Matthew Franzone

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT MATTHEW FRANZONE

I’ve always been interested in learning new things. This knack steered me to my main career path – becoming a buyer for United Airlines. It started in San Francisco, when I got to work with the aircraft mechanics so I could learn about what I was ordering. I advanced by self-training on new procurement systems and programs. From here, I never looked back!After transferring to Chicago, I was promoted to a Category Manager to work on bigger sourcing projects through RFP\'s. I learned what the company looked for in contract negotiations by working with our Legal department and interpreting contract boilerplate language. My tenure at United was built on cultivating strong relationships both with fellow employees as well as suppliers. Knowing how each team worked helped us collaborate in expediting projects.In 2013, I was voted into the inaugural board of EQUAL, United\'s LGBTA Business Resource Group as Secretary. I was able to grow my network within the company by working with other stations outside of Chicago to plan speaker events and assist in organizing annual Pride Parades.All along, I was an advocate for team culture and won the approval to organize an annual Halloween celebration. I led the committee each year to plan games, set up decorations, and obtained prizes.Throughout my procurement and buying career, I built strong skills in these areas:Strategic Cost-Effective Souring | Supplier Negotiation & Relationship Management | Cross-Team Collaboration & Leadership | Relationship Building | Risk Mitigation | Business Process Automation | Project Management & Oversight Contract Management & Negotiation | Data-Driven Decision Making | RFP Management | Process Improvement | Chemical Management & Compliance Training & Mentorship My years in the aviation industry has given me so much opportunity to grow and learn new aspects I never expected. I hope to continue to learn more as I continue my future career opportunities.