William Alvarez
Industrial Engineer- Inventory Manager / Supply Chain Planner CVS and Coffee
William Alvarez is an accomplished industrial engineer with over 20 years of experience in demand planning, supply chain operations, inventory management, and logistics. Throughout his career, he has built a reputation for his strong analytical skills, effective leadership, and ability to drive improvements across multiple operational areas. He is known for his practical problem-solving, creativity, and decision-making, which have been instrumental in his success across various roles in the industry.
Current Role at JDE Peet’s
Alvarez currently works as an Inventory Control Specialist on a contract basis for JDE Peet’s, one of the world’s largest coffee and tea companies. In this position, he manages lot codes and expiration dates, ensuring accurate synchronization between Peet’s internal systems and its third-party logistics provider. His responsibilities include manually fulfilling orders and prioritizing them based on the company’s immediate needs.
Alvarez uses his deep analytical abilities to perform root cause analysis on fulfillment failures, providing actionable insights to internal teams and external partners to optimize business processes.
In addition to his work with JDE Peet’s, Alvarez has ventured into real estate, investing in properties and overseeing their renovation for resale. His ability to manage complex projects, both in logistics and real estate, highlights his versatility and ability to adapt his expertise to different industries.
Experience at CVS Pharmacy
Before his role at JDE Peet’s, Alvarez was the Inventory Rx Manager at CVS Pharmacy, a position he held for three years. At CVS, he was responsible for designing and building data and reporting infrastructures using tools like Tableau/BI and SQL. These systems provided real-time insights into product flows, marketing funnels, and key performance indicators (KPIs), enabling better decision-making and more efficient operations across various departments.
One of Alvarez’s key contributions was streamlining inventory and planning processes using SQL scripts, reducing manual intervention, and improving operational accuracy. He also played an essential role in implementing the “Snowflake Interface,” which enhanced the company’s analytical tools and expanded its data querying capabilities. His work in these areas improved the visibility of inventory data and helped CVS manage operations more effectively.
Alvarez also led weekly training sessions for the Inventory Planning team, focusing on improving their SQL skills and making operational queries more efficient. He also led sales and operations planning (S&OP) forecast consensus meetings and aligned marketing, operations, and supply planning teams to ensure accurate forecasting and effective risk management.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Alvarez managed inventory replenishment and allocation for CVS’s nationwide testing programs. This included ensuring that testing supplies were distributed efficiently, which was crucial to the success of the company’s efforts to combat the public health crisis.
Experience at Cardinal Health and Hasbro
Before CVS, Alvarez worked as a Cardinal Health Global Demand/Supply Planner. In this role, he led the Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) process, aligning business needs with demand and supply based on statistical forecasts and market analysis. He managed inventory and forecasting for healthcare products, including needles, syringes, and thermometers. This required a deep understanding of the healthcare supply chain and the ability to respond to fast-changing demand.
Alvarez’s next career move brought him to Hasbro, where he served as the Global Planner for Supply Chain and Operations from 2014 to 2018. He managed the global supply chain for high-demand brands like TROLLs and Disney Princesses. He was responsible for forecasting a $100 million inventory flow, ensuring efficient distribution from Far East manufacturing sources to 19 global warehouses. He reduced delivery fees and improved cost efficiency by reallocating inventory and optimizing logistics, contributing to the company’s bottom line.
Early Career and Foundations in Logistics
Alvarez’s professional journey began with Ryder System, where he worked as a Customer Logistics Manager. This early experience gave him hands-on experience managing logistics operations, including overseeing daily planning and organizing within Ryder’s key account distribution centers. Working for clients like ALCATEL, he quickly learned how to balance operational needs with customer demands, setting the stage for his future leadership roles.
Educational Background and Certifications
William Alvarez’s educational background provides the foundation for his impressive career. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Jose Maria Vargas University in Caracas, Venezuela. Later, he continued his education at Harvard Extension School, earning a Master of Liberal Arts in Finance. His academic achievements have been complemented by specialized certifications in Forecast Business Analytics from the Wharton School of Business and a Master Black Belt in Six Sigma from Villanova University.
In addition to his formal education, Alvarez is highly proficient in using WMS operational systems like SAP, Oracle, MOVE Optum, TECSYS WMS, and Provia. He is also skilled in Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio, and Project), SQL, and intermediate Python, equipping him to tackle various logistics and supply chain management challenges.
Multilingual and Personal Interests
Fluent in English and Spanish, Alvarez’s multilingual abilities have enabled him to work in diverse global settings and communicate effectively with colleagues and clients across different regions. He also speaks Arabic and Portuguese, further enhancing his ability to navigate international business environments.
Outside of his professional life, Alvarez is an active individual who enjoys playing the guitar, running, and exercising. His passion for fitness is evident in his commitment to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Earlier in life, he worked as a fashion show model and appeared in commercials. He also participated in Mr. Venezuela, the country’s prestigious male pageant, gaining exposure and recognition.
He has three children, ages 12, 10, and 5. Despite his demanding career, Alvarez values family life and enjoys spending quality time with his loved ones.
William Alvarez has built an exceptional career in logistics, supply chain management, and inventory control, utilizing his technical expertise, leadership skills, and problem-solving abilities to drive results. From his work at JDE Peet to his previous roles at CVS Pharmacy, Cardinal Health, and Hasbro, he has consistently demonstrated his ability to streamline operations, improve data systems, and manage complex global supply chains. His academic qualifications, practical experience, and multilingual proficiency have allowed him to thrive in various industries. As he continues to balance his career and family life, his career trajectory remains one of growth, achievement, and dedication.
Current Role at JDE Peet’s
Alvarez currently works as an Inventory Control Specialist on a contract basis for JDE Peet’s, one of the world’s largest coffee and tea companies. In this position, he manages lot codes and expiration dates, ensuring accurate synchronization between Peet’s internal systems and its third-party logistics provider. His responsibilities include manually fulfilling orders and prioritizing them based on the company’s immediate needs.
Alvarez uses his deep analytical abilities to perform root cause analysis on fulfillment failures, providing actionable insights to internal teams and external partners to optimize business processes.
In addition to his work with JDE Peet’s, Alvarez has ventured into real estate, investing in properties and overseeing their renovation for resale. His ability to manage complex projects, both in logistics and real estate, highlights his versatility and ability to adapt his expertise to different industries.
Experience at CVS Pharmacy
Before his role at JDE Peet’s, Alvarez was the Inventory Rx Manager at CVS Pharmacy, a position he held for three years. At CVS, he was responsible for designing and building data and reporting infrastructures using tools like Tableau/BI and SQL. These systems provided real-time insights into product flows, marketing funnels, and key performance indicators (KPIs), enabling better decision-making and more efficient operations across various departments.
One of Alvarez’s key contributions was streamlining inventory and planning processes using SQL scripts, reducing manual intervention, and improving operational accuracy. He also played an essential role in implementing the “Snowflake Interface,” which enhanced the company’s analytical tools and expanded its data querying capabilities. His work in these areas improved the visibility of inventory data and helped CVS manage operations more effectively.
Alvarez also led weekly training sessions for the Inventory Planning team, focusing on improving their SQL skills and making operational queries more efficient. He also led sales and operations planning (S&OP) forecast consensus meetings and aligned marketing, operations, and supply planning teams to ensure accurate forecasting and effective risk management.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Alvarez managed inventory replenishment and allocation for CVS’s nationwide testing programs. This included ensuring that testing supplies were distributed efficiently, which was crucial to the success of the company’s efforts to combat the public health crisis.
Experience at Cardinal Health and Hasbro
Before CVS, Alvarez worked as a Cardinal Health Global Demand/Supply Planner. In this role, he led the Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) process, aligning business needs with demand and supply based on statistical forecasts and market analysis. He managed inventory and forecasting for healthcare products, including needles, syringes, and thermometers. This required a deep understanding of the healthcare supply chain and the ability to respond to fast-changing demand.
Alvarez’s next career move brought him to Hasbro, where he served as the Global Planner for Supply Chain and Operations from 2014 to 2018. He managed the global supply chain for high-demand brands like TROLLs and Disney Princesses. He was responsible for forecasting a $100 million inventory flow, ensuring efficient distribution from Far East manufacturing sources to 19 global warehouses. He reduced delivery fees and improved cost efficiency by reallocating inventory and optimizing logistics, contributing to the company’s bottom line.
Early Career and Foundations in Logistics
Alvarez’s professional journey began with Ryder System, where he worked as a Customer Logistics Manager. This early experience gave him hands-on experience managing logistics operations, including overseeing daily planning and organizing within Ryder’s key account distribution centers. Working for clients like ALCATEL, he quickly learned how to balance operational needs with customer demands, setting the stage for his future leadership roles.
Educational Background and Certifications
William Alvarez’s educational background provides the foundation for his impressive career. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Jose Maria Vargas University in Caracas, Venezuela. Later, he continued his education at Harvard Extension School, earning a Master of Liberal Arts in Finance. His academic achievements have been complemented by specialized certifications in Forecast Business Analytics from the Wharton School of Business and a Master Black Belt in Six Sigma from Villanova University.
In addition to his formal education, Alvarez is highly proficient in using WMS operational systems like SAP, Oracle, MOVE Optum, TECSYS WMS, and Provia. He is also skilled in Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio, and Project), SQL, and intermediate Python, equipping him to tackle various logistics and supply chain management challenges.
Multilingual and Personal Interests
Fluent in English and Spanish, Alvarez’s multilingual abilities have enabled him to work in diverse global settings and communicate effectively with colleagues and clients across different regions. He also speaks Arabic and Portuguese, further enhancing his ability to navigate international business environments.
Outside of his professional life, Alvarez is an active individual who enjoys playing the guitar, running, and exercising. His passion for fitness is evident in his commitment to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Earlier in life, he worked as a fashion show model and appeared in commercials. He also participated in Mr. Venezuela, the country’s prestigious male pageant, gaining exposure and recognition.
He has three children, ages 12, 10, and 5. Despite his demanding career, Alvarez values family life and enjoys spending quality time with his loved ones.
William Alvarez has built an exceptional career in logistics, supply chain management, and inventory control, utilizing his technical expertise, leadership skills, and problem-solving abilities to drive results. From his work at JDE Peet to his previous roles at CVS Pharmacy, Cardinal Health, and Hasbro, he has consistently demonstrated his ability to streamline operations, improve data systems, and manage complex global supply chains. His academic qualifications, practical experience, and multilingual proficiency have allowed him to thrive in various industries. As he continues to balance his career and family life, his career trajectory remains one of growth, achievement, and dedication.
