OSCAR GARZA
Aurora,IL
Summary
Accomplished Commodity Management leader with deep expertise in strategic sourcing, index-based contract negotiation, and steel market strategy within complex manufacturing environments. Proven record of driving sustainable cost savings, mitigating commodity risk, and strengthening supplier performance across multi-site operations. Recognized for aligning procurement strategy with financial targets, production demand, and working capital objectives. Adept at leveraging market intelligence, data analytics, and cross-functional leadership to deliver measurable operational and margin improvement.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Commodity Manager- Sheet and Plate
CST Industries, Inc.
DeKalb, IL
02.2024 - Current
- Own enterprise wide category strategy for carbon steel sheet, plate, and structural materials across multiple manufacturing facilities, overseeing high volume index based mill and service center supply.
- Negotiate CRU driven contracts, rebate structures, freight programs, and payment terms to optimize total cost of ownership while protecting margin and ensuring supply continuity.
- Lead market risk mitigation strategy through proactive melt timing, supplier diversification, dual-sourcing of critical gauges, and continuous monitoring of trade policy and capacity shifts.
- Drive measurable cost savings and cost avoidance through structured RFQs, volume consolidation, supplier performance management, and competitive sourcing initiatives.
- Negotiated supplier contracts and commercial agreements that have delivered over $1 million in measurable annual cost savings for each of the past two years.
Sr. Buyer
CST Industries, Inc.
DeKalb, IL
10.2022 - 02.2024
- Managed procurement of steel coils, sheet, plate, and fabricated component.
- Designed and implemented strategic sourcing initiatives that achieved an average 8% annual reduction in total cost of ownership.
- Oversaw the sourcing of MRO materials and services, maintaining a continuous supply to support maintenance and operational needs.
Production Planner
Sennco Solutions, Inc.
Plainfield, IL
06.2022 - 10.2022
- Planned delivery and production of raw components, subassemblies, outsourced assemblies, and finished products.
- Allocated resources and controlled inventory by assessing material stock and monitoring production performance.
- Utilized ERP systems to track the progress of open orders, manage stocking levels and adjust forecasts as needed.
Warehouse and Shipping Supervisor
Sennco Solutions, Inc.
Plainfield, IL
07.2020 - 06.2022
- Supervised receiving, order issuing, transportation, and inventory control.
- Led cross-functional inventory control initiatives that improved inventory accuracy from 78% to 98%, strengthening ERP data integrity, reducing stock discrepancies, and improving material availability to support uninterrupted production.
- Prepared international shipping documentation, including a commercial invoice, shipping letter of instruction, country of origin, and bill of lading.
- Evaluated employee performance, and prepared performance appraisals.
MRO Supply Chain Specialist
CoreCentric Solutions, Inc.
Carol Stream, IL
11.2018 - 03.2020
- Issued purchase orders for raw materials including electronic and mechanical components, packaging, and special tooling.
- Established relationships with key vendors to negotiate competitive pricing for materials and services.
- Spearheaded the sourcing, evaluation, and capital procurement of a corrugate machine that enabled full internalization of corrugated material purchasing, reducing external dependency, improving lead times, and increasing cost control across operations.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Business Administration, Concentration in Finance, Minor in Political Science
Augustana College
Rock Island, Illinois05-2018
Skills
- Commodity Management
- Strategic Sourcing and Negotiation
- Supply Chain Optimization
- Multi-Site Procurement Leadership
- Index-Based & Market-Driven Pricing
- KPI Development & Data Analytics
Certification
APICS Certified Supply Chain Professional
ISO 9001:2015 Certified Internal Auditor Training
Timeline
Commodity Manager- Sheet and Plate
CST Industries, Inc.
02.2024 - Current
Sr. Buyer
CST Industries, Inc.
10.2022 - 02.2024
Production Planner
Sennco Solutions, Inc.
06.2022 - 10.2022
Warehouse and Shipping Supervisor
Sennco Solutions, Inc.
07.2020 - 06.2022
MRO Supply Chain Specialist
CoreCentric Solutions, Inc.
11.2018 - 03.2020
Bachelor of Arts - Business Administration, Concentration in Finance, Minor in Political Science
Augustana College