customer requirements.
- Utilized SAP to manage purchase orders, sourcing processes, and cost inputs.
Sub Vendor Operations Manager
Populus Group
02.2023 - 08.2023
- Managed supplier cost negotiations, invoicing, and purchasing accuracy.
- Conducted executive-level account reviews, ensuring supplier compliance.
- Improved profitability by 15% through auditing and process control.
Program Manager (Purchasing / Project Buyer)
Ford Motor Company
10.2019 - 11.2022
- Supported project purchasing activities from program launch through SOP, across multiple vehicle programs.
- Managed RFQs, supplier sourcing decisions, and commercial agreements in coordination with central purchasing.
- Negotiated supplier pricing to meet BOM and program cost targets.
- Acted as a liaison between purchasing, engineering, finance, and suppliers.
- Ensured sourcing compliance with purchasing rules, legal obligations, and governance standards.
- Managed over $100 million in direct spend budgets tied to supplier production.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration And Management
Wayne State University
Detroit, MI05-2013
Skills
- Supplier relationship management
- Demand forecasting
- Cost analysis
- Budget planning
- Project buying and direct spend
- Strategic sourcing and RFQ management
- Supplier commercial negotiations
- Cost target and budget management
- Quality, cost, and timing alignment
- Central Purchasing collaboration
- Internal customer support
- Supplier risk and performance management
- Purchasing compliance and governance
- SAP
- Ariba
Websites
Timeline
Project Buyer / Direct Spend- Global
Erdrich USA
04.2025 - Current
Purchasing Manager
Hollingsworth LLC
01.2024 - 09.2024
Sub Vendor Operations Manager
Populus Group
02.2023 - 08.2023
Program Manager (Purchasing / Project Buyer)
Ford Motor Company
10.2019 - 11.2022
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration And Management
Wayne State University