Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Affiliations
Additional Information
Timeline
Generic

ROBERT MELE

Cherry Hill,NJ

Summary

Trade and Operations professional for multi-billion-dollar organization(s) with expertise in duty saving opportunities, import/export compliance, regulatorysecurity best practices and industry trends in the US and Canada. Industry leader in First Sale resulting in duty reduction in excess of $11m annually with successful vendor on boarding and auditing policies and procedures. Duty Saving Strategy | US Import/Export Regulations Various Commodities | Negotiations Interpersonal Skills | Creative Thinking| Supplier/Agent Management | Leadership Skills Problem Solving | Free Trade Agreements | Organizational Skills | Supply Chain Operations Communication Skills | CBP Audit Management | Work Survival Skills | Transportation | Process Improvement

Overview

21
21
years of professional experience

Work History

Director of Imports

  • BDP International

Owner-Consultant

Avastone 7024 LLC
Cherry Hill, NJ
04.2018 - Current
  • Manage and develop risk mitigation programs; identify gaps in US importer trade and compliance operations
  • Identify and execute foreign trade agreement eligibility, duty reduction, reporting and monitoring
  • Review, analyze and plan costs and actions in response to China 301(list 1 thru 4) Tariff actions
  • Deploy EDI paperless documentation connecting supply chain and finance partners
  • Utilize Gray Market/Counter Diversion program for CBP Trademark recordation process
  • Analyze Foreign Trade Zone ROI, review inventory system capability and approval from FTZ authorities
  • Audit processes, suggest re-development and improvement for organizational trade policies and procedures

Director of Import Operations

The Children's Place
Secaucus, NJ
05.2015 - 12.2016
  • Executed import compliance policies and procedures, product safety reviews, product structure review for advantageous duty rate re-classification
  • Managed vendor relationships with scorecards, issuance annual risk assessments and corrective action planning
  • Developed and managed corporate Customs Compliance Educational program which included quarterly mandatory live training sessions and staff lunchbox learning sessions
  • Optimized duty savings corporate strategy consisting of First Sale, Air Sea, Early Pay discount, FTAs' with total savings of $3.5m
  • Implemented duty drawback program rejected defective and defective merchandise, RTV along with coordination of export activity and supervised destruction
  • Process improvement and accountability for CF 28s and all OGA Inquiry resolutions
  • Filed resolution for 2-year back log of entries for (ISA) data successfully and timely
  • Oversaw execution of reconciliation program and timely filing of incomplete information with CBP

VP

Int'l Trade, Ascena Retail Group Inc
Bensalem, Pa
01.2012 - 04.2015
  • Implemented and managed all brand import activity via ITRAC for continual risk assessment, mitigation, process improvement and cost saving opportunities
  • Executed Tier 3 Status C-TPAT security program; created distributed supplier manual, security scorecard and on-site inspections resulting in a 105.3 GSV rating
  • Coordinated Supply Chain service provider quarterly meetings (QBRs)
  • Sessions included accountability, expectations, import and product movement volume, process improvement opportunities, development of KPIs and senior management reporting/risk visibility
  • Identified consolidation and container load abilities by factory to establish efficient shipping matrix for shipment optimization, VP Int'l Trade & Customs Compliance
  • Partnered with U S Department of Fish and Wildlife to enable Louisville, KY as an approved FWS site for clearance saving upwards of 7 days in clearances and speed to market
  • Hired and managed employees to maximize productivity while training staff on best practices and protocols.

Education

Bachelor’s Degree - Business Administration

Affiliations

Sandler & Travis Trade Advisory Services- Customs Valuation Management - Compliance when negotiating supplier pricing Preparing and managing a CBP Focused Assessment Affiliations United States Fashion Industry Association-member as part of Ann Inc Cotton Board Importer Cotton Board as part of Ann Inc. American Apparel and Footwear Association-member as part of Ann Inc. National Retail Federation-Member as part of Ann Inc. International Compliance Professionals Association (ICPA) American Heart Association

Additional Information

  • Temple University – Philadelphia Licensed Customs Broker License # 6217, no expiry
  • Developed and deployed First Sale Program resulting in $11M in annual Duty Savings Implemented Air/Sea invoice reductions resulting in $.5m in annual duty savings Negotiated early payment discount program responsible for $0.75m in annual duty savings Reviewed product classification and material/component adjustment strategies realizing $.43m in duty reductions Audited broker misclassifications leading to $1.2M in duty refunds Identified multiple FTA eligibilities resulting in $.7m in duty savings
  • U.S. Customs Licensed Broker #6217

Timeline

Owner-Consultant

Avastone 7024 LLC
04.2018 - Current

Director of Import Operations

The Children's Place
05.2015 - 12.2016

VP

Int'l Trade, Ascena Retail Group Inc
01.2012 - 04.2015

Bachelor’s Degree - Business Administration

Director of Imports

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ROBERT MELE