Leslie Buentello
Summary
Veteran purchasing leader effective at sourcing products, vetting vendors and managing bid process. Good relationship-builder and problem-solver with methodical approach and excellent verbal and written communication skills. Well-versed in all procurement needs and processes.
Overview
32
32
years of professional experience
Work History
Procurement Officer I
Alabama Department Of Corrections
02.2024 - Current
- Advise and assist department personnel with purchasing questions to ensure problems/issues are resolved.
- Review purchase request from correctional facilities and central office divisions to ensure adherence to policies and procedures.
- Works with the Department of Fiance Purchasing Division to facilitate requisitions and resolve problems.
- Review and approve data entered in Alabama Buys to ensure accuracy and compliance with departmental procedures and policies.
- Review bid evaluations packages and key evaluation data into Alabama Buys.
- Train business managers and other departmental staff on policies and procedures to ensure compliance.
- Initiate contract renewal or rebid process to ensure agency contracts are renewed or rebid timely and appropriate.
- Built relationships with vendors to negotiate ideal terms for purchases.
- Maintained detailed records of all procurement activities for reference purposes as well as for auditing and compliance.
- Developed strong partnerships with vendors to secure favorable pricing, payment terms, and delivery schedules.
- Managed procurement projects from initiation to completion, ensuring timely delivery of goods and services.
Materials Manager
Koch Foods
06.2022 - 01.2024
- Conducted regular inventory audits to maintain accurate stock levels and minimize excess or obsolete inventory.
- Monitored safety stock levels and established order policies to balance inventory availability with minimal investment.
- Developed comprehensive supplier performance metrics to ensure continuous improvement in service levels and product quality.
- Managed subordinates and gave directives, drafted schedules and comprehensively evaluated performance.
- Obtain and maintained records, keeping vendor letter of guarantee, third party audits and vendor questionnaires.
- Ensure maintenance of freight logs and all other documentation for BRC auditing purposes.
- Improved warehouse and inventory management operations, including optimal scheduling and organization of more than $1 million worth of daily inventory levels.
Prime Vendor Analyst (PVA)
Medline Industries
11.2021 - Current
- Create, maintain, and develop relationships with the customer, sales teams, and vendor community
- Lead various committees on behalf of customer (ex
- Value analysis committee)
- Serve as initial point of contact for customers new and existing vendors
- Meet with vendors to discuss products, pricing and terms
- Present findings to key contacts in the customer's procurement team
- Measure the trends, efficiencies and effectiveness of sales and resource allocation and utilization
- Prepare and analyze sales forecast, sales results, budget variances, and quarterly business presentations
- Support sales team by managing contract terms, assisting with brand conversions, and tracking all savings and projects
- Make presentations regarding project updates, business results, committee findings, etc
- Review pricing to determine and identify discrepancies
- Ensure new pricing rules are reviewed and approved by respective sales teams
- Evaluate 3rd party industry pricing data being marketed and sold to Medline customers to understand what information is being provided and implications to the Company
- Provide issue resolution in the following areas (not limited to): inventory surplus, backorders, outstanding invoices
- Initiate and partner with the internal teams
- Communicate resolution in a timely manner
- Host weekly meetings with supply chain, materials services, and Medline Sales teams
- Collaborate with Sales, IS and Finance to develop, create and maintain reporting requirements and ensure systems provide accurate and timely data.
Materials Manager
Baptist Health
06.2016 - 08.2021
- Manage inventory levels and related documentation with Allscripts (McKesson) and produced regular reports of activities
- Monitored planning to proactively adjust stock purchasing and management strategies
- Located and vetted vendors to obtain desired stock on a regular schedule and with consistent quality
- Established performance measures for vendors and tracked activities to verify continued performance with standards and contract terms
- Improved warehousing and inventory management operations, including optimal scheduling and organization of more than $400 thousand worth of daily inventory and services
- Led initiatives for new purchasing protocol proposed and implementation with facilitated monitoring and improved budget allocations
- Determined recurring business needs and maintained necessary inventory levels
- Implemented robust inspection policies to check quality of all incoming product
- Expedited distribution of materials to supply rooms
- Tracked and approved procurement plans and inventory levels
- Progressed through various purchasing, warehousing and leadership roles
- Led initiatives for new purchasing and warehouse protocol proposal and implementation
- Coordinated transfers of materials between several warehouses
- Oversaw all products leaving the warehouse to ensure accuracy and integrity of shipments
- Inspected and researched all discrepancies in inventory and tracking.
Purchasing/Contract Manager
Baptist Health
12.2010 - 09.2016
- Developed, led and executed purchasing strategies
- Track and report key functional metrics to reduce expenses and improve effectiveness
- Craft negotiation strategies and closed deals with optimal terms
- Perform cost and scenario analysis and benchmarking
- Evaluating quality, price, reliability, technical support and availability of goods and services
- Contacted suppliers to resolve price, quality, delivery or invoice issues
- Track, measure and analyze company expenditures.
Senior Buyer
Baptist Health
03.2009 - 12.2010
- Purchased goods, materials, components or services in line with specified cost, quality and delivery targets
- Ensure continuous supply of required goods and materials and communicate any supply problems which may pose a risk or impact on business operations
- Research and evaluate areas of opportunity and reduce costs where possible
- Developed ideas and strategies to improve operations efficiency, add value, aid business performance and work towards a strategy of continuous improvement
- Negotiate contracts, improved prices and terms of business with suppliers and review opportunities to make business savings utilizing negotiation and procurement best practice tools and methods
- Prepared purchase orders in line with final negotiations with selected suppliers and in line with organizational targets and requirements.
Director of Purchasing
Mostellar Medical Center
06.1997 - 04.2003
- Planning policies and procedures for efficiently, honestly, economically and productively purchasing goods for supply chain production and operation
- Monitored, reviewed and analyzed bids and quotes with suppliers, including the negotiation of service agreements and contracts
- Overseeing sources for purchasing supplies
- Maintain company budget and streamlining costs
- Negotiate and execute purchase orders or vendor contracts as needed to support the critical business needs
- Managed materials savings initiatives in line with profit plan and overall business objectives.
Scrub Tech/Secretary-Surgery Dept
Springhill Memorial Hospital
06.1994 - 06.1996
- Prepared and organized the operating room equipment, instruments and supplies as required for various surgical procedures
- Anticipated surgeon and patient needs during a procedure
- Take care of specimens, prepare, check and monitor medications and assist with dressings
- Set up a sterile and sanitary environment and maintain the sterile field for the patient during procedures
- Utilize correct body mechanics in moving, transporting and positioning patients, stretchers, and/or tables in order to prevent injury to patient and personnel
- Participated in stocking and restocking medical supplies
- Inspect, replace and sterilized medical instruments
- Provide surgeons and patients with necessary instruments, supplies and equipment.
Non-Stock Buyer/Major Medical Buyer
Springhill Memorial Hospital
06.1992 - 06.1994
- Purchased supplies needed within a hospital setting, including office supplies, medical supplies and major equipment
- Assisted with shipping and receiving, as well as keeping stock for all nursing units
- Worked within the management team to ensure that all deliveries satisfy the assigned orders and report any back ordered or missing products
- Effectively communicated with the management team to ensure all orders are accurate.
Education
Certificate/Diploma - Computer Office Technology
Southeast College of Technology
Mobile, AL01.1992
Diploma -
Alba High School
Bayou La Batre, AL01.1991
Skills
- Organization
- Logistics coordination
- Price negotiations
- Supplier relationship management
- Project Management
- Cost controls familiarity
- Creative thinking
- Supplier Relationship Management
- Purchasing strategy
- E-procurement Systems
- Contract Negotiations
- Supplier relationships
Timeline
Procurement Officer I
Alabama Department Of Corrections
02.2024 - Current
Materials Manager
Koch Foods
06.2022 - 01.2024
Prime Vendor Analyst (PVA)
Medline Industries
11.2021 - Current
Materials Manager
Baptist Health
06.2016 - 08.2021
Purchasing/Contract Manager
Baptist Health
12.2010 - 09.2016
Senior Buyer
Baptist Health
03.2009 - 12.2010
Director of Purchasing
Mostellar Medical Center
06.1997 - 04.2003
Scrub Tech/Secretary-Surgery Dept
Springhill Memorial Hospital
06.1994 - 06.1996
Non-Stock Buyer/Major Medical Buyer
Springhill Memorial Hospital
06.1992 - 06.1994
Certificate/Diploma - Computer Office Technology
Southeast College of Technology
Diploma -
Alba High School
Similar Profiles
Micheal EvansMicheal Evans
Correctional Sergeant at Alabama Department Of CorrectionsCorrectional Sergeant at Alabama Department Of Corrections
DONALD DARWINDONALD DARWIN
Correctional Officer at Alabama Department Of CorrectionsCorrectional Officer at Alabama Department Of Corrections
Logan CarliseLogan Carlise
Correctional Officer at Alabama Department Of CorrectionsCorrectional Officer at Alabama Department Of Corrections