Preston Kirkwood
Rochester Hills,MI
Summary
Results-driven Contract Manager at Envalior Engineering Materials with expertise in SAP and contract negotiation. Proven analytical thinker and problem solver, adept at managing supplier performance and optimizing inventory processes to drive efficiency and cost savings.
Overview
1
1
Certification
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Contract Manager
Americas with Envalior Engineering Materials
Troy, Michigan
09.2024 - Current
- Facilitated negotiations on pricing, payment terms, and lead times to optimize vendor relationships
- Extend payment terms with vendors resulting in 1 million Euro cash improvement
- Lead Supplier Performance Evaluations
- Maintained relationships with over 40 vendors
- Managed vendor and raw material creation in SAP
- Streamlined system by flagging and deleting agreements, materials, and vendors to enhance data accuracy
- Played a key role in PACE by integrating two SAP systems to streamline operations
- Tolling Contract Manager and Color Master Batch Contract Manager with color training
- COM lead for Porto Feliz and Evansville sites
Raw Material Planner/Purchasing Assistant
DSM/Envalior Engineering Materials
Troy, Michigan
09.2020 - 09.2024
- Oversaw inventory management for over 300 SKUs across multiple categories.
- Reduce obsolete inventory costs in 2022 by $1 million
- Identify risk and help provide solutions
- Reduced costs by purchasing optimal quantities based on price breaks
- Develop safety stock quantities based on analysis including demand and order patterns
- Provide raw material analysis to determine max quantity production can run
- Create a forecast and cascade to over 30 vendors/suppliers
- Collaborated with account managers to create accurate monthly forecasts
- Identify and be proactive to changes in demand
- Track over 40 shipments weekly to ensure on time delivery
- Determine outlets for aging/blocked/obsolete inventory
Trading Goods Analyst
DSM Engineering Materials
Troy, Michigan
03.2018 - 09.2020
- Oversaw import process for all inbound containers into North America, ensuring timely and efficient delivery.
- Managed 2.7 Kiloton inventory across four warehouses valued at $8 million
- Managed inventory of over 650 SKUs across multiple warehouses, maintaining accurate stock levels.
- Lead reduction of obsolete inventory in North America by working with the commercial team/supply plants
- Reduced inventory from 2018 to 2019 valued at $5 million
- Led LCL to FCL project, optimizing shipping logistics and achieving annual savings of $264k.
- Green Belt Duty Drawback Project resulting in savings of $258k annually
- Import material from Europe and Asia (six warehouses)
Customer Segment Fulfillment Specialists
DSM Engineering Materials
Troy, Michigan
11.2016 - 08.2018
- Process and manage customer orders in SAP. Confirmed material availability and pricing; informed parties of possible delays
- Delivered customer service to 50+ customers, making decisions to balance competing interests
- Tracked customer complaints to identify trends and enhance service delivery
- Responsible for accurately billing consignment, performing weekly reconciliation of materials to prevent customer shutdown
- Managed credits, debits, and returns in SAP, ensuring timely resolution
- Contributed to over one third of the North America business.
Highway Brokerage Representative
APL Logistics
Farmington Hills, Michigan
07.2015 - 11.2016
- Secured and maintained client accounts through proactive cold calling and consistent reliability
- Cultivated daily business relationships with customers and freight carriers to foster collaboration
- Refined personal selling techniques through targeted training sessions to improve sales effectiveness
- Utilized a CRM system to manage customer interactions
Education
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration, Logistics Management, Marketing, Sales
CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Mount Pleasant, Michigan05-2015
Skills
- Contract negotiation
- Contract compliance
- Contract analysis
- Vendor management
- Supplier performance
- Inventory management
- Analytical thinking
- Problem solving
Certification
IATF 16949 Lead Auditor Training (not yet certified), Karrass Effective Negotiation, Six Sigma Green Belt, Crew International Sales Certifications, Dimension of Professional Selling, Advanced Positional Selling and Negotiation, Organizational Selling
VOLUNTEER
Oakland Christian High School Varsity Baseball Team, Assistant Coach, 2015 through 2022, Focus on detail to improve players, helped practice/games run smoothly, generated team comradery, Help young people understand the importance of a team.
Timeline
Contract Manager
Americas with Envalior Engineering Materials
09.2024 - Current
Raw Material Planner/Purchasing Assistant
DSM/Envalior Engineering Materials
09.2020 - 09.2024
Trading Goods Analyst
DSM Engineering Materials
03.2018 - 09.2020
Customer Segment Fulfillment Specialists
DSM Engineering Materials
11.2016 - 08.2018
Highway Brokerage Representative
APL Logistics
07.2015 - 11.2016
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration, Logistics Management, Marketing, Sales
CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY