J AMES G RADY
, M.B.A. – C.P.M.
JGRADY 55@ AOL .
COM | 7931 M ONROE A VENUE , M UNSTER , IN 46321 | 219-836-0212 H | 219-670-9968 C
Versatile, accomplished with MBA and 22+ years of diverse experience in operations, sales, IS, and procurement.
 Expertise in strategic sourcing and procurement of direct commodities, indirect, CAPEX and MRO. Skilled in development of local and regional supply networks, consolidation of supply base, supplier relations, and inventory control.
 Outstanding business acumen, significantly impacting efficiency, accuracy, and profitability of operations.
Dedicated to improving profitability through negotiations and supply chain best practices.
 Excellent project management skills, effective planning, development, and on-target completion of multimilliondollar corporate initiatives.
 Flexible, professional communicator. Motivated by the opportunity to build strategic relationships and negotiate win-win agreements to optimize supply chain value.
 Extensive results in business process analysis, communicating as-is and to-be processes and reporting requirements to technical teams, facilitation of information systems development.
 Recognized by executive team members as a focused, accountable leader who is wholly devoted to the pursuit of business and personal excellence.
C AREER H IGHLIGHTS
ARCELORMITTAL USA – World’s largest steel producer with global revenues of $65 billion 10/2008 – Present
Sourcing Manager | Procurement & Supply Chain
Hired to lead Corporate CAPEX sourcing efforts for flat carbon steel primary operations supplying USA. Report to
Manager of MRO & CAPEX Procurement.
 Regularly interface with plant specific and corporate engineering, operations, senior management and procurement, across four operating integrated mills, to bring value added customer service to coke, iron and steel producing while driving cost saving initiatives.
 Control an annual spends of $85-100MM requiring extensive full lifecycle capital project budget management.
 Source, negotiate, and manage contracts for mechanical, civil, structural, electrical and other engineering services; general contracting services; and capital equipment purchases.
 Provide mentoring of Business Analysts as part of company’s leadership development program.
 Selected to serve as team Subject Matter Expert in Contract Law Terms & Conditions.
 Landed cost savings of $2MM in 2009, earning “Outstanding Performance Achievement” award, an honor for the top 5% of 46,000 employees in the USA. Landed cost savings of $2.7MM in 2010.
MCDANIEL FIRE SYSTEMS, Valparaiso, IN - $85MM fire protection systems solutions provider
Purchasing Manager 2/2008 – 10/2008
Hired to create structured Purchasing organization. Managed a team of two; reported to VP of Finance.
 Managed annual spend of $48MM, including direct, indirect, and MRO.
 Implemented JIT inventory methodology with key suppliers.
 Reorganized wireless communication program; reduced active handsets and plans by 50%; transitioned from AT&T to Sprint with a first year cost impact of $35,000.
 Analyzed and centralized document imaging equipment leasing spends with first-year savings of $20,000.
 Outsourced fleet management program with Enterprise, saving $200,000 in vehicle maintenance and leasing fees.
 Revitalized HyperLink quote system; standardized descriptions, eliminated 14,000 redundant part numbers, converted to manufacturer’s part numbers to automate updating of parts pricing on thousands of part numbers.

J AMES G RADY
, M.B.A. – C.P.M.
P AGE 2 | JGRADY 55@ AOL .
COM | 219-836-0212 H | 219-670-9968 C
UGN, INC., Tinley Park, IL $235MM-mfr of interior trim & thermal management products for Japanese auto manufacturers
Senior Corporate Buyer 2006 – 2008
Directed supplier sourcing and contract negotiations for the direct buy of $49MM of commodities (non-woven fabrics, fiberglass, fasteners, films, converted products, procurement card services, foams and fabricated metal parts).
 Analyzed supply base and leveraged volume purchasing power, achieving a 2% cost reduction across all major suppliers with projected cost savings of $750,000.00 per year. Leveraged a variety of commodity strategies, including low cost global suppliers of non-woven goods and automotive fasteners from Japan, Sweden and Brazil.
 Assisted manufacturing, logistics, research and development, and marketing in identifying and prioritizing opportunities and driving quantifiable improvements in SCM systems and processes.
 Partnered with purchasing team in development of PRIDE key performance indicators to optimize supplier value.
 Contributed in cross-disciplinary Kaizen events, improving core processes and product quality while streamlining procurement, manufacturing, and distribution costs. Participated in purchasing TS 16949 quality accreditation.
ROLLING MILL SERVICE CORP., Mokena, IL $13MM-mfr’s rep firm specializing in mechanical components for the steel industry
Business Operations Manager | Purchasing Manager | Accounting Manager 1988 – 2006
Recruited to facilitate startup and growth of a manufacturer’s representative firm specializing in mechanical components (gears, drums, couplings) used in the steel industry.
 Hired, trained, motivated, and managed sales support staff as well as field sales professionals.
 Developed all business processes, procedures, and systems to manage high-volume sales inquiries, business transactions, and business metrics reporting to support company growth to $13 million.
 Sourced, evaluated, and procured employee benefit programs, including health, dental, and life insurances, as well as 401(k) and defined benefits plans.
 Led sourcing, evaluation, procurement, and implementation of all communications and IT infrastructure
(hardware, software, maintenance agreements, and managed services). Served as liaison among technical and functional staff members in the development and upgrade of information systems.
 Planned, designed, implemented and continued to improve a relational database business system that integrates
G/L, payroll and IS functionality into a user-friendly and efficient system, enabling a 20% reduction in personnel.
 Project-managed 3 company relocation projects. Negotiated leases, coordinating transition of business services with suppliers, overseeing tenant finishing, and coordinating move of corporate assets without interruption to business.
MATERIAL SERVICE CORPORATION, Chicago, IL – A $300MM- Mineral Subsidiary of General Dynamics
Senior Buyer (promoted from Junior Buyer within three months of hire) 1979-1988
Led procurement and supplier relations for a $6 million commodity and contractor service program for a centralized purchasing organization that served Material Service Corp., Freeman United Coal Mining Co. and Marblehead Lime
Co.
 Hired, trained, motivated, and managed purchasing staff members.
 Implemented targeted financial analysis strategies to reduce costs by tracking and control inventory, negotiating with vendors, and forecasting and scheduling of projects. Negotiated with plant operations personnel and storeroom managers at the divisional level for procurement and forecasting proposals.
 Served as liaison between Purchasing and IS departments to design and implement computerized purchasing systems.

J AMES G RADY
, M.B.A. – C.P.M.
P AGE 3| JGRADY 55@ AOL .
COM | 219-836-0212 H | 219-670-9968 C
 Devised systems to evaluate vendor quotations that utilized efficient negotiation and purchasing techniques to ensure quality, price, delivery, stability and service.
 Broadened supplier associations resulting in a high value supply chain.
 Prepared, processed, and reviewed contracts, bids, proposals, and vendor agreements for legal accuracy, price, and acceptability of items to specifications.
 Negotiated complex requests for equipment, supplies, and services from suppliers and subcontractors.
 Routinely interfaced with operations, engineering, and real estate, insurance and legal departments as project buyer during capital construction projects.
 Analyzed market and delivery conditions of numerous commodities. Commodities included steel plate and shapes, pipe, valves and fittings, wire rope, railroad components, steel fabrications and machined parts, castings and construction services.
E DUCATION
Earned both my BS and MBA degrees while attending night school and raising a family of three
Master of Science in Supply Chain Management, Loyola University, Chicago, IL in process
Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), GOVERNORS STATE UNIVERSITY, University Park, IL 1996
Bachelor of Science, Finance & Accounting, CHICAGO STATE UNIVERSITY, Chicago, IL 1987
Computer Information Systems Studies, PURDUE UNIVERSITY, Hammond, IN
P
ROFESSIONAL
A
CTIVITIES
Member, APICS, Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) – in process
Member, ISM, Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM)
Adjunct Instructor, PURDUE UNIVERSITY-CALUMET, Hammond, IN
T
ECHNICAL
S
KILLS
Computer Skills: Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint); Tabware, BPCS and other MRP/AS400 systems, Priority Time Management for Outlook, CAweb– a web-based supplier performance management system,
Mocha and Future 3 as well as proprietary business analytics / reporting systems and supply chain systems .