2548 Canterbury Road Cleveland Heights OH 44118 414.469.9150 sowa.justin@gmail.com

STRATEGIC SOURCING / COMMODITY MANAGER

Accomplished in designing ground-breaking purchasing strategies for multinational, billion-dollar manufacturers. Exceptionally well-versed in all aspects of strategic purchasing with strong track record of generating multimillion-dollar revenue savings and expanding profit margins. Experienced in development, mentoring, and leadership of top-performing teams. Dedicated to inventory optimization, manufacturing quality, corporate profitability, and staff motivation. Positive relations with suppliers across 4 different continents while spearheading critical corporate initiatives.

Core Competencies Adaptive & Strategic Planning Supplier Relations & Negotiations Cross-Cultural Communications Efficient Organizational Structures Policy & Procedure Development Material Quality Enhancement Cross-Functional Team Leadership

Waste & Cost Minimization Global Project Management Purchasing & Procurement Strategic Savings Initiatives Staff Management & Training Team Building & Motivation Cost Review & Benchmarking

Multi-Million-Dollar Contracts Y-o-Y Cost Savings Risk Mitigation Productivity Improvement Systems Implementation Process Standardization Contract Restructuring

Career SuccessDIEBOLD NIXDORF, North Cantorn, Ohio 2016 to PresentDrives connected commerce & consumer centric solutions within the banking, retail, postal & service station sectors.Sourcing Manager – Electromechanical: Temporary assignment assisting with merger of Diebold and Wincor Nixdorf.

BENDIX COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SYSTEMS, Elyria, Ohio 2013 to 2016A $1 billion subsidiary of the Knorr-Bremse Group, the €6 billion global leader in transportation technologies, Bendix has 2,000+ dedicated employees throughout North America. Regional Category Manager – AluminumStrategized entire aluminum category for North America, devising high-impact plans for all product lines. Designed comprehensive global supply base to fulfill all requirements. Drove cross-functional team of Supplier Development Engineers, Product Line Directors, and a Tactical Buyer to peak performance levels. Visited suppliers throughout Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and North America. Maximized efficiency by introducing significant process improvements and best practices.Controlled $50 million spend for die cast aluminum parts, sand castings, and zinc die castings. Continually identified and capitalized on cost-saving opportunities and ensured lowest transportation costs across 4 plants. Deftly negotiated supplier contracts and researched best market/supplier options. Worked with all key stakeholders across matrix organization including cost modeling team to assess validity of price changes and optimized currency risk sharing ratios to stabilize costs.

Implemented cost savings of $2.5 million; expanded pipeline 300% through negotiation, resourcing, and value analysis / value engineering (VA/VE). On track to save additional $1.25 million in 2017.

Avoided $200,000 in unnecessary costs by implementing freight term changes with 3 key Chinese suppliers. Consolidated number of North American suppliers from 30 to 21.

Retained partnership with key supplier who threatened to raise prices by $1 million . Convinced supplier to rescind price increase and business cancellation threat by leveraging exceptional communication skills.

Clarified modification costs and ensured seamless transfers to new suppliers by creating tool transfer checklist, which included part lists and 3D drawings of all tools. Wrote Aluminum Category White Paper to increase stakeholder knowledge.

Achieved unprecedented results while saving project that lacked feasible design. Beat product delivery deadline by 2 weeks after onboarding best-in-class supplier that created approved design/samples.

Prevented supply disruptions while managing 6 supplier insolvencies. Minimized production and payment issues by proactively communicating with insolvent/bankrupt suppliers; developed effective contingency plans.

MEGGITT AIRCRAFT BRAKING SYSTEMS, Akron, Ohio 2012 to 2013A $400 million division of Meggitt PLC, a £1.6 billion global company specializing in aircraft systems.Senior Buyer – Strategic Sourcing, New Product Introduction Created and implemented high-impact sourcing strategies while overseeing sourcing activities for Line Replaceable Units (LRU). Negotiated million-dollar contracts with LRU suppliers, visiting facilities in Los Angeles, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. Represented Procurement Department in new product introduction teams.

Facilitated critical "40 by 14" initiative, reducing implementation time by 9 months. Better positioned company to move 40% of addressable spend to cost-effective countries by 2014 by tapping into 10% of spend that was unrestricted, based on ITAR regulations. Transferred data into user-friendly format after introducing project tracking system.

JUSTIN SOWA, CPSM, C.P.M.

Cut 10% of $25 Million Spend

Consolidated 15 Suppliers into 2

Saved $2.5 Million Year-Over-Year

JUSTIN SOWA, CPSM, C.P.M., PAGE 2 414.469.9150 sowa.justin@gmail.com

Brought LRU sourcing for Bombardier Global 7000/8000 program from 3 months behind to 6 months ahead of schedule. Safeguarded company from liabilities by rewriting general agreement terms. Mitigated risks and controlled costs by adding

warranty/indemnification protections to contracts.

KOHLER CO., Kohler, Wisconsin 2010 to 2012Multibillion-dollar manufacturer of plumbing products, furniture, cabinetry, tile, engines, and generators.Global Category Coordinator / Senior Buyer – Strategic Sourcing While working in Global Faucets, a $450 million business unit, supported plants in North America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Managed multiple commodities while serving internal customers across the company. Acted as point of escalation for supplier delivery issues. Negotiated pricing/freight contracts while visiting global supply base. Controlled $25 million spend for hoses, plastic injection molding, plastic resin, colorant, rubber, fasteners, and drains.

Consolidated 15 global suppliers into 2 suppliers capable of passing all required tests. Obtained competitive pricing for all locations and opened local manufacturing opportunities in China and Europe.

Implemented projects resulting in $2.5 million in cost reduction, representing 10% of total spend, with strategic sourcing process, supplier transitions, and VA/VE. Employed 5-step strategy development process.

Inherited and successfully completed difficult negotiations while mitigating exposure to liability. Increased product liability coverage, warranty requirements, and cost-reductions. Authored white paper for hose category to demonstrate impact of effective company strategies/communications.

WISCONSIN PHARMACAL CO., Jackson, Wisconsin 2008 to 2009Manufacturer of over-the-counter creams and jells producing $20 million in annual revenue from a single facility in Wisconsin.Purchasing Manager Expertly directed company's purchasing activities while optimizing inventory of multiple warehouses, selecting suppliers, negotiating lower prices, and supervising 1 buyer. Managed $12 million purchasing volume for packaging and chemical categories.

Generated $375,000 in annual savings by reducing inventory 25%. Gained approval for Kanban programs and drove correct demand for materials. Designed supplier manual.

Negotiated $200,000 in cost savings through contracts with chemical and corrugated suppliers.

SEATS, INC., Reedsburg, WI 2006 to 2008Manufacturer of aftermarket truck, lawn, garden, and military vehicle seating products generating $75 million in yearly revenue.Senior Buyer Handled all raw material purchasing, managing $10 million spend for sheet/coil steel, steel tubing, powder coating, industrial fabrics, and gases. Analyzed/generated requests for quotes (RFQ), negotiated final contracts, and developed global supply base. Conducted quality audits based on ISO 9001:2000 standards for both domestic and international suppliers. Supervised global sourcing team.

Saved $600,000 by slashing operational expenses 6%. Spearheaded global sourcing project, revamped steel bidding process, and strategically negotiated contracts for $150,000 additional reduction.

Developed and delivered 4-part seminar demonstrating industry best practices in global sourcing.

Past success as International Procurement Agent at Asian Business Consultants (2002 to 2006). Achieved 15%-40% cost reductions for clients and increased on-time product delivery from 85% to 92%.

Education | Training | Affiliations | HonorsEducation: Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Louisiana State UniversityTraining: 5S; Global Business Conference; Crucial Conversations; Emotional Intelligence; JIT; Strategic Sourcing; Lean Six SigmaAffiliation: Purchasing Managers Association of Cleveland (PMAC)Honors: Kohler Spot Bonus for Strategy Development in the Fastener Category

Bendix Global Purchasing Excellence Reward Recognition for Meeting Cost and Delivery Objectives of the Daimler Modular Compressor Program