Steve Trussell, MBA

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I specialize in helping small to mid-sized companies improve their top-line sales and profitability through enhanced capabilities in the following areas: Brand Management New Product Innovation Six Sigma Operational Excellence Strategic Sourcing I can also provide support for entrepreneurs and inventors with ideas that need help finding manufacturers as well as contacts to market and distribute to retailers and distributors. I have over 25 years of experience in all facets of developing products in a multitude of categories. What sets me apart from other companies is that I have actual work experience in every stage of the process. I have experience at the factory level in purchasing, materials management, quality, and production management. I have experience at the leadership level in strategic sourcing, product development, quality assurance and reliability. My experience across multiple industries includes work in 23 countries. I have experience in both manual as well as electric items in many categories. In addition I have recently developed and sourced successfully the following projects: Well-known line of branded kitchen appliances: 13 updated appliances delivered double-digit improvements in Margin and Profit, and resulted in several items in the Top 5 in their category in the industry. Private Label Cutlery: through sourcing activities that identified new suppliers and improved offerings, line was improved to deliver increases in sales, margin, and Profit. Re-sourcing of Private Label appliances: through re-sourcing activities alternate suppliers provided reduced cost, better performance, and improved quality. Processes now in place at several multinational companies are a direct result of our leadership and action in the following disciplines: Supplier Assessment and Selection Quality Assurance Product Development Reliability and Life Testing

Responsible for leading and transforming the sourcing organization that is embedded in the Merchandising organization to improve supplier selection processes as well as category/sourcing strategies that will lead to increased top-line performance and improved profitability. Leading a newly formed team of 10. Spend under management is $6 billion across all categories ($1.5 billion private brand and $4.5 billion national brand). Interface directly will all aspects of the business including Asia sourcing operations, transportation, finance and accounting.

Responsible for global supply management activities for several categories, including supplier assessment and selection, supply chain execution, and new product development. Current spend under Management: $1.2 billion.

Leading the Global Sourcing operations for a $1.1 billion consumer goods company. re-engineered the Asia operations to support current and future integrations. Most recent spend under management is $492 million. Direct Reports in Hong Kong and PRC were 200, across multiple disciplines.

Responsible for all purchasing, sourcing, and supplier development activities for all business units and brands of World Kitchen. Current staff includes director-level direct reports in IL and Shenzhen, China. Total indirect reports currently at 75. Accountable for $300 million in direct and indirect spend through 2 distribution centers and two factories in US, as well as offices in Canada, Singapore, and 77 factory stores in US. Recently appointed to Board of Directors of WK’s wholly-owned foreign enterprise based in Shanghai, PRC.

Responsible for all purchasing, sourcing, and supplier quality, and supply chain activities for $275 million division based in Baltimore, MD. Managed 15 direct reports in US and 13 indirect reports in China, Hong Kong, and India. Accountable for $95 million direct material spend and $60 million indirect spend. Re-engineered department, upgraded talent, and developed short and long term sourcing and procurement strategies. Implemented commodity business planning processes and procedures and enhanced measurement tools.

I was responsible for outsourcing/re-sourcing of precision machined components for 21 hydraulics plants worldwide. Duties included supplier selection, liasion with Freemarkets electronic auction services, supplier relationship, and project management coordination.