Heather Banky
Blountstown,FL
Summary
Enterprise Fleet, Procurement, and Strategic Partner with a 29+ year track record in optimizing high-value asset portfolios and engineering multi-million dollar operational transformations. Proven mastery in managing massive corporate vendor networks, structuring technical data frameworks and maximizing TCO across portfolios of up to 3500 pieces of equipment. A certified change management leader recognized by executive boards for driving $15M agricultural operations turnarounds and orchestrating 30% margin rollouts for premier national big-box retailers.
My leadership is built on a foundational philosophy: while data and metrics guide strategy, people are the ultimate drivers of execution and long-term success. Shaped by significant mentorship early in my career, I lead with high emotional intelligence and deep empathy-cultivating unshakeable, collaborative alliances across cross functional internal teams, field operations and executive level partner networks alike to transform complex operation goals into seamless, highly profitable realities.
Overview
1
1
Certification
31
31
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Purchasing & Fleet
Boston Retail Solutions
Vero Beach, FL
02.2019 - Current
- Direct end-to-end procurement frameworks, corporate fleet vendor relationships, and high-stakes logistics operations across a premier enterprise portfolio.
- Spearheaded end-to-end project management, procurement networks, and logistical deployment for high-profile Target Beauty Studio rollout, delivering seamless $6M dollar national deployment on schedule while exceeding client expectations and delivering a 30% gross profit margin.
- Negotiated and optimized nationwide fleet supplier and service provider networks, enhancing asset reliability and aligning client operations with cost-control baselines.
- Coordinated corporate vendor alliances and cross-functional partner workflows for key accounts, securing robust operating margins and meeting corporate SLA timelines.
Managing Director of Grower Relations, Fleet & Special Projects
UNITED STATES SUGAR CORPORATION (U.S. SUGAR)
Clewiston, FL
10.2006 - 03.2018
- Directed asset optimization, capital procurement, and continuous-improvement work across 3,500 heavy equipment, vehicle, and rail assets, while serving as certified change manager to build enterprise operational-excellence framework and carry out director-level fleet duties.
- Renegotiated national agreements with General Motors and John Deere to improve corporate discounts, shifted 100 vehicles and 150 critical tractor units into optimized TCO lease cycles, and delivered $5M in annual recurring tractor savings plus $1.5M in annual vehicle savings.
- Audited and baselined 3,500-piece heavy equipment and maintenance portfolio, then right-sized vehicle fleet by 55 units and tractor fleet by 50 units through asset sales and targeted maintenance outsourcing.
- In conjunction with leadership and fleet roles, served as co-team leader of materials management team for Reliability Excellence initiative, objectives included consolidating processes and establishing one central warehouse, eliminating obsolete inventory, negotiating vendor-managed inventory agreements. Transformational movement improved the uptime and reliability of equipment significantly yielding millions of dollars in annual operating costs.
- Supported organizational change strategy that moved multi-department operations into lean continuous-improvement culture, built cross-functional support, and reduced field resistance during complex workflow changes.
- Added cross-functional leadership roles during tenure, including Interim Railroad Marketing Manager and Director of Ag Business Solutions, during key operational transitions.
- Located, negotiated, and repurchased historic Steam Locomotive No. 148 from out-of-state private storage, returning asset to corporate network as centerpiece for Sugar Express heritage railroad.
- Enterprise ERP Software Implementation (2007 Core Team): Appointed as a key operational stakeholder to help architect U.S. Sugar's localized SAP enterprise framework. Designed and mapped the core technical architecture for the fleet equipment model and the procurement/purchasing function (SAP MM Module) to transition manual supply streams into a standardized digital ecosystem.
- Selected for inaugural class of Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association elite leader development program, contributing to cross-sector discussion on supply-chain economics and legislative policy.
- A billion-dollar agricultural, industrial, and short-line railroad enterprise.
Manager of Marketing & Administration
South Central Florida Express (U.S. Sugar)
Clewiston, FL
01.1996 - 10.2006
- Appointed by the executive team to an elite, six-person committee tasked with a comprehensive process redesign across Agriculture Operations, Purchasing, and Warehousing. Spearheaded workflow restructuring, strategic vendor negotiations, and supply chain modernizations, successfully delivery $11M reduction in annual operating costs alongside $4M reduction in inventory overhead.
- Coordinated marketing, administrative, commercial, and operational workflows to enhance efficiency in short line railroad operations.
- Cultivated customer relationships and addressed service needs to enhance client satisfaction and loyalty.
- Led Full Throttle Innovation project for South Central Florida Express technology interface, enabling remote train crew reporting and optimizing wagon fleet management for sugar cane transport from US Sugar fields to Clewiston and Bryant Mills.
- Received recognition as internal successor for VP of South Central Florida Express shortline railroad and participated in mentorship to prepare for full responsibility in the role.
Education
Education & Business Management
Brevard College, Edison State College & Florida Gulf Coast University
Skills
- Procurement strategies
- Contract management
- Vendor management
- TCO modeling
- Project management
- Project management software
- Process improvement
- Change management
- Organizational transformation
- Client relationship management
- Customer relationship management
- Relationship management
- Project leadership
- Team collaboration
- Strategic thinking
- Technology integration
Certification
- Certified Change Manager - Prosci Organizational Change Management Methodology (Reliability & Operational Excellence applied)
- Inaugural Member, Emerging Leader Development Program – Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA)
Timeline
Director of Purchasing & Fleet
Boston Retail Solutions
02.2019 - Current
Managing Director of Grower Relations, Fleet & Special Projects
UNITED STATES SUGAR CORPORATION (U.S. SUGAR)
10.2006 - 03.2018
Manager of Marketing & Administration
South Central Florida Express (U.S. Sugar)
01.1996 - 10.2006
Education & Business Management
Brevard College, Edison State College & Florida Gulf Coast University