In this special episode of This Week in Business History, host Scott W. Luton shares the inspiring business journey of his beloved grandfather: Leroy “Dick” Winton Rutland. Throughout his life, Dick Rutland represented the ‘gold standard’ in terms of professional integrity and action-based, servant leadership. He was a dedicated employee at Winn-Dixie and Kimberly-Clark, providing an example that now lives on – at scale – through Supply Chain Now’s organizational values. Like most people, Dick Rutland was loyal to a few brands – the Solo Cup Company and Buick in particular – and his relationship with their products serve as emblematic reminders of his personal values. Among the key lessons we learn in this week’s episode are:
- Don’t let anything go to waste if you can avoid it, even if it means eating chitlins or handwashing a ‘disposable’ cup
- Strive for balance between work and family, making your own luck and opportunities as you can
- Let your actions speak for themselves, doing the right thing for its own sake, not the attention it may garner
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leadership
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Key Elements to Optimizing Supply Chain Leadership for 2026 and Beyond
In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott Luton is joined by Paul Brooks, founder of Go Further Consulting, and Dave Food, Chief Strategy Officer at Prophetic Technology, to explore the evolving demands of supply chain leadership in today’s global economy. They discuss how the role has become more visible since the COVID-19 pandemic, why leadership fundamentals like judgment, communication, and resilience remain constant, and how AI and technology are reshaping the way leaders think and operate. Paul shares insights from interviewing 50 global executives on servant leadership and values-based decision making. At the same time, Dave emphasizes the importance of T-shaped leaders who balance specialist expertise with a broad organizational perspective. Together, they highlight why empowering teams to experiment safely, aligning metrics across functions, and fostering collaboration with suppliers and customers are critical for long-term success. This conversation offers a clear roadmap for developing future-ready leaders who can navigate complexity and inspire high-performing teams. This episode is hosted by Scott Luton, and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. Additional Links & Resources Check out all the great resources and information mentioned during the show: Connect with Paul Brooks Learn more about Go Further Consulting…
reverse logistics
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February 4, 2026
Remade in America
Every year, Americans return nearly a trillion dollars’ worth of products. But once those items leave our hands, most of us never think about where they go—or what happens next. In Remade in America, hosted by Deborah Dull, Supply Chain Now takes listeners inside the little-known world of reverse logistics, where returned products are sorted, resold, recycled, repaired, or too often, discarded. What emerges is a complex and fragmented system struggling to capture more than $200 billion in lost value—along with critical materials that could power a more resilient, sustainable economy. This special feature explores the people, processes, and infrastructure behind returns, revealing both the challenges and the massive untapped opportunity hidden in plain sight. From outdated systems and disconnected networks to innovative approaches reshaping how products are recovered and reused, Remade in America uncovers what’s really happening after “return” is clicked. Along the way, Deborah asks a provocative question: Is “Made in America” still the right goal—or is the future about something more powerful? What if the real opportunity isn’t just making more, but making better use of what we already have? Through expert insights, real-world stories, and on-the-ground perspectives, Remade in America redefines how we think about returns,…