The Open Sky Group Appoints Four Key Personnel in Support of Growth and Expansion of Supply Chain Software Consulting Services

Raleigh, NC (PRWEB) January 11, 2012

The Open Sky Group (Open Sky ? http://www.theopenskygroup.com), an independent consulting company specializing in services for Supply Chain Software Systems, is pleased to announce the appointment of four Directors to its Executive Management team; Brian Lindenmeyer for Engineering Consulting, Seth Patin for Technical & Support Services, Darcy Reeves Powell for Marketing, and Jason Yantiss for Implementation. These appointments are in support of Open Sky?s expansion of services and in response to its tremendous growth. The company has averaged year over year growth of at least 20% since its inception in 2006.

Each Director is responsible for a practice, including management of the members of each team. The newest practice, Engineering Consulting, will initially be focused on extending client strategy in the areas of Software Evaluation and Vendor Selection, Organization and Operational Readiness, Workforce Management and general Industrial Engineering services. ?We see a great need for labor and engineering expertise in our existing engagements and are excited about what we can bring to clients,? notes Curt Sardeson, Managing Principal for Open Sky. ?We are now uniquely positioned to provide complete support of the entire suite of products and consulting services necessary for highly effective supply chain execution systems. By combining industrial engineering services with our technical and functional expertise, Open Sky is increasing its capabilities for unleashing efficiencies in our clients? supply chains.?

Open Sky?s existing practices are Implementation & Integration and Technical & Support Services. Implementation Services, a more recent addition, is responsible for all supply chain software implementation and integration projects, from Warehouse, Labor and Transportation Management to integration of Material Handling Equipment and ERP Systems. The Technical and Support Services practice, a founding focus of the firm, is dedicated to support and maintenance involving RedPrairie? software products.

Brian, Seth, Darcy and Jason, along with Curt Sardeson, Managing Principal, will guide Open Sky as it continues on its trajectory of growth and expansion, while remaining committed to the founding principle that happy clients and happy employees make happy shareholders. ?We choose our people carefully to ensure a great cultural fit along with a commitment to teamwork and building the best possible customer relationships,? says Curt. ?I?m excited about what we will do with these four energetic, knowledgeable and highly respected individuals on our team.?

ABOUT THE OPEN SKY GROUP, LLC

The Open Sky Group (http://www.theopenskygroup.com) specializes in consulting services for warehouse, transportation and labor management systems. With three practices of highly experienced consultants, we strive every day to be the best consulting partner on the planet for implementing Supply Chain solutions. Open Sky Practices include Engineering Consulting, Implementation & Integration, and Technical & Support Services. Contact Darcy Reeves Powell for more information - 919.346.0601.

ABOUT THE OPEN SKY GROUP DIRECTORS

Open Sky?s four new Directors have deep supply chain experience:

Brian Lindenmeyer oversees Engineering Consulting and is responsible for building this new practice for Open Sky. He has over 16 years of experience in supply chain and manufacturing operations, strategy and process improvement and has worked as both a client and consultant. Brian has successfully created Operational Excellence practices at two other supply chain consulting firms and his initiatives and projects have documented over $ 35M in savings. Brian?s previous project work includes supply chain strategy development, network design/optimization, operations improvement, ERP and SCM software justification and vendor selection, as well as the implementation of these execution systems, in industries including: Automotive, CPG, Discrete & Process Manufacturing, Food & Beverage, Healthcare and Retail.

Seth Patin oversees all Technical and Support Services projects for Open Sky. With over 11 years of supply chain experience, he has designed, developed and implemented numerous cost-effective solutions for over 20 companies drawing on his expertise in expertise in logistics, DLx/D WMS and big picture approach. Seth has held many roles on system implementations and enhancements, process improvements and complex integrations, including those for ERP, Automation and Parcel Manifesting Systems for clients in the industries of 3PL/4PL/LLP, Apparel, Automotive, Books/Learning Materials, Cold Storage, Consumer Goods, Cosmetics, Food Distribution, High-Tech & Electronics, Media and Tools & Hardware.

Darcy Reeves Powell oversees marketing and communications for Open Sky. With over 12 years of supply chain experience, she has worked in multiple roles driving and implementing both strategic and tactical initiatives for marketing programs. The marketing programs have included media relations, client and partner communications, industry events, collateral development, website redesign and maintenance, and more for several leading supply chain consulting companies whose clients have ranged from Food & Beverage, 3PL and Retail to Consumer Goods, Grocery and Electronics.

Jason Yantiss oversees all implementation and integration projects for Open Sky. With over 13 years of experience implementing supply chain execution systems and his operational roles in transportation, billing and warehousing, Jason?s project work includes over 40 supply chain software implementations. His integration experience includes SAP, WebMethods, Delfour, Oracle, Gentran, MARC, RedPrairie? and RFID systems. Jason has worked in and/or managed numerous roles, including: picking, dock management, customer service, development, inventory control, resource planning & scheduling, transportation, billing and business analysis and his industry experience spans 3PL/4PL/LLP, Apparel, Automotive, Books/Learning Materials, Building Materials, Cold Storage, Consumer Goods, Cosmetics, Food Distribution, High-Tech & Electronics, Media, Pharmaceutical and Tools & Hardware.

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Smith & Associates Reports on Global and Market Expansion in 2011

Houston, TX (PRWEB) January 25, 2012

Smith & Associates, a leader in the independent distribution of semiconductors and electronic components, today announced significant organic growth in 2011, positioning the company as a clear leader in the component market. The strategic addition of three new global offices, a 25 percent increase in workforce, and the expansion of its successful service programs resulted in Smith reaching global annual revenue totaling US$ 513 million in 2011.

In 2011, Smith increased its workforce to 350 employees globally, and opened new offices in Singapore, Taipei, Taiwan and Denver, Colo. This expansion better positions Smith to serve its customers around the world. Continuing this corporate strategy, the company plans to add more global offices in 2012.

In addition to global expansion, Smith also expanded its flagship services. Smith's suite of services provides customized solutions to help businesses maximize the quality and stability of their inventory needs and safeguard against disruptions. Among those service programs that were expanded are:

????The PartBank Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) program, which offers companies a fixed, cost-efficient source for managing inventory
????CycleIT, a secure and environmentally responsible asset disposition program
????The recently launched PPV Plus+ flexible cost-saving program, which helps customers find flexible ways of receiving high-quality components at the best price

?We live in a world where supply chain management is more critical than ever for electronics manufacturers? success,? said Marc Barnhill, chief trading officer at Smith & Associates. ?With a diversified, well-tested and quality-assured supply chain, manufacturers can withstand today?s increasingly common market uncertainties with confidence. Smith has the industry experience and knowledge to offer companies immediate solutions to their short- and long-term needs. Our clients know that they can count on us for tested and certified products when they need them.?

Smith's quality-first framework of programs and processes, SmithSecure, was also expanded in 2011, continuing the company's long-standing, staunch support of ensuring quality along the electronics supply chain. Smith further increased its leadership role against counterfeiting through the purchase of new, sophisticated, in-house, anti-counterfeiting laboratory equipment. In addition to the substantial investments and expansions in its anti-counterfeit lab equipment and inspectors' certifications, Smith was awarded a CCAP-101 certification, holding the company to a strict set of procedures for authenticating electronic components and ensuring product integrity. In turn, the standards for SmithSecure, the company?s overarching testing, sourcing, service and industry-awareness quality initiative, have also been increased.

Within Smith, the corporate responsibility to the environment was also a focus. As part of a companywide campaign to become fully sustainable and carbon-neutral by 2020, Smith completed an environmentally based, energy-efficient structural renovation, a "greenovation," of its Houston headquarters. Smith was also named an "e-Stewards Enterprise" by the Basel Action Network, the world?s only organization focused on confronting the global environmental injustice and economic inefficiency of toxic trade (toxic wastes, products and technologies) and its devastating impacts. The next phase of Smith's corporate sustainability campaign will be the "greenovation" of Smith's international offices.

Building upon the successes of 2011, Smith & Associates plans to further expand its service programs in 2012 to meet customer needs. Among the more immediate goals is Smith's diligent work toward earning an AS9120 quality management certification for aerospace product suppliers. More generally, Smith continues its pledge to providing leading commodity and market expertise through close industry monitoring and communication of findings through its MarketWatch updates and publications.

About Smith & Associates

Founded in Houston in 1984, Smith & Associates (http://www.smithweb.com) is a leader in the independent distribution of semiconductors and electronic components to electronics and high-tech manufacturers. Smith offers shortage sourcing for commodity and obsolete parts, innovative purchasing and inventory management solutions, redistribution of excess inventory, and component stocking for warranty and repair programs.

A privately held company, Smith & Associates employs more than 350 people worldwide, with annual revenue in excess of US$ 500 million. Smith's regional hubs in Houston, Hong Kong, and Amsterdam are ISO certified and IDEA compliant. In addition, sales and purchasing offices are located in Silicon Valley, Barcelona, Guadalajara, New York, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Seoul, Singapore, Taipei, and Denver. For more information or to reach a Smith representative 24 hours a day, please call: 1.800.HOUSTON or +1 713.430.3000

For more information, contact:

Mark Bollinger

Smith & Associates

V.P. of Marketing

Phone: +1 713.430.3000

Email: mbollinger(at)nfsmith(dot)com

Ashley Wilkinson

BOCA Communications

Phone: 415-738-7718

Email: smith(at)bocacommunications(dot)com

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