Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
References
Timeline
Generic

JOHN PRATHER

Murfreesboro,TN

Summary

Accomplished leader with a proven track record at Amazon.com, adept at overseeing vast operations and spearheading significant improvements. Expert in project management and problem-solving, demonstrated by a 35% improvement in LPH. Skilled in developing high-performing teams and implementing strategic visions, with a commitment to corporate social responsibility and efficiency.

Overview

36
36
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

DIRECTOR (AMAZON NACF) - RME

Amazon.com
Nashville, TN
08.2024 - Current
  • Oversee the Amazon NACF TSSL (Traditional and TNS (Non Sort) RME teams
  • Support 21 Senior Operations Directors, Regional Operation Directors and Operations Directors across my Business Units
  • Responsible for 133 Fulfillment Centers with over 1000 employees including Amazon and 3P personnel
  • Responsible to determine the vision, goals, and the strategy for the business unit which includes safety, performance, reliability, finance and staffing
  • Defined all controls bandwidth and scope in efforts to make the BU more efficient in coverage
  • Developed succession plans, gearing ratios, and cross-training for the network while maintaining a diverse team.
  • Implemented WBRs and Safety review boards for each Business Unit while decreasing overall safety metrics and decreasing across both orgs
  • Developed plans for a 35% improvement in LPH YoY from 2024 – 2025
  • Hired 5 new top performing Regional Managers within a 7 month time period
  • Provided expertise and input on system upgrade/enhancement opportunities for facility retrofits or new building launches

DIRECTOR (AMAZON Air) - RME

Amazon.com
Nashville, TN
10.2020 - 08.2024
  • Oversee Amazon Air Gateways and Air Hubs across North America (8 airports)
  • Responsible for leading the launch and oversite of Amazon’s largest facility in the world (KCVG Air Hub) which was a focus of the Amazon S-Team
  • Responsible to determine the vision, goals, and the strategy for the Amazon Air Maintenance Organization
  • Responsible for overall leadership and direction for all Air Facilities Regional Managers and Maintenance Teams in North America
  • Defined all roles and responsibilities for all exempt and non-maintenance maintenance associates
  • Developed succession plans and cross training for the Air network while maintaining a diverse team
  • Responsible for managing a P&L budget $900M
  • Defined all KPIs and SOPs to become more efficient
  • Responsible for all Capital Improvement projects for existing Air Facilities
  • Responsible for providing property and system updates as well as Weekly, Monthly and Quarterly Business reviews to Vice Presidents and Regional Operation Directors
  • Provided expertise and input on system upgrade/enhancement opportunities for facility retrofits or new building launches
  • Developed plans to increase network performance in over 20 KPI’s

SENIOR REGIONAL MANAGER - RELIABILITY MAINTENANCE AND ENGINEERING

Amazon.com
Murfreesboro, TN
01.2019 - 10.2020
  • Oversee the Traditional, Apparel, Softline, Merch, Shopbop, Supplemental, Seasonal and Canada Amazon FC Business Units totaling over 70 FCs across the Continental US and Canada
  • Network Champion for the Singulator SME team and the Predictive Maintenance Program for the RME Network
  • Lead, mentor and provide continuous training for managers who oversee onsite execution of spare parts put away, MHE commissioning and spare parts tracking for fulfillment sites
  • Develop high performing teams of Regional Managers, Senior Managers, Maintenance Managers and individual contributors to achieve sustainable results in a fast paced and ambiguous environment
  • Facilitate the preparation process and submission of spare parts budgets in excess of $50M; coordinating with multiple vendors across the US and cross-functional Amazon teams to ensure spare parts lists are accurate to drive site- specific engineering requirements
  • Ownership of site maintenance module design requirements, including layouts, shelving, spacing and orientation for each site across all building types
  • Guide and manage the commissioning and qualification of the MHE installation processes throughout the entire Amazon global network
  • Implement various Predictive technologies within all Amazon FC types across the US, UE and Japan
  • Recruiting, interviewing and hiring of bar raising talent for Reliability, Maintenance and Engineering team

REGIONAL MANAGER - RELIABILITY MAINTENANCE AND ENGINEERING

Amazon.com
Murfreesboro, TN
01.2015 - 01.2019
  • Oversee 15 Fulfillment Centers across the Amazon Network
  • Senior Manager for all new Launch FCs within Amazon Robotics Buildings in charge of developing and implementing standards for improving MHE uptime to 99% within 3 months of site launch
  • Develop high performing team of Regional Managers, Senior Managers, Maintenance Managers and individual contributors to achieve sustainable results in a fast paced and ambiguous environment
  • Develop talent to expand team’s careers through formalized training, conferences, workshops and mentoring
  • Develop RME Goals and Objectives
  • Provide oversite for budget development, execution and capital planning
  • Recruiting, interviewing and hiring of bar raising talent for Reliability, Maintenance and Engineering team
  • Monitor, audit and enforce maintenance execution and safe work practices
  • Institute standardized auditing procedures across the Amazon network
  • Drive maintenance best practices to include: Innovating, documentation, Improving work methods, standardization, providing safe work environments, training, equipment commissioning and creating and measuring KPI’s
  • Meet with and advice Directors, General Managers and Regional Operation Directors on maintenance performance and get-well plans
  • Plan and organize facility maintenance shutdowns network wide while still meeting customer orders

FACILITIES MANAGER

Amazon.com
Murfreesboro, TN
12.2014 - 01.2015
  • Department head for 2.8 Million SQ FT facility with various equipment including but not limited to conveyors, sorters, print apply machines, Kiva robotic systems, Cognex scanners, Sick camera systems, AFE, Smart Pac and Robotic Cells
  • Lead world class RCM and PM program which has attributed to my site having the most equipment uptime (99.87%) in the Amazon network
  • Lead initiatives such as criticality assessments, value stream mapping, fulfilment stream, Equipment downtime cost analysis, IR and Ultrasound programs and network training and scheduling
  • Chosen as FM in charge of scheduling and executing building and system commissioning efforts in all new NAFC Amazon sortable, non-sortable and receive center new build sites and applicable existing sites
  • Currently overseas all SMEs within the Amazon network to ensure network alignment and program effectiveness
  • Auditor for NAFC Fulfilment centers to ensure maintenance practices are being adhered to universally
  • Reduced year over year Parts, Repair and Maintenance (PRM) budget by 19%
  • Reduce year over year department overtime by 14%
  • Developed 3 FAMs into FMs, 3 technicians to FAM’s and several employees to next level promotions
  • NAFC SME for reliability centered maintenance as well as a member of the NAFC RCM team
  • Chosen as one of the guest speakers at the EU systems Inc
  • 2015 Ultrasound World XI Conference in Clearwater, Fl
  • Asked to present at Reliability Conference at University of Tennessee in Knoxville in Feb 2016 On site vendor manager of CBRE contract services
  • Currently working with Maintenance managers from companies such as Nissan, Ulta and Frito Lay on industry proactive and maintenance best practices
  • Issued a U.S Patent for implemented project that I led at Amazon FC
  • Now used by several FCs across the Amazon network

FACILITIES AREA MANAGER

Amazon.com
Fort Worth, TX
06.2012 - 12.2014
  • Develop and design innovative solutions to difficult problems, manage outside contractors and remain on call for emergencies
  • Handle multiple projects and daily activities, manage and meet deadlines and develop/track plans on how to accomplish departmental and distribution goals
  • Have been part of the Facilities Management team that have launched Amazon sites in Jeffersonville, IN (SDF8) and Fort Worth, TX (DFW7)
  • Received Amazon Inventors award and patent for a project that I led at SDF8
  • Acting Facilities Manager for 7 months in the absence of site Facilities Manager at DFW7
  • Develop business plans and provide guidance and direction for the successful implementation and tracking of those plans
  • Work with local site Safety department leadership to understand, implement, and audit safety programs
  • Ensure all safety programs and procedures are followed
  • Develop and maintain preventative maintenance programs and good working relationships with operational leadership as well as facilitate training on asset management systems
  • Facilitate technical and safety training, as well as help to develop professional development of departmental facilities associates
  • Determine capital outlay priorities
  • Develop capital spending plans, facilitate cross-functional project planning and perform cost analysis as well as project planning and cost analysis
  • Member of Facilities North American Reliability team
  • Successfully launched two FCs with Amazon and supported multiple sites by providing onsite support
  • Mentor all facilities associates by motivating and providing direction to help them achieve their goals and make a consistent effort to go above and beyond
  • Own and promote excellent housekeeping

FACILITIES OPERATIONS GROUP LEADER

Target Corp.
Huntsville, AL
08.2010 - 06.2012
  • Lead a team to maintain the entire facility and delegate daily responsibilities to team members
  • Developed PM program for DFW7 facilities team
  • Responsible for partnering with Ops Engineering and Dematic and Intelligrated on commissioning site Kiva, AFE and MHE systems
  • Develop operational policies and procedures, including cost-effective energy conservation strategies
  • Spearhead safety training and accident preparedness
  • Manage ESIM and hazardous waste programs
  • Determine capital outlay priorities
  • Responsible for $2.6M annual material handling budget

SYSTEMS ENGINEER

Target Corp.
Huntsville, AL
07.2008 - 08.2010
  • Fixed and maintained PLC/PC controllers and industrial networks locally or remotely such as Ethernet, Device Net, ControlNet, Profibus, motor control systems, servo drives, frequency drives and electrical distribution systems
  • Oversaw preventative maintenance and repairs for failed electronic equipment and ensured all units requiring manufacturer repair were sent, repaired and returned in a timely manner
  • Spearheaded failure analysis and incident review processes
  • Implemented process improvements and retrained personnel to avoid future problems
  • Collaborated with operations and vendors to plan and coordinate new technology installations

SENIOR STAFF ANALYST

Arinc Engineering LLC
San Diego, CA
12.2005 - 07.2008
  • Maintained flight data for the E2C and C2A aircraft at NADEP North Island, CA (45 aircraft and 21 squadrons)
  • Verified or fixed data during visits to the outer wing panel shop, dome shop, tail shop, flight line and repair floor
  • Communicated with engineers that handled individual modules, including pylon and coupler assemblies
  • Created and wrote new programs for customers; a look up routine for any E2 or C2 aircraft; a squadron usage report; and a single squadron per page report
  • Re-wrote additional programs for the pylons; SDLM; E2 configuration; C2 configurations; accelerometer tracking; outer wing panels; rotodomes; rotary couplers; and COMAEWWINGPAC squadron report
  • Sourced documentation such as HER, ASR and SRC cards, as well as all monthly flight summary pages and configuration list two and four

EQUIPMENT SOURCING MANAGER

REMEC Wireless
San Diego, CA
06.2003 - 10.2005
  • Developed global equipment needs forecasts based on plant and engineering forecasts, ensuring accurate RF equipment inventory for facilities worldwide
  • Oversaw $30 million in equipment procurement annually, spearheading equipment transfers and sourcing
  • Coordinate with 15 worldwide facilities to plan for calibration and maintenance cycles
  • Saved $3.5 million by negotiating terms and conditions of direct sales, capital leases, operating leases and rentals while preserving $4 million in cash flow
  • Lowered monthly rental equipment costs from $350,000 to $50,000 in six months
  • Reduced calibration costs from $350,000 to $275,000 in nine months
  • Decreased fixed asset depreciation costs from $500,000 to $400,000 within three months while selling obsolete equipment for $400,000

RF TEST SUPERVISOR

REMEC Wireless
San Diego, CA
02.1998 - 06.2003
  • Supervised 20 technicians and 20 assemblers, serving as the technical advisor to production technicians
  • Traveled worldwide to help other REMEC and customer-based facilities with start-up programs
  • Implemented continuous process improvement and lead implementation of systems and procedures
  • Resolved problems by effectively coordinating with management, engineering and planning
  • Practiced lean manufacturing concepts and ISO 9001 standards
  • Met planned budgets and schedules

SENIOR ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN

REMEC Wireless
San Diego, CA
02.1997 - 02.1998
  • Troubleshooted RF, AC and DC amplifier and logic circuits to the component level as well as CCA’s, IFM’s, transmitters and receivers
  • Worked with prototyping and building filter and digital circuits from schematics
  • Analyzed, tested, fixed and improved the performance of microwave and fiber optic circuits
  • Built, tested and troubleshot electronic circuits

AIRCRAFT MECHANIC

U.S. Navy
05.1989 - 04.1997
  • Conducted maintenance and inspections of five different models of aircraft, including pre-aircraft inspections, post-aircraft inspections, overall flight operations and flight line shutdown
  • Managed shop operations as a Shop Supervisor, managing over 15 service members
  • Ensured proper power plant, airframe, electrical ordinance and rotary systems properly functioned on fixed wing and rotary aircrafts
  • Earned two Good Conduct Medals and a Navy Commendation Medal
  • Part of 2 Westpac tours as Power plants mechanic for air division
  • Honorably discharged as Petty Officer Second Class

Education

MBA - Project Management

Columbia Southern University
07.2013

Bachelor of Applied Science - Electronics Engineering Technology

ITT Technical Institute
03.1998

Skills

  • Actor guidance
  • Time management
  • Problem-solving
  • Market analysis
  • Project management
  • Corporate social responsibility

Certification

CMRP, Certified Maintenance and Reliability Professional

References

References available upon request.

Timeline

DIRECTOR (AMAZON NACF) - RME

Amazon.com
08.2024 - Current

DIRECTOR (AMAZON Air) - RME

Amazon.com
10.2020 - 08.2024

SENIOR REGIONAL MANAGER - RELIABILITY MAINTENANCE AND ENGINEERING

Amazon.com
01.2019 - 10.2020

REGIONAL MANAGER - RELIABILITY MAINTENANCE AND ENGINEERING

Amazon.com
01.2015 - 01.2019

FACILITIES MANAGER

Amazon.com
12.2014 - 01.2015

FACILITIES AREA MANAGER

Amazon.com
06.2012 - 12.2014

FACILITIES OPERATIONS GROUP LEADER

Target Corp.
08.2010 - 06.2012

SYSTEMS ENGINEER

Target Corp.
07.2008 - 08.2010

SENIOR STAFF ANALYST

Arinc Engineering LLC
12.2005 - 07.2008

EQUIPMENT SOURCING MANAGER

REMEC Wireless
06.2003 - 10.2005

RF TEST SUPERVISOR

REMEC Wireless
02.1998 - 06.2003

SENIOR ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN

REMEC Wireless
02.1997 - 02.1998

AIRCRAFT MECHANIC

U.S. Navy
05.1989 - 04.1997

MBA - Project Management

Columbia Southern University

Bachelor of Applied Science - Electronics Engineering Technology

ITT Technical Institute

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