OPTISOURCE SOLUTIONS - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Member of the Leadership Team
• Director, Data Analytics

Aboud Qudimat has over 12 years of consulting experience in functions such as strategic sourcing, procurement, operations, and spend analytics. He has successfully navigated key engagements in publicly traded and PE-backed manufacturing and healthcare entities, consistently delivering significant value to the P&L and Balance Sheet. Mr. Qudimat's expertise was honed through leadership in end-to-end strategic sourcing engagements and resolving complex, multi-subsidiary, and disparate purchasing teams into centralized, streamlined, and high-performing functions with 360 o operational and analytical visibility. Leveraging his roles in both advisory and industry leadership, Aboud ensures clients benefit from heightened levels of sustainable and pragmatic value creation. At OptiSource Solutions, Qudimat provides dedicated focus, leadership, and advisory on data analytics - leveraging tools including Alteryx and KNIME for rapid, automated data pipelines, Tableau and Power BI for business intelligence, and vendor EDI technologies for digital procurement. When not working, Aboud enjoys spending time with his family, which includes a Siberian Husky. Together they enjoy finding new trails to camp and explore around Ontario, Canada.

Job Titles:

• Account Director
• Management Consultant
• Member of the Leadership Team
• Project Manager
• Partner, Private Equity & Strategy

Brooks Shea is an experienced Management Consultant, Project Manager, and Account Director with over nine years of experience as an engagement leader working in North America (United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, and Mexico), South America (Brazil, Chile and Argentina) and Africa (Angola), responsible for logistics, supply chain optimization, operations and sales in foreign markets. He uses his business education, multicultural background and language skills to contribute to the success of team-based organizations. Throughout his career, he has consulted on engagements concerning logistics, supply chain, manufacturing, insurance and distribution. He has been involved in the implementation of management systems, organizational development methodologies and core operating processes for clients in the O&G sector, as well as manufacturing and maintenance projects. Furthermore, he led emergency response efforts, supply chain management, and reconstruction projects in Puerto Rico for pharmaceutical and cosmetic manufacturers following Hurricane Maria. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he supported clients in the food & beverage industry by leading an engagement to optimize supply chain, reduce spend, and prevent business interruption. More recently Brooks has managed the construction of a multi-phase 500,000 sq. ft. refrigerated pet food manufacturing facility acting as Owner's Representative while concurrently managing construction of an 80,000 sq. ft. chicken processing facility. Brooks' core strengths are in client relationship and engagement management, organizational development, sales and marketing, and financial analysis and engagement viability. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration, International Finance and Marketing degree from the University of Miami Herbert Business School.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Leadership Team
• Director, Logistics and Warehousing

James Hickey has over two decades of experience leading operations and supply chain functions and hands-on business experience. His focus has been on warehouse operations, transportation, domestic and global logistics as well as global strategic procurement for direct and indirect materials. James has worked across a variety of industries including retail, wholesale packaging, grocery distribution, and manufacturing. Additionally, James has consulting across similar industry functions for over 7 years, where he implemented business processes focused on cost management, operational performance, and working capital improvemen t, among others. Prior to his consulting career, James led Global Strategic Procurement and Logistics functions for multi-national companies such as Tyco Flow Control and ITW/Signode. In these roles he led teams of category managers and was responsible for direct and indirect category rationalization and cost optimization. James also led Global Logistics in major spend categories including ground freight (LTL, TL, small parcel), international ocean freight (FCL, LCL) as well as heavy weight air freight. He simplified processes that allowed Business Units to utilize fewer core providers, control ling cost s and establishing platforms to drive compliance with core and niche providers. James' global responsibilities have necessitated business travel to over 20 countrie s outside of North America, including Mexico, Brazil, various European countries, India, and China where he worked with company leaders and global suppliers to optimize operations. During his first 13+ years in industry James focused on setting up warehouse and distribution operations and the technologies required to operate them efficiently. Most notably, he developed facilities from the ground up at Cornerstone Products and Rheem Manufacturing - each totaling nearly a million square feet. This work included site selection, lease negotiations for new regional distribution locations, working with local agencies to staff the facilities and implementing the required technology for daily operations. James' career successes are based on a foundation of working his way through college at the University of Houston where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting, while simultaneously working as a manager at a leading sporting goods retailer. When away from work, James enjoys hitting the gym during the week and taking runs or cycling on the weekends. He also enjoys attending live sporting events, especially NBA basketball. Finally, he enjoys travelling both domestically and internationally whether for work or for pleasure.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Leadership Team
• Associate, Leadership & Organizational Development
• Member of the National Speakers Association

Ara Norwood is a professional speaker and seminar leader, a teacher, and a student of leadership. He has consulted with organizations and institutions of all sizes including firms as diverse as Bertelsmann AG, Los Angeles Times, Nestlé, Marriott, HealthNet, Pearson NCS, and Kinko's. Ara's exposure to leadership theory began with his first job out of college when he was recruited by Stephen R. Covey, the author of the best-selling book, Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, to work in both sales, management, and training positions. He has trained thousands of sales professionals, managers, and executives in the sales process, critical thinking, innovation, strategy, and leadership. Ara has been speaking professionally since 1987. A consummate professional with exacting standards, Ara believes that he owes it to his audiences to stay informed about the latest developments in field of leadership theory and practice, hence his habit of reading 3 to 4 books per month. Ara is also a writer and has had several essays published in scholarly/trade journals, and is currently an adjunct professor of management at College of the Canyons, where he is the highest rated professor on campus according to RateMyProfessors.com. Ara is an active member of the National Speakers Association, and he holds degrees from Brigham Young University, where he studied music, and Claremont Graduate University where he studied management under the tutelage of the noted Peter F. Drucker.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Leadership Team
• Advisor, Leadership & Organizational Development
• Founder, Co - Owner and Operations Executive of a Brighter Community

Dr. Leah Martin is the founder, co-owner and Operations Executive of A Brighter Community, LLC - a service provider for adults with developmental disabilities. Leah is an entrepreneur, having started several successful businesses in a variety of industries. After obtaining a BS in Cartography and an MS in Geography, Dr. Martin started her career in the Remote Sensing and Satellite Imagery industry, focusing on product quality and new product development. She earned a PhD in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Grand Canyon University, giving her expertise in organizational leadership, strategy, culture and assessment processes. Dr. Martin is fluent in French, is a published author of the novel, Joshua's Tree, and enjoys spending time with her family and friends in her home state of Colorado.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Leadership Team
• Director, Procurement

Job Titles:

• Founder
• Member of the Leadership Team