Karmesh Patel, CTCS, CCS, CITP

Experience

• 

  TATU Project

  May 2015 - Nov 2015

  Program Manager/Microfinance Officer

  TATU Project is a non-profit organization that facilitates an equal and sustainable development for the rural community of Msitu Wa Tembo in Northern Tanzania. TATU Project addresses community needs and builds effective solutions through collaborative participation with members of Msitu Wa Tembo and relevant stakeholders.Investing for Change Program Manager• Restructured the “kuku project”, a chicken coop business for community women as a means of secondary income, by applying lean business practices and scaling down operations in order to provide a higher quality of service• Developed financial forecasts and cost-benefit analyses to determine the feasibility of project• Reduced transportation expenses by 23% by partnering with local road haulers for their excess truck space at lower freight ratesMicrofinance Officer• Spearheaded the overall coordination, management and implementation of micro-finance and cooperative development projects within Investing for Change (I.4.C) program• Supervised and monitored cooperative development and microfinance training on a regular basis to ensure that activities are conducted as planned• Provided regular narrative reports to donors/partners with major achievements, challenges, and recommendations• Ensured key lessons and best practices from each project was shared with all key stakeholders Show less

• 

  CCI Resources/CCI Research Inc.

  Feb 2016 - Jun 2018

  In this role I oversaw a team of 22 in a research project involving 1.8 million Ontario college students, effectively managing cross-functional employees to ensure the project was completed on time and within scope and budget.

  • Project Manager

    Aug 2017 - Jun 2018

  • Reporting Analyst

    Feb 2016 - Aug 2017
• 

  Giant Tiger

  Jun 2016 - Jul 2018

  Buyer

  In this role I negotiated with 40+ national and international suppliers to procure inventory at competitive prices – achieving significant cost savings for the company by securing improved freight deals – as well as improving processes to reduce shortages and delivery times.I also devised and implemented digital processes with key suppliers to improve the efficiency of procurement operations across 20 stores. Furthermore, I focused on improving supplier relations to lower costs 11%, reduce lead times and improve product quality.Another achievement in this role was liaising between the distribution center, purchasing, inventory management and logistics to ensure a proper flow of product through the supply chain. I contributed to a 13% inventory reduction by decreasing demand variability and improving forecast accuracy. Show less

• 

  Export Packers Co. Ltd.

  Feb 2018 - Jun 2018

  Commodity Trader

  I analyzed the global specialty crop market to determine price trends and future strategies, notably lowering shipping defaults to 1.53% from 6%, exceeding volume and financial targets, and reducing errors in future trading tracking by 25% by analyzing seasonal demand forecasts.

• 

  Livingston International

  Feb 2018 - Jul 2019

  Cross Border Agent

  I processed 1000+ electronic manifests monthly for shipments crossing into Canada, Mexico and the US, exceeding company benchmarks by 20%. Notably, I developed and implemented SOPs for after-hours staff to increase efficiency and reduce processing delays, which led to an 8% reduction in electronic manifest processing times.

• 

  Welke Customs Brokers Ltd.

  Feb 2019 - Nov 2020

  I prepared customs documentation and ensured import and export shipments complied with applicable laws. I also advised clients on restrictions, tariff systems, insurance requirements, quotas, and other customs-related matters. I handled imports of goods including steel, chemicals, foods and cosmetics from around the world, In this role, I also classified and prepared B3 entries for ~750 shipments monthly – 18% above internal standards – and audited 20-30 shipments daily.Beyond the day to day, I worked on a project to decrease the average processing time for common shipments from 10 to 5 minutes by implementing commodity specific part-numbers that build standard import requirements into the part number. I also developed and instituted a company-wide audit program to ensure compliance with American steel tariffs and new CFIA requirements. Show less

  • Commodity Analyst

    Dec 2019 - Nov 2020

  • Import Release Analyst

    Feb 2019 - Dec 2019
• 

  Nike

  Dec 2020 - now

  • Senior Customs Compliance Analyst

    Nov 2022 - now

  • Customs Footwear & Exports Specialist

    Dec 2020 - Nov 2022