Allen Thornton
About Allen Thornton
Allen Thornton is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in supply chain and logistics. He currently serves as the Sr. Manager of Procurement - Transportation at Zep Inc., where he focuses on sourcing initiatives and optimizing costs.
Work at Zep
Currently, Allen Thornton serves as the Sr. Manager of Procurement - Transportation at Zep Inc. since 2020. In this role, he develops and executes corporate sourcing initiatives for all transportation modes. His responsibilities include managing supplier selection and recommendation activities, which encompass the development of selection criteria, RFI/RFP processes, and bid analysis. He collaborates with key stakeholders to gather category requirements and specifications, ensuring alignment with departmental needs.
Previous Experience in Logistics and Supply Chain
Allen Thornton has over 20 years of experience in supply chain and logistics across various industries. Prior to his current role, he worked at Serta Simmons Bedding, LLC as Sr. Manager of Strategic Sourcing - Logistics & Fleet for 11 months. He also held positions at Pratt Industries as Logistics Manager, Habitat for Humanity International as Director of Logistics, and CSM as Manager of Transportation. His experience includes managing transportation services at MeadWestvaco and carrier sourcing at Reynolds Packaging Group.
Education and Expertise
Allen Thornton studied at Faulkner University, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Business from 1991 to 1994. His educational background complements his extensive expertise in logistics and supply chain management. He specializes in centralizing logistics and transportation processes, systems implementation, and cost reduction strategies. His analytical skills enable him to perform complex data analysis to identify sourcing and cost optimization opportunities.
Achievements in Supply Chain Management
Allen Thornton was nominated for the 2014 Supply Chain ‘Innovator of the Year Award’ at the World Trade Group Supply Chain Summit. His career reflects a strong track record of managing all aspects of the supply chain, from purchasing to production scheduling, logistics, and distribution. He has successfully built logistics teams and developed initiatives that drive efficiency and cost savings within organizations.