Why Procurmentor

For Procurement Professionals by Procurement Professionals

Our Content is specifically developed for Procurement and Supply Chain Professionals by Procurement and Supply Chain Professionals with vast industry experience, who understand the unique needs and challenges of the profession.

Expert Mentors

Our mentors are uniquely qualified to offer a great learning experience, along with insights and knowledge gained from many years of experience leading small to large organizations and teams, and solving complex challenges.

Fully Customizable Platform

Our platform is fully customizable, and offers our clients the ability to set curriculum by role, conduct employee on-boarding training, and even on-board or train your suppliers. Organizations can use our platform to include custom courses that are only available to their staff. 


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Meet our Instructors

Barry Zuckerman
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Michelle Bartonico
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Joe Friedman
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Wolfgang Kreutzer
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Nirav Shah
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Barry Zuckerman

Barry Zuckerman, based in Evanston, Illinois, is a seasoned professional with over 40 years of experience in supply chain management and procurement. Holding a Master of Science degree in Supply Chain Management from Elmhurst University, Barry has not only excelled in the corporate world but also contributed significantly to academia by teaching Business Strategy at the graduate level at Elmhurst University.

Professional Achievements

Barry's extensive career includes leadership roles including VP of Supply Chain, Director of Procurement, and Purchasing / Planning Manager at prominent companies such as Freudenberg Household Products, Shure Inc., Weber Stephens Products, Siemens Medical Solutions, 3COM/US Robotics, and Motorola. He has consistently driven significant cost reductions, streamlined operations, and enhanced profitability. Barry has been involved in complex SAP implementations for tactical purchasing and e-sourcing platforms which have resulted in substantial savings and efficiency gains. He has managed global teams, improved supplier performance, and ensured business continuity during crises. His strategic sourcing initiatives and process improvements have led to millions in savings and optimized inventory management.

Expertise and Certifications

Barry's expertise includes strategic sourcing, cost reduction, lean methodologies, and SAP value chain optimization. He holds certifications such as CSCP and CPIM from APICS and Lifetime CPM from NAPM. His deep knowledge and practical experience make him an invaluable resource for students and professionals alike.

Global Impact and Teaching Philosophy

Barry's career involved extensive international travel, which has enhanced his global procurement strategies and supplier relations. His real-world insights and experiences bring a unique perspective to his teaching, bridging the gap between theory and practice. Barry is dedicated to equipping the next generation of supply chain professionals with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in a dynamic and globalized industry.


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Michelle Bartonico

Michelle is an experienced, solution-driven project manager, change practitioner, and strategist with more than 15 years of experience in higher education and in marketing agencies serving clients in a breadth of industries from healthcare to manufacturing. She is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and PROSCI Certified Change Practitioner. Michelle is also the author of Stakeholder Engagement Essentials You’ve Always Wanted To Know and co-author of Marketing Management Essentials You’ve Always Wanted To Know.

In 2023, Michelle successfully led the effort to create Trinity University’s first Enterprise Project Portfolio Management Office – Center of Excellence and continues to advise executive leadership in the areas of project management, strategy, and communications.

During Michelle’s tenure at Trinity University, she held several roles from Assistant Vice President for Strategic Communications and Marketing to Senior Strategist and Project Manager. 

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Joe Friedman

Joe Friedman has 40 years of sales, sales management and training / consulting experience. Joe started his career teaching at the business school at Northeastern Illinois University. While he specialized in teaching sales and marketing courses, Joe also taught classes in management, finance and personnel.

 In 1981, Joe joined First National Bank of Chicago. While there, he implemented a participative management program (a first in a white-collar environment), provided sales and presentation skills training as part of Corporate Banking, then returned to the Retail Bank, developing programs to create a stronger sales culture.

 In 1987, Joe left FNBC to join a firm specializing in presentation skills training. He became VP / Midwest Regional Manager, responsible for all of the marketing, sales and delivery of product for a 20-state region in the U.S. For a six-month period, Joe also ran the Eastern Regional office in New York.

 In 1993, Joe teamed up with another ex-First Chicagoan, David Zehren to create Zehren¨Friedman Associates, Ltd. In April 2024, ZFA will enter its 32nd year in business.  ZFA specializes in teaching the “persuasive arts” of selling, presenting, negotiating and influencing. Clients are in a wide variety of industries, and ZFA has taught on six continents.

 Joe holds a BSBA (marketing) and an MBA (finance) from The Ohio State University.

 Joe can be reached at 312-841-3364 or jfriedman@zehrenfriedman.com. The company website is www.zehrenfriedman.com.

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Wolfgang Kreutzer

Retired Senior Director-Associate General Counsel - Global Transaction (Purchases/Outsourcing) - Global Legal Operations – Technology

The Procter & Gamble Company – USA – Ohio

 

Wolfgang (Wolf) P. Kreutzer is the recently retired Senior Director Legal with the Global Transactions Group of The Procter & Gamble Company.

Wolf founded the Practice Group "Purchases and Outsourcing" in 2004 and since then lead a team of 12 in-house attorneys and contract specialists located in the US, Canada, South Africa, France, China, Japan, Germany, and the UK supporting the global procurement organization of The Procter & Gamble Company. He is adept at negotiation, strategy, and coordination of complex transactions, with a focus on stewardship, compliance, and policy setting and has a proven track record in driving productivity improvement. Wolf successfully led over 30 outsourcing transactions, encompassing local, regional, and global scopes, with a cumulative value exceeding 20 billion USD as well as any other perceivable procurement contract. In addition, he and his Team implemented standardized global contract templates, handbooks, commercial agreements training and policies to mitigate risk and establish consistent practices throughout Purchases and Legal, delivering significant productivity improvements (> 2000% in the first decade) and overall superior compliance and risk management globally. Wolf acted as the legal advisor to the Chief Procurement Officer and his/her Lead team for almost 20 years.

In addition, he assumed in 2018 the newly created role of Leader - Legal Operations-Technology. Wolf had been responsible for setting the Legal Department’s IT vision and strategy, the provision of all necessary systems, solutions and tools for the organization to deliver Legal service to enable the Company’s strategic goal and lead a team of 4 IT-Professionals and 7 in-house attorneys in Indonesia, Panama, China, Switzerland and the US.

Wolf started his career at P&G’s German Headquarter in Frankfurt am Main in 1994 and spent several years between P&G’s European Headquarter in Geneva, Switzerland and Cincinnati, Ohio.  He has surrendered his admission to the bar, acts no longer as attorney, but focuses on developing the most efficient and effective ways in which complex negotiations can be orchestrated. 

 
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Nirav Shah

Nirav Shah has over 23 years of experience in the Procurement, Supply Chain,  and Manufacturing. Throughout his career, he has served in various roles, including Vice President of Supply Chain, Head of Global Procurement, and Director of Commodity Management in several global organizations.

During this time Nirav has led complex Supply Chain and Procurement Transformation initiatives around the world. He has designed organization structures, enhanced or developed processes, implemented software solutions and executed strategies that led to increased value generation, effectiveness, and resilience of Supply Chain organizations. 

Nirav is passionate about Procurement and enjoys coaching and mentoring team members. He is dedicated to sharing his knowledge and experience with fellow professionals and is eager to help others succeed in their careers. He looks forward to bringing this passion and experience to the learning environment, fostering growth and exploration in the field of Procurement and Supply Chain Management.

In his spare time, Nirav enjoys traveling and photography.

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