Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Languages
Timeline
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Nini Abreu

Palmetto Bay,FL

Summary

Strategic and results-oriented procurement and operations leader with over 13 years of progressive experience driving impact across diverse business functions. Starting from the ground up, I’ve cultivated deep expertise in tactical purchasing, ERP implementation, vendor lifecycle management, and IT cost optimization. Recognized for crafting and executing data-driven strategies that deliver measurable cost savings, streamline operations, and mitigate risk. Known for bridging technical, financial, and operational domains to unlock scalable solutions, and long-term business value.

Overview

14
14
years of professional experience

Work History

IT Category Manager, Procurement

World Kinect
Miami, Florida
02.2024 - Current
  • Spearheaded IT cost optimization by identifying licensing efficiencies, exploring tiered pricing and multi-year renewals, and renegotiating supplier contracts—resulting in significant cost avoidance and stronger long-term partnerships.
  • Managed the full lifecycle of strategic suppliers—from evaluation and price negotiations to onboarding, legal review, renewal, optimization, and performance review—ensuring alignment with business goals and compliance standards.
  • Designed and deployed supplier performance surveys to internal stakeholders during renewal periods, leveraging feedback to request concessions, discounts, additional support, and improved value from vendors. Used survey insights to identify areas for improvement and maximize leverage during renewal negotiations.
  • Conducted RFP and RFx activities to drive strategic supplier selection, leveraging quantitative scoring from questionnaires, coordinating demos and proof-of-concept sessions to validate capabilities, and requesting tiered pricing models to prevent manipulation and reveal discount thresholds for more competitive, transparent negotiations.
  • Created user surveys to assess license utilization, enabling data-driven decisions that streamlined software asset management, aligned spend with budget goals, and ensured the organization only paid for what was needed, when it was needed.

Strategic Vendor Manager

Proofpoint
Sunnyvale, California
08.2021 - 08.2023
  • Led the Zylo integration and implementation (SaaS optimization solution), ensuring proactive management of the software portfolio, and leveraging Zylo insights to identify cost avoidance opportunities.
  • Owned the full lifecycle management of Proofpoint’s technology vendors, including POC, vendor selection, onboarding, cost optimization strategy, legal review (NDA, MSA, order form, EULA, SOW, ELA, and T&Cs), redlining commercial terms, pricing negotiations, performance reviews, renewals, expansions, escalations, and terminations.
  • Acted as the escalation point for major outages, bugs, breaches of contract, failed SLAs, and vendor performance issues, ensuring that resolution plans were implemented.
  • Partnered with FP&A to model cost analysis for active deals, support budget planning, and align on opex/capex spending.
  • Led RFx activities to support strategic sourcing and vendor evaluation.
  • Drafted and published company-wide procurement policies to standardize processes and improve compliance.

Technical Vendor Manager

Credit Karma
San Francisco, California
05.2017 - 03.2021
  • Closed hundreds of deals with engineering and cybersecurity vendors, supporting rapid growth and innovation.
  • Saved $1.2M in Q3 by partnering with business owners to reduce software usage, deprecate underutilized tools, and negotiate COVID-19 relief discounts with vendors.
  • Supported $60M+ in budget planning with FP&A, including CAPEX/OPEX modeling and ongoing budget monitoring.
  • Negotiated contracts across software, hardware, professional services, and support; partnered with corporate counsel to drive legal reviews.
  • Acted as escalation point for major engineering product and service issues, helping business owners hold vendors accountable for resolution and support.
  • Built strategic partnerships with internal stakeholders and vendors to align purchasing decisions and renewal strategies with long-term business goals.

Procurement Analyst

SF Express
South San Francisco, California
10.2015 - 05.2017
  • Led the sourcing, cost analysis, and budget approval process for a company-wide ERP system to unify procurement, inventory control, and asset management across six facilities. I built the business case, presented it to leadership, and secured funding based on projected efficiency gains and cost savings.
  • Conducted vendor RFPs, coordinated demos, and evaluated platforms based on scalability, integration capabilities, and user experience.
  • Oversaw the full implementation of the selected ERP system, serving as the project lead and system administrator. Customized fields, configured workflows, and ensured that the system met operational and reporting needs across departments.
  • Trained over 60 employees company-wide on ERP usage and procurement policies, creating SOPs and user guides to support adoption and compliance.
  • Interviewed gateway managers to identify commonly purchased goods, then created a centralized catalog with locked-in pricing and SKU standardization.
  • Built a punchout catalog within the ERP system, enabling employees to select pre-approved items with consistent SKUs, streamlining purchasing, improving spend visibility, and unlocking volume discounts.
  • Enabled reporting on purchase trends and vendor performance, giving leadership data-driven insights for budgeting, forecasting, and strategic sourcing.
  • Standardized 20+ procurement SOPs and 30+ policies, including equipment requests, payment terms, and vendor communication protocols.

Procurement Specialist

Relentless Computer Solutions
Miami, Florida
05.2014 - 05.2015
  • Purchased hardware/software from major vendors (Ingram-Micro, Tech Data, Synnex) on behalf of liquor store retail customers, who made up the majority of the client base.
  • Sold warranty and support contracts for NCR equipment used in retail businesses, acting as a third-party provider to ensure clients received appropriate coverage and service options.
  • Managed hardware warranties, software renewals, and replacement coordination.
  • Conducted quarterly inventory cycle counts.

Procurement Specialist

Marine Depot
Miami, Florida
01.2012 - 02.2013
  • Procured a wide range of maritime goods—from shipboard components and dock supplies to electronics, consumables, and even rare or discontinued parts—tailored to the specific needs of each vessel.
  • Initiated sourcing by identifying original manufacturers, then expanded outreach to competitive suppliers to generate bids for clients using maritime e-procurement platforms.
  • Supported cruise line clients in building full ship supply packages, ensuring transparency, competitive pricing, and timely delivery.
  • Handled logistics coordination, quoting, invoicing, and vendor negotiations for major cruise lines, including Carnival, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, and Holland America Line.

Education

Some College (No Degree) - Mass Communication and Journalism

Miami Dade College
Miami, FL

Skills

  • Procurement negotiation strategy
  • IT cost avoidance
  • P2P implementation and management
  • Renewals management
  • Budget planning
  • IT procurement expertise
  • RFQ, RFP, and ROI analysis
  • Procurement policy development
  • Cross-functional risk mitigation
  • IT contract negotiation
  • Process automation tools
  • Spend analysis
  • Strategic partnership development
  • Training and development programs
  • Program management skills
  • FinOps expertise
  • Presentation skills
  • Supplier performance evaluation
  • Software license optimization strategies
  • IT category management strategies
  • Deal summary analysis

Languages

English
Native/ Bilingual
Spanish
Full Professional
Portuguese
Full Professional

Timeline

IT Category Manager, Procurement

World Kinect
02.2024 - Current

Strategic Vendor Manager

Proofpoint
08.2021 - 08.2023

Technical Vendor Manager

Credit Karma
05.2017 - 03.2021

Procurement Analyst

SF Express
10.2015 - 05.2017

Procurement Specialist

Relentless Computer Solutions
05.2014 - 05.2015

Procurement Specialist

Marine Depot
01.2012 - 02.2013

Some College (No Degree) - Mass Communication and Journalism

Miami Dade College

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Nini Abreu