1. THOMAS J. MICHALSKI
607 WELLINGTON PKWY., NEW LENOX, IL. 60451
HOME: (815) 462-3036 / CELL: (630) 675-0270 / EMAIL: chowman1@comcast.net
SR. SUPPLIER / PRODUCT MANAGER
20+ years experience in the area of the simultaneous relationship management, of multiple, integral, multi-
million dollar vendor business relationships, on behalf of McDonald's Corporation. Job responsibilities
included various required vendor management skill sets, such as; vendor sourcing/selection/ orientation,
product pricing/ warranty negotiations, assured product availability planning, assured implementation of
agreed upon service support expectations, and defining of standardized comprehensive vendor
performance expectations/ measurements (defined KPIs). These skill sets applied across a diverse platform
of restaurant related equipment, including; seating and decor, exterior/interior brand signage, playground
equipment, menu boards, security tools, beverage related equipment, small wares, and stainless steel
fabrication.......in support of the daily business needs of 14,000+ U.S. restaurants, as well as strategic
company initiatives.
Extensive vendor supervision experience, and recognized successes, in both proactive and reactive
initiatives requiring strong skills related to; opportunity improvement analysis, problem resolution, team
building, resource identification/ leveraging, formal communication of proposed benefits, relevant updates,
and implementation, as appropriate.
I have achieved recognized successes as a customer focused, professional, in both unilateral and team based
scenarios, with capability of leveraging internal cross-functional resources, and vendor resources, as
necessary, to accomplish desired goals.
CORE STRENGTHS, EXPERIENCE, AND ADDITIONAL SKILLS
• SPOKEN AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
• CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT OPPORTUNITY IDENTIFICATION/ PROBLEM RESOLUTION IMPLEMENTATION
• IDENTIFICATION OF REQUIRED RESOURCES/ RESOURCE ALLOCATION
• CROSS FUNCTIONAL TEAM BUILDING/ MOTIVATION
• NEW PERSONNEL TRAINING/ MENTORING/ DEVELOPMENT
• ARCHITECTURAL PLANNING/ BLUEPRINT INTERPRETATION
• RFP DEVELOPMENT/ SOLICITATION/ REVIEW/ SELECTION
• KNOWLEDGE OF MICROSOFT OFFICE
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
McDONALD'S CORPORATION, OAK BROOK, IL. (1992 - 4/ 2015)
GLOBAL - FAST FOOD RESTAURANT INDUSTRY
SR. SUPPLIER / PRODUCT MANAGER - U.S. OPERATIONS
Most recently managed ongoing business relationships with 15+ primary restaurant supply vendors (25+
equipment categories) of restaurant critical kitchen equipment, on behalf of and imperative to operational
efficiency needs of 14,000+ U.S. McDonald's Restaurants, and Regional Office field support infrastructure.
My responsibilities, as SENIOR SUPPLIER/ PRODUCT MANAGER, and subject matter expert, in multiple
categories, were both strategic and tactical, including; ongoing continuous improvement opportunity
identification, leader and counsel in; annual vendor business planning, project related vendor/ internal
resource allocation planning, category related problem remediation, and general project/ initiative
management.
My primary focus was on ensuring optimal vendor alignment and realized value in support of McDonald's
Restaurant' day to day business, Corporate initiatives, and overall business goals.

2. SELECTED CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS/ EXPERIENCES OVERVIEW (MCDONALD'S)
• (2009-2015) Annually negotiated approximately 5-10 million dollars of cost containment/ savings,
in categories directly managed, compared to general market price increases that averaged an
aggregate 10+% over same period of time.
• (2009)PROMOTION to SR. SUPPLIER/ PRODUCT MANAGER
• (2009) Extensive customer (restaurant) equipment support experience, was impetus for unilateral
development of a customized, national, toll free phone support service, made available to 14,000+
U.S. restaurants (my customers), to formally escalate (directly to the corporate level, and the
manufacturer) relevant feedback related to authorized servicer support and equipment performance
concerns. (OFFICER RECOGNITION AWARD - INDIVIDUAL AWARD)
• (2004) Company focus on food quality, and my management responsibilities of our grill vendor
category, led to the opportunity for development and implementation of an annual, company
mandated Grill Preventative Maintenance/ Certification program, for all U.S. restaurants/ grills, as an
effort to proactively address improved grill performance, optimizing equipment reliability, resulting
in minimized equipment down time, related repair cost savings, lost sales, and customer complaints
in U.S. specific restaurants. This program is still applied today, with continued favorable results.
• (2002) collaboratively developed and implemented initial supplier/ authorized servicer
performance expectations (KPIs)....eventually shared with supplier partners, as shared expectations,
and used as formal measurement criteria for annual supplier performance reviews/ auditing.
• (1996) PROMOTION to PRODUCT MANAGER 2
• (1995) Collaboratively developed, tested and eventually standardized restaurant equipment
package (interior/ exterior signage and kitchen equipment) in support of initial McDonald's/ Multi-
partner Oil Alliances initiative (McDonald's integrated gas station locations)..... (OFFICER
RECOGNITION AWARD - TEAM AWARD)
• (1993) Collaboratively worked with federal regulatory organization (CPSC - Consumer Product
Safety Committee), and certified third party safety consultants, to review and implement current
federal compliance guidelines, specific to general playground safety standards, as applicable to
McDonald's restaurant play grounds and equipment...... facilitated the long term systemic need to
comply with federal guidelines, and transitioned McDonald's, the global industry leader, to a
standardized application of the "tubular/ netted/ enclosed play equipment design style", primarily
used today, in many fast food restaurant playgrounds, as well as in municipal, and other similar
applications.
PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCES/ SKILL DEVELOPMENT
• (1990-1992) DO3 OFFICE FURNITURE SYSTEMS (Cleveland, Ohio) Increased sales by 10+% annually,
managing 5+ million dollars in annual sales, as SENIOR DESIGN PLANNER - two man Chicago branch
office (Rosemont, Il.); primary responsibilities; generating office space plan ideas, proposals (BOMs),
RFPs, and providing after-market customer service support of Abbott Laboratories Corporate
Campus, located in North Chicago, Illinois.

3. EDUCATION
BACHELOR OF SCIENCES DEGREE - CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING (School of Architecture)
(IIT) ILLINOIS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, CHICAGO, IL.