Robert Nicholas, MBA

• Supply Chain Transformation: Operational Excellence, ERP and S&OP Oversight, JIT Inventory, Global Sourcing. • Strategic Leadership: Multi-site Operations Leadership, P&L Management, Enterprise Cost Optimization. • Risk & Compliance: Executive Stakeholder Reporting, Cyber security SOPs, FAR Audit Compliance, Governance. • Technology Integration: AI Autonomous Workflows, Cloud Licensing/SaaS Agreements, IT Infrastructure.

Songow assist small and large companies with the planning; development and leading all actions involving all small and large capital acquisitions, mergers and contractual agreements to achieve the company's goals and maximize profit. Our purpose is to establish business partnerships in which both parties succeed. How SONGOW can help. We have Consultants with expertise in the following areas: • Business developmnet • Energy Trading • Construction/supplies/engineering/MRO • Developing the best contracting strategy for each project • Developing bid documents • Contract documents • Negotiations • Claims • Management of complex projects. • Diverse Supplier development Financial analysis • Strategic Sourcing • Leadership Based upon our experience, we can anticipate typical problems that can occur on projects. We help clients tailor contract language to mitigate or avoid anticipated project risks. This includes working with in-house or outside counsel and the customer to develop a detailed specificaion to provide sufficient cost and schedule data that allows the project team to adequately assess each phase of the project.

Chief Operating Officer Responsibilities entailed planning, developing and leading all actions needed to manage the labor and non-labor spend of the daily operations, Human Resources, Accounting, Sales, Procurement, Contract negotiations, Joint Ventures and Vendor relations. Work with the business units to determine the best approach for controlling “Total Cost of Ownership” and resolving conflict as it relates to change.

Successfully supported and negotiated contracts for a 100 MW Wind Farm and managed the RFP process for an additional 300MW for 2011-12 online date. Contracts entailed Purchase Power Agreements, Build Transfer Agreements and Engineered Procured Contracts. Managed the RFP process for a Missouri Solar site for a on-line date of 2012. Also negotiated agreements supporting the new 850MW Iatan 2 coal fired plant. Additional agreements negotiated involved Information Technology, Human Resources, Corporate Facilities and Corporate Finance. Assisted the Diversity Manager to implement a mentoring program for diverse suppliers.

Director of Supply Chain and Asset Management Responsible for managing a staff of 65 employees, consisting of Distribution Techs, Sterilization, Inventory Manager, Negotiators, Contract Managers and Dock Personnel. Other duties included documenting, developing and implementing department policies and procedures, and department vision. Developed programs to maximize Group Purchasing Organizations (GPO's) such as Novation, UHC, and Med Assets. Established strategic business alliances for products and services not offered by GPO's. Implemented capital purchasing programs for large expenditures with financing based upon the financial pro-forma. Continuously worked with the clinical areas to leverage buying opportunities to standardize products and services for better cost management. Implemented a consignment "Just in Time" inventory management system which reduced on-hand inventory over $4,000,000. Negotiated all contracts with careful thought of the "Total Cost of Ownership" associated with useful life of the product.

Performed process mapping of all current job processes as they related to purchasing. Identified strategies to streamline and increase the efficiency of the staff. Developed opportunities for strategic business alliances, examined current business practices to identify leverages for cost savings. Increased corporate purchasing power over all (value/cost) through staff development training efforts. Implemented changes to Policy and Procedures to minimize cost and risk to KCPL. Negotiated strategic sourcing agreements to establish long-term business relationships with key suppliers. Developed Service level agreements with internal customers that clearly defined the expectations of the customer. Worked as the liaison between IT and Purchasing to develop better reporting and improved system functionality. Enhanced policies to assure Sarbanes Oxley compliance.

Directly interfaced with CIO, CFO, and V.P. of Financial Administration, while managing five staff Negotiators. Achieved cost savings in excess of $11 million during tenure by establishing and implementing a centralized purchasing unit for Birch and all affiliates, as well as establishing procurement policy deployment and execution, diverse supplier policy deployment and implementation, training, inventory management, and Request for Proposal (RFP) development for goods and services, including proposal analysis submitted by potential business outsourcing partners. Developed key supplier relationships and negotiated all new ventures with IBM, Dell, Sun and Cisco hardware/software in excess of 10 million dollars. Restructured current service contracts to better leverage buying power. Developed financing options based upon current and future business needs. Performed financial analysis on all acquisitions and assisted the Treasury in allocating and capturing expenditures to meet EPS and cash flow expectations.

Involved daily interaction with senior management, while managing eight Contract Negotiators. Other responsibilities entailed change management and deployment of technology initiatives, financial management and budgeting, main frame consumption base pricing strategies, business process re-definition, RFP development and analysis, development of strategic supplier partnerships with IBM and PeopleSoft software. Also responsible for staff development, policy deployment/enforcement, training, E-Commerce contractual strategies, PC hardware, software licenses and Intellectual properties, Professional Services/Consulting agreements and all aspects of Telecommunications. Additional responsibilities entailed Gas and Electrical distribution materials, contractor qualification, communicating and incorporating internal customer requirements into requests for proposals, analysis of proposals, contractor/supplier selection, and negotiations with contractor to reduce legal/financial exposure.

Managed a 30-state sales force and coordinated training programs. Developed business plans to present to financial investors for capital funding purposes. Managed all aspects of a 6 million dollar sports collectible company. Other responsibilities entailed forecasting anticipated sales on a quarterly basis along with scheduling and costing of manufacturing processes. Negotiated favorable contractual agreements with key suppliers to assure scheduled ship dates were met. Assisted in the design and creation of product packaging machinery.

Exceeded one million dollars in minority business expenditures in 1995. Managed four analysts in daily procurement activities. Prepared and presented recommendations to the General Council, Division Vice Presidents and Directors. Responsible for the legal review of all district contracts and requests for proposals in conjunction with the General Council. Served as the District Capital Acquisitions manager for the sourcing and logistical planning of all operations equipment. Developed and coordinated all RFP's for the 12th District, coordinated and administered Districtwide training programs regarding new procurement procedures. Developed small and disadvantaged businesses to become valueadded suppliers to the Federal Reserve through active mentoring and assisting in the development of strategic business plans.