Supply Chain & Logistics Executive

Juan C. Vela

MBA  ·  15+ Years of Progressive Leadership

Directing end-to-end operations across 4PL/3PL environments,
pharmaceutical, food & beverage, and government sectors.

$870K Annualized Savings
52% Efficiency Gain
15+ Years Experience
5 Languages
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Background

A career built on
precision and scale

Supply chain and logistics executive with over 15 years of progressive experience directing end-to-end operations across 4PL/3PL environments, pharmaceutical, food & beverage, and government sectors.

Known for delivering measurable results through strategic sourcing, TMS/WMS/SAP integration, and cross-border freight management — with a consistent record of cost reductions, efficiency gains, and service-level improvements across every engagement.

Currently serving as Logistics Manager at Arca Continental Food & Snacks USA, where a full operational redesign in Laredo, TX yielded a 52% efficiency improvement within the first six months of hire.

Languages: Fluent in English & Spanish  ·  Conversational in French, Portuguese & Italian
18%
Transportation savings via competitive RFI/RFP — ~$870K annualized
52%
Warehouse efficiency improvement within 6 months at Arca Continental
12%
YoY cost-per-kg reduction managing a $1.5M government logistics budget
95%+
On-time delivery rate sustained across 120+ monthly shipments
Career History

Professional Experience

Arca Continental
Food & Snacks USA
Jan 2025 – Present
Laredo, TX · Hybrid
Logistics Manager

Redesigned warehouse layout and restructured the operations team, driving a 52% efficiency improvement within 6 months. Implemented a Dynamic Reverse Flow Rack system, reducing spoilage by 73%. Directed a competitive Transportation RFI/RFP process securing carrier contracts 18% below market rates — $870K in annualized savings.

$870K Annualized Savings
Zavel Group LLC
Sep 2022 – Present
McAllen, TX · Remote
Founder & Senior Consultant – Supply Chain & Logistics

Founded and scaled a supply chain consulting firm from inception, acquiring 10 active clients across manufacturing, retail, and distribution sectors within 24 months. Delivered strategic assessments, operational redesigns, and vendor management engagements across the Rio Grande Valley and beyond.

10 Clients · 24 Months
Kuehne + Nagel
Jan 2018 – Sep 2022
Arlington, VA
Senior Manager, Logistics Procurement

Directed logistics procurement for a complex government contract managing a $1.5M annual budget, achieving 12% YoY cost reduction per kg through strategic sourcing and KPI frameworks. Managed 120+ monthly shipments at 95%+ on-time delivery through active LSP coordination and SLA enforcement.

12% YoY Cost Reduction
Kuehne + Nagel
Apr 2016 – Jan 2018
Raleigh, NC
Logistics Supplier Manager (LSM)

Managed logistics strategy and supplier development for a major pharmaceutical account, reducing onboarding cycle time by 40% and improving KPI performance by 18% through structured scorecards and corrective action protocols. Executed multi-site onboarding for two LSPs with 22% cross-site efficiency gain.

40% Onboarding Cycle Reduction
CEVA Logistics
2011 – 2016
Raleigh, NC
International Exports Coordinator

Maintained 95%+ OTD across time-sensitive pharmaceutical exports. Increased quote-to-conversion rate by 25% and launched Kaizen-based improvements that reduced export operations turnaround by 35%. Recognized as Top Performer three consecutive years.

Top Performer · 2013–2015
Expertise

Skills & Education

Operations & Strategy
Supply Chain Management End-to-End Logistics 3PL / 4PL Operations Strategic Sourcing & Procurement RFP / RFI Management Inventory Optimization Demand Forecasting S&OP Planning Vendor Management Contract Negotiation Cross-Border Logistics Import / Export Compliance KPI Design & Tracking SLA Management Kaizen / 5S Freight Management (LTL / FTL)
Technology
SAP ERP / TM / EWM TMS WMS Tableau Power BI Advanced Excel (VBA) SQL AI Tools Lean Principles
Languages
English — Fluent Spanish — Fluent French — Conversational Portuguese — Conversational Italian — Conversational
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Duke University, The Fuqua School of Business  ·  Durham, NC
2016
B.S., International Business
University of Monterrey  ·  San Pedro Garza García, NL, Mexico
2005
Contact

Let's connect

Open to senior leadership opportunities in supply chain and logistics across the U.S. and Latin American markets.

linkedin.com/in/jcvela-go Book a meeting
Laredo, TX 78045

© 2026 Juan C. Vela · MBA