Marchita Brown
Houston
Summary
Strategic Category Manager with comprehensive experience in retail and purchasing. Proven ability to analyze market trends, create effective merchandise strategies, and negotiate supplier contracts for maximum profitability. Demonstrates strong leadership and communication skills, contributing significantly to cross-functional team collaborations. Past roles have led to improved inventory management processes and increased sales performance. Highly-motivated employee with desire to take on new challenges. Strong work ethic, adaptability, and exceptional interpersonal skills. Adept at working effectively unsupervised and quickly mastering new skills.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Category Manager
Tailored Shared Services
Houston
01.2022 - 09.2025
- Provide financial expertise and commercial insight to drive procurement decision-making and sound planning to maximize long-term profits, cash flow, and return to shareholders.
- Contract Management which includes processing contracts and contract renewals. Maintaining a SharePoint contract tracking log. Provide contract management reporting to stakeholders.
- Manage the Procurement Contract mailbox and escalate emails to the Procurement team accordingly.
- Responsible for the management of the Procurement Task List which includes reviewing new incoming tasks and assigning them to the appropriate Procurement team member, as well as making certain Tasks are closed once completed.
- Take ownership of the entire procurement process, ensuring that procedures are followed for Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) compliance, and provide policy recommendations to management.
- Create, review, and validate requests for proposal (RFP), quote (RFQ), information, and bid for Indirect Procurement categories assigned.
- Evaluate and negotiate terms and conditions of bids from vendors.
- Prepare recommendations for vendor selection based on hands on knowledge of the 7-steps Strategic Sourcing Methodology.
- Monitor vendor performance standards by analyzing key performance indicators (KPIs) and recommending a related action plan.
- Negotiate and monitor cost of products, quality of products, and delivery schedules.
- Assist with the authorization of requests and approval for purchase orders.
- Ensure accurate and detailed information is provided on purchase orders and applicable backup documentation.
- Research and resolve discrepancies related to purchase orders.
- Purchase goods, supplies, and services for multiple business units.
- Work closely with accounts payable to resolve payment issues.
- Track and create reports regarding spending history and savings opportunities.
- Maintain electronic and hard copy files as required according to company document retention policy.
- Create and maintain beneficial relationships with vendors to ensure best pricing, service, and response.
- Ensure ePro user files are maintained and updated on an ongoing basis.
- Provide information on asset values and costs to various departments.
- Partner with internal clients to present and test new sourcing alternatives.
- Effectively interact with internal and external customers and vendors, providing superior customer service and smooth business operations.
- Utilize available procurement tools to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the procurement process.
- Maintain knowledge of suppliers and market developments and utilize market analysis and market intelligence in research of products and services.
Procurement Clerk
Nova Medical Centers
Houston
07.2021 - 01.2022
- Works with the Accounts Payable and operations departments to provide clerical and administrative procurement duties in an office setting.
- Perform daily procurement activities for assigned vendors and products.
- Review purchase orders, consolidate requirements, check for at-risk items, and place orders.
- Optimize the use of negotiated supplier buy plans, quantity discounts, break points and other programs to lower total acquisition costs.
- Work with department heads to develop Inventory Policy and inventory analysis methodologies specific to assigned department.
- Identify opportunities to leverage Nova Medical Center’s spending, participate in the development of plans, and implement changes required.
- Provide analysis and recommendations for location specific inventory levels, reorder points, and replenishment methodologies - Includes thorough analysis of logistics options, scheduled releases and/or other methodologies to lower total acquisition costs.
- Monitor stock outs and take appropriate steps to correct. Make recommendations for changes in the Inventory Policy to proactively avoid future outages.
- Expedite purchase orders and update PO information in common database.
- Communicate with the field on extraordinary Purchase Order issues, extended lead-times, and critical requirements.
- Management of central inventory/punch out system.
- Coordination of quarterly inventory cycle count.
- Research and remedy any missing or unreceived PO products.
- Ensure appropriate documentation is on file with medical vendors.
- Proactively look for erroneous and/or out of date information in database.
- Take appropriate action to keep up to date and accurate inventory data.
- Monitor supplier performance and respond daily to needs of stakeholders.
- Identify opportunities for product returns.
- Provide procurement support via telephone, email, and face-to-face contact.
- Assist with shipping supplies from corporate office to various centers and onsite locations.
- Place orders with appropriate suppliers as needed.
- Other duties as assigned by management.
Procurement Coordinator
Graniti Vicentia
Houston
01.2019 - 06.2020
- Assist Procurement Director.
- Obtain Brand Standard pricing for all FF&E items and setting up files.
- Pricing from GV manufacturers for all FF&E items.
- Produce purchase orders from approved sales orders obtained from client and brand approval.
- Place new orders with vendors, RFPs, and RPQ, submit invoices for payment.
- Attend vendor/staff/ client meetings as needed.
- Maintain orders, invoices, and project files.
- Trouble shooting as needed.
- Close working relationships with all Project Designers, Project Management, Supply Chain & Logistics, and Accounting Teams.
- Review and reconcile invoices, monitor deposits, manage payments and delivery schedules.
- Follow thru on all deliveries until they are completed. Assist with damages and loss claims as needed.
- Client communications, keeping them updated on the expected material arrival date, and having a weekly touch base.
Buyer
Landry’s Inc
Houston
03.2017 - 03.2018
- Report directly to the VP of Retail and the GM of Retail, providing support for 9 store concepts by buying and merchandising ALL 9 Concepts throughout the company.
- In charge of the day-to-day retail buying and merchandising sales for all the following classifications: souvenirs, accessories, books, and vendor serviced for All 9 concepts within the company in several different states in the US.
- Product development and creating of merchandise in collaboration with import and domestic vendors.
- Travel to stores and markets to buy for the upcoming seasons.
Assistant Buyer
Landry’s Inc
Houston
07.2013 - 03.2017
- Report directly to the Retail Merchandise Manager of Hardlines, providing support for all store concepts by buying and merchandising that reaches a minimal total sales volume of $10 mil for the hardline division.
- Collaborate with multiple buyers to facilitate the marketing efforts of new products and labels, and development of promotional calendars, product launches, and employee incentive programs.
- Coordinate with Merchandise Managers, Operation Managers and Visuals Team to determine appropriate assortment plans for ALL concepts.
- Maintain open lines of communication between manufacturers, sales teams, vendors, and warehouse personnel to expedite product orders, and problem resolutions.
Allocation Analyst
Landry’s Inc
Houston
07.2008 - 03.2017
- Sales tracking, analysis, and reporting create queries to compile the previous week's sales to distribute by email to retail executives. Through analysis, identify similarities and develop store profiles that effectively group stores by similar performances.
- Implemented new reports to better analyze profit and stock. sales.
- Present new strategies, ideas, and store performances in Company Retail Monthly Meetings.
Education
High School Diploma - General Education
Ponchatoula High School
Ponchatoula, LA01.1989
Some College (No Degree) - Criminal Justice
University of Southwestern Louisiana
Lafayette, LASome College (No Degree) - Business Administration
Houston Community College
Houston, TXSkills
- Supervisory, leadership
- Wholesale, buying, procurement
- Sales analysis and reports
- Order management
- Assortment planning
- Inventory replenishment
- Concept branding/marketing
- Product development
- Logistics planning
- Oracle Retail Systems
- Microsoft Office
- Negotiation
- Vendor management
- Coupa
- MRO
- ERP system
- Contract management
- Strategic sourcing
- Vendor negotiation
- Procurement compliance
- Procurement reporting
- Supply chain management
- Cost analysis
- Inventory optimization
- Data analysis
- Problem solving
- Stakeholder management
- Performance metrics
- Vendor engagement
- Merchandising strategies
- Merchandising
- Commodity strategies
- Pricing strategy
- Category planning
- Supplier reviews
- Cost reduction strategies
- Supplier relationship management
- Global sourcing
- Data review
- Supplier contracts
- Category development
- Demand forecasting
- Product management
- Multitasking capacity
- Project management
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Business objective analysis
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Category Manager
Tailored Shared Services
01.2022 - 09.2025
Procurement Clerk
Nova Medical Centers
07.2021 - 01.2022
Procurement Coordinator
Graniti Vicentia
01.2019 - 06.2020
Buyer
Landry’s Inc
03.2017 - 03.2018
Assistant Buyer
Landry’s Inc
07.2013 - 03.2017
Allocation Analyst
Landry’s Inc
07.2008 - 03.2017
High School Diploma - General Education
Ponchatoula High School
Some College (No Degree) - Criminal Justice
University of Southwestern Louisiana
Some College (No Degree) - Business Administration
Houston Community College