Gared Halverson MBA

Brought in to build out the JLTV purchasing function from the ground up at one of the U.S. military's primary ground vehicle manufacturers. Hired and structured a team of 4 commodity buyers covering Plastics/Rubber, Wire Harnesses, Powertrain, and Chassis. - Secured $10M+ in U.S. Government contract approvals through supplier selection, qualification, and DFARS compliance management - Built a government bid tracking system to stay ahead of current and upcoming JLTV upgrade programs and contract cycles - Negotiated Long-Term Agreements with key suppliers to lock in pricing and guarantee supply continuity across $.7B in commodities - Led cross-functional supplier quality process — PPAP, CFAT, APQP, and DFARS compliance all managed through my team - Managed Amphenol DIN connector qualification through full PPAP lifecycle for JLTV program requirements - Kept the JLTV production line running by catching supply issues early and coordinating cross-functionally before they became line-down events - Drove commodity management strategy across automotive-grade and defense-spec supply chains simultaneously Skills: Strategic Sourcing | Commodity Management | DFARS Compliance | Government Contracting | Defense Procurement | Supplier Development | Contract Negotiation | PPAP | APQP | RFQ/RFP | Cross-Functional Team Leadership | LTA Negotiation | Spend Analysis

TFS is a distributor of all things filtration (Air and liquid) for industrial and mobile customers. 13 locations across the USA.
 Previously part of Parker Hannifin, however has be purchased buy a new company. · Developed and lead a high performing team of 5 buyers and 2 clerks. Operated like an F1 team. · Implemented an advanced ERP system, Cloud suite distribution. Including using Ai to help monitor inventory levels. · Established a supplier scorecard process review, resulting in 12 top supplier terms improvements. $380K savings from one supplier. · Significantly reduced our late backlog to $5M down to $400K . Streamlining shipments and reducing inventory levels. Allowing to stock more runners and repeaters. · Improved the percentage of complete line items shipped from 56% to 87% through targeted operational enhancements and new cross functional team. · Negotiated annual contracts and rebate programs to support sales and marketing objectives while reducing purchasing costs, achieving savings of $699K in the first year and driving a 10% sales growth. · Second-sourced commodity products internationally , driving margin growth and resulting in $1.7M in additional revenue. · Part of a cross functional team to build our e-commerce website.

Director of Purchasing and Quality at Hydraulex — a family of hydraulic companies (Attica Hydraulic Exchange, Flint Hydrostatics, Hydraulic Repair and Design, Metaris Hydraulics) remanufacturing, distributing, and servicing OEM and aftermarket hydraulic units and components across domestic and international markets. Walked into $30M in inventory that needed to come down and built the plan to get it done. Led the full supply chain, quality, and procurement function across multiple locations. - Cut $4M in inventory in year one through JIT planning, supplier rationalization, and rebalancing stock toward high-runners - Negotiated contracts with domestic and international suppliers — came in ~2% under prior costs, translating to $700K in PPI savings - Took Hydraulex through full ISO 9001:2015 certification from scratch — no QMS existed when I arrived; built it end to end - Launched PPAP program with new customers that directly generated over $6M in new business - Managed a team of 6 buyers (domestic and international) plus 3 QA technicians across multiple locations - Traveled to Mexico to audit suppliers and build direct relationships with key manufacturing partners - Worked directly with CEO and CFO on budgets, cost targets, and P&L objectives - Drove import logistics and U.S. Customs drawback program — first in the company's history Skills: Strategic Sourcing | Supplier Development | Contract Negotiation | Cost Reduction | Inventory Optimization | ISO 9001:2015 | PPAP | Quality Management | Import Logistics | P&L Ownership | Cross-Functional Team Leadership | Supplier Scorecards | Category Management | Spend Analysis | International Procurement

• Lead the idealization, Technical development, and launch of new products. • Used new manufacturing process 3d printing, 3d printed sand castings to speed up development. • Worked closely with large Mobile OEM manufactures to increase product offering in our Detroit location. • Implemented the latest technologies of 3d scanning and 3d printing to create usable production parts and or prototypes. • Drive product development with team of engineers, designers, and machinists. • Assist production to maximize efficiency across value streams. • Negotiated cost, product placement, and production for 8 products.

Plant Manager at Parker Hannifin's Goodland, IN facility — a $24M annual revenue manufacturing operation producing hydraulic components for multi-site distribution, part of one of the world's largest motion and control technology companies. Ran the full operation: shop floor production, supply chain, quality, safety, scheduling, HR, and customer fulfillment. Had 36 direct reports plus 3 outside sales managers. - Led a supply chain that stretched over 500 miles — raw materials from Chicago (5 hours west), finished goods shipped to a sister plant in Ohio (5 hours east). Timing had to be exact - Scheduled suppliers for cast ingots and 6-way ground steel to hit our dock exactly when production needed them — true JIT across multiple sites - Put Kanban cards everywhere. Toyota Lean was how we ran the floor — visual management kept material flowing and waste down - Reduced lead time by 50% through detail section improvements (4 days → 2 days) - Reduced staff by 10% while pushing output up by 20K units per day — continuous improvement at work - Cut $500K from inventory by getting smarter about what we stocked and when suppliers shipped - Hit $24M in annual revenue while maintaining the best safety record out of 6 plants in the division - Negotiated long-term raw material contracts that locked in pricing and kept our operation running without supply disruptions Skills: Supply Chain Management | JIT Manufacturing | Lean Manufacturing | Toyota Production System | Kanban | Supplier Scheduling | Contract Negotiation | Inventory Optimization | Production Planning | P&L Ownership | Cross-Functional Team Leadership | Safety Management | ERP | IATF 16949 | Continuous Improvement

• Created and developed a new culture of High Performance Teams throughout the Goodland plant. • Onsite engineer for troubleshooting assembly and test issues. • Weekly management of large project builds that require coordination across many internal and external suppliers, while maintaining tight deadlines. • Developed and Implemented the plants first supermarket. • Trainer and support for teaching Toyota production systems (TPS) to employees. • Created capacity to bring in a new product line with new associated machinery. • Valuable experience of having direct reports - 26 people .

Responsible for managing 3 states and 10M worth of Mobile sales. Both distribution and direct accounts. • Increased sales in my territory over 20% and/or $1,000,000 in my first full year in the field. • F.P.S.H.S (Certified Hydraulic Specialist) • Re-organized a distributors product offering during FY09 downturn in order to continue sales goals with rapidly decreasing sales run rate. • Setup 2 Truck Hydraulic centers. The apple store of the truck market. • Exceeded quota at my distributor and propelled them to our Diamond award. • Heavily involved in the trainee hiring process 2 years in a row. • Contracted and help design a $600,000 hydraulic system in which Parker was awarded creating us the preferred supplier in the field.

Management of key distribution and OEM accounts, along with technical support and design of hydraulic systems.

Managed a group of 5 underclassmen, assigning projects and setting goals while completing assigned design projects. Designed components using Microsoft Excel, Catia V5, Matlab, Engine engine dynamo-meter, Flow bench, and GTSuite, • Built and Balanced our Honda Cbr 600 f4i. • Full fabrication capabilities and trainer of tig/mig welding, manual and CNC lathes and mills. • Pre race inspection advisor • Tuned race engine with Motec and PE control units. • Presented our FSAE Buisness plan on engine performance and design.

• Created 3D CAD models of current designs that did not have 3D models • R&D of competition On Highway Semi Carriers • Assisted with sales growth into Monster truck , and Military Axle sales. • Designed and opened local test center.

• Component Testing And Disassembly. • Failure analysis of all drive train components. • Direct Contact With Dealerships, Plants And Suppliers for warranty claims. • Designed and built a test fixture for troubleshooting rear axles.

• Leader of the 25-30hp EFI outboard testing and development • Quality control evaluation. • Tested, calibrated, and diagnosed outboard gear cases. • Strategically involved with prototype concept engines. • Tested and designed 3D printed engine components