Open To Work
Kwanza Ragster
Virginia Beach,VA
Summary
High-performing business professional with 20+ years of experience in planning, sales and Operations tracking, financial forecasting, and business analytics for significant operations. A results-focused professional that is best in class at demand planning and inventory management.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Inventory Planner
Rural King
Mattoon, Illinois
01.2025 - Current
- Oversee approximately $250 million in ending inventory across three departments.
- Plan and manage the flow of over 6,000 SKUs to ensure replenishment team generate accurate and timely orders.
- Coordinate weekly cross-functional meetings to ensure clear and effective team communication.
Inventory Planner
Navy Exchange
Virginia Beach, VA
03.2023 - 01.2025
- Collaborate with vendors to secure inventory for our naval bases globally.
- Forecast at SKU level needs for DCs and stores globally.
- Coordinated inventory, stocking, and ordering.
- Entered information into the system to update status reports.
- Reduced aged inventory by collaborating with our financial analyst.
Inventory Manager
Family Dollar S.S.C
Chesapeake, VA
02.2019 - 12.2022
- Decreased ending inventory in the Health and Beauty by $100M+ within the first 12 months on the job.
- Successfully, trained and promoted 65% of staff to new opportunities.
- Assisted the company on training and rolling out 2 replenishment systems from the ground up (JDA and Relex).
- Collaborated with planning, merchandising and inventory on receipts and ending inventory which resulted in us beating plan by 115-200% 2 years in a row.
S& OP Analyst
True Value Company
Chicago, IL
09.2015 - 02.2019
- Conducted planning meetings each month by category to review 30-60-90 day plans on our new SAP system which my team and I trained the company on the metrics and cells to use to plan each month.
- Created a more accurate scheduling model thru excel that allowed anyone to dump in the need and give out the expected amount of product to be made.
- Promoted due to my accuracy and efficiency in replenishment and financial planning understanding.
Demand Planning Analyst
True Value Company
Chicago, IL
10.2017 - 12.2018
- Supported categories in planning 30-60-90 day finances thru Microsoft Access.
- Promoted to S&OP Analyst and certified thru Oracle.
Inventory Planner
True Value Company
Chicago, IL
09.2015 - 10.2017
- Kept a service level above goal in paint, ladder and tools throughout my time in this role.
- Promoted to Demand Planner
Retail Reset Merchandiser
Advantage Marketing
Chicago, IL
02.2015 - 09.2015
- Manage projects for launches of new products and fixtures in store:
- Walgreens new Colour Prevail and Circa make-up product and fixture launch
- New product cut-in for Jewel Osco promotions - Execute planogram to pre-specified specifications by arranging the product accordingly
- Ensure all products are tagged and arranged for maximum sales
Merchandise Analyst
Dicks Sporting Goods Store Support, Women's Apparel Nike
Coraopolis, PA
11.2011 - 08.2014
- Allocate goods through 4 D.C.'s to more than 560 stores throughout the United States
- Control the flow and replenish sales to achieve a 95% in-stock goal at all times
- Collaborated with the planner weekly to place orders for our core assortment of products while staying within the open-to-buy dollars available each month of $3-4 million
- Provide reports to leadership on in-stock levels of our top A and B items - Participated in quarterly line reviews to assist in the flow and seasons to release various styles.
Replenishment Manager
WAL-MART STORES, INC, SAM'S CLUB
Bentonville, AR
08.2004 - 11.2011
- Managed and executed inventory plans for consumer products categories consisting of video games (May 2008-November 2011) and televisions/security/home audio (May 2006-May 2008).
- Control inventory allocation of $500 million-$3 billion annually to ensure proper opening stock and replenishment of active, seasonal, and one-time buy programs at nearly 600 stores.
- Partnered with suppliers to discuss logistic issues such as on-time delivery performance, carrier selection, and shipment damages.
- Partnered with suppliers on new games, movies, or technology marketing launches. Worked on impressions in news, radio, and T.V. Provided suppliers with the company's expectations on dollars and media used to promote new items and technology.
- Movie releases to DVD
- Managed Xbox 360 launch, W.I.I. U, Sony PSP, Call of Duty release, LCD TVs
Education
High School Diploma -
Richland College
Dallas, TXSkills
- Enterprise Resource Planning Software
- Supplier Relations
- Inventory Distribution
- Product Availability Research
- Inventory Control Systems
- Team Leadership
- Reporting Processes
- SOP Creation
- Maintaining Product Levels
- Conflict Resolution
- Corporate Logistics
- Time Management
- Web-based Logistics Information Systems
Certification
SQL, 1010 Data, J.D.A., Microsoft Access, Birkman Method, Oracle
Work Preference
Job Search Status
Open to workWork Type
Full TimeLocation Preference
HybridRemoteSalary Range
$88000/yr - $200000/yrTimeline
Inventory Planner
Rural King
01.2025 - Current
Inventory Planner
Navy Exchange
03.2023 - 01.2025
Inventory Manager
Family Dollar S.S.C
02.2019 - 12.2022
Demand Planning Analyst
True Value Company
10.2017 - 12.2018
S& OP Analyst
True Value Company
09.2015 - 02.2019
Inventory Planner
True Value Company
09.2015 - 10.2017
Retail Reset Merchandiser
Advantage Marketing
02.2015 - 09.2015
Merchandise Analyst
Dicks Sporting Goods Store Support, Women's Apparel Nike
11.2011 - 08.2014
Replenishment Manager
WAL-MART STORES, INC, SAM'S CLUB
08.2004 - 11.2011
High School Diploma -
Richland College