David Mitchell, CPP

Procurement Specialist - Packaging

2024 – Present

Coming back to my roots in packaging as I'm grateful to continue learning multiple aspects in consumer packaged goods (CPG). Including: • Manage procurement of all packaging materials including corrugate containers, printed materials, glass, closures, and liners. • Collaborate with sustainability and environmental team to reduce our carbon footprint • Review and make recommendations to reduce assembly time to optimize labor efficiencies • Monitors market intelligence and key packaging trends with compostable materials

Raw Material Purchaser

2021 – 2024

Promoted after one year to the Raw Material Purchaser position. In this role it provides globally sourcing of Raw Materials from Certified Organically Grown farms focusing on regenerative farming where the soil is rich with nutrients. The scope is maintaining appropriate inventory levels minimizing an impact on PPV. My role includes: • Managing pre-ship samples and associated documentation for inbound raw materials to ensure adequate time for testing and Quality Assurance approval. • Enters and adjusts key milestones in the ERP system, such as vendor confirmation, anticipated ship date, and expected receipt date. • Assists Procurement Manager with administrative assistance to submit necessary QA paperwork for new items, new suppliers, and spec changes for existing items. • Adjusts purchasing plan to support business needs based on forecast changes, product expiration, economic order quantity and formulation changes. • Providing data for, and participates in, the annual budgeting process. • Research opportunities in reducing the high freight cost exposure, maximizing container contents • Identifies and negotiates price reductions and cost-savings where applicable • Recommends opportunities for supply agreements and/or annual blanket orders. • Manages Material Requirements Planning (MRP), purchase orders, and invoicing for 120 + raw materials • Coordinates and schedules international freight (CRF,CIF, FOB, EXW, Ocean, Air, LTL) with all necessary documents for clearing customs to delivery. • Continuously improves purchasing software and raw material buying process. • Aligns with Global Sourcing team to pursue suppliers aligned with Gaia’s vision and values. • Train new employees in MRP as well as GMP and other processes

• Sold company assets and Gaia Grown herbs for over $130,000 - 2024

Purchaser

2020 – 2021

The Purchaser is responsible for planning, purchasing, and coordinating delivery of 200+ services and materials throughout the organization, successfully balancing multiple priorities, lead times, and cost structures to ensure the highest quality materials arrive in a timely manner to support production. This role also completes administrative tasks to support quality documentation requirements in the department and manage ERP/MRP data. Scope: *Strong communications within multiple departments of Production, Maintenance, Lab, Operations, Office supplies, Farm, Fulfillment, Receiving, and Accounting. Reviews and analyzes ERP/MRP data and purchase requisitions and converts them to purchase orders.

Effectively and efficiently communicates with and between vendors and internal customers who may need further information or clarity to ensure proper part or service is ordered and received

• Crafted a three-year contract with Cintas to reduce overall services and rentals prices by $25,000 • Collaboration, communication, and commitment in developing a three-year contract to lock in corrugate (fulfillment cartons) prices in reducing increases from four times a year to three times a year; projected annual costs $32,000 • Process Improvement with fulfillment equipment. Replaced the Kraft paper packing equipment with PolyAir, which provided 100% safety meeting OSHA requirements.

Buyer

2017 – 2020

Professional hair care, personal care, and nail products including travel sizes available to Hotels, Grocery Stores, Airports, Casino's, Spa's, Boutiques, General Stores and other retail locations. Brands such as Redken, Paul Mitchell, Sexy, Tigi, Pureology, Matrix, Sebastian, It's a 10, and Rusk; along with a complete line of men’s products of American Crew, Johnny B, and Woody's.

Negotiate best price of hair care products Maintain proper stock levels to achieve 99.5% fill rate Coordinate logistics with orders based on quantities of total cartons and weights Build and create product Planograms based on top selling brands for stores Develop and author quality assurance manual including the warehouse training process Conceptualize and build Pro Hair pallet displays for in-store sales Verify and update purchase orders to match invoice quantities while confirming final pricing First contact with new customers

Corporate Procurement Manager

2009 – 2015

Analyze revenues, expenses, cost of sales and percap by tracking revenues in each category. Create synergies with vendors across multiple locations achieving best cost with highest margins. Develop and implement procurement policies and procedures with step-by-step processes to ensure safety while providing the highest customer service. Coordinate annual buying at industry trade shows to purchase trendy merchandise and best sellers by demographic.

Key Achievements: • Create retail caterories to identify top performers with balance, color, and style • Develop, hire, and train personnel to achieve extraordinary results • Negotiate cost savings across all retail departments including energy in Amusement and Waterpark industry – $720,000 savings annualized • Increased FEC retail revenue by 46% with impulse buys and necessity items in 23 park locations • Approve purchase orders as per accounting policies and SOX compliance • Train, coach, direct retail buyers on policies and procedures at all locations

Commodity Manager - Print Materials

2006 – 2008

Reduced mailing and printing costs by $5 million -Promoted within six months from Senior Print Buyer to Commodity Manager Manage new product marketing materials manufacturing in four countries for sales representatives Streamline print projects benefitting lower costs in sales kits with an increase to revenues Track forecasts order streams matching supply with demand through MRP reducing overages Leader in executing procurement policies and activities, including overseeing specific contracts Structured competitive strategies with suppliers to ensure continuous supply of package goods Manage key components and cost drivers through MRP forecasting to reduce excess materials Serves as point of escalation for the supply chain on material quality and delivery issues Planning through Oracle MRP with consignment and subcontractors to meet production schedule

Key Achievements: • Sustainable changes to packaging; reduced raw materials by 15% • Negotiated paper pricing for two countries, utilizing the same stock consistency •Strategic category processing, supplier selection, and negotiations within packaging requirements developing standards in production •Maintain purchase price variance (PPV) reducing exposure with excess material •Formulated a pricing tool based on item specifications reducing quote process •Chaired projects with R&D to identify cost effective processes and alternate technologies •Leader in the implementation of continuous improvement and sustainability on marketing materials

Print Production Manager

2002 – 2005

Key point-of-contact for internal clients to manage seven product lines which average $3.5M yearly in print collateral, packaging, posters, counter cards, sell sheets, POS, POP and direct mail.

Solicit multiple bids / RFQ's to maintain specific budgets. Final vendor selection based on cost, turn time, and quality for outsourcing materials. Create and issue an average of 35 PO’s a month. Obtain marketing manager and graphic approvals with proofs. Attend press checks for web and sheet fed quality consistency. Run MRP for daily updates with forecast. BOM maintenance as necessary with revisions, additions, and removal of materials. Negotiate international mailing costs with Express Postal Options (Global DM)

Certified Purchasing Professional (CPP)

2014 – 2027

The American Purchasing Society is a professional association of buyers and purchasing managers, which was the first organization to establish certification for buyers and purchasing professionals.

Bachelor’s Degree

2005 – 2008

Graduated with Honors (3.87)

Certificate

2021 – 2021

The course is about why herbs are meaningful and how to use them in preparations such as teas, tinctures, and body care products. Opportunity to explore gardening, wildcrafting, and the common herbs, trees, and fungi and present information about many herbs in plant monographs. Discussions with herbal actions and touch on energetics and general dosing suggestions. Since herbs can be so effective for everyday discomforts while exploring herbal support for the imbalances many may face. Because stress is such a prevalent factor in our overall wellbeing, I’ll research the nervous system and how a balanced can lay the foundation for better health for a foundational understanding of the holistic approach to herbalism.