Michelle Oswald

Promoted to Team Lead while retaining Category Manager responsibilities; lead and mentor a high-performing team of Category Managers and Associates, delivering strategic direction, performance coaching, and cross-functional alignment to drive profitable growth. ● Direct multi-segment product portfolio strategy, optimizing lifecycle management, competitive positioning, pricing architecture, and assortment planning in alignment with market trends and evolving customer needs. ● Lead complex contract negotiations and annual vendor business reviews, securing cost reductions, improved rebate structures, and enhanced service-level agreements while strengthening long-term supplier partnerships. ● Leverage advanced data analysis (Power BI, ERP reporting, Salesforce insights) to evaluate category performance, identify margin expansion opportunities, and guide fact-based decision-making across pricing, promotions, and sourcing strategies. ● Drive vendor relationship management strategy, balancing partnership development with disciplined negotiation to improve profitability, mitigate risk, and increase supply chain resilience. ● Facilitate recurring team strategy sessions focused on growth initiatives, promotional planning, rebate optimization, and continuous process improvement. ● Serve as liaison between executive leadership and product management, translating high-level business objectives into actionable category plans that deliver measurable revenue and margin impact.

Expanded category ownership from 5 to 12 categories representing $28M in revenue (2023) and $25M (2024). In 2025, assumed responsibility for an additional supplier portfolio spanning 43 categories and 1,000+ SKUs, applying advanced negotiation strategy, rebate optimization, and data-driven portfolio management to maximize profitability. ● Spearhead strategic contract negotiations with key suppliers, achieving significant cost savings, securing high-value rebates, improving payment terms, and strengthening vendor alignment with company growth objectives. ● Utilize in-depth competitive analysis, pricing strategy modeling, and performance data to identify whitespace opportunities, optimize assortment mix, and drive sustained category growth. ● Consolidated and rationalized a 4,000-product portfolio, reducing redundancy, increasing operational efficiency, and improving overall gross margin performance. ● Planned and executed innovative sourcing strategies, including private label expansion and tiered product line development, enhancing margin structure and competitive differentiation. ● Developed and delivered executive-level vendor business reviews, partnering with senior leadership to create forward-looking revenue and rebate growth plans. ● Served as Subject Matter Expert during ERP implementation, ensuring uninterrupted category operations and data integrity across all SKUs. ● Independently designed and launched multiple product trade-in programs, increasing customer engagement and accelerating product lifecycle transitions. ● Consistently exceeded KPIs related to backlog management, cost discrepancies, and discontinued SKUs by implementing process improvements and leveraging system analytics. ● Delivered high-impact product and strategy presentations at National Sales Meetings and throughout the fiscal year, equipping sales teams with data-backed positioning and growth initiatives.

Managed 5 product categories including hearing, vision and electronic health record (EHR) product category accounting for over $22 million in sales. Accountable for the product life cycle from new vendor selection through marketing and delivery while meeting growth targets of the company. Understands the industry and its dynamics to produce a portfolio that exceeds the desired goals of the business. ● Showcase the ability to analyze data, influence strategic direction, and execute category strategies effectively. ● Drove growth with strategic vendor partners, earning accolades such as Vendor of the Year, $3 Million Vendor, and Highest Year-over-Year percentage growth at over 300%. ● Adhered to mission statement and category strategy, consistently achieving double-digit growth year over year. ● Delivered an in-depth category review of audiometers to the executive leadership team. ● Monthly sales calls, delivering product updates & internal presentations to a group of 50 internal customers. ● Led the creation of a private label color screening book for vision, driving its development and implementation. ● Optimized profitability and gross margin for assigned product lines, approximately 35% in a competitive market. ● Manage functions associated with launching new products, packaging, sales literature, internal/external publications, product training and sales presentations. ● Collaborated with marketing and ecommerce teams to develop and promote products. ● Supervised product management associate in vision, hearing, EHR, and emergency preparedness, ensuring optimal performance and successful project outcomes. ● Lead the team throughout the catalog process – product merchandising, strategic placement, preferred product placement with vendor partners that generally evolves over 6 months. ● Use Power BI to analyze category trends, discontinue low/no sellers, and resolve pricing discrepancies. ● Partnered with inventory control and purchasing teams to forecast for peak.

Supported two Product Managers in driving category strategy, vendor selection, and assortment optimization across health services, early childhood, and special education markets. Served as Subject Matter Expert for internal systems, leveraging Salesforce, Power BI, SX Enterprise (ERP), and epaCUBE to analyze performance data, maintain pricing integrity, and support cross-functional decision-making. ● Curated and merchandised print catalogs and eCommerce platforms, aligning product mix, pricing, and positioning to support revenue growth and improve customer engagement. ● Managed end-to-end vendor onboarding, streamlining product integration processes to accelerate time-to-market and maintain data accuracy. ● Proactively resolved cost and pricing discrepancies to protect margins, prevent order delays, and ensure a seamless customer experience. ● Partnered with marketing, sales, operations, and customer service teams to execute promotional campaigns and product launches, supporting successful market entry and sustained category performance.

We are a full-line athletics supply company specializing in outfitting teams and organizations in all sports. Our reputation depends on offering excellent customer service and only offering high-quality products to our customers. Your team or organization will benefit from working closely with one of our team specialists throughout the entire ordering process. From initial artwork design through final delivery, every detail will be addressed. Support sales team requests by purchasing, resolving stock inconsistencies and adding new products to our system. Work with customers to find what they need, create solutions and ensure a smooth sales process. Coordinate and monitor office operations to ensure company requirements are sufficiently met on a daily basis. Accountable for decisions related to the sales and marketing of team & corporate sales. • Possess a strong knowledge of the company’s QuickBooks software, including invoicing, inventory tracking, backorders, and delivery notes • Carry out administrative tasks for an order, from conception, to delivery • Use product knowledge to assist customers, and to support the sales team • Process vendor shipments, and physically move product along for next phase of delivery, or printing, schedule • Deliberate and resolve sales related inquiries with current and potential customers • Assist with development of sales promotion/marketing, including social media and monthly email blast

OUR VISION To make it possible for all kids in under-resourced and at-risk situations to participate in organized sports. OUR MISSION To place qualtiy sports gear into the hands of kids in the Chicago area who need a chance at experiencing the life-long benefits of sports and physical fitness. We source valuable sports gear and then distribute it on an accessed needs basis to under-resourced schools and athletic programs. Responsible for facilitating the need for sports equipment with Chicagoland schools, organizations and program recipients. Work assignments include determining and verifying their needs for sports equipment, along with creating better systems to fulfill the wish lists of their sports and physical education programs. Manage inventory of donated goods in addition to organizing volunteers to assist in inventory control and responsible for invoicing recipients an administrative fee or wholesale pricing on cost of goods. Major responsibilities of this position are to ensure constant satisfaction with recipient leaders by proactively visiting locations throughout the year. In addition, deliver new and used donated equipment and conduct in-person site visits, meetings by driving to recipient locations around the Chicagoland area.

Provide leadership and vision to the company while delivering recommendations regarding products through budget strategies. Oversee preparation of vendor orders utilizing data tracking to forecast current needs and future purchases. Ensure proper hiring, promoting and termination of retail managers and employees; manage interns; provide instruction on company policies and procedures to managers and ensure proper follow-through. Oversees the merchandising and inventory plans for all locations while maintaining the Quick Books POS system. Plan and execute marketing/promotional plans and strategy to communicate to customers, management and all staff on merchandise plan and its execution to sales plan. Utilize all social media platforms including - Facebook, Twitter & Instagram to inform our customer base of new products, information and events.

• Assist head coach in practice planning and implementation for 20 student-athletes • Identify and recruit prospective student-athletes while maintaining high competition level