Melissa Gabriele

I think just hard work and getting knowledge. I seek knowledge, better ways to do things and ways to make things more efficient. For some reason my mind says what's better than this? See this is taking too long. How can you do it better? I just go and I look it up, I search things out, I do my own thing to try to figure out better ways for things to work because there's always going to be a better way right? I also had a great mentor, my boss from a previous employer many years ago named Tanya Barra. She helped motivate me and taught me to remain myself but be tough when dealing with the employees that were my direct reports. I’m naturally friendly and very positive and some individuals are not that way. I had to understand that other people have negative views or attitudes about the company or the job. I just needed to make them feel more important to boost their confidence so they can be better at what they do.

I got put in a purchasing position on accident when I was still in college and I kind of just went on with it from there so my boss had got fired and they said Melissa you want to start doing some purchasing? Here you go. So I kind of went into it kind of on my own and learned about it myself and like I said did classes the CPP and did a lot of one day seminars and educational classes just to try to you know see what the best way I can do my job is. I can say I've learned a lot doing seminars and my course training on the CPPM. It's mostly where I've got my education and information from besides from personal experience which can not be taught.

I think Purchasing is a fantastic industry it's very fast-paced, very quick and constantly changing. It’s enjoyable especially if you can save money for a company it just makes you feel good. It's like going to the store for yourself and save money with coupons or sales. It's just very exciting regardless of the dollar value, it’s a great feeling to save regardless if it’s hard saving or a cost avoidance. I get really excited about helping my company It makes you feel accomplished saving the money. Also getting product in quickly and at a great quality. Getting a great product out to our customer as fast as possible is our goal. We are all about making the customer happy and fulfilling the orders as quickly and efficiently as possible. Happy customers return and that’s what keeps a business. As you know making sure your company is stable and doing well then you will do well.

Most of my challenges is getting product at a good price without excessive shipping costs. Not getting product on time and having vendors that don't respond in a timely manner. Most of the time it's usually not getting product on time because you base our customers delivery date on what our vendor's given us for a date. So if we don't get that product on time guess what? I'm not shipping to my customer on time and my customer is key. I think a buyers purchasing responsibilities are really important because if you just let the vendor tell you what the price is then you're gonna have high prices so you're have somebody there to work with them on quantities prices, blanket orders and delivery dates. Also what can we do to have better service? There's always going to be somebody there to work with the vendors and find other qualified vendors to get the things that you need in a timely manner and at a good price. So I think most businesses do need really need Purchasing Managers and or buyers.

Well I think you know you give respect you get respect. I think that's key. And you know you work with vendors for example and you know you have to respect them to give you the right product and price so that they can give you the proper things that you need. Of course you want your children and your husband and your family to respect you, I think of it as my vendors are like family. They help me and I help them. I think respect is really important. If they don't respect you then they won’t take you seriously and in business. You need to show your importance. If we don’t have respect for one another then why are do with have a business relationship with them, we can’t work together without it.