Zach Stern

Director of Strategic Planning & Analytics at Nike | Supply Chain Transformation | AI & Advanced Analytics | Operations Leadership

Portland, Oregon Metropolitan Area

About

Dynamic and innovative Supply Chain and Operations executive with leadership experience across global organizations including Nike, Chewy, and Mars. Expertise spans supply chain transformation, logistics, demand planning, procurement, and operational strategy, with a strong focus on AI, automation, analytics, and business intelligence to drive performance, efficiency, and scalable growth. ๐—ฆ๐˜‚๐—ฝ๐—ฝ๐—น๐˜† ๐—–๐—ต๐—ฎ๐—ถ๐—ป ๐—ง๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐˜€๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—บ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป: โ€ข ๐—ข๐—ฝ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—น ๐— ๐—ผ๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ป๐—ถ๐˜‡๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป: Led enterprise-wide supply chain transformation initiatives through AI-driven planning, automation, forecasting optimization, and integrated business planning programs that enhanced operational visibility, forecasting accuracy, and organizational performance. โ€ข ๐—ก๐—ฒ๐˜๐˜„๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—ธ ๐—ข๐—ฝ๐˜๐—ถ๐—บ๐—ถ๐˜‡๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป: Designed and implemented large-scale logistics, fulfillment, and distribution strategies that improved operational efficiency, strengthened vendor partnerships, and optimized end-to-end supply chain performance across global organizations. ๐—ข๐—ฝ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—น ๐—Ÿ๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐˜€๐—ต๐—ถ๐—ฝ: โ€ข ๐——๐—ฒ๐—บ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐—ฃ๐—น๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ป๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด & ๐—”๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—น๐˜†๐˜๐—ถ๐—ฐ๐˜€: Expertise in integrating advanced analytics, machine learning, and business intelligence into supply chain operations to improve forecasting, operational agility, and strategic planning capabilities. โ€ข ๐—ฃ๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐—ฐ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜€ ๐—œ๐—บ๐—ฝ๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜: Skilled in driving operational excellence through process redesign, automation initiatives, workflow optimization, and performance accountability frameworks that elevate efficiency and execution. โ€ข ๐—š๐—น๐—ผ๐—ฏ๐—ฎ๐—น ๐—ข๐—ฝ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป๐˜€ ๐— ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—ด๐—ฒ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜: Proven success leading procurement, logistics, fulfillment, and distribution operations while supporting enterprise growth, scalability, and long-term operational resilience. ๐—Ÿ๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐˜€๐—ต๐—ถ๐—ฝ & ๐—ข๐—ฟ๐—ด๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ถ๐˜‡๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—น ๐—œ๐—บ๐—ฝ๐—ฎ๐—ฐ๐˜: โ€ข ๐—ง๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—บ ๐——๐—ฒ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ๐—น๐—ผ๐—ฝ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜ & ๐—–๐˜‚๐—น๐˜๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ฒ ๐—ง๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐˜€๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—บ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป: Developed high-performing teams and rebuilt underperforming organizations through leadership coaching, accountability systems, and employee engagement strategies that strengthened performance and retention. โ€ข ๐—–๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐˜€๐˜€-๐—™๐˜‚๐—ป๐—ฐ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—น ๐—˜๐˜…๐—ฒ๐—ฐ๐˜‚๐˜๐—ถ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ ๐—Ÿ๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐˜€๐—ต๐—ถ๐—ฝ: Effective collaborator across finance, operations, analytics, procurement, and executive leadership teams to align operational strategy with enterprise priorities and long-term business objectives.

Experience

  • Director, Strategic Planning & Analytics, Global Sports Marketing at Nike
    Sep 2024 - Present ยท 1 yr 10 mos

    Leads strategic planning, analytics, supply chain systems, and business intelligence initiatives for a global sports marketing organization. Directs cross-functional operations spanning engineering, forecasting, procurement intelligence, and operational reporting while connecting supply chain, finance, and commercial teams through enterprise analytics and decision infrastructure. โ€ข ๐—”๐—œ & ๐—”๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—น๐˜†๐˜๐—ถ๐—ฐ๐˜€ ๐—Ÿ๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐˜€๐—ต๐—ถ๐—ฝ: Architected and launched a centralized analytics platform integrating athlete, operational, and media data to improve portfolio decision-making, automate workflows, and enhance enterprise visibility. โ€ข ๐—œ๐—ป๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ด๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฑ ๐—•๐˜‚๐˜€๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜€ ๐—ฃ๐—น๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ป๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด: Built and implemented an Integrated Business Planning (IBP) program aligning strategic, financial, operational, and supply chain planning into a unified forecasting framework that improved efficiency and reduced costs. โ€ข ๐——๐—ฒ๐—บ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐—ฃ๐—น๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ป๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—ข๐—ฝ๐˜๐—ถ๐—บ๐—ถ๐˜‡๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป: Developed machine-learning-driven demand planning and forecasting models that improved inventory management, optimized product ordering, and reduced operational waste. โ€ข ๐—–๐—ผ๐—บ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ฐ๐—ถ๐—ฎ๐—น & ๐—ฆ๐˜‚๐—ฝ๐—ฝ๐—น๐˜† ๐—–๐—ต๐—ฎ๐—ถ๐—ป ๐—ข๐—ฝ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป๐˜€: Oversees Nikeโ€™s B2B commercial sales platform while leading initiatives focused on process automation, procurement optimization, and operational performance improvements. โ€ข ๐—Ÿ๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐˜€๐—ต๐—ถ๐—ฝ ๐——๐—ฒ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ๐—น๐—ผ๐—ฝ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜: Rebuilt underperforming teams through leadership development, performance management, and culture transformation initiatives, resulting in top-rated organizational performance and engagement.

  • Senior Manager Supply Chain Management at Chewy
    Aug 2021 - Sep 2024 ยท 3 yrs 2 mos

    Directed program management, analytics, and vendor operations for global supply chain functions supporting a large-scale vendor network. Led cross-functional initiatives across supply planning, business intelligence, vendor compliance, and fulfillment operations while serving on the Supply Chain Leadership Team. โ€ข ๐—ฆ๐˜‚๐—ฝ๐—ฝ๐—น๐˜† ๐—–๐—ต๐—ฎ๐—ถ๐—ป ๐—”๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—น๐˜†๐˜๐—ถ๐—ฐ๐˜€ & ๐—ฉ๐—ถ๐˜€๐—ถ๐—ฏ๐—ถ๐—น๐—ถ๐˜๐˜†: Led development of Chewyโ€™s Operations Command Center, a globally adopted analytics and reporting platform that improved supply chain visibility, reduced stockouts, and optimized logistics performance across the network. โ€ข ๐—ก๐—ฒ๐˜๐˜„๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—ธ ๐—ข๐—ฝ๐˜๐—ถ๐—บ๐—ถ๐˜‡๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป: Launched enterprise fulfillment transfer and inventory distribution initiatives that improved shipping lane efficiency, optimized inventory positioning, and reduced transportation costs across North American operations. โ€ข ๐—–๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฟ ๐—ผ๐—ณ ๐—˜๐˜…๐—ฐ๐—ฒ๐—น๐—น๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ฐ๐—ฒ ๐—Ÿ๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐˜€๐—ต๐—ถ๐—ฝ: Built Chewyโ€™s Supply Chain Center of Excellence to standardize operational practices, strengthen cross-functional collaboration, and accelerate supply chain performance improvements. โ€ข ๐—ฉ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ฑ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—ฃ๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐—ด๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐—บ ๐— ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—ด๐—ฒ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜: Developed and led enterprise vendor optimization programs focused on compliance, operational efficiency, and procurement alignment across a large global vendor network. โ€ข ๐—Ÿ๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐˜€๐—ต๐—ถ๐—ฝ ๐——๐—ฒ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ๐—น๐—ผ๐—ฝ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜: Reduced team attrition and improved organizational performance through mentorship, accountability frameworks, and leadership development initiatives.

  • Regional Supply Chain Manager at Mars
    Jul 2019 - Aug 2021 ยท 2 yrs 2 mos

    Led end-to-end supply chain operations for the Western Region of Mars Pet Care, overseeing strategic planning, procurement, sourcing, materials management, budgeting, forecasting, and distribution operations across North America. Directed a 30-person team while serving on the Supply Chain Leadership Team. โ€ข ๐—ข๐—ฝ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—น ๐—ง๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐˜€๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—บ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป: Led a full culture rebuild and performance transformation initiative that elevated the Western Region from the lowest-ranked to the top-performing supply chain region in North America for delivery performance and employee engagement. โ€ข ๐——๐—ถ๐˜€๐˜๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ฏ๐˜‚๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป & ๐—Ÿ๐—ผ๐—ด๐—ถ๐˜€๐˜๐—ถ๐—ฐ๐˜€ ๐—ข๐—ฝ๐˜๐—ถ๐—บ๐—ถ๐˜‡๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป: Launched a B2B Direct Ship program that improved last-mile delivery execution, enhanced on-time performance, and optimized supply chain efficiency during periods of operational disruption. โ€ข ๐—Ÿ๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—ป ๐— ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐˜‚๐—ณ๐—ฎ๐—ฐ๐˜๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด & ๐—ฃ๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐—ฐ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜€ ๐—œ๐—บ๐—ฝ๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜: Directed implementation of Lean and 5S operational systems across factory environments, improving workplace safety, operational efficiency, and production performance while reducing waste. โ€ข ๐—–๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐˜€๐—ถ๐˜€ & ๐——๐—ฒ๐—บ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐— ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—ด๐—ฒ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜: Successfully guided regional supply chain operations through the COVID-19 pandemic by implementing workforce support initiatives and maintaining operational continuity during significant demand increases.

  • Senior Logistics Manager at MTM, Inc.
    Jan 2018 - Jul 2019 ยท 1 yr 7 mos

  • Logistics & Strategic Planning Manager at Quality Services Moving
    Jan 2017 - Jan 2018 ยท 1 yr 1 mo