THOMAS MCMILLAN
SOMERSET,NJ
Summary
Knowledgeable Buyer experienced in supporting businesses with high-quality, reliable goods delivered on a consistent schedule. Expert background in purchasing and procurement environments. Proficient in pricing structures, supplier relations and contract negotiation.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
ORDER MANAGEMENT LEAD
ASHLEY HOME STORES
North Brunswick, NJ
02.2016 - 01.2018
- Promoted to the position in January 2017
- Supervised all orders coming in for all 6 stores
- Supervised billing of all completed and delivered orders
- Managed backorders and resolved escalated customer issues
- Worked with third party vendors such as Sealy and Tempurpedic
- Supervised management of the third party warranty claims
- Proficient with all Microsoft programs (Word, Outlook, Excel, etc.)
- GUEST SERVICES COORDINATOR
- Responsible for the completion and monitoring of all service claims
- Assist with all customer and delivery issues
- Regularly maintained the highest call quality in the department
- Given management tasks and trained the other coordinators at times
BUYER 2
VEECO
Somerset, NJ
01.2018 - Current
- Promoted to Buyer 2 in April 2025
- Able to perform many transactions including subcontract purchase orders
- Took on many challenging suppliers and successfully got them up to the level of performance expected from Veeco
- Convert purchase requisitions into purchase orders in SAP and maintain purchase orders throughout the full cycle of the order from placement to delivery
- Maintain purchase order dates and schedules in SAP
- Work with suppliers on all quality notifications
- Assist accounting with any invoice errors through IQ Backoffice
- Requested quotes and worked to get the best price with vendors
- Promoted to working with off the shelf products to complex machined metals with some of our biggest suppliers
- Liaison between Veeco and Pentagon for parts needing bead blasting, ultrasonic cleaning, packaging, etc.
- Traveled to Sweden to assist with the "go live" process of a company we acquired there on SAP
- SUPPLY CHAIN ADMINISTRATOR
- Requested and entered quotes from vendors into SAP
- Maintained purchase order dates and schedules
- Compiled monthly and quarterly reports in Excel
- Maintained and updated vendor information in Ariba
- Comments from my 2023 Annual Review with Veeco below:
- Tom - You have stepped up and supported the Materials org when called for in 2023 – filling in and taking on Robin's portfolio when she was out sick. You have embraced LeanDNA and used your excellent relationships with suppliers and taken the lead in adding them to LeanDNA Supplier Connect. Your work with Commodity Manager (Kent) and Global Machining in helping manage capacity and priority in 2023 was a highlight. This is also in large part the reason that we have done well in Grids and caught up well in VFT through the year.
- For 2024, the expectation is that you will continue to expand your skills and grow as a buyer taking on more complex supplier relationships and parts. Expect to see you take a lead role in working with the other buyers to expand the use of Supplier Connect to other suppliers.
- I can also see a role for you Tom in helping the Sweden operations in implementing SAP, and working with Skyline. Thanks for taking your days-in-office sincerely too, being flexible, committed and showing positivity which is very inspiring to all those around you.
FRONT END
COSTCO
North Brunswick, NJ
11.2015 - 02.2016
- Complete all customer transactions
- Assist with inventory and stocking
HEAD TELLER
TD BANK
East Windsor, NJ
01.2009 - 12.2014
- Direct supervisor of tellers
- Supervise branch in absence of managers
- Handles all cash orders and is in control of all cash in the branch
- Prove Branch and submit recap
- Achieved topmost position in sales goals for Tellers
- Able to perform all positions in the branch after being cross-trained
- Consistently had the highest audit scores in the Middlesex region and the lowest teller differences as well
- Led the entire teller line to achieving over 100% of their quarterly sales goals
- Supervised New Brunswick Regional store
- Proficient with all Microsoft programs (Word, Outlook, Excel, etc.)
HEAD TELLER
VALLEY NATIONAL BANK
North Brunswick, NJ
07.2008 - 01.2009
- Direct Supervisor of Tellers
- Proved Branch
- Performed all Head Teller duties
- Achieved sales goals
CUSTOMER SERVICES SENIOR REPRESENTATIVE
BEST BUY
Monmouth Junction, NJ
05.2007 - 06.2008
- Balanced cash drawers
- Supervised Customer Service Representatives and Cashiers
- Responsible for opening and closing store
- Interacted with customers on a daily basis
- Processed Returns/Exchanges
- Processed Credit Card Applications
TELLER
COMMERCE BANK
Englishtown, NJ
07.2006 - 04.2007
- Cash handling
- Processed all customer transactions
- Performed Head Teller duties on occasion
Education
Manalapan High School
Skills
- Purchase order management
- Vendor negotiation
- SAP proficiency
- Supply chain optimization
- Problem solving
- Attention to detail
- Effective communication
- Time management
- Leadership skills
- Procurement procedures
- Vendor relations
- Supplier oversight
- Verbal and written communication
- Resourcefulness
Timeline
BUYER 2
VEECO
01.2018 - Current
ORDER MANAGEMENT LEAD
ASHLEY HOME STORES
02.2016 - 01.2018
FRONT END
COSTCO
11.2015 - 02.2016
HEAD TELLER
TD BANK
01.2009 - 12.2014
HEAD TELLER
VALLEY NATIONAL BANK
07.2008 - 01.2009
CUSTOMER SERVICES SENIOR REPRESENTATIVE
BEST BUY
05.2007 - 06.2008
TELLER
COMMERCE BANK
07.2006 - 04.2007
Manalapan High School