- Offering time and support to shelters for the homeless, women, and animals
- Youth Development Programs
- Youth mentor, providing guidance and support to empower the next generation of leaders
- Getting involved in local advocacy groups to promote positive change in the community
Deborah Abernathy-Smith
Procurement Buyer, Supply Chain Specialist, P-Card Management, And Travel Procurement
Acworth,GA
Summary
A professional with a career in Sourcing, Procurement, Purchasing, and Supply Chain with broad experience in project management, travel expense management, business operations, and administration. Resourceful and proactive with the ability to identify and implement process and procedure improvements for cost-savings improved efficiencies. Excellent customer service and interpersonal skills to establish and maintain strong relations with vendors and customers. Advanced aptitude for technology and software solutions. Equipped with strong problem-solving abilities, willingness to learn, and excellent communication skills. Poised to contribute to team success and achieve positive results. Ready to tackle new challenges and advance organizational objectives with dedication and enthusiasm.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
2025
2025
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Buyer Purchasing Specialist (Contract)
Wellstar Health Systems
Marietta, Georgia
10.2024 - 04.2025
- Facilitated the procure-to-pay process by meticulously verifying, preparing, and forwarding purchase orders to suppliers, confirming order details, and authorizing invoice payments for the Accounts Payable department.
- Prepared and submitted purchase orders (POs) following established policies and procedures within the MMIS/ERP system; ensured the prompt processing of emergency or overnight orders as necessitated by various service lines and departments.
- Collaborated with end-user departments to clarify purchase requisitions, ascertain departmental and clinical needs, and refine specifications for subsequent purchase orders.
- Delivered training on system requisition processes to designated service lines and department end-users as necessary; assisted these areas with sourcing and vendor options.
- Assessed and identified the most effective methods for processing purchase orders based on total cost, timeliness, and existing contractual agreements.
- Solicited recommendations from suppliers for substitute items and obtained approval for alternate items from the requisitioning department.
- Developed an efficient and accurate system for monitoring all open purchase orders and analyzing outstanding orders to project expected purchase volume for items.
- Compared overall outstanding receipts with anticipated receipt dates to identify overdue backorders.
- Achieved successful collaboration with vendors, distribution, and receiving teams to ensure that all direct and drop-ship deliveries conformed to the specifications of the assigned purchase orders, and reported any back-ordered or missing products.
- Resolved discrepancies related to requisitions, shipping, purchase orders, and invoices in coordination with requesters, suppliers, and the accounts payable department.
- Processed and managed the return goods authorization (RGA) process, including the receipt of credits as appropriate.
- Facilitated vendor credentialing within the WellStar Health System vendor management system for assigned service lines and departments, adhering to established guidelines.
Procurement Buyer
Interroll Atlanta LLC
Hiram, Georgia
06.2021 - 02.2023
- Attained proficiency in the procurement and purchasing of materials daily to support production and optimize inventory utilizing material requirements planning (MRP); fulfilled purchasing requisitions following the engineering production schedule.
- Coordinated and executed parts sourcing activities for new programs based on QCDM (Quality, Cost, Delivery, and Management) supplier evaluations.
- Verified pricing, conducted Annual Price Reviews (APR), and implemented kaizen initiatives for assigned commodities to continually reduce costs and ensure successful on-time product launches, thereby sustaining client profitability.
- Engaged in negotiations concerning short- and long-term contracts and requests for proposals (RFPs) ranging from $75,000 to over $1,000,000 for outsourcing specialty parts, control systems, electrical components, raw metal materials, sub-assemblies, finished goods, maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) materials, equipment, spares, tooling, supplies, and services from suppliers.
- Oversaw planned international deliveries, including logistics, customs clearance, and air and ocean shipments.
- Orchestrated both monthly and annual forecasts for all suppliers, taking into account historical demand, product management, customer history, sales feedback, market dynamics, and business intelligence.
- Researched and devised strategies to eliminate commodity material shortages and work order delays by collaborating with production resources, suppliers, and project personnel.
- Resolved discrepancies arising from requisitions, shipping, purchase orders, and invoices in cooperation with requesters, suppliers, and the accounts payable department.
Supply Chain Specialist (Contract)
FDS Avionics- Beacon Hill Staffing
Alpharetta, Georgia
08.2020 - 02.2021
- Responsibilities included managing compliance with Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and DFAR, as well as procurement, purchasing, vendor management, forecasting, reporting, and analysis.
- Built and maintained vendor relationships to facilitate supply chain and production operations.
- Negotiated and implemented both short- and long-term contracts for raw materials, electronics, control systems, engines, sub-assemblies, finished goods, MRO materials, equipment, spare parts, tooling, electrical boards, supplies, and services, with requests for payments (RFPs) ranging from $30,000 to over $1,000,000.
- Served as the point of escalation for product inquiries, changes, delays, shipping discrepancies, and other purchasing issues, using sound judgment to resolve problems with internal and external teams and promptly communicating action plans.
- Leveraged knowledge of best practices to track inventory and retain accountability for projects worth $1,000,000.
- Championed sustainability initiatives within the company's supply chain operations through waste reduction strategies.
- Analyzed data trends to make informed decisions related to inventory management and demand planning processes.
- Enhanced supplier relationships, negotiating better pricing and terms for cost savings.
- Developed and implemented solutions to improve lead-time, backorders, and delivery schedules.
- Led supply chain improvement efforts through management of carrier relationships, customs activities and international security measures.
Grants Peer Reviewer (Part-Time)
Office of Justice Programs (OJP)
Washington, DC
04.2020 - 07.2025
- Evaluated 11 multistate grant applications (across four states), amounting to a total of $4 million, in the capacity of a Peer Reviewer, individually rating applications submitted within OJP discretionary grant programs and technical assistance initiatives.
- Conducted thorough reviews and ratings of applications submitted to OJP discretionary grant programs and technical assistance initiatives, utilizing the new JustGrants System.
- Contributed to collaborative sessions through conference calls with coordinators from the Office of Justice to discuss evaluations and ratings for each grant application.
- Identified opportunities for improvement in methodology or presentation, leading to more robust research outcomes.
- Facilitated constructive criticism through respectful and professional communication with authors.
- Promoted high-quality research by evaluating study design, methods, data analysis, and interpretation of results.
Buyer and Procurement Specialist - (Contract)
Honeywell Aerospace - Compunnel
Atlanta, GA
09.2018 - 10.2019
- Contributed to the Core Aviation Critical Parts Procurement Team for Honeywell Aerospace, optimizing business processes using FAR, DFAR supply chain tools, lean manufacturing, process redesign, change management, financial analysis, and vendor management.
- Created and executed new business contract documents, including Statements of Work (SOWs), Master Services Agreements (MSAs), Service Level Agreements (SLAs), and Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs).
- Directed vendor performance improvements by identifying root cause problems throughout the supply chain and implementing solutions and control plans organization-wide.
- Evaluated suppliers' manufacturing lead times and delivery demands, confirming open Purchase Orders (POs) to ensure on-time delivery of materials in SAP.
- Negotiated and implemented long- and short-term contracts for a range of materials and services, with RFPs totaling between $75,000 and $5,000,000.
- Analyzed spending to identify profit-boosting opportunities, such as redirecting $1 million in spend from non-contracted suppliers to preferred suppliers, resulting in annual savings of $1 million.
- Led the deployment of supplier development tools, including assessments, quality improvements, delivery optimization, capacity enhancements, lead-time reductions, and cost savings while collaborating across complex business units to implement systemic solutions.
- Key Accomplishments: Achieved a 30% cost savings by directly working with the global supplier base to enhance demand forecasts, payment terms, lead times, replenishment plans, and improve material deliveries by 75%.
- Resolved all requisitions, shipping, purchase orders, and invoice discrepancies with requesters, suppliers, and accounts payable.
- Ensured timely delivery of products by closely monitoring vendor performance and addressing any issues promptly.
- Built long-term supplier relationships with vendors to establish quality and competitive pricing.
- Maintained complete documentation and records of all purchasing activities.
- Reduced procurement costs through strategic sourcing, competitive bidding, and effective negotiations.
- Coordinated with logistics teams to resolve any shipping delays or discrepancies while minimizing impact on operations.
- Provided training and guidance to junior team members on best practices in purchasing, fostering a culture of continuous improvement within the procurement department.
- Maintained key item stock levels and wrote or expedited purchase orders.
- Collaborated with internal stakeholders to understand their needs, ensuring accurate product specifications were met in all purchases.
- Achieved cost savings by identifying opportunities for consolidation and bulk purchasing across departments.
- Streamlined purchasing processes by implementing efficient systems and procedures for order management.
- Computed and created purchase orders to monitor stock levels, verify purchase requisitions and expedite customer orders.
Procurement and Purchasing Specialist (Contract)
State Roads and Tollways -Kelly Services
Atlanta, Georgia
07.2017 - 08.2018
- Collaborated closely with Procurement and Finance Business Units to implement and coordinate procurement and purchasing activities for the development of the I-NWC Toll Project and the ATL Bus and MARTA initiative.
- Prepared and revised purchase agreements, requisitions, purchase orders, and contract amendments; also performed contract reporting and vendor management to ensure adherence to accounting standards and regulatory guidelines.
- Developed procurement strategies and prepared documents such as Invitations to Bid (ITB), Requests for Quote (RFQ), and Requests for Proposals (RFP) based on thorough knowledge of applicable State and Federal guidelines.
- Managed vendor information, including TIN management, E-Verify certificates, W-9s, and 1099 reporting, using the ERP delivery system and Vendor Statement Reconciliations.
- Executed contracts and purchase orders for goods, including IT equipment, software, maintenance, and professional construction contracts.
- Liaised among multiple stakeholders to prepare requests for SOWs and other contract documents such as MSAs, SLAs, and NDAs.
- Key Accomplishments: Initiated Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) registration for 95% of new and current vendors, reducing invoice payment time by 85%.
- Resolved all requisitions, shipping, purchase orders, and invoice discrepancies with requesters, suppliers, and accounts payable.
Grant and Project Manager - Volunteer
Destiny's Daughters of Promise
Kennesaw, GA
09.2015 - 01.2016
- Organized and managed compliance with funders' procedures and policies related to grants and oversaw contractor due diligence processes.
- Successfully executed key organizational projects, ensuring they were delivered on time and within budget and scope.
- Directed engagement with funding and implementing partners regarding grant contracting and management.
- Composed, organized, and submitted grant proposals, along with other essential fundraising and communication-related tasks.
- Successfully managed multiple projects simultaneously by prioritizing tasks according to urgency, resource availability, and alignment with organizational goals.
- Identified plans and resources required to meet project goals and objectives.
Global Marketing Administrator II
Halyard Health (formerly Kimberly-Clark Healthcare)
Alpharetta, GA
04.2013 - 05.2015
- Spearheaded project-based support for the Strategic and Innovation Planning (S&IP) Medical Device Global Strategic Healthcare Marketing team, enhancing operational efficiency and effectiveness.
- Drove the purchase-to-pay processes, expertly handling Purchase Orders (POs), Concur expense reports, P-Cards, and American Express expense management, while also delivering comprehensive training for new users on SAP financial reporting.
- Orchestrated the procurement of essential goods and services, including IT computers, software, maintenance, and professional services, expertly coordinating with multiple stakeholders to create well-structured Statements of Work (SOWs) and critical contract documents such as Master Service Agreements (MSAs), Service Level Agreements (SLAs), and Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs).
- Proactively resolved requisition, shipping, purchase order, and invoice discrepancies, fostering strong collaboration with requesters, suppliers, and accounts payable to ensure seamless operations.
- Administered Concur, American Express Purchase Cards, and meticulously managed SAP role-level assignments and profiles for new hires, ensuring a smooth onboarding process.
- Key Accomplishments: Piloted the Concur migration as a Super User, collaborating with IT, management, and peers to develop and implement innovative user support tool policies that elevated organizational performance.
- Acquired, developed, and frequently serviced over30 new accounts.
Senior Executive Assistant (Contract)
Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
04.2011 - 04.2012
- Delivered exceptional project-based support within the departments of Supervision and Regulation, Policy and Supervisory Studies, and Credit and Risk Management, demonstrating a commitment to excellence.
- Masterfully orchestrated high-profile events with budgets exceeding $1 million, including the President's Economic Advisory Board Meeting, Banking Outlook Conference, and Real Estate Conference.
- Managed all logistical details, from lodging and catering to audiovisual requirements and meeting deliverables, ensuring flawless execution.
- Designed, implemented, and meticulously monitored monthly departmental budgets, honorariums, expense reports, procurement card purchases, and purchase orders, ensuring financial integrity and accountability.
- Conducted thorough reviews of statements of work contracts, ensuring adherence to adequacy, consistency, and compliance with the highest administrative, regulatory, and procedural standards.
- Processed travel expenses and reimbursements for executive team and senior management group.
- Contributed to smooth business operations by planning and organizing meetings and conferences.
- Coordinated complex annual meeting involving multiple presenters, high number of global attendees and robust budget encompassing livestream production, remote location arrangements and senior executive accommodations.
- Researched, proposed, and implemented vendor agreements to decrease costs and improve services.
- Increased team collaboration by organizing regular departmental meetings, distributing agendas, and recording minutes for future reference.
Education
Grant Writing - Lynn Flen, CEO of Allison Flen Inc.
Bronner Business Institute
Austell, GA09.2015
MBA - Management, and Strategy
Western Governors University
Salt Lake City, UT 07.2010 - 01.2014
Bachelor of Science - Marketing Management
Western Governors University
Salt Lake City, UT 03.2005 - 06.2010
Skills
Vendor Management
Prior Relevant Experience
Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, 01/01/89, 12/31/09, Field Sales Senior Coordinator, Kennesaw, GA, Finance and Pricing Senior Administrator, Collegeville, PA, Marketing Senior Coordinator, Global Strategic Marketing, Collegeville, PA, Clinical Research Coordinator, Senior Clinical Trial Coordinator, Radnor, PA
Volunteer Community Work
- Cobb County Board of Elections & Registration, Marietta, GA, Assistant Poll Manager/Poll Worker, Seasonal, 04/01/14, Present
- Destiny's Daughters of Promise, Kennesaw, GA, Project Manager/Grant Writer, 09/01/15, 12/31/16, 35 to 40
Phone Numbers
770-5750-0928, 610-416-8831
Military Service
United States Army Reserves, Schenectady, NY, Drill Sergeant, Electrician, Laundry and Bath Specialist
Accomplishments
- Achieved [Result] by completing [Task] with accuracy and efficiency.
- Collaborated with team of 5-8 in the development of [Project name].
- Achieved [Result] through effectively helping with [Task].
- Documented and resolved [Issue] which led to [Results].
- Used Microsoft Excel to develop purchase order, delivery, and inventory tracking spreadsheets.
- Reduced inventory costs by 75% through implementation of multiple process improvements.
- Oversaw purchasing for seven special events per year.
- Achieved purchasing task by introducing SAP for procurement tasks.
- Earned “Buyer” award for increased
- Resolved product issues through quality consumer testing.
Interests
Timeline
Buyer Purchasing Specialist (Contract)
Wellstar Health Systems
10.2024 - 04.2025
Procurement Buyer
Interroll Atlanta LLC
06.2021 - 02.2023
Supply Chain Specialist (Contract)
FDS Avionics- Beacon Hill Staffing
08.2020 - 02.2021
Grants Peer Reviewer (Part-Time)
Office of Justice Programs (OJP)
04.2020 - 07.2025
Buyer and Procurement Specialist - (Contract)
Honeywell Aerospace - Compunnel
09.2018 - 10.2019
Procurement and Purchasing Specialist (Contract)
State Roads and Tollways -Kelly Services
07.2017 - 08.2018
Grant and Project Manager - Volunteer
Destiny's Daughters of Promise
09.2015 - 01.2016
Global Marketing Administrator II
Halyard Health (formerly Kimberly-Clark Healthcare)
04.2013 - 05.2015
Senior Executive Assistant (Contract)
Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
04.2011 - 04.2012
MBA - Management, and Strategy
Western Governors University
07.2010 - 01.2014
Bachelor of Science - Marketing Management
Western Governors University
03.2005 - 06.2010
Grant Writing - Lynn Flen, CEO of Allison Flen Inc.
Bronner Business Institute
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