William Alvarez is an industrial engineer with an extensive career spanning over 20 years in demand, supply, inventory, and logistics operations. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a strong analytical capacity, leadership skills, and a deep understanding of warehousing, logistics, supply chain management, and finance. His problem-solving abilities and collaborative approach have helped him navigate complex business challenges, making him a key player in every company he has worked with.

Current Work as Inventory Control Specialist at JDE Peet's

Currently, Alvarez serves as an Inventory Control Specialist for JDE Peet’s, the world’s leading pure-play coffee and tea company. He manages lot codes and expiration dates across internal systems and third-party logistics (3PL). He also ensures that orders are fulfilled manually when necessary, carefully prioritizing them based on the company’s immediate operational needs. Additionally, he conducts various ad hoc analyses to identify the root causes of fulfillment failures and provides detailed reports to internal and external stakeholders to optimize fulfillment processes.

Beyond his role at JDE Peet’s, Alvarez is also active in real estate investment. He renovates properties and manages their sale, demonstrating his ability to apply his logistics expertise in the real estate sector. His experience managing projects with a high level of organization and detail further illustrates his versatile skill set and entrepreneurial drive.

Career Highlights at CVS Pharmacy

Alvarez’s career includes a significant period at CVS Pharmacy, where he worked as the Inventory Rx Manager. Over three years, he was instrumental in driving operational improvements and enhancing the company's reporting infrastructure. One of his key achievements was building a data and reporting system using Tableau/BI and SQL, providing real-time insights into the company’s KPIs, product trends, and marketing funnels. These insights helped streamline operations and improve decision-making within the company.

In his role, Alvarez developed operations, inventory, and planning processes that used SQL scripts to minimize manual intervention and improve output accuracy. He also led the implementation of the Snowflake Interface, a system that enhanced CVS’s query capabilities and extended its analytical tools. His contributions to CVS’s data infrastructure allowed the company to make more informed decisions and improve operational efficiency across various departments.

Alvarez’s responsibilities included leading weekly training sessions for the Inventory Planning team to improve their SQL skills and simplify common operational queries. He also conducted sales and operations planning (S&OP) forecast meetings, helping align marketing, operations, and supply planning teams and contributing to the company’s ability to meet both short—and long-term demand.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, William Alvarez of Rhode Island played a crucial role in replenishing and allocatingreplenishing and allocating inventory for the company’s testing programs. His work included managing the flow of COVID-19 test kits and supplies and ensuring timely and efficient distribution across the CVS network.

Experience with Cardinal Health and Hasbro

Before joining CVS, Alvarez worked as a Global Demand/Supply Planner for Cardinal Health. Over his two-year tenure, he focused on aligning business requirements, demand, and supply through the S&OP process. He leveraged statistical modeling, sales data, and market analysis to manage inventory for various healthcare product categories, including needles, syringes, and thermometers. His work adjusting and releasing final net requirements helped the company maintain an efficient supply chain and meet customer demand.

At Hasbro, Alvarez worked as the Global Planner for Supply Chain and Operations from 2014 to 2018. He managed the supply chain for several of the company’s high-demand brands, including TROLLs and Disney Princesses. He was responsible for forecasting inventory flows worth $100 million and reallocated resources to reduce logistics costs and improve delivery efficiency. He managed the global supply chain, ensuring products were delivered from manufacturing sources in the Far East to over 19 warehouses worldwide, demonstrating his ability to oversee complex, international supply chains.

Alvarez’s early career began in the U.S. with Ryder System, where he worked as a Customer Logistics Manager. He managed the logistics operations for Ryder’s key account distribution center, overseeing the daily planning and organizing operations for clients like ALCATEL. This role began his successful career in logistics and supply chain management.

Educational Background and Certifications

Alvarez’s strong educational foundation has played an essential role in shaping his career. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Jose Maria Vargas University in Caracas, Venezuela. Additionally, he furthered his education at Harvard Extension School, earning a Master of Liberal Arts in Finance. He has also obtained certifications in Forecast Business Analytics from the Wharton School of Business and a Master Black Belt Six Sigma from Villanova University.

Alvarez’s technical expertise is evident in his proficiency with various operational systems. He is highly skilled in using systems such as SAP, Oracle, MOVE Optum, TECSYS WMS, and Provia, as well as Microsoft Office tools like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Visio. He is also well-versed in SQL and intermediate-level Python, allowing him to work with large datasets and create custom solutions for supply chain optimization.

Languages and Personal Interests

Alvarez is fluent in English and Spanish and speaks Arabic and Portuguese, which has been an asset in his global roles. His linguistic skills have allowed him to work effectively in diverse international environments, collaborating with colleagues and clients across different regions.

In his personal life, Alvarez enjoys a variety of hobbies. He is passionate about playing the guitar, running, and maintaining an active lifestyle through regular exercise. Earlier in life, he worked as a fashion show model and appeared in commercials. He also participated in Mr. Venezuela, the country’s annual male pageant, where he gained some public recognition.

He has three children together, ages 12, 10, and 5. Despite his demanding career, he is committed to his family and enjoys balancing his professional and personal responsibilities.

William Alvarez’s extensive experience and diverse skill set have made him a respected logistics, supply chain management, and inventory control leader. From his current role at JDE Peet to his previous positions at CVS, Cardinal Health, and Hasbro, he has demonstrated a consistent ability to drive operational efficiency, improve data systems, and manage complex supply chains. His educational background, technical proficiency, and multilingual skills have enabled him to excel in his career and contribute to the success of every organization he has worked with. As a dedicated professional and family man, he thrives in his career while maintaining a strong work-life balance.