In this episode of Supply Chain Now, host Scott Luton and special guest co-host Maria Villablanca welcome Dr. Dinesh Davè, Professor & Director of Supply Chain Management at Appalachian State University, and Evan Junker, Chief Growth Officer at SPARQ360, to unpack insights from the 2025 Supply Chain Trends and Attitudes Report. The annual study, conducted by Appalachian State and SPARQ360, surveys hundreds of supply chain managers across the U.S. to reveal where leaders are investing, from AI and visibility platforms to sustainability and risk management. Together, the panel discusses how familiarity and adoption of AI are rising, why the “ambition-action gap” still challenges sustainability progress, and what’s driving executives to balance cost efficiency, resilience, and environmental responsibility. They also explore how partnerships, collaboration, and customer-centered priorities are emerging as the new competitive advantage. Packed with practical insights and forward-looking data, this conversation offers a clear snapshot of where supply chain strategy is heading in 2025 and beyond. This episode is hosted by Scott Luton and Maria Villablanca, 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 Dr. Dinesh Davè Learn…

In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott Luton and special guest host Claudia Freed, President & CEO of EALGreen, welcome Chuck Johnston, Chief Strategy Officer at ReturnPro, for a deep dive into the “dark side” of supply chain: reverse logistics and returns management. They unpack why returns are a nearly trillion-dollar challenge in the U.S., how BORIS (buy online, return in store) strains store operations, and why many retailers still under-invest: leaders often can’t see the full cost across functions or make the ROI case for what’s treated as a cost center. Chuck shares how the space has evolved from yellow notepads to data-driven decisioning, highlighting intelligent algorithms that route items at the customer’s first return click, fraud mitigation with imaging and behavior signals, and how third-party innovation is compressing software build times. Claudia adds a nonprofit and circularity lens: donation channels, extended tax credits, and AI pilots (computer vision + MCP agents) that identify item condition and slotting in real time. Together, they explore where to start, why cross-functional “ambassadors” matter, and how partnerships across retailers, manufacturers, nonprofits, and 3PLs can turn returns from margin erosion into measurable value and social impact.   This episode is hosted by…