Here’s a perfect example – I recently had two prospects that were in the process of finding a fulfillment partner. Both had a single but different obstacle getting in the way of taking their business to the next level. Ironically, each one had the solution to the other’s problem. So, I’m sure you know what I did next — I introduced the two prospects to each other. The greatest moments in business don’t always start with a dollar sign. In this case, I had the chance to make a positive impact on two new start-ups and add a couple more contacts to my network. Who knows, maybe playing “match maker” will be the reason DMI becomes their fulfillment partner in the end, but if it doesn’t, it was still a great moment in my career.

Chief Executive Officer

Sean has over 19 years of industry experience and served as a Sales Representative for Wallace Computer Services (later acquired by Moore Business Forms) from 1993 to 1996. In 1996, he joined Supplies Network as a Sales Represen­tative and was promoted to Sales Manager in 1999. In 2003, Sean became Supplies Network’s first Business Development Manager charged with building the Strategic Alliance Program. In 2005, he was promoted to Vice President of Business Develop­ment overseeing Alliance Partner accounts and was later promoted to Vice President of Sales in January 2009. In October 2010, Sean was named Chief Executive Officer of Supplies Network & DMI Fulfillment (Supplies Network and DMI are subsidiaries of DMI Inc.) . Education – Sean received an M.B.A. in Supply Chain Management from Saint Louis University and a B.S. in Marketing and Management from Southwest Missouri State University.

“Over many decades, we have built an organization with many talented and experienced individuals with diverse skills and backgrounds.  I put much of my time and energy into aligning that talent pool to achieving a common vision supported by various missions and goals that, if done well and with conviction, provide a great value and experience to our customers.”

Managing Director

Bob has 24 years of experience in engineering, manufacturing, distribution, and business development. He has served as Director of Operations and Vice-President of Engineering at a major international third-party logistics provider, where he enabled clients to leverage outsourced fulfillment and distribution as a competitive advantage. Bob became fascinated with the field when he was Director of Distribution for an international manufacturing company, where service levels improved and costs dropped as a result of implementing a third party logistics solution. He especially enjoys working directly with clients to solve problems that allow them to improve operations and better serve their customers. He is a member of prominent industry trade associations including WERC, IWLA, CSCMP, and has served on the board at the Center for Supply Chain Management Studies at St. Louis University. He is a frequent speaker at industry events and guest lecturer at the John Cook School of Business at St. Louis University. Bob earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana/Champaign

Be very selective when choosing who will manage your fulfillment. It’s not as simple as putting product in a box and loading it on a truck. It’s about finding a company with:

• Experienced logistics professionals who know what it takes to exceed customer expectations. Quality, accuracy and speed are not just a result of technology. You need well-trained, long-term people who’ve done this for a long time at all levels of labor, customer service, IT and management.
• IT resources and the willingness to change and improve each and every day. Being complacent is not an option in any industry, especially if you are a small business trying to grow market share. Your fulfillment partner should be no different.
• The right equipment and technology to handle your products. Make sure they are equipped with inventory and warehouse management systems, RF scanners, systems integration software, and quality control procedures. Ask to tour their facilities and see their process in action.

How quickly, accurately and efficiently your product gets delivered could be the difference between whether or not that one sale turns into repeat business.

Work with experts. Work with someone trained and conditioned to run that last leg of your relay.

Vice President of Supply Chain Management

Rick has over 28 years of industry experience, which include his time at SP Richards and U.S. Office Products. He also served as Director of Fulfillment with America Online for 5 years. He joined Distribution Management in 2003 and is responsible for managing the logistics and supply chain, including all of distribution and inventory management.

Rick received a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Shaftesbury University. He also received a Logistics Management Certification from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

• Multiple distribution locations shipping same-day
• 1-2 day delivery via ground shipping
• Enough volume to negotiate low shipping rates
• Technology and automation for maximum efficiency
• A track record for accuracy and speed in processing orders

Automated, fast, flexible fulfillment is the name of the game to keep up with the demands of your customers because just like Jack, if you’re not quick and nimble, you’ll get burned.

Bob Klunk, Managing Director at DMI Fulfillment
DMI Fulfillment operates four strategically located distribution centers across the country reaching 99% of the U.S. population in 1-2 days via economical ground shipping. Together, these DCs total 280,000 square feet of state-of-the-art equipment, security features, inventory control systems and highly efficient employees focused on the DMI mission. Processing 8,000 orders per day at 99.95% accuracy, DMI Fulfillment is well positioned to support the needs of startups up to medium-size businesses.

For more information, contact Bob Klunk at klunkb@dmi-stl.com or Angela French at Frencha@dmi-stl.com

Have you ever been trying to solve a problem but you have an expert on what won’t work on your team?  No idea seems to move forward because there’s always a reason why it’s wrong.  Dr. No rules the day.  Now don’t get me wrong; we need practical-thinking people.  It’s about timing.  Early on, the flow of ideas must be free.  Make mistakes early and often.  Once something is working, then nail down a process and be consistent.  Every successful entrepreneur I’ve worked with errs on the side of “Go,” but has a trusted source of sanity that will allow him or her to develop ideas, and guide them in a practical direction when it’s time to execute.

I hope entrepreneurs see me as a trusted advisor who will brainstorm, promote ideas, and present solutions. I want them to leave a meeting with me thinking, “Here’s someone I can trust who will take care of this part of my business.  I have no idea how this all works, but I have someone now who does and I can move on to the next thing.”

St. Louis CSCMP March Event
Thursday – March 21, 2013
Crowne Plaza – Clayton, MO 

Bob Klunk has a broad variety of experience in his 25 years in the Manufacturing and Supply Chain industries.  He began as product engineer at Olin/Winchester, was promoted to plant manager, then became plant engineer at two separate ammunition factories and a grenade factory.  A year of Information Technology consulting for an international pet food manufacturer led to a project to outsource logistics.  The success of that project led Mr. Klunk into Third Party Logistics.  He became Director of Operations, Director of Engineering, and Vice-President of Solutions at Lanter, a well respected asset based carrier and third party logistics provider that grew to become a division of Ozburn-Hessey Logistics, now known as OHL. In Third Party Logistics, Bob has had the opportunity to run operations or develop solutions for companies Including;, Apple, Sony, Samsung, Starbuck’s, NutriSystem, Wal*Mart.com, H&M, Dr. Pepper/7UP, Spectrum Brand and Nestle/Purina.

Bob is a member of Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP), Warehousing Education and Research Council (WERC), and International Warehouse Logistics Association (IWLA), and has served on the advisory board at the Center for Supply Chain Studies at Saint Louis University.  Several of Bob’s articles have been posted in online publications such as Killer Startups, Idea Mensch, Business 2 Community, MO.com, and is a contributing editor to Global Logistics Media.

Bob is currently launching DMI Fulfillment, a full-service fulfillment house that provides big-company technology and footprint to on-line retailers, startups and mid-size businesses.

Thursday – March 21, 2013
Crowne Plaza – Clayton, MO
 
10:30-11:30 Registration/Networking
11:30-12:15 Mr. Bob Klunk
12:15 – 1:00 Lunch
 
Register at www.stlouisroundtable.org