Episode Summary
“You get a job and that becomes your career. You are able to call it a profession. But if you’re fortunate to then begin to think, ‘What impact I am having?’ then that becomes your legacy.”
– Claudia Freed, President & CEO of EALgreen
For 40 years, EALgreen has been connecting the dots between corporations, institutions of higher learning, and aspiring students. EAL takes excess inventory from corporations and connects them with colleges and universities that need it. Those institutions then convert the value of the donation into a scholarship for financially disadvantaged students.
Over the years, EAL has made is possible for 18,336 students (plus Claudia) to receive over $18 million in inventory scholarships and more than $3 million in cash scholarships at 50 colleges and universities in 18 states.
In this interview, recorded live at the Reverse Logistics Association Conference & Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada, Claudia shares her parallel passions for the circular economy and education with Supply Chain Now Co-hosts Greg White and Scott Luton:
- The importance of being very clear ‘why’ an enterprise or business leader does what they do, especially if they intend to create landscape-changing value
- How a healthy sense of confidence can be deliberately built up over time, through first person experiences and active mentorship
- The dual requirements of subject matter expertise and interpersonal skills, and how they can be combined to put you into the role you aspire to
Episode Transcript
[00:00:05] It’s time for Supply Chain Now Radio. Broadcasting live from the Supply chain capital of the country, Atlanta, Georgia. Supply Chain Now Radio spotlights the best in all things supply chain the people, the technology’s the best practices and the critical issues of the day. And now here are your hosts.
[00:00:29] All right. Good morning. Scott Luton. Ryder. Supply chain. Now, welcome back to the show.
[00:00:35] So in today’s show, we’re not broadcasting live from Atlanta. We are in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the Reverse Logistics Association Conference and Expo, which is the center of the universe, at least when it comes to returns in reverse Logistics this week. This week we are interviewing a wide range of supply chain thought leaders and we’re gonna continue that trend here today.
[00:00:57] Right, right. Yeah. Yeah. Well, we keep talking about the value of personal interaction. Right. We met Claudia in the elevator on the way to the show floor and found that she’s keynote and keynote.
[00:01:11] Jamar. Yeah. And invited right on. So before we get there, one tier thing up accurately, we’ve got a great guest for this episode. We should acknowledge our sponsors that make this programing, our neighbors and sponsors every commerce. So today’s episode is brought to you by RE Commerce. The recompose group Industries is an industry leader in return product management, return center services, remanufacturing, reprocessing, repairing and recycling of consumer products. You can learn more at RE Commerce Group Inc.
[00:01:44] Dot com if you remember nothing else, remember re re re re re all the reas, right?
[00:01:51] Quick programing note like all of our podcasts, you can find us on wherever you’re podcast from Apple podcasts, Spotify, YouTube. Just make sure you subscribe. Still missing thing. So little as if he needs an introduction because he doesn’t.
[00:02:07] And one wait for one.
[00:02:10] My esteemed co-host fearless co-host Greg White. Serial Supply chain tech entrepreneur, kronic disruptor and trusted advisor. Greg, how are you doing?
[00:02:20] I’m doing very well, thank you. The hits keep coming. They do. I mean, this is it’s energizing to be here, right.
[00:02:26] And to meet all these people who have such an incredible passion for something that’s under represented, not well understood, but so impactful to the supply chain and the environment. Agreed. You know, you don’t think of instinctively you don’t think of reverse Logistics as something that’s impactful to the environment, but it is so very impactful to the environment. And I think this awareness is great for that.
[00:02:51] Agreed. And we’ve been real fortunate with it as we have been executing on our interview lineup every conversation. There’s plenty of nuggets that our listeners I think are really gonna appreciate. And we’re gonna continue that trend here today. Yeah. I’ve already got a little sense in some my first impression you have just a little bit of passion here and lots of expertise. So with no further ado, let’s introduce our guest, Claudia Freed, CEO of e-mail Greene. Claudia, good morning. How you doing?
[00:03:18] Good morning, Scott. And thank you, Greg, very much for that psychiatrist’s appointment that we did in the elevator. And I’ll tell you sorry a little bit later if we have a moment.
[00:03:28] Yeah, about that. And very important meetings. Thank you for having me here.
[00:03:32] You bet. Serendipity is a beautiful thing. Yes, indeed. All right. So let’s dove into who Clottey is the person we’re talking about. EAF Greene and then in a talk shop and whatnot. Let’s find out more about you, where you’re from and give us some give us some anecdotes on your upbringing.
[00:03:48] Southwire. I was born and raised in Argentina in a beautiful small town, and I happened to know that Gray has some connections to Argentina. I come from a town called Patinack in the province of internet theos, which means heat between rivers. So I come from a part of Argentina that has agriculture commerce. But most importantly, it’s a hub for higher education. And so education has always been a very important part of my life. I was the daughter of an educator and a granddaughter of a school principal. So education was always very central to my life.
[00:04:24] Do they administer corporal punishment in Argentina?
[00:04:28] Not in this school that I went to, but I asked my other friends that went across town in schools that may have had that. But now Argentina has made progress.
[00:04:37] What? What? Nobody does that anywhere. Right. Growing up in Aiken, South Carolina, clearly you could’ve used a weapon, right. So your your mother wasn’t educators educator that we have both.
[00:04:48] My mother had retired being a PE teacher, really. And my father was the school principal. And for years, I had to combat the idea that perhaps I was the valedictorian because he was the. Principle.
[00:05:02] If they thought he was fixing your grade. Yes. Yes, yes.
[00:05:06] So what does. So before we talk professional journey and you walk us through that. What? What did you love about the Argentinian town that you grew up in? With family. When you look back, what are some of your fun?
[00:05:20] Very excellent question, because sometimes we, particularly those of us who become immigrants, I have been. I came to the United States in 1980 right after high school. And today, I’m turning 57.
[00:05:32] So it’s almost happening today, literally. Very moment. Happy birthday to you.
[00:05:37] Aaron Sheer birthday. I don’t know if you know that.
[00:05:40] No, I did not know. But I work very own Jennifer Foxworthy’s from the show here today. She has a birthday. Is that right? Well, have that birthday famous. But back to your questions. But what I loved about growing up in that little town of Patane, I add and Tina, is that my father and mother lived as instructors, both in P.E. and in the administration in what is called a brutal high school. It’s called one al-Badawi. And that is where educators went to become rural teachers in Argentina. So when you were thinking about becoming a teacher in a country school, you had to be a little bit of a first date. You had to be an engineer. You had to repair things in addition to taking care of the education. And he was a holistic approach to education. And that really, really made an impact in my life. Sure. Yeah. Like like the old one room schoolhouse. Yeah. Yes. Yes, yes. Interesting. And also, it instilled a set of values. It took very little for granted. I was part of a instrument band and I played the drum and I think it was the same drum for all six years. We did not have fancy equipment. And you learn to appreciate things really from a very authentic point of view, which is the second element in my upbringing, first education and then really a set of core values about who you are. And that’s why I can’t put the energy and the passion back in the bottle like the genie.
[00:07:08] This is who I am.
[00:07:11] You will. So I imagine that really sets you up well for a successful business career. The value of education and the value of appreciation. So let’s talk about your professional journey. Give us that the Reader’s Digest version, say, from your your first job to your current role rate.
[00:07:32] You can have passion, you can have a lot of energy. But I do believe you have to know your subject. So I have a degree in economics from a university in Chicago. Now it’s called university at the time. It was called North by college. And my degree in education led me to have a job in the options and futures trading in Chicago. Wow. A boutique organization called Chicago Research and Trading. They went the fact that one actually bought out by Bank of America, North Carolina National Bank. And so my first entry into the professional world was as a credit analyst. So I learned to measure risk from really the best minds in the industry. But I will tell you a story. I wanted to progress and make advances in my career badly that I will practice my title, Clouthier Saina, Karma Credit Analyst. And that experience stayed with me because I again never taking the opportunity for granted as we have chances in the world to speak and to promote what we do. We really want to be able to remember where we come from.
[00:08:46] Yes. So important. So especially in this day and age where authenticity and transparency and it is in demand across all aspects of consumers and business and global trade.
[00:09:01] Yeah. So now let’s switch gears a little bit. I think there’s so much we could we could spend several hours. I don’t like it. You’re talking about your your personal journey, especially trading options. And that is that is a way above my pay grade. I mean, probably the math you kind of know, way above my pay grade. But let’s switch gears. Let’s talk about e-mail, Greene.
[00:09:23] So when in when we were talking before the show, you said e-mail Greene is me and I am e-mail Greene. So I’d love to understand one that, but also help our listeners understand what e-mail Greene is, what you do, and how someone knows that you might be able to help them.
[00:09:42] Wonderful. As we mentioned a moment ago about education being so important. E-mail is a product of two entrepreneurs who decided that not if but when they would become famous and successful, they would pay forward. That will give back the opportunity for somebody to go to college. So the way that I came to the United States, which is an entirely different chapter as an immigrant, I was 18 years old. I was able to come as an exchange student. And the American family that hosted me at the end of the six months, of course, had to send me back and I did. It was several months later that they decided to invite me to come back to be a student in college. And I interpreted University Purdue.
[00:10:27] Yes, my maker Boilermaker wanted to become a doctor, but here was the story. I did not speak English well enough to be in college, let alone at Purdue, and let alone in pre-med program. And this family encouraged me to learn English and they said, go to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.
[00:10:44] That’s our summer camp for the church. And that is where I met the entrepreneurs that found that e-l. And here was the story of Yale. Yale was founded as an idea ahead of its time 40 years ago to look at customer returns.
[00:11:01] 40 years ago? Yes. Or zero? 40 years ago, we had almost 40 years ago.
[00:11:06] In a year’s time, we’ll be celebrating our 40th year. Wow. And these two entrepreneurs took advantage of an opportunity in the tax code, saying companies have an incentive to be good and to donate their surplus materials.
[00:11:20] And they came up with this very circular concept. If companies can donate the product that colleges and universities can use on their campus, we will trade the value of that product for a scholarship to benefit a student that has with financial need. Wow, what a great idea that is. And that is a 40 years ago. We are here 40 years later. Most restaurants don’t even survive four years. True. So our opportunity for creating scholarships for students is the pioneer concept.
[00:11:55] Well, tell us more about the pioneer concept.
[00:11:58] Correct. So what happened was that this company was started as more more i._d.s happen to be a concept, a pipe dream. Most people don’t even think it will be possible to do. They’re not able to engage the first donor. They engage the first college. They needed the first student.
[00:12:18] And so they had they had the funds. They had the source for the funds. Right. They had a school that was willing to participate and just needed a student to say, count me in.
[00:12:30] I will.
[00:12:31] I’ll tell your money.
[00:12:32] I will help you. I will help you launch this concept, and it is not money that we take. So that’s a very interesting point. Interesting. We take products. OK. Only products. OK. And I was chosen to become the first student to ever launch this concept. OK. So so how do you deploy it at the university? So it is a very interesting study. And the model is really a supply chain model where we work directly with operations so that departments of facilities and operations, they manage like a small city. You’ll have plumbing, you’ll have landscape, you’ll have h back equipment. Right. And these folks are purchasing those products regularly through their suppliers and vendors, suppliers and vendors. 50 colleges in an Arab states at this moment are willing to look at those products even if they have a scratch or a dent. So they get the product directly from us and they savings that they generate become a savings for the college, which we then cross campus and we collaborate with the financial aid team. Got it. And they award scholarships to students with the highest amount of need.
[00:13:44] So is it a draw? I mean, I don’t want to get too detailed here, but is it a direct transfer from the operations organization? So they’ve got a budget, let’s say, for $4000. Yeah. Heating and air unit. They only spend three thousand because it’s got a scratch. Does that thousand dollars go to the financial aid or loans or some portion of that?
[00:14:02] Yes. It’s an internal transfer. While it’s a budget transfer from one department onto the university and the numbers are actually almost the opposite. They will spend about a thousand dollars and they will save three thousand. Our average scholarship is thirty three hundred dollars. Wow. And this past year, we help nine hundred and seven students. We gave almost three million dollars worth of financial aid. And that Cupps, you know, is there is the cusp of almost 40 years doing this. And so eighteen thousand three hundred and thirty six students plus Claudia have received scholarships.
[00:14:41] That is awesome. How have we not heard of such a thing before? Are you trying to proliferate this through other universities?
[00:14:50] And indeed we believe that there are about 150 universities in the country that are a good alignment with us, that a good model for us, because if you had a very large university, let’s say, any of the Ivy Leagues, perhaps you like the Yale concept from a sustainability point of view, but you’re really going to be well-funded. You’ll have endowment. You have a number of different economics that come in to making your need for buying something scratch or dented or receiving the donation less critical. But if you’re a liberal arts college or if you are particularly supply chain focus, if you are looking at STEM, if you’re looking at community colleges, we have those institutions in our network and they do not pay a membership fee. They just have to believe in the concept. Beautiful thing. So you may have already shared how many schools are kind of in this network with us. We have 50 colleges and universities. OK, so 50 and we add in 18 states. Okay.
[00:15:49] And so you’ve grown dramatically. And over 18000 students have been at impact eighteen thousand three hundred thirty six LLC.
[00:15:57] Claudia. Exactly. Let’s not forget that.
[00:16:02] So why what is the why? What is the Greene? Don’t make any assumptions. I could probably pulled an answer together based on what you’ve already shared. But why do this?
[00:16:17] Seven years ago, I lost five important people in my life through accidents, natural deaths and tragic events. And it really made me question, Scott, the purpose of being in this country. The purpose of working and being very dedicated to what I do. And my mother said, I know that you want to come home to be with family. Please keep doing what you are doing. Keep loving what you love to do and come and visit me often. It was her support just that when almost four years prior, I said I’d like to go to the United States to learn to speak English. And she said, Claudia, I don’t have any money, but you can have all my love. So I think love in family, and whether it’s your child or your spouse or your partner. Expand that to now in a corporate setting at a time when it’s very difficult to express love. It’s very uncomfortable in some cases. Do you shake colleagues sign or do you give them a hug? Right. It is a very difficult time to express love. Sure, it is important to find the appropriate way to be.
[00:17:26] And I think that being authentic in who you are and being able to be just a little vulnerable. Sharing what makes you extremely committed to doing something, so the why for me is that after 20 years of being leading e-l yell and being affiliated with the SFR student, I feel that this is truly norways my legacy and I’ll just give you a concept for the younger audience. I always tell my daughters, Erica and Victoria, who are beautiful young women at 28 years old, that when you are young and you are evil. Yes. Twin girls when you’re young and you’re fortunate to go to call it just like I loved it. Economix and money in. Yes numbers. You get a job in your middle career, you are able to have and call it a profession. But if you’re fortunate to now begin to think about what impact I am having, then that becomes your legacy. And there are many thought leaders. Jack Ma, for example, in Alibaba has a very similar take in his own connection to education.
[00:18:28] And a quick sidebar there. Greg, as we’ve talked about, while most folks know the big A Alibaba has dwarfed them worldwide. Right. Yeah. Yeah. And Jack Mizer inspiration. Yeah, he’s a fascinating figure. Go ahead.
[00:18:42] I was seeing one show last year and at speaking to an audience of a thousand Chinese women, I had to find inspiration that was culturally appropriate. And I happened to have a fascinating colleague in the e-l office who is from the province of Bohun. And our hearts and prayers are going through right now. And I asked Chen, will it quote from Jack Ma be appropriate? Because sometimes culturally we need to be really thinking about that. Right. And he was very appropriate that it really was a quote that he said that if you want to build a good business, go on, find a great product. Go find a great idea. But if you want to find your legacy and create a building that has impact. Go and see how you are impacting both the downstream. So the environment, the society and the upstream, which is the governance. Which leads me to one of the thoughts that you had earlier. Greg, what are the trends? What are some of the things that we are seeing? We cannot live in a world where we are thinking that it is the American way. And I say that with all due respect, because I became a U.S. citizen, I had to study to pass all the exams. But is this concept of really embrace embracing a global view of our ecosystem as a society and our neighbors and in our doing business across the world? Yes. Interesting.
[00:20:11] So you go back, you say you’re addressing an audience of a thousand Chinese women and young ladies. Yes. Well, what was the main thrust of your address?
[00:20:20] It was the circular economy. And I was fascinated that the Chinese government invited me to speak about sustainability, social impact, entrepreneurship, because. Fascinating. Yes. Sixty seven percent of new businesses in China are headed by women entrepreneurs. Sixty seven percent of the new businesses of this sub is very small and medium enterprises. Women are making a tremendous impact. They are creating extraordinarily creative business models from how to recycle food to packaging to collaboration. All there are nine hours in this in this spectrum of sustainability, from recycling to reuse to redesign Lu and went through most of the front end. And so who are those leaders? What those entrepreneurs that can get a small loan and launch a business. So the concept was the circular economy and triple impact society, governance and environment.
[00:21:18] All right. So continuing kind of where we went there towards the latter part of what trends are out there that are really clearly no shortage of passion. And I love that. By the way, you need your own TV show. It comes across in your first impression.
[00:21:34] And there’s so much the why everyone’s was different. Right. And not to diminish anyone’s. Why, but this is a very powerful oir that clearly it’s a lot like, um, as as Claudio was talking about her while in with this backdrop of the reversal just association, I instantly went to Tony Shroder because he has got a powerful wife and he really believes in what he’s doing. And it’s not about money. It’s about changing the world. And I get the same thing.
[00:22:04] Your why is who you are, right? Vise versa.
[00:22:06] Really? We said a little bit. I’ll tell you about how was the serendipity of our encounter with Greg and the elevator in the elevator. I finished that story because it ties it exactly to this.
[00:22:18] Yesterday I would have a bright yellow dress and and Greg said, Are you here for work or for gambling or something?
[00:22:27] I said, I’m here for work.
[00:22:28] And I think it was the yellow color. What I do when I go to conferences this moment included that jacket, dick pants, a blouse, not a scarf, because he was a gift, but I wear clothes that I buy in the secondary market.
[00:22:45] I have all my wardrobe comes from a place called Close Mentor. This is a franchise. We are executive and business businesswomen. Men go and sell their things and then they, Claudius of the world will run any organization who truly believe in this idea that as I will try to get the name correctly. Steve Auton from Wal-Mart this morning said it is no longer take a product to its end of life. Take a product to its new life. So when I told to come, Victoria, that I will be standing in China at speaking about wearing secondhand clothes, they were like, No, mom, don’t embarrass yourself because you are in a nonprofit.
[00:23:32] You don’t make any money, you feel sorry for you.
[00:23:35] And I said quote from historians that if not me, who if not now when? So living that sense of authenticity, having the sense of an item. We are certainly making progress as women and executives, but not about the money that is in the sense of the old concept of success.
[00:23:59] So I want to ask you something. And as we continue down this theme, kind of a mixture of of your oua and global trends. So we’ve got to we have for as long really as long as we have been producing content, which goes back years to some our earliest webinars. We’re big proponents of sharing our platform with women and and women leaders. And because unfortunately, we’ve got a we’ve got a challenge, especially in Supply chain. Right. We’ve got to act a full access series, which is sponsored by Cap Gemini, which we’re really grateful for, to help put a spotlight on women leaders and make sure that your daughters and our daughters know and can see what they can aspire to. All right. We’ve been told by a lot of women leaders that so important. If you had to give advice to women that are maybe, maybe they’re in college or maybe they’re in high school and are contemplating their professional journey and maybe they don’t. Let’s face it a lot from what we’ve been told. I think anyone struggles with confidence. Right. But but clearly, how how can what advice from a confidence standpoint, from a how to get your feet wet and jump in and in, you know, find your why in life. Speak to that little bit.
[00:25:21] It’s an interesting question. I when I walked into this gorgeous meeting room yesterday, I was reminded of a couple of tricks and things that I have done and I have learned to develop that confidence. There was a time when I would walk in a room like this and I would be standing in the corner afraid to talk to anybody. We’ve been right. And I will not. And I’m I’m very pleased to tell you with with humility that sometimes now I walk into these rooms and I am the person they want to meet. So how does one get to that journey? So a couple of things. First of all, there is a sense about taking yourself seriously from the point of view of working really hard. You know, you can be invited to it’s conversation, but those that have sustaining power are the ones that really are contributing to be really curious about what is it that you want to become and learn about that. So I learned to network. I learned I got pulled from an elevator one time by my friend who said, next time I hear you telling your entire life story to a CEO, I’m going to hit the panic button in the elevator. You do not talk to a CEO telling them your entire life story is three seconds.
[00:26:30] It’s good. It’s great feedback and great feedback.
[00:26:33] And my dear friend Stephanie, who is the author of that story in my life. It’s a very successful woman. So second thing is study what you want to become and really know your subject and really become comfortable in a social setting. A couple of other things that were mentioned yesterday by Julia in our women luncheon at the value of mentors and mentors across industries, across gender, across culture, not just the senior person in your organization. That’s a different type of mentor. That’s called an advocate that someone that is your champion. But you do need to have someone that you can go and just scream really loud when things don’t go well so that when you are showing up, you’re confident. And you’ll have your your I.D.s along with what you want to do. Yeah, sometimes we only get a few minutes to make an impression.
[00:27:26] That’s right. And you got to have friends that would give you the frank feedback. Let Stephanie gave you. Yes. Right. All right. As much as I hate to start wanting that interview down and I’m glad that, you know, these interview schedules and programs, they evolve like living things. And sometimes we can make LATE Edition’s This was a great Late Edition. Great. So I’m glad you had the elevator moment. And clearly elevators have played an important role.
[00:27:54] So autist autistic, we’re doing so. Yeah, that’s right. They make elevators. Here’s a photos commercial that’s likely.
[00:28:02] So I have to tell you this a little bit about the story from my perspective. So I got on the the elevator. It was early in the morning coming down here to get things set up. I was wearing a repurposed free t shirt from a trade show that I had been I had gotten. But I looked pretty ratty. And on walks this giant, you know, as this lady is on on the elevator and I’m like, I have got to convince her that I’m not going to mug her and take her purse while I’m in the elevator. So I I, you know, just made small talk. And and what’s the chance? But, you know, it’s interesting because the theme sort of a unintentional theme of this show has been that personal interaction still exists today and is so important today. And I think that’s important for our daughter’s generation, generations. If you’ve got as many daughters as I do, to get to know is that that interpersonal interaction is so important. Yeah. And you know, it it makes things like this happen. This is a fantastic story. I would have never met elsewhere. Continue know if we hadn’t if we hadn’t had that experience in the you know, in the elevator. And this is such a fantastic story. This enlightening. It’s inspiring.
[00:29:17] It’s it’s own topic when it comes like supply chain versus Logistics. But also, there’s something beyond that, really, isn’t it? Yes. Some universal elements to your story. I think anyone could benefit from. So we’ll have to have you back home when we’ve got a lot more time to dove in. And if you’re ever in Atlanta to come visit our studio.
[00:29:34] I just have to do like I am in the neighborhood. Yeah. That’s right. How do they do that?
[00:29:38] Well, according to your world, the world is your neighborhood.
[00:29:41] It is 31 countries. I have visited, although I haven’t found an electric airplane yet. So, yeah, yeah. Aspect of travel is becoming another issue. Yes.
[00:29:50] It’s on its way, though. Yes, it is on its way.
[00:29:52] All right. So let’s make sure our listeners can get in touch with you, reconnect with you and e-mail Greene. So how can they find you?
[00:30:00] The easiest way to find me is by texting or calling my cell phone number.
[00:30:05] And a lot of people don’t want to do that. I don’t have a problem with telling you your pick. Go for it.
[00:30:11] So you can find me. I’m really active on Linked-In. So it’s Claudia at that freed at Linked-In. Of course, you know, perfect people truly can give me a call at 6 3 0 6 7 0 3 to 1. Or they can go to our Web site w w that e l Greene dot org. We had a nonprofit, an NGO. So that is their classification for that. And I’m also on Twitter under sis at donate donate. And then the number to sustain love. Donate to sustain. Love it.
[00:30:45] Great conversation. Really have enjoyed appreciate as busy as you are here and your keynote and the more appreciate carved out some time and yeah. I haven’t back on that kind of see how what goes on throughout 2020 at e-l. 0 8. E-mail Greene.
[00:31:01] Beautiful. Thank you so much for your time and to your audience for paying attention and for being Gates. Thanks a lot.
[00:31:07] So sit tight for a seconds to wrap up this episode, Claudia. We’re going to tell you where we’re going to be. That’s right. Hey, so we like to invite our audience, come check us out in person, much like we just did here today.
[00:31:18] And Greg, we’ve got a slew of events coming up, including this one that we get to go back to Atlanta in March for Moto X, Moto X show dot com 35000 of your most close friends in Supply chain. Right. And show is free. March 9th through the 12th. And then on the 10th, this March 10th, Vetlanta Supply chain Awards sponsored by Supply chain now and the Metro Atlanta Jump Chamber of Commerce, CSC, MPE Atlanta Roundtable and Apex, Atlanta. And our friend Chris Barnes.
[00:31:53] That’s right. We’re we’re Modot giving awards to, you know, best thing that mutex is free to go to. Yeah. Freedom Network at the Free to benchmark and share best practices insights, mode X Show dot com. As you mentioned, emoji x Sherkin. And then you were about last punch in awards dot com Atlantis.
[00:32:15] You know of that wasted syllable.
[00:32:18] Hey, man, so we’re still taking nominations for 10 more days, so we do have some really innovative nominations around company culture and sustainability and that sort of thing as well, so we’d encourage you to nominate anyone that, you know, that’s doing great things or anyone out there. And then we’re off to after that, we’re off to Michigan. Sunny Detroit. That’s right. Yeah. No, VI Michigan. So we’ll be at the AIAG, the Automotive Industry Action Group. Jim Liegghio, or good friend there from Charleston. OK. He’s from Michigan. But we met him at Daryl will be joining their corporate co-responsibility summit.
[00:33:01] Yes. April 28, 29. Yes. Ah. And then the Vetlanta Supply chain summit to follow June 9th. And then the day after that, June 10th, which so June 9th is a public event. Yelchin Summit. Yeah. Agee’s Supply chain Summit that following day. I believe the plan is a good Wayne State University, as you mentioned the last episode, and interact with some of their faculty and supply chain students. They evidently, from what we’ve been her, we’ve been told, have a burgeoning supply chain program.
[00:33:32] Sue-lin, they’re doing it’s a great program. One of the schools from which I was rejected.
[00:33:36] Admission of no doubt that we’ll stop it.
[00:33:42] Let’s check with our ah architect. We’ll fact check that with Malcolm. And then finally, to close out the current calendar, we work on a couple of things, some great partners. But Amy Vetlanta 12:20 Lean’s summit is coming back to Atlanta, May 4th to the 7th. We’ll be streaming lab on the first day of that event with a bunch of folks at Love Manufacturing and they love continuous improvement and be a great event.
[00:34:07] And it’s a precursor, as you’ve mentioned, to 2021 when Amy bringing their international conference to Atlanta.
[00:34:15] Well, not all Supply chain City. That’s right. It’s my city. That and that’s kind of a moniker for Atlanta. And what we’ve been we’ve been evangelists for shamelessly self-promoting.
[00:34:26] Yes. Nothing wrong with that. And you see a Latina in Thailand. Yes.
[00:34:30] April 24th. OK. And I will be leading a panel in the company of the chief sustainability officer for Pepsi. Oh, outstanding teeth development officer for Daryl in Thailand, in Asia on the topic of sustainability. And that is part of the global summit of women. Helps to t-s women leaders learn from one another how I love it.
[00:34:52] So what we do. Key takeaway I got from her experience. We may do remote, but after that conference. Yeah. Let’s reconnect and recap to get your. Yeah. Your key takeaways. What a incredible opportunity. It sounds fantastic. Yeah. Yes, it is. Is there anywhere else you’re gonna be in the next.
[00:35:10] I will be at participating. This is not really a conference, but we are honored to have been selected as a prestigious member of Technical panel by the Underwriter Laboratories. Every time you plug something in. Yeah. You are Lavonda. They have just created a panel on determining what constitutes a business model that qualifies as a circular economy model. Now panel member. So I would be in the door area at the Research Triangle. February 27, North Carolina.
[00:35:41] Love it. Yeah. Well, we’re gonna get reconnected with you. Really have enjoyed our time with you. Claudia Freed with e-mail Greene where she serves as CEO. Greg, Will we missed before we sign off here?
[00:35:55] I don’t know. But off camera? Yes. I’d like to ask this in front of my wife, especially Zouk, if I give you a hug.
[00:36:04] No permission required. But I appreciate the fact that your wife gets this. It’s about respect. What was this? Yes. You know that we had a hugger in the 800+. So.
[00:36:17] But really, this is an inspirational topic. I love what you’ve done. I love that you’ve come to another country to do it. It’s really impressive what you’ve done. And yeah. It’s an inspiration. I agree. Thank you.
[00:36:29] Thank you. Thank you to the team for putting all together and making us look fabulous and sound. That’s right. All right.
[00:36:37] So on that note, we’re going to wrap up and then we’re gonna hug a big thanks to our guests here today. Big thanks to our listeners for tuning in to our audience. Be sure to check out other upcoming events. Past episodes, replays, rare interviews, other resources at Supply Chain Now Radio dot com. You can find our podcasts where we your podcast from Spotify, Apple podcast, Google Play is it? And YouTube. Be sure to subscribe. Still missing thing on behalf the entire team here, including Tony Sciarrotta who is ringing in our ears as we.
[00:37:10] Man, he is chatting it up. Scott Luton. Greg White. The whole team. Stay tuned as we continue our live coverage of the reverse. Logistics. SCAC. Conference expo right here in Las Vegas, Nevada. The center of what universe Greg White this reverse Logistics supply chain universe. Thanks everyone.
Would you rather watch the show in action?
Watch Scott and Greg as they welcome Claudia Freed with EALgreen to the Supply Chain Now booth at the RLA Conference & Expo in Las Vegas, NV.
Featured Guests
Claudia Freed is a business leader with a strong record of managing challenging situations and creating value for all involved. She became part of EALgreen in 1982 when she was chosen to become the first low-income scholarship recipient to receive the gift of a college education. With the EAL scholarship, Claudia earned a degree in Economics and worked in the financial sector, commodities trading, and credit risk management, moving on to management consulting under a selective program designed to lend private sector expertise to the City of Chicago government. EAL was founded on the principle of “paying it forward” and was engineered as a proof-of-concept on the importance of social and environmental impact in the business world. It’s mission is education. EAL exchanges excess inventory for scholarships using supply chain as the solution for reallocating resources between two sectors: businesses and higher education.
Twenty-five years ago, Claudia was recruited to return to EAL as Executive Director and in 2016, she was named CEO. This full-circle story has been professionally rewarding as she has served on more than 10 boards of directors, including Chicago NPR affiliate WBEZ, traveled the world, and now she is on Supply Chain Now Radio. Together with an amazing team, EAL has grown to be a national organization that has impacted the lives of nearly 19,000 students empowering them through education while helping the environment.
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