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Chief Procurement & Supply Chain Executive | Enterprise Transformation | $1B+ Global…
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Gary Levitan posted thisProcurement leaders should not be afraid to use AI — they should be thoughtful about how they use it. AI is not a substitute for judgment, commercial instinct, or stakeholder management. But it can be an incredibly powerful tool for accelerating analysis, improving visibility, challenging assumptions, and freeing teams from low-value manual work. The leaders who will create the most value are not the ones who resist these tools out of caution alone. They are the ones who learn where AI can sharpen decision-making while still keeping human judgment at the center. Used well, AI will not diminish strong procurement leadership. It will amplify it. #Procurement #AI #Leadership #StrategicSourcing #Innovation #BusinessStrategy
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Gary Levitan posted thisIntegrity is one of the most underrated advantages in negotiation. In the long run, the people who create the most value are not the ones who try to win every conversation through pressure or gamesmanship. They are the ones whose word can be trusted, whose intentions are clear, and whose approach creates credibility on both sides of the table. Strong negotiations still require rigor, preparation, and firmness. But without integrity, even a short-term win can come at the expense of long-term trust, reputation, and future opportunity. The best negotiators understand that how you negotiate matters just as much as what you negotiate. #Negotiation #Leadership #Procurement #Integrity #BusinessStrategy
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Gary Levitan posted thisAt a time when many leadership teams are being asked to do more with less, profitability is no longer just a finance conversation. It is an operating discipline. For CFOs and CEOs, one of the most important questions is not simply where to cut, but where value is being lost quietly through fragmented demand, weak commercial discipline, poor supplier strategy, and decisions that are operationally convenient but financially inefficient. The strongest profitability leaders understand that sustainable margin improvement rarely comes from blunt cost reduction alone. It comes from a more thoughtful model: -sharper demand management -better procurement strategy -stronger alignment between operations and commercial decisions -disciplined supplier management and a willingness to challenge legacy ways of working In many organizations, significant value is still hiding in plain sight. The real opportunity is having leaders who know how to find it — and translate it into results without disrupting the business in the wrong ways. Profitability is not just about reducing spend. It is about designing a smarter operating model. #Profitability #Leadership #CFO #CEO #Procurement #Operations #BusinessStrategy #MarginImprovement
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Gary Levitan posted thisI feel so strongly about this. Let's discuss if you disagree. One of the more limiting ideas in procurement is that expertise should be judged primarily by industry tenure. Industry familiarity can certainly help. But in my view, it is not the highest form of procurement expertise. The strongest procurement leaders are not simply those who know one industry well — they are the ones who can quickly understand the needs of an enterprise, absorb the operational realities of the business, and build a strategy that is both commercially intelligent and practically executable. True procurement expertise is adaptive. It requires the ability to: - Assess business needs quickly - Understand what is operationally possible - Identify where value can actually be created - Align stakeholders around the right model and design an approach that optimizes outcomes, not just process The real standouts in procurement are often those who can move across environments, learn fast, think clearly, and apply disciplined judgment regardless of category or sector. That kind of flexibility, strategic rigor, and practical intelligence is far more valuable than familiarity alone. Industry knowledge matters. But it is not the whole game. The real legends know how to translate complexity into results. #Procurement #Leadership #SupplyChain #StrategicSourcing #BusinessStrategy #Operations #ExecutiveLeadership
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Gary Levitan posted this"🌟 Calling all senior leaders in Finance, Supply Chain, and Procurement! 🌟 In our interconnected world, your network isn't just a 'nice-to-have'—it's your strategic advantage. For those at the helm, fostering robust professional relationships isn't merely about exchanging business cards; it's about building bridges to innovation, resilience, and unparalleled opportunities. 🤝 Why Your Network is Your Net Worth: Access to Insights: Tap into diverse perspectives and stay ahead of market trends, regulatory shifts, and technological advancements. Problem Solving: Collaborate with peers to navigate complex challenges, find solutions, and share best practices. Career Advancement: Discover mentorship opportunities, identify strategic partnerships, and unlock new avenues for growth. Talent Acquisition: Attract top-tier talent by showcasing your leadership and organizational culture within your extended network. Industry Influence: Shape the future of your sectors by contributing to thought leadership and collective action. In the fast-paced realms of finance, the intricate webs of supply chains, and the critical decisions of procurement, overlooking the power of your network is a missed opportunity. Every connection is a potential collaborator, a future mentor, or a valuable source of knowledge. Let's not take these invaluable relationships for granted. Actively nurture your connections, engage meaningfully, and watch how your professional ecosystem thrives. #Leadership #Networking #FinanceLeaders #SupplyChain #Procurement #ProfessionalDevelopment #SeniorLeadership #BusinessStrategy"
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Gary Levitan posted thisIn the world of procurement and partnerships, effective negotiation is truly an art form. It's not just about securing the best terms, but about building foundations for long-term collaboration and mutual value creation. I've always found that the most successful negotiations stem from a deep understanding of all parties' objectives, a willingness to explore creative solutions, and an unwavering commitment to a win-win outcome. It's in these dialogues that true strategic alignment is forged, leading to stronger, more resilient relationships. What's a key principle you always bring to the negotiation table, whether in business or everyday life? #Negotiation #Procurement #BusinessStrategy #Partnerships #Leadership #SupplyChain
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Gary Levitan posted thisReflecting on the intricate dance of global logistics today. It's truly fascinating how a seemingly small disruption in one corner of the world can create ripples that stretch across continents, impacting everything from raw materials to final delivery. Navigating these complexities daily reinforces the critical importance of foresight, adaptability, and robust partnerships in maintaining seamless operations. Every challenge is an opportunity to refine our strategies and strengthen our networks. What's a recent logistical puzzle you've encountered that taught you a valuable lesson? Always keen to hear diverse perspectives on building more resilient supply chains. #SupplyChain #Logistics #Procurement #GlobalTrade #Resilience #BusinessStrategy
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Gary Levitan shared thisI'm Hiring!! Please read the JD carefully. We are looking for local candidates at the Analyst level, excited about starting a career in Procurement for one of the greatest brands and rockstar teams in all of retail! https://lnkd.in/eq3aMK9WLV is hiring a Procurement & Operations Analyst in New York as Permanent Job | LV CareersLV is hiring a Procurement & Operations Analyst in New York as Permanent Job | LV Careers
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Gary Levitan reposted thisGary Levitan reposted thisThe University of Delaware is once again ranked among the 2026 Best Graduate Schools by U.S. News & World Report! 🏆 #1 in Physical Therapy ⬆️ Chemical Engineering climbs to #7 🎓 14 programs in the Top 50 📈 Nearly one-third of programs improved this year 🏛️ 25 in Public Affairs Schools 📚 26 in Education Schools ⚙️ 36 in Engineering Schools Learn more: https://brnw.ch/21x1q9d
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Gary Levitan reacted on thisI wanted to allow the dust to settle a bit before commenting on anything. Yesterday, we said goodbye to some of the most amazing talent I have ever worked with. This is a common practice when two companies merge, this is a common practice when a company goes through bankruptcy and again when coming out of bankruptcy, but that does not diminish the emotion that goes along with these decisions. This one cut deep because this is not a matter of ‘trimming the excess’ or just making blanket ‘removal of processes or apps teams’, this was knowing we are losing teammates that carry a heavy load and go the extra mile every single day…. I said goodbye to teammates, I said goodbye to peers, I said goodbye to partners in other areas of the business, I said goodbye to friends that have become family…and that is never easy. To all of my colleagues that were released yesterday, please know I will 100% assist in any networking, references, letters of recommendation, or whatever else is needed to get you placed. So I will close with this, while I say goodbye, I say goodbye FOR NOW! We never know what tomorrow might bring and how our paths will cross again, but we can know we can stay in touch and help each other the way we have always done.Gary Levitan reacted on thisSaks Global is slashing the headcount at its corporate headquarters by 16 percent, impacting a wide spectrum of positions. The downsizing will hit about 640 workers, representing a reduction of less than 4 percent of Saks Global’s total workforce, estimated at 16,000. Employees at stores, distribution centers and other facilities outside the corporate headquarters are not impacted by the cuts. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eax9uCuG
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Gary Levitan reacted on thisGary Levitan reacted on thisMy first Small Business Week as a full-time entrepreneur. What a journey it has already been. ✨ This season has stretched me, challenged me, humbled me, and reminded me that growth often begins the moment you decide to bet on yourself. I’m embracing new things, learning new skills, and even leaning into AI and creativity in ways I never imagined to bring my vision for The McIntyre Collective to life. Entrepreneurship is not easy. But neither was navigating in spaces that didn’t fully welcome me, value me, or recognize what I carried into the room. So I chose my hard. I chose purpose. I chose alignment. I chose freedom. I chose impact. To every entrepreneur building something meaningful behind the scenes — I see you. The long nights, the uncertainty, the courage it takes to keep showing up anyway. And to those quietly considering taking the leap: your vision is valid. You do not have to have every answer before you begin. Start where you are and trust yourself enough to grow along the way. Happy Small Business Week to every founder, creator, dreamer, and builder out there. 🤎 The McIntyre Collective #SmallBusinessWeek #EntrepreneurJourney #WomenInBusiness #LeadershipDevelopment #ExecutiveCoaching #PurposeDrivenLeadership #SmallBusinessOwner #EntrepreneurLife #WomenEntrepreneurs #GrowthMindset #BeDriven
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Gary Levitan reacted on thisGary Levitan reacted on thisAs some of you may already know, my time at #TeamFootLocker came to an end a few weeks ago. As I've had time to reflect on my last 3 years as Foot Locker's CPO, the one word that always comes to mind is GRATITUDE. First & foremost, I'm grateful to Elliott Rodgers for entrusting me with the opportunity to lead, grow and invest into Global Procurement. I'm grateful to my amazing team (Emma Turicek (Grilo), Dylan Scholsberg, Sam Becker, Jorge Ramirez, Hilary Schreiber, Maura Frey, Melissa Marrero, Biagio Rimmaudo) who continue to exemplify true grit, commitment to excellence and building stakeholder trust that make them such amazing #procurementleaders! I'm grateful to my peers and x-functional partners (Dennis Labbancz, Adanna Honeycutt, Karnik Patel, Stacey Tapler, Chris Greed, Dan Whinnie, John Lausev, Sarah Wexler, Rusty DeWitt, Holly Tedesco and many many others!) for their support and advice throughout the years. Finally, I'm grateful for the people who embody the spirit of Striper Culture (Tai Neal, George Jenkins) and continue to make Foot Locker stores such a special place to shop at and to work for. As I'm embarking on a new adventure (a SEPARATE POST about this in a few weeks!), I will continue to admire Foot Locker's journey now from the sidelines but never forgetting that "Once a Striper Always a Striper!"
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Gary Levitan reacted on thisGary Levitan reacted on thisBring Your Child to Work Day is my favorite day! I prefer when there’s no set program and my son gets a real look at what I do everyday. This year he sat in on some Zooms, shook “a million” hands (all with strong eye contact), and attended our quarterly Town Hall where he had to sit still for a whole 2 hours(!). It’s special to be able to demystify my day to day for him even if he says all I do is “chit chat chit chat” all day long. I hope that eventually it will sink in that it is the showing up every day, the relationships built from meetings and “chit chat”, being present in the office and saying hello to everyone, and sometimes the occasional exciting videos and events is what it takes to get things done and build a career. #BeLV #BringYourChildToWorkDay #LVMH #LVA #LouisVuitton
Experience
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Education
Licenses & Certifications
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SDSM
AEE
IssuedCredential ID 96162 -
CEM
AEE
Volunteer Experience
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Tree Planting
Arbor Day Foundation
- less than a year
Environment
10 Native Pine, Fir and Cedar Trees were planted in the Name of Saks Fifth Avenue.
Publications
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The Impact of Coal Plant Retirement on Natural Gas and Electricity prices
Self
Plant owners and operators reported to the EIA1 that they expect to retire almost 27 gigawatts (GW) of capacity from
175 coal-fired generators between 2012 and 2016. Considering this is only an estimate, the total potential generation
impact could reach as high as 60 GW2. In 2011, there were 1,387 coal-fired generators in the United States, totaling
almost 318 GW. The 27 GW of retiring capacity amounts to
Honors & Awards
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Key Note Speaker at the EEI Fall Key Accounts Workshop
EEI
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2014 Energy Manager of the Year Region 1
Association of Energy Engineers
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Finance Employee of the Year
Saks Fifth Ave
Languages
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Russian
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Organizations
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american association of energy engineers
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- Present
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Sievo
34% of procurement executives report their current spend analytics technology "fell short of expectations." Don't fall into that trap. A good spend analytics solution will: - Automate data extraction with SLA-guaranteed 94%+ accuracy - Aggregate anonymized data for powerful benchmarking - Intelligent data connections and enrichment - Insight engines that generate recommended actions
1 Comment -
Amazon Business
Procurement reporting works best as an early signal, not a retrospective exercise. When leaders have real-time visibility into spend patterns, supplier performance, risk indicators, and compliance, they can forecast with confidence and act quickly as conditions change. Timely, accurate insight supports faster decisions and fewer last-minute course corrections, positioning procurement as a strategic advisor that helps guide the business forward. Read more about the importance of #procurement reporting: http://spr.ly/6047CaKL5
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Raiven
In 2025, contractors learned that procurement is no longer a background function, it’s a driver of execution. From unpredictable lead times to fragmented buying, uncertainty slowed projects more than demand ever did. Here are the key lessons from a year of supply pressure and growing project complexity. https://hubs.ly/Q0411DpN0
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Ramie Virk
Level Up Your Tariff Strategy 🚀 In 20 years of procurement and supply chain, one lesson has repeated itself: Tariffs are always underestimated until they become a crisis. I’ve seen companies: Lose margins by missing refunds Scramble to meet compliance deadlines Make sourcing decisions blind to hidden costs The problem isn’t a lack of talent. It’s a lack of visibility. Manual tracking and spreadsheets can’t keep up with shifting tariff rules. 👉 You don’t get caught off guard by what you can see. You get blindsided by what you didn’t prepare for. That’s why procurement leaders need systems that: ✔ Expose risks before they hit the P&L ✔ Provide real-time cost visibility ✔ Turn compliance into a proactive process But resilient procurement isn’t just about cost or compliance. It’s about standards: Transparency in cost impacts Integrity in supplier selection Accountability in tariff readiness The strongest organizations surround themselves with partners, tools, and systems that protect their business — even when they’re not in the room. I’ve built ready-to-use solutions for this exact reason. They don’t replace good procurement judgment — they free it. 👉 Protect your margins. Protect your supply chain. Level up your tariff strategy. More here: careerchronicles.org
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