LaVonda Upshur

• Partner with executive leadership to develop category strategies and financial plans aligned with corporate targets

• Analyze financial performance, trends, and forecasts to support data-driven decision-making and long-term planning

• Manage weekly product segment forecasts, including Open-to-Buy (OTB), inventory flow, and receipt adjustments across a $1B+ business segment

• Identify risks and opportunities through variance analysis, recommending strategic actions to improve profitability and performance

• Provide financial guidance on margin optimization and inventory management to category leadership teams

• Deliver monthly P&L reporting and postmortem analyses to executive stakeholders

• Support product development, assortment planning, and store clustering with data-driven insights

• Developed SKU-level assortment strategies aligned with category goals, driving sales, margin, and inventory efficiency

• Built and executed item-level financial plans using assortment planning tools to support purchasing and inventory decisions

• Analyzed sales trends, vendor performance, and product lifecycle data to optimize assortment and improve category outcomes

• Partnered with merchandising teams to evaluate trade-offs and recommend data-driven assortment decisions

• Monitored performance against plan, identifying variances and implementing corrective actions to improve results

• Provided item-level guidance to replenishment, allocation, and product development teams

• Delivered seasonal performance recaps and actionable insights to leadership

• Developed and maintained statistical demand forecasts using advanced analytics and error analysis techniques

• Improved forecast accuracy by monitoring trends and adjusting models at SKU and location levels

• Led cross-functional S&OP collaboration with sales and business teams to align demand plans

• Utilized SAP, Logility, and Power BI to ensure data integrity and reporting accuracy

• Facilitated demand planning meetings to drive consensus and improve operational efficiency

• Managed order processing and logistics coordination to ensure compliance with supply chain policies and minimize disruptions

• Collaborated cross-functionally with sales, vendors, transportation, and production teams to resolve supply chain issues

• Monitored EDI systems and SAP data to maintain accurate order flow and inventory visibility

• Supported deduction resolution and claims processes, improving operational efficiency and customer satisfaction