Darek Lewis

About Darek Lewis

Strategic Planning• Identify new global packaging opportunities and associated risk, develop strategic business plans, project sales and profit potential, and launch global business solutions.• Orchestrate operational/process improvements to achieve operational efficiency and margin improvement.• Identify cost-saving and outsourcing opportunities. Reduced costs through design/production improvements.• Develop sourcing initiatives and packaging solutions to meet North American customers’ requirements. • Collaborate with Sales to acquire advance notification of customers’ future facility relocations to facilitate uninterrupted product/service delivery. Staff Management• Manage a global (Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe, US) supply chain of contract manufacturers and suppliers.• Responsible for recruiting, training, assigning tasks, motivating, retaining, and evaluating performance of team.• Review and determine manpower requirements to support production requirements and client needs.Risk Management• Reduce risk exposure by continually evaluating supply chain initiatives to ensure regulatory compliance while maximizing profit potential. • Develop strategies/tools, track material’s cost stability/trends, and identify solutions to reduce inflation risks in raw material.Strategic Supplier Partnerships• Integrate global supply base into a sourcing network to minimize synergies, expand offerings to domestic sources, and facilitate more favorable payment terms.• Negotiate strategic alliances with global contract manufacturers international suppliers to achieve best price.• Oversee the creation of innovative product designs to meet customer specifications.• Expand capabilities while reducing costs by identifying new sources of unique, environmentally-friendly materials that push technology limits. • Initiated an internal grading system to evaluate capacity, quality, and pricing.Areas of Expertise:Global Packaging OperationsStrategic LeadershipSupply Risk MitigationRevenue & Profit GrowthSales & Marketing PlansSupply Chain & SourcingProject ManagementExecutive EngagementSustainability & Innovation

Experience

1. Account Manager

   Great Northern

   Apr 2026 — Present · Oshkosh, WI, US

Education

• University of Wisconsin-Stout

  Bachelors of science, Packaging

  1992 — 1996

Skills

• Manufacturing
• Retail Packaging
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership
• Packaging
• Packaging Engineering
• Product Development
• Plastics
• Food Packaging
• Continuous Improvement
• Corrugated
• Product Design
• Folding Cartons