Open To Work
Cynthia Perlman
Trussville,AL
Summary
Seasoned Director with background in strategic planning, team leadership, and performance optimization. Known for driving company growth by developing efficient operational strategies and fostering professional relationships. Demonstrated abilities in problem solving, decision making, and communication skills to influence key stakeholders. Proven record of delivering innovative solutions and achieving organizational goals.
Overview
2026
2026
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Wholesale, Distribution & Waste Stream
ATS Operating LLC
01.2015 - 01.2026
- Led enterprise-wide wholesale, distribution, and waste stream operations, overseeing 35M+ pounds annually of used clothing sold into international secondary markets.
- Directed international wholesale sales across East & West Africa, South America, and Central America, managing pricing, logistics, compliance, and long-term buyer relationships.
- Managed multi-state supplemental product distribution network across 5 states, overseeing 300+ trailers and 100+ supplemental wholesale accounts.
- Managed logistics and maintenance for 300+ trailers across multiple sites, ensuring operational efficiency and reliability.
- Managed third-party relationships for over 100 supplemental wholesale accounts to ensure effective communication and service delivery.
- Negotiated and managed all waste and recycling contracts for 37 sites, driving cost controls, service standardization, and operational efficiency.
- Oversaw leasing and purchasing of heavy equipment, including forklifts, industrial scales, and commercial compactors for 37 locations, enhancing operational readiness and capacity.
- Served as project manager for new store openings, coordinating procurement, installation, and commissioning of all heavy equipment and site infrastructure.
- Partnered with operations, finance, and real estate teams to align logistics and distribution strategies with growth initiatives and capital planning, optimizing resource allocation.
Director of Donations, Logistics, Wholesale & Waste
Americas Thrift Stores
01.2010 - 01.2015
- Led end-to-end donation intake, logistics, wholesale, and waste operations, managing a network processing 50M+ pounds annually.
- Led end-to-end donation intake, managing collections of 60M+ pounds annually, to include the sale of all excess donations internationally.
- Expanded donation network by 10M pounds, increasing capacity for community support.
- Built and optimized regional donation and transportation infrastructure, improving support for retail, warehouse, and wholesale operations.
- Oversaw warehouse throughput, transportation routing, and vendor partnerships, enhancing operational efficiency and minimizing waste.
- Managed contracts and vendor relationships for hauling, recycling, and disposal services, processing 25+M pounds annually.
- Built foundational systems and processes that enabled future multi-state and international expansion.
- Led rebranding initiative for charity partners across 5 states, managing rebranding of 4,000 assets to enhance visibility.
Founder Business Leader
Alabama Thrift Stores
Birmingham, Alabama
2000 - 2010
- Established business vision and strategic direction for company growth.
- Developed and executed strategies for scaling the business domestically and internationally.
- Led strategic planning and execution to enhance profitability and company growth.
- Developed strategic initiatives that increased market share and drove revenue growth.
- Strategized and implemented operational transformation plans that aligned with emerging industry trends.
- Built and led cross-functional teams, overseeing recruitment, training, and development of staff across departments.
- Developed and implemented operational processes for efficiency and effectiveness.
- Monitored performance metrics to ensure quality standards were maintained.
- Identified potential partnerships to expand the reach of the business.
- Built stakeholder relationships in industry associations to enhance brand visibility.
- Actively participated in industry events, conferences, and networking opportunities to enhance brand visibility and business growth.
- Maintained up-to-date knowledge of relevant laws, regulations, best practices and industry developments.
- Mentored junior staff, fostering skill development and knowledge sharing.
- Alabama Thrift Stores | 2002–2010 Founded and scaled the organization’s wholesale division, transforming a startup warehouse operation into a $10M annual revenue engine. Established the international resale infrastructure, buyer networks, export compliance standards, and logistics frameworks that later supported multi-state and global expansion. Built the operational foundation that positioned the enterprise for executive-level scale and sustained growth.
Education
Associate’s Degree - Business Administration & BCS
Herzing University
Birmingham, AL03-2002
Skills
- Project management
- Contract negotiation
- Logistics coordination
- Compliance management
- Market analysis
- Customer relationship management
- Vendor relationship management
- Data-driven decision making
- Strategies and goals
- Contract and vendor management
Timeline
Director of Wholesale, Distribution & Waste Stream
ATS Operating LLC
01.2015 - 01.2026
Director of Donations, Logistics, Wholesale & Waste
Americas Thrift Stores
01.2010 - 01.2015
Founder Business Leader
Alabama Thrift Stores
2000 - 2010
Associate’s Degree - Business Administration & BCS
Herzing University
Operational Highlights
- Multi-state warehouse and logistics leadership (5+ states)
- International resale markets across Africa and Latin America
- Enterprise equipment procurement and lifecycle management
- Large-scale waste diversion and recycling oversight
- High-volume, mission-driven supply chain operations
Select Operational Impact
- $1M annual cost savings through enterprise logistic optimizations route and product realignment waste contract renegotiation
- 15M+ revenue line
- $6M+ incremental revenue from wholesale market and product expansion
- 700K+ annual cost savings during market expansion through waste contract negotiation
- Multi-state warehouse and distribution leadership (5 states)
- International resale operations across Africa and Latin America
- High-volume circular supply chain and reverse logistics expertise
Operational Highlights
- Multi-state warehouse and logistics leadership (5+ states)
- International resale markets across Africa and Latin America
- Enterprise equipment procurement and lifecycle management
- Large-scale waste diversion and recycling oversight
- High-volume, mission-driven supply chain operations