Supply Chain Now
Episode 856

We always talk a big game in supply chain and we always kind of brag about how the world revolves around what we do and how we move things. So this is the time to prove it. Let's do it.

-Enrique Alvarez

Episode Summary

Regardless of industry, but certainly for supply chain, there’s no bigger headline of the day than the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The Buzz for March 14 features Scott, Greg, guest co-host Enrique Alvarez in conversation with Dominique Love and Dawid Adach of EO Poland as they collaborate to deliver crucial aid to Ukrainian refugees at the Polish border. Tune in to learn more about the pressing challenges facing the Ukrainian people as they seek shelter from conflict, how supply chain professionals are uniquely positioned to deliver meaningful relief, why support must continue for the long term and more.

Episode Transcript

Intro/Outro (00:00:03):

Welcome to supply chain. Now the voice of global supply chain supply chain now focuses on the best in the business for our worldwide audience, the people, the technologies, the best practices, and today’s critical issues. The challenges and entities Stay tuned to hear from those making global business happen right here on supply chain now.

Scott Luton (00:00:30):

Hey, good morning, Scott Luton, Greg White, and Enrique Alvarez with you here on supply chain. Now, welcome to today’s livestream. Uh, Greg, how are you, how are you doing, doing

Greg White (00:00:39):

Well very well. So he, he is, uh, becoming a, uh, a regular, right. You were just on Friday as well.

Scott Luton (00:00:48):

He, uh, yes, a very, uh, really let let’s let’s call it like it is, he’s a rock and roll star, a cross global business, and it’s great to have him here with us. And, and we had a, you know, we had a, a compelling conversation on Friday, uh, really enjoyed Enrique and Claudia and Cora’s perspective on Ukraine and, and, uh, everything that’s going on there. Um, due to the Russian invasion, how that’s impacting global business, but also how it’s impacting frankly humanity and, and how folks can, can help. So, uh, that’s gonna be, we’re gonna continue that theme here today is we’ve got two big guests, uh, joining us around, uh, 1230, uh, Dominic love and the V doc, uh, who is in Poland. Uh, we’re, we’re gonna hear their, their POV and perspectives firsthand as well as Greg Enrique. How are global ecosystem can jump in and help, uh, and help people in need. So, uh, Enrique really quick, um, from Friday to today, what’s, what’s going through your mind right now.

Enrique Alvarez (00:01:46):

Well, I’m super happy to be here. I know that I’m crashing your boss party. Um, gotta say it honestly, but no, I’m always happy to share the microphone with both of you. I learn a lot and, uh, something that I might not have mentioned on Friday, is that what you’re doing and just highlighting people like the ones that’re highlighting today is very important. So thank you to you, to the supply chain. Now, team, I know that you guys jumped into this Ukraine crisis very, very quickly and, uh, and you’re just good people. So I, I, I’m happy to be with you and, and I’m really happy to, to make sure that, uh, we can help people in the Ukraine right now, cause they’re really struggling

Scott Luton (00:02:20):

Well said, you know, if there’s any to drop what we’re doing, change of plans and, and change, uh, a focus of our conversations and shows it is what’s going on in Ukraine. We’re absolutely committed to, to helping drive action to help those in need, Greg, uh, your thoughts.

Greg White (00:02:38):

Yeah. I mean, we’ve talked a lot about the impact on the supply chain, but also the supply chains potential in packed on this crisis because everything that’s needed gets delivered. So, um, you know, it’s very circular this problem and obviously bigger than this industry, but, but wholly and intricately woven. Right. So agreed. Absolutely. Um, I look, uh, let’s face it. This is really relevant, no matter what your industry, your job, your role, your point of view is, um, this is the most important thing going on on the planet right now. Mm

Scott Luton (00:03:15):

Well said. Um, so we’re gonna, you know, this is this supply chain buzz. We come at you every Monday at 12 noon, uh, highly focused on the leading news, uh, from across global industry. We’re gonna touch on that, but really the bulk of our conversation and time today is gonna focus on, uh, a couple of leaders that are really involved in the humanitarian, uh, support and relief, uh, headed to those in needs. So stay tuned for as Dominique and the V join us about 1230 or so. Um, couple of program notes, uh, let’s make sure folks, you know, it’s, it’s tough to go from Ukraine to any kind of program or award session or you name it. But the, the important bridge here is we’re using our 2022 supply and procurement awards to attack modern slavery and human trafficking, which are, are some of the issues of our time.

Scott Luton (00:04:06):

So nominations are open. You can learn more at supply chain, procurement awards.com. And then one other event we wanna make sure is on folks, radar, Greg, the global upstate conference on international business and foreign affairs. You know, these types of events and conversations and dialogue is how we prevent things from happening. We have a better common understanding of, of what we can do in times of crisis. So, um, so March 29th through 31st, uh, supply chain now is proud to, to help make this happen. Greg white and Kevin L. Jackson, uh, two of our, of our team members here will be appearing on panels. And Greg, what else would you add about, uh, this event coming up in a couple weeks,

Greg White (00:04:45):

We’re gonna have foreign dignitaries and, uh, military generals and business professionals from frankly all over the world, uh, at this. And, um, Kevin and I are gonna be speaking on te and its role in international affairs and, and international dealings of all kinds, frankly, and, um, supply chain as well. So we’ve been invited by this group to, to join them, to share some of our thoughts along with some academicians and other supply chain practitioners and technology practitioners, um, you know, as to how our role, how, what our role can be in, you know, in international business and governmental and geopolitical affairs.

Scott Luton (00:05:34):

Hmm. So if we could, uh, big, thanks, Amanda, Chantel and Catherine helping to make production happen, uh, behind the scenes. If we could drop the link to the, this, uh, conference registration’s open, and we want to encourage folks to get involved in the dialogue that Greg is describing. Okay, we’re gonna say hello to a few folks, and then we’re gonna tackle a couple of, uh, of other, uh, goings on across global business. And then we’re gonna have our guests come in, uh, uh, right around. Is it the bottom? I never get top of our bottom hour. It’s OK.

Greg White (00:06:04):

Bottom,

Scott Luton (00:06:05):

Bottom. OK.

Greg White (00:06:05):

I go with where the hand is pointing on this, these things we used to have called clocks. They were often round. Yes. For those of you, who’ve never seen one.

Scott Luton (00:06:16):

I official now bottom of the hour en Rek, bottom of the hour. Okay. Gary Smith tuned in our dear friend, Gary Smith. Hey, Gary, I’ve enjoyed your perspective. I’ve seen published in a couple newsletters. Of course you, your keynote left and right. Uh, and as Greg pointed out, it must be chilly up in long island. I wonder what the temp is up there, Greg.

Greg White (00:06:35):

I don’t real, I don’t wanna know. Uh, you know, we had a little bit of a weather report as we gathered the team this morning, before we kicked off today and found out it both hailed and snowed in Baltimore really?

Scott Luton (00:06:46):

Right. Goodness gracious.

Greg White (00:06:49):

Yeah. As if one isn’t bad enough,

Scott Luton (00:06:51):

Uh, Enrique, we, we gotta get some port reports from you and vector global logistics team. We’ll save that for bottom of the hour, perhaps we see

Greg White (00:07:00):

Here.

Scott Luton (00:07:00):

Perfect. All right. Great to have you here. Uh, Josh is tuned in again, Josh, you’re talking about becoming regulars really have enjoyed his contributions. Uh, and he says, sorry, Greg. I was hoping for a tie versus a loss for the Tottenham spurs. Is that right?

Greg White (00:07:15):

AUM hot spurs.

Scott Luton (00:07:16):

Hot spurs.

Greg White (00:07:17):

Hot spurs. Yeah.

Scott Luton (00:07:18):

Yeah. About that. Yeah. Uh, great to have you Josh SU sushi. Great to have you here today. Tuned in via LinkedIn. Once again, let us know where you’re tuned in from, Hey Peter, Peter Bole all night and all day. Uh, welcome in. And Peter, I saw on LinkedIn, I think it was you and a group of colleagues were given like a $50,000 check to a nonprofit drop, that link. We gotta celebrate stuff like that. Talk about action. These not words, drop that link into comments. We want to lift that up and appreciate all that you do. Uh, Greg, there might be just a little bit of passion in our friend Peter Bole. Huh?

Greg White (00:07:52):

I, you never know it by the, by his posts. Yeah, of course. I mean, and you know, he’s got a really broad base of knowledge. I think having worked for air Canada and Ben in procurement, he’s seen a lot of the world and a lot of how the world operates. So

Scott Luton (00:08:06):

Yeah, agreed

Greg White (00:08:07):

A lot of wisdom there,

Scott Luton (00:08:08):

A lot of wisdom, uh, invo, great to have you here today, tuned in via LinkedIn. Thanks for joining us. Ja neat. Uh, really have enjoyed your perspective, uh, both via social in the live streams. He says, good morning, Scott, Greg Enrique. It’s really outrageous to see that in today’s time and age Putin’s war. It’s a great point. There Putin’s war has zero regard for global community efforts and humanitarian violations have increased we’re with you. Um, you know, as, as a great point was made Friday and we hate enough this isn’t Russian people’s war, right? Uh, they’re bravely coming out in scores and multitudes and they’re getting arrested. And I saw images the, over the weekend, Greg and Enrique of, um, a Russian band. It was playing a protest song and they got first few notes out. And then, uh, uh, the police came in and beat them up and haul ’em off. I mean, it’s, it’s horrible. Never

Greg White (00:09:06):

To be seen again, likely.

Scott Luton (00:09:08):

Right, right. So, I

Greg White (00:09:09):

Mean, that takes guts. I think it, I think it’s important for people to understand that when you protest against the government in countries like Russia, you are likely never to be seen again. So it takes an incredible amount of, of courage to frankly, risk your life like that.

Scott Luton (00:09:26):

Agreed, agreed. Uh, and, and we hope to, we hope to see it, you know, that hopefully the Russian people will continue to find their voice and made their will known, uh, which hopefully will help, uh, put an end to the, at the atrocities and the invasion and the aggression and the suffering. But, um, uh, anyway, on a much lighter note, Peter dropped in the, the, the com the link that showed, uh, their recent projects. So y’all check that out and, and lift it up. Uh, we need actions like that now more than ever before, for sure. Um, okay. So Enrique Kay, and Greg, we’re gonna kind of ex expedite our approach through some of these news stories, so we can get into our conversation with Dominique and David. So it’s gonna be a bit of an express, so y’all feel free. If you wanna make a comment, feel free to say, Hey, time out, Scott, let me, let me add something here, cause I’m gonna move him kind of fast.

Scott Luton (00:10:18):

Um, just prior to, as we, as our team assembled, um, today’s buzz, uh, late breaking news, uh, Greg and Enrique China, I don’t have a graphic for this yet. China is shutting down plants in the manufacturing hubs of shin, Zen and Chan K Chan, uh, apologies as COVID breaks have begun. So more to come on that, uh, really soon. All right. So adding here, uh, we’re gonna talk about, uh, via tech crunch, Kodiak robotics, and see the logistics. Now it’s new partnership. The trucking startup has been delivering freight autonomously between Dallas Fort worth and Austin since November, 2021. Uh, but they’re adding routes between Cody, uh, Cody. I conceive our adding routes between Dallas Fort worth and Oklahoma city. So just the latest step to wider scale adoption across logistics for autonomous trucking and get this Greg and Kay, I didn’t know this, uh, according to article, most of the country’s autonomous freight is being moved in the state of Texas, which kind of makes it given all the highways and byways and just a, a sheer size. And Greg we’ve seen that, uh, a lot of those roads, uh, up close and in person, huh?

Greg White (00:11:27):

We have, uh, on a trip to a Reuters event some years back, right.

Scott Luton (00:11:31):

That’s right.

Greg White (00:11:32):

Feels like ages ago now, but there are a number of companies doing this as well, testing this. And, uh, I think it’s an important development. Uh, you know, we’ve talked about this, there aren’t enough drivers and there likely, never will be again. So this is gonna be a critical part of moving freight on the ground.

Scott Luton (00:11:51):

Agreed, agreed. Enrique, uh, autonomous trucking continues to, to take more and more of a firmer route, uh, within industry. Any comment there? Yeah.

Enrique Alvarez (00:12:01):

Everyone that’s on logistics actually, um, waits anxiously for this to be a reality, right? Cuz there’s not enough equipment in the market. There’s not enough truck drivers in the market. So the more, the more we see about this stigma, a logical advances, the uh, the happier we are, hopefully, uh, we’ll, we’ll get there soon enough.

Scott Luton (00:12:18):

Agreed. Um, moving right along diesel,

Greg White (00:12:22):

Speaking of trucking,

Scott Luton (00:12:23):

Speaking of trucking, no kidding. Uh, moving right along, but more expensively. Uh, goodness gracious talk diesel, uh, as reported by transport topics. The price for diesel fuel is setting records the first week of March. And this was, this was a couple weeks ago, right? First week of March at rose in unprecedented, almost 75 cents per gallon to a new, all time record of $4 and 80, about 85 cents per gallon. And Greg Enrique, that’s just the national average, right, right. In California at Lee of the time that this article was written, it was almost six bucks a gallon, Greg, your quick response.

Greg White (00:13:00):

Well, it, it had increased 25% even before that. So in a lot of this is on the heels of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and now the cessation of many companies doing business with them for fossil fuels. So it’s tragic, but it’s to be expected and it will continue. As long as this conflict continues.

Scott Luton (00:13:19):

Agreed, agreed. Uh, we’re gonna skip over the girl, girl scout, cookie supply chain issues. That was, that was a lighter note, but we’re gonna skip past that.

Greg White (00:13:28):

Suffice it to say there are issues just like with everything else and thin mince may be hard to come by.

Scott Luton (00:13:34):

Oh man. Uh, I wish that was at the top of our list of the pains and, and challenges and global

Greg White (00:13:41):

Business. Right. That seems like a relief we could use. Doesn’t it. Okay. At least to get our, our girl scout cookies

Scott Luton (00:13:46):

Well said, Greg, but what I wanna, uh, I wanna get you to comment on this as we, as we move into, uh, our guest discussion with Dominique and DVY you here in just a moment. Sure. I loved Enrique. I’m not sure if you saw this as well, but you know, uh, Greg publishes, uh, wonderful supply chain commentary every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and this Greg, your, your take on this article that could be found in supply chain, dive really attracted a lot of comments, a lot of eyeballs. Uh, and it’s just more, more of the, the supply chain gospel by preacher, Greg white. So Greg give us a, you know, we can’t do it justice, but give us kind of a, the thrust of your point you were making here.

Greg White (00:14:25):

Yeah. Well the, I mean the shortest way to say it is this, this author was not just encouraging, but actually chiding procurement professionals to lead more, by caring more and changing things, changing the way they do business, who they do business with type of companies and you know, and the kind of initiatives that they can undertake in their job. And the point, uh, that I made relative to this article was that they it’s not that they don’t care it’s that they’re not empowered by their companies who don’t care. One of the statements was they don’t pay me to care. That’s what one of the people interviewed in the article said, and that’s an absolute truth. And in fact, it’s also a truth that they are paid in some cases compensated for thing that are the opposite of caring and that, um, and that the companies really need to take the fore and enabling and empowering their employees, their ambassadors to the world to do things that are good for humankind that are good for the environment.

Greg White (00:15:26):

Good. You know, um, all, all of those things. So that was the point of this article is if we want people to lead with caring, right, or to be caring in their job, it has to be a safe environment to be able to do so. They have to be able to make suggestions, maybe even challenge and change things within their companies. But the companies are what have to change. Because, uh, in in fact, one of the people who, um, commented on the article said she nearly lost her job. Um, getting threatening letters from leadership and called into a meeting to be shamed because I asked people in my office to help families in need after a Des devastating fire in California. So it’s the opposite that these companies are often even, even opposite what they’re signaling, they’re carrying and their initiatives within the marketplace. Again, as Scott, as you say, deeds, not words these companies have to, if they want their people to, or if other professionals and want people to be able to act, they have to be safe to do so.

Scott Luton (00:16:33):

Agreed. Agreed. Well, I wanna go ahead. I wanna give you a chance of comment, but before I do, I think right along these lines that Greg’s talking about, I wanna bring in Peter Bo’s comments because talking about a culture that enables folks to care and to take action is it’s Enrique, uh, what you, the culture you’ve implemented at vector global logistics, right. Right. Which is why we we’ve got our guests here today, that’re that are doing big things to help folks in need. So Peter says he SLTs all three for raising awareness and funding for special causes. Enrique Alvarez with vector has contributed significantly to the world with their commitments across many, many channels. So Enrique now with that said, um, your comment,

Enrique Alvarez (00:17:15):

Well, thank you very much, Peter. And I don’t know if we’re doing big things, but we’re certainly trying to help in any way we can even small or big. It doesn’t really matter. As long as you’re trying. And to Greg’s point, I think, uh, companies that don’t have caring or purpose in their core and as part of their business, try to either it’s simply not gonna be around for long, right? So it’s like, it’s one of those things that you can say, Hey, companies, you should do this. You should empower your employees. Or the alternatives, like keep doing what you’re doing. You’re not gonna be around soon enough because our next, the next generation is going to wanna work with companies that really care about people. They really want going to work with companies that really believe in something and stand for something. And so, again, I’m not too concerned about this. If companies don’t want do it, then it’s fine. We won’t see you around in 10 years.

Scott Luton (00:18:01):

Hmm. Well said, um,

Greg White (00:18:04):

Funny, I saw an article. I, I saw an article that, um, one of, one of the partners at, uh, Kuber the venture capital firm I worked with sent that said, it’s not that people don’t wanna work. They don’t wanna work for you. Right. So those companies that Enrique is, is talking about exactly problem.

Scott Luton (00:18:23):

It is, uh, completely agree. Both y’all well said. And, and I, I love how y’all throw to go it down and it’s not a singular action. It’s, it’s, it’s who you are. Right. It’s who you are every day. So, um, heads up to the production team. We got through all the news faster than even I expected. So we’re gonna be bringing our guests in here in just a moment. So Dominique and, um, uh, VE will be joining us in just a second. Wanna share a couple quick comments. It is so neat to have kaon back with us. Kaon is doing a lot of great beyond what he’s doing, industry, doing a lot of writing and blogging about what’s going on and what folks need to do. So Kavon, great to have you here as always Jason, great to have you. He’s in, DC’s a supply chain pro he says Putin is begging for our seal team, just as my there, waiting on that call.

Scott Luton (00:19:12):

Strong words for that from Jason T. Hopkin’s great to see you here. Uh, Jason, and then Jacob, appreciate the feedback. Thanks to supply chain now for the consistency. Hey, you give from what you have. And, um, you know, the, the spotlight we’ve been building here, we wanna put that on the right spots and the right places in the right people and topics at as often as we can. So Jacob, great to have you here tuned in, okay. With all of that said, Greg Enrique, I’m gonna, I’m gonna go ahead and welcome him in our two guests here today. Really, really, um, you know, if this is any kind of conversation like we had on Friday, um, I hope that it stirs people to take action and, and contribute at whatever resources they can towards the good fight to help the folks, uh, in Ukraine and Europe. So with that said, wanna bring in Dominique love CEO of the no group and David ADOC present of EO Poland. Hey, Dominique, David. Good afternoon. How are you both doing, Hey

Dominique Love (00:20:10):

Scott. Hey Greg. Thank you for having us here.

Greg White (00:20:12):

Yeah, thank you for joining us.

Scott Luton (00:20:14):

Yeah, I really appreciate, uh, your, your flexibility in light of everything that’s going on, Dominique and David, let’s start with you both here. So just a level set before we get into your observations, uh, and reaction and, and what you’re doing and how folks can help. Let’s just tell if you would, um, our ecosystem here and our community here about self and dominate. Let’s start with you.

Dominique Love (00:20:34):

Hey, so I’m a serial entrepreneur. Um, I’m getting ready to launch my, my next startup, which is a culinary centric community, um, outside of Atlanta, um, coming very soon. I’m a part of an organization called entrepreneurs organization. It’s a global group that, um, represents 15,000 entrepreneurs and also has about, um, 200 chapters around the globe. Um, and through that organization, I got connected to EO, Poland and w in particular, because he’s the president of the organization. What I was seeing that they were doing was really amazing and so decided to roll up my sleeves in a very simple way. Um, and then, you know, whenever you raise your hand, how you sometimes just get pulled right on in there, and that’s exactly what happened. So since, um, then, and actually it was a supply chain, a shipping issue that caused w to like guilt me into doing more. Um, I had about a hundred or so mattresses shipped to his apartment in, um,

Scott Luton (00:21:30):

A hundred mattresses. Dominique is what I heard apartment

Dominique Love (00:21:34):

Been to his apartment, roll up mattresses. Um,

Scott Luton (00:21:38):

Wow.

Dominique Love (00:21:40):

And so he heed me into leading some fundraising efforts and by chance I have a background in Phil. So, um, it’s worked out really well. And, um, he’ll talk about it, but I, I will tell you from an American side of you, um, you know, you see it on TV, you get it, you, you understand it pulls at your heartstrings, but it’s not until you’re talking to someone when you’re really interacting with someone across the table, who’s, who’s there on the front lines that you truly get it. And as I mentioned to you all before there, there are stories that came through and experiences that David has shared with me that will, will literally drop you to your knees. And it is our duty. We can’t be there for a number of reasons, you know, politically and war and all of those things. But we, as, especially as Americans need to roll up our sleeves and do it, we do best get their, and let’s help. ’em however we can.

Scott Luton (00:22:30):

Amen, Dominique, uh, amen. Every single syllable you just shared. And I, I will also add gosh, be with our leaders. Uh, they’ve got the, a very difficult job walking this fine line between addressing the suffering and the aggression and preventing world war II from taking place. So make cooler heads, but put it into the atrocity. So, Dominique, what a wonderful segue into David, uh, thank you for joining us and please, uh, following up Dominique’s intro there. Tell us about yourself and, and, um, and your, why, what, why are we doing this and what the need is?

Dawid Adach (00:23:05):

Sure. Um, so like Dominique said, uh, we know each other because we are part of the, an entrepreneurs organization. So I happen to be an entrepreneur as well. I have a software company in Poland. Uh, but yeah, that obviously doesn’t matter now. So, uh, two years back, we launched EO chapter. Uh, so there are like 50 people, 50 entrepreneurs, and now, and it just happened that we are happened to us, that we are the closest to what’s going on in Ukraine. So, uh, yeah, we just, you know, like in our companies, we just had to, we, we see we, we do, we act, we, we need to, uh, we realize that we have to do something, especially that, you know, since we are close to Ukraine and a lot of our, uh, members are doing business or actually been doing business there because obviously now everything is gone.

Dawid Adach (00:23:46):

Uh, we just, we just, we just, uh, start doing, uh, and, and, and acting. And then I, that’s how I met so many amazing people, which are supporting the cause, like Dominique, and, but also like hundreds of other peoples and Frankie speaking. I mean, you know, I have like 200 plus unread messages. I’m just not capable of all the, all the questions or the support I just got. And, and, and yeah, and talking about what’s needed it. And maybe let’s start with some facts for, um, you know, the United nations just today morning. They said that there is like 2.7 million or refugees, which went out of the Ukraine, uh, out of that 1.7 came to Poland. So it’s, uh, you know, uh, if we’re gonna keep up this space, we’re gonna have like 10% more population in Poland within like two weeks. Yeah. There is a lot of, uh, rumors about ki evacuation, which might happen.

Dawid Adach (00:24:32):

Kiev is another, you know, 3 million cities. So that’s gonna happen another 1.5 million hit us in, in, in two or maybe, maybe, maybe three days. Right? Mm. So obviously we, we, uh, what really great about you, the organization we are part is that, uh, you know, as entrepreneurs, you have to be rationale, you have to act, you have to work, right. So there is no time for doing, for any political movement or, you know, agreement, disagreement, even blaming. We just do act. Um, so I wanted to share with you a couple of stories. So we have this, um, this so called, Hey,

Scott Luton (00:25:03):

David, really quick. Can I interrupt just a second before we get, uh, and, uh, again, thanks for carving time out, just on the intro, Greg en Enrique and Greg, wanna get your response. First as Davi started to talk about his software company, he, he said, but that doesn’t matter. Now that does not matter. Now, Greg, your reaction before we get into some of these stories,

Greg White (00:25:24):

It does matter. Right. But I understand where David is coming from because he, he still has to have a livelihood, but promoting it doesn’t right. The business matters, but promoting it doesn’t. So I think that’s big, uh, DVE of you and everything that you’re doing in the last statement you just made. There’s no time for agreement or disagreement or, or a political action standings or whatever you just have to act. And I, I think that’s a, that’s a really good perspective.

Scott Luton (00:25:52):

Agreed, agreed. And Enrique, your quick reaction, before we, we hear some of the stories from David,

Enrique Alvarez (00:25:57):

I’ve been, I’ve been part of an EO for a couple years now, but I’ve never felt like so proud. And I actually have seen the actual impact and, and changed that this organization can have on people. And, um, I think, uh, Dominique included me to the WhatsApp group that initially, uh, people in Europe and in PO in particular had, and, uh, some of the stories like, and I’m sure that Wes gonna share some of them, but what the WIS doing and everyone else in, in Europe is amazing. And, and we just have to, I just feel kind of humbled to be part of this or organization and

Scott Luton (00:26:29):

Agreed.

Enrique Alvarez (00:26:30):

I tried to do as much as I can, so no, this is the stories are heartbreaking for sure.

Scott Luton (00:26:35):

Mm. Um, really quick, Peter pointing out air Canada, flowing, uh, flying products to support Ukraine and the link there. Uh, Jack neat is kind of supporting what David says. Poland has seen the most number of boarding crossings from Ukraine, uh, and Donna welcome in from Houston via LinkedIn. Thanks for joining us here today. Uh, and hello, Dr. Ronda, by the way, uh, great to have you here as well. All right. So David and Dominique, uh, David, let’s stick with you, um, share some of these stories that kind of maybe help illustrate, uh, what’s going on and, and why we must take action.

Dawid Adach (00:27:07):

Sure. I mean, to be, to, to be really honest with you, I dunno how deep I can go, but because it’s really heartbreaking, but let me just give you a few stories from, uh, from, from yesterday or two days back section, you know, so we have this, um, this, this, this WhatsApp group, uh, we call it like client of a crisis management group. There are people from different NGOs organization, E or Y P or whatever. And we try to react cuz obviously those are like entrepreneurs or some even politicians. So they have, um, you know, any means to, to, to do it. And there was this message, which was really heartbreaking few days back, which was basically stating Greg, you mentioned there was like snowing in Baltimore. Right? And, and, and, you know, the message was like, Hey, we need and something to hit people up because these people are waiting curing.

Dawid Adach (00:27:48):

They’re walking to the, from the Ukraine to the border towards border for three days long. And it’s like 21 foreign foreign Heights there, like minus six, three Celsius and children died there. I mean like dozens of children simply died. So I can’t even imagine, you know, can I have a daughter? And I can’t even imagine walking for three days long without like with whatever you can, you can, you can bring with you like two bags at most or one bag and the, and, and your children in your hand and you have to walk because there is no other way and it’s totally blocked. And then you have, you know, some of them, they are, you know, they are being shot by because the Russians, they claim to have the corridors open, but they actually don’t. So, uh, you know, I can’t imagine that I’ve seen people on the, on the, um, you know, train stations and, you know, you see those children, they they’re making up like a beds from, from the beds or backpacks they have with them.

Dawid Adach (00:28:41):

And, and, you know, they just make a place for the children and they, they sleep a on, on, on, on, on, on our chair, whatever it’s there. Um, so, um, and obviously, you know, we have a lot of pictures and, and I don’t want to share that because, you know, we also need to take care of those people, dignity. And this is also one of the important thing to mention is that this, um, what’s happening there, this, this crisis in every area is like, you know, physical health, mental health, but also, you know, the dignity that happened to her friend of mine, she accepted refugees. And, you know, when you think refugee, you might, um, you know, you have some picture in your mind. I had, you know, uh, before I had like the Syrian refugees or, or something like that. So you see like, uh, poor people, but that’s not true.

Dawid Adach (00:29:22):

I mean, that’s true, true, not true anymore. So the, the, the, the, the lady which had to enter her flat, the first thing she said, she said, uh, I’m sorry, I, I dunno how to behave because this first time happened to me in my life. And I had like a decent life there, and I have nothing now. Right. And I know I need to beg you. I need to ask you, so, you know, you don’t even know how to, how to act, how to react on that. Right. You want to be supportive, but no, you, you also feel that if you got too much support, it’s also not gonna worry because the, the people gonna lose their dignity. And so it’s, it’s, yeah. I can’t even describe that. It’s just really, so the other thing is like, you know, we, we, we do offer a lot of support and the friend of mine told me, you know, uh, we send them like, uh, we are sending, we are working in different areas.

Dawid Adach (00:30:06):

So we are sending ES we are working also to give them, you know, um, roof under their heads. So we are building shelters. We are obviously bringing food, but we also try to take care about the, the youngsters, the children we’re giving them, them, them, uh, you know, toys, whatever. Um, and then this, I heard this, uh, the friend of mine saying me like, you know, um, your support is incredible, but I have to, you have to forgive me as I cannot smile back. It’s like, even this, this normal reaction, this is, this is not, this is, this is the scale. So

Scott Luton (00:30:39):

The V um, let, let me get down and Greg, to respond to what you’ve shared already. Uh, Dominique, it sounds like, uh, the mattress, the roll up mattress mattresses that you sent are going maybe to kids and, and others that need a need some sort of comfort to, to get some.

Dominique Love (00:30:55):

Yeah. Yeah. And, and, and Scott, it, um, I mean, even now I I’ve been living this to it at a distance, and I’m still tripped up with each story is on that chat group. And on that chat group, there’s a CEO of a fashion company, um, out of Paris. And, um, she has operations in the us as well. And, um, some of us probably wear some of her leisure clothes and she wrote on the chat, helped me. My family is coming across the border. If you can get them to, um, Prague, I can get them. I just need help. And said, here they were crossing two minutes, not two hours, two minutes. A response from a member of EO said, I’m on my way. And that single thing said, this is not that hard. We can do more. So that’s when I just said, I kept hearing them talking about lodging, lodging, lodging, and because I have a background in philanthropy and, you know, even disaster relief that I just immediately went on to Amazon, Poland is the only thing I knew to do.

Dominique Love (00:31:58):

And, um, ordered a bunch of ma I put together kits is what I call them lodging kits. So it was a mattress, a blanket, a sheet, a TA, a washcloth, a towel, uh, washcloth, the towel, and a pillow. And then I figured out what the cost was. And I sent a text out to 30 girlfriends and said, this stuff is real. It’s horrific. Can’t we all just at least by one kit. And I immediately got a response that single text has resulted in. We just crossed $46,000. Um, and so it’s the power of people wanting to support. So yes, we did a lot of that. The needs have changed a little bit more now, and now we’re focused on something more specific that we can get into in a second. But, but the overall thing here is that you’ve got a group of people who have dropped everything in Poland. Can you imagine your neighborhood doubling in size in less than a week? Warsaw has a population inside. Warsaw has a population of 1.8 million. You last week, there were 1.3 million refugees who would come in, you’ve almost doubled the size of a city. What do you do? And the only thing you can do is act, and that’s exactly what these guys have been doing. So us, you know, rallying has been, has been easy.

Scott Luton (00:33:09):

Hmm. Uh, Greg pulling you in here. Um, you know, I think you and Dominique and David share a lot in common, you know, Greg, you’re involved in a lot of different fi philanthropic. I can never say that we’re, uh, initiatives, uh, Greg, what’s some of your response here, as you hear, uh, David and Dominique and Enrique speak about some things you’re involved in.

Greg White (00:33:27):

Yeah. You’re gonna probably find this hard to believe, but I don’t really know what to say honestly, it’s, uh, you know, you don’t think of it in the perspective, uh, that David is just has told us, right. That this isn’t destitute people necessarily, this is just people being displaced, um, in whatever their situation was. It no longer is. And probably in some cases will never be again. And they don’t even know how to be in the role that they’ve got today, which is refugee. Right. Um, so yeah, I don’t know. I’m honestly, I’m processing. Yeah.

Scott Luton (00:34:05):

I’m with you.

Dawid Adach (00:34:06):

If I’m gonna jump in on this one that you just said, you know, this is also the other, the other dimension of the whole situation is like, you know, what we are trying to do is the EO. We have a network. So we try to get those people shelter in other countries like Germany, like, like Netherlands, like France. And, and what was happening in the very beginning was that people were, the buses were coming with like a, you know, a shoot of papers in Berlin or, or, or Amsterdam, whatever. And, and what refugee would do. They would keep these buses because obviously they want to, you know, stay as, as, as close to the Porter as possible, because, because they are hoping they’re gonna come back soon, but you can see this changing with, uh, every single hour that people are really losing hope. There is nothing to coming back. If you look at the har of, if you look at the key, if you see your dump being like house being bombed and collapsed, and you have nothing to come back, so you need to really find yourself in this new reality. This is that’s tough. Okay.

Dominique Love (00:34:58):

I think we also have to just add one thing. When you’re talking about refugees, 95% of the refugees are women and children. The men are staying back to fight. They are taking their arms. And so not only are you getting exhausted, traumatized people crossing the border. You’re getting people who have just said goodbye to their husbands, they’re brothers, their uncles, their brothers, their sons. And they may never see them again. And of course they wanna stay as close to that border as possible. Of course, they want to have a chance to get back and reunite with those people. Can you possibly imagine looking at your wife or your partner, or, you know, sister, anyone and saying goodbye, I may not see you again. I mean, it’s pretty, pretty devastating. And so not only are you just, you’re not just receiving people, you’re receiving a lot, right?

Dawid Adach (00:35:53):

It’s so just wanna, this one is you can feel like this, this, this dynamic is changing. So the, all the other, or the previous refugees, uh, crisis, we had, like the, uh, whatever there was in past. Usually you have, you have first men coming here, finding work, building the house and bringing the family. But now, if you think about the long term, you have like a women of two kids and you have, uh, like the set we’ve been there. This shelter is the, this, this biggest shelter next to war or 25,000 places. They are, they are scaling this up to 60,000 right now, 60,000. It’s a small city. And, and we, we, we told them, Hey, with this living kids, like, like the said, we we’re gonna say we’re gonna prepare something called NFI and none food items. So we’re gonna have one for men, women, and children. They told us like, don’t bother with men. 65 is children 30 is women, just a few men. But even the long term, these women, they don’t even, they don’t, they can’t work here. Right. They have kids to take care of. Right. And they won’t be able to, even if they could worry, they won’t be able cuz they have to take care of their children. I mean this in the long term, this, this

Scott Luton (00:36:56):

Devastating.

Scott Luton (00:36:58):

So really quick, I wanna tell you a couple quick comments from, uh, folks in the sky boxes, uh, ICA Chuck. Great to have you, once again, here today from Canada via LinkedIn, uh, Del Lila, ask a great question and we’re gonna get to this, uh, cause we wanna help folks that are listening, whether they’re listening to the live version or the replay version, we wanna make sure we give them vet resources where they can jump into the fight, uh, and Dala ask, Hey, where can we go find organizations that we can feel safe to help and to donate to. So we’ll get back to that. Dala Enrique dropped a lot on Friday. Yeah. Including a, um, uh, charity navigator type of resource, which helps vet. Uh, cause unfortunately there is a lot of scammers that are very opportunistic and that’s the worst side of humanity need to take away resources from where it should go.

Scott Luton (00:37:46):

But they’ll all a great question. Um, Jason says a wise man once said, what’s understood. Doesn’t need to be explained. Uh, and that’s excellent point we’re, we’re all reacting to what we’re hearing from Dominique and the V and, and Enrique even. And, and, and it doesn’t need to be further explained. Right? Uh, Jack neat makes a great point. The social and mental upheaval, which David and Dominic we’re just talking to is unaccounted for and will emerge as more stories roll in. Dr. Ronda says it’s mind blowing to see us human beings to struggle cause of the suffering caused by others, heartbreaking to see the evil, but in a breath, faith comes into play. As we see the best of humanity and loving kind, offering, loving kind assistance and support well said. Okay. Enrique, uh, I’m hoping, I think you change networks. So I think we’ve got a stronger, stronger grip on you now. Um, you know, fresh on the heel of our Friday conversation, uh, as Gartner is offering its research and impact on, on kind of what this meant for global business. This obviously is more on the humanity side. Um, what’s let’s, let’s go ahead and speak to Del Lala’s question maybe a bit before we circle back and get more, more observations from David and Dominique. What, what are a couple of organizations that you would recommend to our listeners in R Kay?

Enrique Alvarez (00:39:07):

Yeah. Well, there’s, there’s, there’s multiple and I’m sure that you have links and you’ll be dropping them, uh, on the, on the comment section soon enough, but, uh, care. I mean, I, the, for me, the main thing would be just to go to that, uh, website that, uh, ranks the ch different charities and make sure that you donate to a charity that’s already established and well-functioning and has presence in Europe. And so if you really want to help this particular crisis, as opposed to any other, uh, issues out there. So there there’s many, many options, but, uh, but I would definitely do some research work with, uh, established organizations that know how to, um, deploy assets quickly and effectively. And the other thing that I would like to, to add is, um, we’re all, uh, shaken by what’s going on and we’re all. And, and we’re all kind of angry about this, but this is gonna last for a lot longer than most people understand.

Enrique Alvarez (00:40:02):

So we have to keep giving, right? It’s not something that you’ll go and do now and send like some money or do this women and children and everyone in Ukraine and in the rest of Europe too, cause spawns gonna need help. Well cares. They’re that? We’d said it very, very eloquently, like their population’s gonna grow 10% in two weeks. It’s not sustainable for any country. So, uh, so we have to continue helping. So I would recommend one to do research two, to make sure that you do something, even if it’s little, even if it’s $5, even if it’s like a mattress here or there, uh, whatever you can, but definitely make sure that you help. And then the other thing is if possible, try to plan on helping for the longer term, right? Just try to try to help for at least the next year or two, because it’s just gonna keep going. Uh, unfortunately

Dominique Love (00:40:52):

Scott, I’d love to be able to jump in here and I’m gonna pull up my old philanthropy hat. So I manage corporate at Coca-Cola for several years. And I, I also started an agency that helped corporations, nonprofits do more in the company and worked with major corporations around the globe after doing a lot of disaster work, especially around hurricane Katrina. What I learned was that you oftentimes needed to sit back because there’s initial wave of responses. Um, I attended to support and my number one was the salvation army. Um, they’re, they’re there on the front lines. They’re very discreet and they tend to stay a lot longer when most NGOs leave. The second is doctors without borders because they have an excellent, they, they are excellent at managing their resources. They set what they need to raise. If they go over that they stop their campaigns.

Dominique Love (00:41:38):

They don’t keep taking money that goes into their operations. If they can no longer use the money in that particular area. So I think those two things are really important. What lesson I’ve learned through this, through this issue. Um, this crisis, if you will, um, is that giving is right now, it needs to get out there. The, the, the rapid speed of the needs are so critical. And that’s one of the reasons why, you know, teaming up with EO. I trust EO, I’m a member of EO. You’re not going to get a tax deduction, making a contribution to EO, Poland, but it’s not about that. You’re going to, to see that supplies are getting directly in the hands of folks. And before coming on, as I was kind of thinking, trying to give myself some notes, I have this funny pad. I actually use it for my husband to tell him what he needs to do for the day. But

Dominique Love (00:42:25):

I dunno if you can see it, excuse the, the language at the top, but I made three different notes to myself. Uh, there are three ways that we can use help. And, and two of them are very specific to supply chain. So we we’re doing those lodging kits. Now we’ve switched gears. They’ve got the, government’s got cots coming in. They’ve got some other supplies. The biggest thing is, are the, what we’re calling living kits. So it is you cross the border. You end up in a shelter, you walk in and you get a kit. That’s going to have soap, shampoo, a toothbrush toothpaste. It’s going to have diapers for children, personal hygiene, products, water, and food rations. So those things we figured out, we can do a kit for $25. And so that’s easy. We can all, you know, skip your Starbucks, skip a lunch out, do something. I mean, 25 can be a, to a lot of people, but it also can really change lives of some of these refugees. The second thing are supplies. They are needing massive supplies, you know, do, and I have been going through like a sourcing group in Poland purchasing 10,000. You bought, how many toothbrushes did you buy last night, do 10,000

Dominique Love (00:43:32):

Things. Wow. 10,000 toothbrush and 17,000 of the shampoos, which we’re gonna bring to the shelter tomorrow.

Dominique Love (00:43:39):

Yeah. So 17,000 shampoos. And, um, so you know, you, we need those supplies. So in this network, if you have access to supplies that you can get to to these groups, they’re needed desperately.

Dawid Adach (00:43:54):

If I may jump in for a second, you know, there, there is also talking about organization. There’s also this, uh, Polish humanitarian action and what I’m talking about them, why, why I’m talking about them is because they just they’re helping Ukraine directly there. And they are just placing the order, the commercial order. They want to buy food, which is needed there, obviously by the way, Kiev is spending $1 million for, you know, to, to keep the city sustained. So you can imagine how much is needed. But basically what I wanted to say is that post and action, this NGO plays the order and all biggest, you know, grocery shops like, you know, kind of a Walmart you have there. And we have a TECO, Veronica, whatever the other, the biggest five biggest shop, they can’t fulfill the order. This is how much is needed right now, like for this week. So, um, it’s, it’s pretty okay. But I think short, uh, we are gonna, we’re gonna be short of resources soon. Mm. And obviously in the long term, they will figure out, but for now we might be short very soon,

Scott Luton (00:44:49):

So, really quick. Uh, and I wanna make sure we get any link, uh, that we might get from you, Dominique and David, but really quick speaking longer term, there was a quick exchange, uh, Jose hope to find you well, Jose and I understand the immediate need to support cause it is fresh, but what is the long term support strategy? It’s a fair question. And Peter Bole, uh, answers do not think they’re at the term solution thought process at this point, right now actions required long term strategy will certainly need to be developed, but there is time for that down the road. Um, this LinkedIn user, this might be Cori. I’m not sure Amanda, if you could, uh, let me know. I have so many questions. He or she says, I believe it is better to donate money because nonprofits can buy whatever they need, but are there any shortages forecast deve just spoke to that a little bit, but a great question there.

Scott Luton (00:45:38):

Um, Greg, you haven’t jumped in in a while. I’m sure I know that we’re all taking it in, right? It’s a, it’s a shock to the system. It’s, it’s been a shock to the system to see some images, uh, Enrique, we spoke on Friday about, uh, the democracy impact of journalism, which is a great thing because a lot of the imagery is coming out, hopefully causing people to act including government leaders that can actually do something about it. Um, but Greg, um, where does your mind go when we talk, when you hear some of the issues and, and solutions and resources that Dominique and David and Ricky are speaking to?

Greg White (00:46:12):

Yeah. So one, one, uh, thing I wanna address is like a group that you might, you are in. If you’re not an EO, if there’s a group or a group of people that you hang out with and you, you all want to do something that’s a, that is a trusted group. If you don’t, as Dominique said, if you don’t feel compelled to do it in a way that gives you a tax, right. Um, if you just wanna do something, keep that circle very tight with people, you know, and people you trust, maybe your rotary club or whatever, you know, chamber of commerce friends, or whatever you wanna do people in the same industry. Um, but, uh, uh, again, to Enrique Case’s point, use charity navigator use care.org, C a R e.org. Um, and there are a couple of others that can help you establish who those, those groups are that are doing things short term and longer term.

Greg White (00:47:06):

And to the longer term question, once a longer term, let’s say longer term when the conflict is over, uh, I feel real wimpy calling it a conflict, by the way, this is a war, it’s an aggression, it’s an, it’s an, it’s an illegal act by an illegal leader. Um, but we’re not gonna get into politics. Um, but, but I think, um, you know, once that is over then the political geopolitical pressure comes off. Nobody’s worried about getting nuked once. Um, the war is over in Ukraine, China’s China will miraculously, uh, cure COVID. And this manufacturing halt that they literally just announced because everyone is cut, cutting off ties and Russia is cutting off ties with, um, or cutting off trade with other countries. And once that political pressure is often, the, the governments will be able to, they they’re able to now, but they’ll feel comfortable, um, that they’re not risking their political future by contributing to the long term recovery and hopefully re creates strategy of Ukraine.

Enrique Alvarez (00:48:12):

The other Scott, the other thing that I think, uh, we can do is, um, you can help in kind and money and donations, but you can also help with contacts, right? We’re live in a very, uh, communicated and connected society. We have LinkedIn Twitter and we’re having, we’re doing this over LinkedIn right now. So I think something that David mentioned that is needed is if you have a contact, if you have a good friend, that’s a CEO or CFO or wherever he is or whatever he works, if he’s working for a retail chain company or a toothbrush manufacturing company, or a Cola like diapers, they everything’s needed. Right, right. It’s, there’s no such thing as a list of things that are needed, cuz everything is needed. People left their homes with nothing, but the things that they could carry. Plus they had to carry a couple kids in no way. So if you know, people just try to connect them, try to make sure that we’re connected and, and just use whatever you’re using WhatsApp, WeChat, just make sure that you’re present introducing people to your friends, like pretty much what I’m doing now with uh, Dominique and, and you guys. So, uh, I think that helps

Scott Luton (00:49:20):

A lot. I love this message here from Dr. Ronda. Uh, I love that message little acts add up and then create monumental impacts for the long haul. So what she’s saying, what Dominique is saying, Hey, whatever it takes, whatever you can afford to give, uh, to a vetted organization, uh, is highly, highly appreciated. And J yeah, you’re right. It is a naked aggression. It’s an invasion it’s um, and that doesn’t even do it justice in terms of the atrocities we’re seeing out of, uh, Ukraine in the region. Okay. Dominic, you about to say something and we also will make sure.

Dominique Love (00:49:54):

Yeah, I’m just gonna wrap, I’ll just wrap up on our side. I have those three things. We need these, these living kits that we’re, we’re saying either 25 bucks, you wanna know if the money goes to refugees, I can tell you right now, money has been being Vemo to me by my friends when I started this, just my friend part I’ve been, I, I mean, I think I might be on some sort of tracking alert now because I’m buying everything I can from these supply groups in, um, in Poland, uh Dovi I put the money straight into an account and it goes straight to buying things. So I know every dollar, um, is going toward this cause no one on the EO side is taking a salary for this. Um, so we need the kit spot. Um, we need supplies. Um, so in kind donations, transportation and fuel are really big.

Dominique Love (00:50:42):

We do have groups that have been all throughout Europe who have just said, Hey, I’ve got, someone’s given me a truck I’m coming down, it’s filled to the brim and we’re going to dump off supplies and then we’ll pick up and bring people back. So that’s like, it’s pretty intense. Um, so transportation and fuel have been the biggest challenges right now on that end. So anyone who can volunteer and help us figure that piece out, that would be really helpful terms of where to give. I think we gave you a link to, um, the E uh, to the EO Poland website. Um, I think it’s Ukraine dot EO, poland.org. And, um, I think, uh, yeah, w just put it in the chat if you wanna repost it. And, um, the, the team on the ground in, um, E OPO is, is they’re working around the clocks. They have walked away from every one of their businesses and they’re working around the

Scott Luton (00:51:34):

Clock. Unbelievable. Unbelievable. We’re here is 2022 and we’re facing what we’re facing. Some of the imagery that we were talking about earlier, Enrique, we, we commented on Friday. It feels like it was, it’s like from straight out of like the thirties or the four and it’s last week. It’s unbelievable. Um, let’s make sure. Okay, well, great. We did it. Uh, Ukraine dot EO, poland.org folks. You’ve got leaders that with means and have their finger on the pulse of, of how to marsh resources to the folks that need it. You’ve heard it here from Devi and dot Monique Ukraine dot EO, poland.org. If you can give anything, Greg, what’s your challenge that, uh, I’ve stolen and, and repackaged a number of different ways. I never get it right. But what’s your challenge to our ecosystem here?

Greg White (00:52:24):

Uh, give simple, give small give now

Scott Luton (00:52:29):

Jen, it’s just that simple. Uh,

Greg White (00:52:31):

I, you know, I think there, I mean, there are lots of ways to accomplish this. It’s funny. My daughter just had a child and I was thinking about her Amazon registry. You could almost put what needs to be bought on a baby or wedding. Maybe they have charity registries, um, on Amazon. So people could just go in and buy as many of those kits or whatever as they want.

Dominique Love (00:52:52):

That’s exactly how, how my campaign started was I started try and do a registry. I found it a little bit more complicated. So that’s when I just said, here’s what you’re gonna get. Um, Hey girlfriend, pay friends, you know, send me some money here’s gonna get, and then I just send them pictures and results of what, what I had heard, just so we have gotten a little bit more sophisticated and organized since then, but, um, yeah, we’re money is as one as one person commented money is so necessary.

Scott Luton (00:53:21):

Mm Hey, Dominique, if I can, for my clarification, if folks go to the Ukraine dot EO, this, uh, this address here, can they donate towards the campaign that you and the other EO leaders are that you’re, that you’re speaking to?

Dominique Love (00:53:35):

Yes. That’s a general. That is a general donation site for EO PO uh, for EO, Poland, but it’s all going into the same fund and we’re deploying rapidly. Like I said, 15,000 toothbrushes got ordered in the wee hours of the morning and 17,000 bottles of shampoo. That’s just scratching the surface of what they’re ordering

Scott Luton (00:53:57):

Greg Enrique, DVE. I don’t know about you, but when Dominique puts a list together, like the ones she showed, I, I, I got a hunch that, that everything gets done on that list. Um, or else, or else,

Dominique Love (00:54:10):

Or your name is going to be here. You don’t

Dominique Love (00:54:13):

Want

Dominique Love (00:54:14):

Here. Do you don’t

Dominique Love (00:54:14):

Want your name

Scott Luton (00:54:15):

On the list? Oh gosh, I’ll

Dominique Love (00:54:16):

Hang

Dominique Love (00:54:17):

On the front for all the neighbors to see.

Scott Luton (00:54:20):

So thank you so much. Uh, for that,

Dawid Adach (00:54:23):

Just say one, I really appreciate the for, and to be honest, this, like, you know, the, the support we got from, you know, us and Canada, this is really amazing, you know, by the time I was buying this brushes and going them to the, to the shelter and so on, because obviously we also do the, we need a little micromanagement here, unfortunately, because you know, everything is out of this stock. So we need to try here and there. So I’m just going here and there. And then in the meantime, doin text messaged me, Hey, we got another 30,000 bucks. So I, I really know, like doin said before, we used to build the shelters. Now, now we are working in the other way, but I want to say re that this is you guys, all people who donate, who are actually building this shelter, we are just organizing that and a huge shout, shout out for everyone who is doing, who is donating. Obviously, you know, you can’t fly in here to be, and I know you, you, you would do that if you could, but, um, really this amount of support, I’ve never seen something like that

Scott Luton (00:55:17):

In my life. The VE if I can, I appreciate all of that, but, and what the, what the country and the people of Poland are doing, I mean, the noble mission are leading and just, uh, you can, you can see the passion and, and the purpose and the impact, man, we’re with you. There’s some constraints here. We’re gonna get this thing figured out, but man, it takes leaders like you and your fellow country, men and women that taking the, the brave actions to absorb all these folks that are, that we’ve been speaking to for the last hour that need so much. Um, I just, can’t, we’re just blown away with what you’re doing. So we wanna, we wanna help as much as we can Inka and Greg, before we let, uh, our two, um, incredible guests go, David and Dominique, uh, Greg, let’s start with you your last, uh, anything you wanna share with David and Dominique?

Greg White (00:56:06):

Yeah. Just thank you for that perspective. I don’t think, uh, any of us probably still don’t get everything that’s going on, but it, I mean, David, you helped us paint a mental picture, thankfully only mental, but a, a mental picture of what’s going on there and the impact that it’s having on people’s lives and not just the people leaving Ukraine. I mean, this is a strain on the people of Poland and Romania and Moldova who are taking in these refugees as well. And Romanian, Moldova, not nearly as strong and prominent accompany a, a countries as, as Poland. So there’s real hardship for, or the people who are providing the services that Dominique and David are, are providing as well. Um, so it, it’s an exceptional effort by everyone there. And I’m hopeful that this can, can help people connect and get, get, uh, you know, enable them to contribute in some way.

Scott Luton (00:57:04):

Agreed, agreed. While we get, uh, hopefully, uh, a cease fire in place, hopefully it’s right around the corner. I’ll leave that to the geopolitical experts out there. But, um, Enrique your final thoughts to David and Dominique.

Enrique Alvarez (00:57:19):

Yeah. I’m just, uh, inspired by what they’re doing. They’re, uh, business owners like I am and just seeing what you’re doing, David, and just, uh, reading some of the chats and, and everything that you’re doing. It’s just, it’s very inspiring. Uh, so I hope that other leaders out there listening to this podcast and seeing what you and, and everyone else, cause I know that it’s not only you there’s, um, I think the maximum members you can have on WhatsApp is what two 50 and the was blown past. And we had to move to a different platform cuz there weren’t just enough, uh, seats available for people trying to jump in and help. So I’m just inspired by what you’re doing and I hope other people get inspired. And uh, I think that it’s very important for the supply chain and logistics community to come together.

Enrique Alvarez (00:58:02):

Supply chain plays a big role in everything that’s going on from shipping to delivering, to manufacturing the toothbrushes. And so I think we are in a very, very privileged situation here as supply chain professionals, cuz we really can make a big impact. So I, I hope that every single logistics company out there, uh, steamship lines included trucking companies, airplanes tr every, anything just jump in, right? We need, we need to move things around. And so, uh, we always talk a big game in supply chain and we always kind of brag about how the world revolves around what we do and how we move things. So this is the time to prove it let’s let’s do

Scott Luton (00:58:42):

It. Agreed. Uh, supply chain pulled the world through the pandemic and, and despite what we’re seeing in China, um, gosh, we feel closer than ever before to true post pandemic. And I’ve got faith that, uh, our global supply chain workforce and, and leaders that step up like we’re seeing here with, uh, David and Dominique are gonna do the same thing. So, um, God’s speed of that. Okay. And now never does stuff like this justice. Uh, I, I wish and, and, and of course just talking about it also, doesn’t do it justice. We’ve gotta take action. That’s what it’s all about. Deeds, not words I wanna thank, uh, our two guests here today. Uh, David, a, uh, president of EEO, Poland and Dominic love CEO of the newest group. Also with EEO, Atlanta, this EO group, man, what a powerful group. We’re gonna have to, uh, talk a lot more Dominique and about that. So thank you first off for what you do for your little bit of time here today. Most importantly what you’re doing and we’re gonna try to support you as best we can. So thanks so much to you both.

Dominique Love (00:59:44):

Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. Have a good one.

Scott Luton (00:59:48):

Righty.

Greg White (00:59:48):

Thank you. Thanks everybody.

Scott Luton (00:59:52):

Okay. Uh, Greg Enrique, no words. There’s never, you know, Your response hit, you hit an nail on the head cause there’s not. I have

Enrique Alvarez (01:00:00):

To run though. I call at one.

Scott Luton (01:00:03):

Well

Enrique Alvarez (01:00:03):

I love you guys. No, you should talk about, let’s talk about EO. Cause I think that that could be a good organization for you to participate in Scott.

Scott Luton (01:00:10):

All right. Well, Hey Enrique, we’re still live. We love you too. And we’ll see you momentarily. Okay.

Enrique Alvarez (01:00:16):

Well, what I said stands, right? I think for anyone and everyone, that’s actually listening to us out there. I apologize.

Greg White (01:00:24):

Yeah. I think they ought to take a look at EO and what it’s about. Right. I know it’s been beneficial to you.

Scott Luton (01:00:30):

Yeah,

Enrique Alvarez (01:00:31):

Entrepreneur. I think it’s a good organization to join, but um, thank you so much. I apologize. I thought that we were already

Scott Luton (01:00:35):

That’s okay.

Greg White (01:00:37):

Sorry. We, I,

Enrique Alvarez (01:00:39):

I have to leave. Thank you so much though. Thank you. And

Scott Luton (01:00:42):

All right, Greg, um, he

Greg White (01:00:43):

Didn’t even get to get swooshed out cause we had to leave.

Scott Luton (01:00:46):

Hey, come on. Eureka. Doesn’t wait for no stinking swoosh. No,

Greg White (01:00:50):

He was at his desk too when that’s right. We started today.

Scott Luton (01:00:53):

Uh, you know, every so often I think we share this on Friday every so often you reminded about exactly why you do what you do and, and, and moments and conversations like this one hit that at its core, at least for me. But I wanna give you the, the opportunity for your final challenge to anyone that might be listening to this. Anyone that might be listening to the replay, anyone that might have hit something we said on social, whatever, uh, Greg, what would you tell ’em to do? Let

Greg White (01:01:21):

Me start with a quick qualification. I’m gonna and expose my weakness here because I am angry at this entire situation and it’s unnecessary. It’s unjust. Um, and it’s unbelievable. Pick another UN, there are lots of UNS, but, uh, but in as much as it is here, it behooves all of us to do whatever we can to help those who are offering, um, to help in any way you can to bring this to an end or whatever is within your power, do something, even if you do it wrong. Right, right. But, um, there, you know, there’s a lot that people need here. They need, they need basics. They need transportation out of their country. They need transportation to other countries. They need, um, care. Uh, you know, they’re gonna need lots of care going forward, but they need care and understanding and support. So I, I really appreciate with all of the neighbor, neighboring countries, all of the good neighboring countries are doing yes. Russia, or sorry, not Russia and Belarus, but, but Poland and Moldova and Romania all, um, doing this, not because they can necessarily, but because they have to. And you know, that’s, it’s really powerful to see an organization like this. And again, I’d encourage everyone. If you are a member of any organization or any group of people that you trust, or you want to give to this, uh, through EO, poland.org, give there, but give,

Scott Luton (01:02:54):

Just take action. Yeah. Give, take action. And, and all those countries are doing it with the backdrop. The who knows where the aggression goes next. Uh, it is just a, a scary time. But as Greg mentioned, they need all of that and they need your action. So whether you pick this one or you go to care.org, or if you go to, uh, salvation army came up, Dominic highly recommended them doctors without borders. You name it, uh, do your homework, but just give, give, give, give what you can. No, there’s no, uh, uh, amount too small. All right, that’s gonna wrap up. We went over a little bit here today. Thanks for all the wonderful comments, uh, en VO. Great to have you here today. I, I appreciate you joining us, I think for the first time from, um, South Africa. So thanks so much for that folks, whatever you do, whatever you do, uh, you know, talking about it in that Scott Luton and Greg white, challenging you. Hey, do good. Do good. Give forward. Be the change that’s needed. And on that note, we next time, right back here on supply chain now. Thanks everybody.

Intro/Outro (01:03:52):

Thanks for being a part of our supply chain. Now, community check out all of our programming@supplychainnow.com and make sure you subscribe to supply chain. Now anywhere you listen to podcasts and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram. See you next time on supply chain. Now.

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Featured Guests

Dominique Love, Serial entrepreneur, Dominique, began her career in fundraising and corporate philanthropy. After leading The Coca-Cola Company’s corporate giving initiatives for 5 years. Love launched Corporate Community Outsourcing (CCO), an agency that helped corporations and nonprofits maximize their impact in communities. Her clients included American Express Publishing, The Coca-Cola Company, Home Depot, Delta Air Lines, NASCAR, Anthem, and many more. In 2010, Love’s passion for Southern food and drink inspired the creation of the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival, the first culinary weekend in the country dedicated to showcasing the rich food and beverage traditions of the southern US from Texas to DC. The Festival received significant acclaim for its “Ph.D-level” programming for the food and drink lover and it’s initiatives to address the restaurant industry’s toughest issues: mental health challenges, substance abuse, sexism and racism. In 2015, Love sold both businesses to the IWSC Group in London and remained as CEO of a newly created IWSC Group North America. Love “retired” from IWSC Group in 2018 to focus on pig farming (a failed attempt) and building her bourbon collection. Ever the entrepreneur, she couldn’t stay retired for too long and set her sights on building “gourmet clusters” throughout the Southeast. Seen primarily in Europe, gourmet clusters are small geographic areas outside of major metropolitan communities that are overflowing with food and beverage concepts. Love will soon launch her first site that will include a 90-acre, culinary-centric residential development; a cookery school; and an incubator that transforms talents chefs into successful entrepreneurs. Her motto: “Go big or go home!” Connect with Dominique on LinkedIn.

Dawid Adach is the Co-Founder of MDBootstrap.com, the world’s most popular framework for building responsive, mobile-first websites and apps. In 2020, Dawid was listed featured on Forbes 30 under 30 list. He is also the President of Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO). Before starting his own company he had been working as an IT Consultant specializing in SOA/EAI/ESB for banking domains for more than 6 years. He gained experience working in countries like Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, and India developing enterprise-class systems for the biggest companies within the domain.  Connect with Dawid on LinkedIn.

Hosts

Scott W. Luton

Founder, CEO, & Host

Greg White

Principal & Host

Enrique Alvarez

Host, Logistics with Purpose

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Adrian Purtill

Host, Logistics with Purpose

Adrian Purtill serves as Business Development Manager at Vector Global Logistics, where he consults with importers and exporters in various industries to match their specific shipping requirements with the most effective supply chain solutions. Vector Global Logistics is an asset-free, multi-modal logistics company that provides exceptional sea freight, air freight, truck, rail, general logistic services and consulting for our clients. Our highly trained and professional team is committed to providing creative and effective solutions, always exceeding our customer’s expectations and fostering long-term relationships. With more than 20+ years of experience in both strategy consulting and logistics, Vector Global Logistics is your best choice to proactively minimize costs while having an exceptional service level.

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Kim Winter

Host, Supply Chain Now

The founder of Logistics Executive Group, Kim Winter delivers 40 years of executive leadership experience spanning Executive Search & Recruitment, Leadership Development, Executive Coaching, Corporate Advisory, Motivational Speaking, Trade Facilitation and across the Supply Chain, Logistics, 3PL, E-commerce, Life Science, Cold Chain, FMCG, Retail, Maritime, Defence, Aviation, Resources, and Industrial sectors. Operating from the company’s global offices, he is a regular contributor of thought leadership to industry and media, is a professional Master of Ceremonies, and is frequently invited to chair international events.

He is a Board member of over a dozen companies throughout APAC, India, and the Middle East, a New Zealand citizen, he holds formal resident status in Australia and the UAE, and is the Australia & New Zealand representative for the UAE Government-owned Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA), the Middle East’s largest Economic Free Zone.

A triathlete and ex-professional rugby player, Kim is a qualified (IECL Sydney) executive coach and the Founder / Chairman of the successful not for profit humanitarian organization, Oasis Africa (www. oasisafrica.org.au), which has provided freedom from poverty through education to over 8000 mainly orphaned children in East Africa’s slums. Kim holds an MBA and BA from Massey & Victoria Universities (NZ).

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Kevin Brown

Host, Logistics with Purpose

Kevin Brown is the Director of Business Development for Vector Global Logistics.  He has a dedicated interest in Major Account Management, Enterprise Sales, and Corporate Leadership. He offers 25 years of exceptional experience and superior performance in the sales of Logistics, Supply Chain, and Transportation Management. Kevin is a dynamic, high-impact, sales executive and corporate leader who has consistently exceeded corporate goals. He effectively coordinates multiple resources to solution sell large complex opportunities while focusing on corporate level contacts across the enterprise. His specialties include targeting and securing key accounts by analyzing customer’s current business processes and developing solutions to meet their corporate goals. Connect with Kevin on LinkedIn.

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Jose Miguel Irarrazaval

Host, Logistics with Purpose

Jose Manuel Irarrazaval es parte del equipo de Vector Global Logistics Chile. José Manuel es un gerente experimentado con experiencia en finanzas corporativas, fusiones y adquisiciones, financiamiento y reestructuración, inversión directa y financiera, tanto en Chile como en el exterior. José Manuel tiene su MBA de la Universidad de Pennsylvania- The Wharton School. Conéctese con Jose Manuel en LinkedIn.

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Nick Roemer

Host, Logistics with Purpose

Nick Roemer has had a very diverse and extensive career within design and sales over the last 15 years stretching from China, Dubai, Germany, Holland, UK, and the USA. In the last 5 years, Nick has developed a hawk's eye for sustainable tech and the human-centric marketing and sales procedures that come with it. With his far-reaching and strong network within the logistics industry, Nick has been able to open new avenues and routes to market within major industries in the USA and the UAE. Nick lives by the ethos, “Give more than you take." His professional mission is to make the logistics industry leaner, cleaner and greener.

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Allison Giddens

Host

Allison Krache Giddens has been with Win-Tech, a veteran-owned small business and aerospace precision machine shop, for 15 years, recently buying the company from her mentor and Win-Tech’s Founder, Dennis Winslow. She and her business partner, John Hudson now serve as Co-Presidents, leading the 33-year old company through the pandemic.

She holds undergraduate degrees in psychology and criminal justice from the University of Georgia, a Masters in Conflict Management from Kennesaw State University, a Masters in Manufacturing from Georgia Institute of Technology, and a Certificate of Finance from the University of Georgia. She also holds certificates in Google Analytics, event planning, and Cybersecurity Risk Management from Harvard online. Allison founded the Georgia Chapter of Women in Manufacturing and currently serves as Treasurer. She serves on the Chattahoochee Technical College Foundation Board as its Secretary, the liveSAFE Resources Board of Directors as Resource Development Co-Chair, and on the Leadership Cobb Alumni Association Board as Membership Chair and is also a member of Cobb Executive Women. She is on the Board for the Cobb Chamber of Commerce’s Northwest Area Councils. Allison runs The Dave Krache Foundation, a non-profit that helps pay sports fees for local kids in need.

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Billy Taylor

Host

Billy Taylor is a Proven Business Excellence Practitioner and Leadership Guru with over 25 years leading operations for a Fortune 500 company, Goodyear. He is also the CEO of LinkedXL (Excellence), a Business Operating Systems Architecting Firm dedicated to implementing sustainable operating systems that drive sustainable results. Taylor’s achievements in the industry have made him a Next Generational Lean pacesetter with significant contributions.

An American business executive, Taylor has made a name for himself as an innovative and energetic industry professional with an indispensable passion for his craft of operational excellence. His journey started many years ago and has worked with renowned corporations such as The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (GT) leading multi-site operations. With over 3 decades of service leading North America operations, he is experienced in a deeply rooted process driven approach in customer service, process integrity for sustainability.

A disciple of continuous improvement, Taylor’s love for people inspires commitment to helping others achieve their full potential. He is a dynamic speaker and hosts "The Winning Link," a popular podcast centered on business and leadership excellence with the #1 rated Supply Chain Now Network. As a leadership guru, Taylor has earned several invitations to universities, international conferences, global publications, and the U.S. Army to demonstrate how to achieve and sustain effective results through cultural acceptance and employee ownership. Leveraging the wisdom of his business acumen, strong influence as a speaker and podcaster Taylor is set to release "The Winning Link" book under McGraw Hill publishing in 2022. The book is a how-to manual to help readers understand the management of business interactions while teaching them how to Deine, Align, and Execute Winning in Business.

A servant leader, Taylor, was named by The National Diversity Council as one of the Top 100 Diversity Officers in the country in 2021. He features among Oklahoma's Most Admired CEOs and maintains key leadership roles with the Executive Advisory Board for The Shingo Institute "The Nobel Prize of Operations" and The Association of Manufacturing Excellence (AME); two world-leading organizations for operational excellence, business development, and cultural learning.  He is also an Independent Director for the M-D Building Products Board, a proud American manufacturer of quality products since 1920.

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Tandreia Bellamy

Host

Tandreia Bellamy retired as the Vice President of Industrial Engineering for UPS Supply Chain Solutions which included the Global Logistics, Global Freight Forwarding and UPS Freight business units. She was responsible for operations strategy and planning, asset management, forecasting, and technology tool development to optimize sustainable efficiency while driving world class service.

Tandreia held similar positions at the business unit level for Global Logistics and Global Freight forwarding. As the leader of the Global Logistics engineering function, she directed all industrial engineering activies related to distribution, service parts logistics (post-sales support), and mail innovations (low cost, light weight shipping partnership with the USPS). Between these roles Tandreia helped to establish the Advanced Technology Group which was formed to research and develop cutting edge solutions focused on reducing reliance on manual labor.

Tandreia began her career in 1986 as a part-time hourly manual package handling employee. She spent the great majority of her career in the small package business unit which is responsible for the pick-up, sort, transport and delivery of packages domestically. She held various positions in Industrial Engineering, Marketing, Inside and On-road operations in Central Florida before transferring to Atlanta for a position in Corporate Product Development and Corporate Industrial Engineering. Tandreia later held IE leadership roles in Nebraska, Minnesota and Chicago. In her final role in small package she was an IE VP responsible for all aspects of IE, technology support and quality for the 25 states on the western half of the country.
Tandreia is currently a Director for the University of Central Florida (UCF) Foundation Board and also serves on their Dean’s Advisory Board for the College of Engineering and Computer Science. Previously Tandreia served on the Executive Advisory Board for Virginia Tech’s IE Department and the Association for Supply Chain Management. She served on the Board of Trustees for ChildServ (a Chicago child and family services non-profit) and also served on the Texas A&M and Tuskegee Engineering Advisory Boards. In 2006 she was named Business Advisor of the Year by INROADS, in 2009 she was recognized as a Technology All-Star at the Women of Color in STEM conference and in 2019 she honored as a UCF Distinguished Aluma by the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Systems.

Tandreia holds a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Stanford University and a master’s degree in Industrial Engineering and Management Systems from UCF. Her greatest accomplishment, however, is being the proud mother of two college students, Ruby (24) and Anthony (22).

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Marty Parker

Host

Marty Parker serves as both the CEO & Founder of Adæpt Advising and an award-winning Senior Lecturer (Teaching Professor) in Supply Chain and Operations Management at the University of Georgia. He has 30 years of experience as a COO, CMO, CSO (Chief Strategy Officer), VP of Operations, VP of Marketing and Process Engineer. He founded and leads UGA’s Supply Chain Advisory Board, serves as the Academic Director of UGA’s Leaders Academy, and serves on multiple company advisory boards including the Trucking Profitability Strategies Conference, Zion Solutions Group and Carlton Creative Company.

Marty enjoys helping people and companies be successful. Through UGA, Marty is passionate about his students, helping them network and find internships and jobs. He does this through several hundred one-on-one zoom meetings each year with his students and former students. Through Adæpt Advising, Marty has organized an excellent team of affiliates that he works with to help companies grow and succeed. He does this by helping c-suite executives improve their skills, develop better leaders, engage their workforce, improve processes, and develop strategic plans with detailed action steps and financial targets. Marty believes that excellence in supply chain management comes from the understanding the intersection of leadership, culture, and technology, working across all parts of the organization to meet customer needs, maximize profit and minimize costs.

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Laura Lopez

Marketing Coordinator

Laura Lopez serves as our Supply Chain Now Marketing Coordinator. She graduated from Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Occidente in Mexico with a degree in marketing. Laura loves everything digital because she sees the potential it holds for companies in the marketing industry. Her passion for creativity and thinking outside the box led her to pursue a career in marketing. With experience in fields like accounting, digital marketing, and restaurants, she clearly enjoys taking on challenges. Laura lives the best of both worlds - you'll either catch her hanging out with her friends soaking up the sun in Mexico or flying out to visit her family in California!

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Jake Barr

Host

An acknowledged industry leader, Jake Barr now serves as CEO for BlueWorld Supply Chain Consulting, providing support to a cross section of Fortune 500 companies such as Cargill, Caterpillar, Colgate, Dow/Dupont, Firmenich, 3M, Merck, Bayer/Monsanto, Newell Brands, Kimberly Clark, Nestle, PepsiCo, Pfizer, Sanofi, Estee Lauder and Coty among others. He's also devoted time to engagements in public health sector work with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. At P&G, he managed the breakthrough delivery of an E2E (End to End) Planning Transformation effort, creating control towers which now manage the daily business globally. He is recognized as the architect for P&G’s demand driven supply chain strategy – referenced as a “Consumer Driven Supply Chain” transformation. Jake began his career with P&G in Finance in Risk Analysis and then moved into Operations. He has experience in building supply network capability globally through leadership assignments in Asia, Latin America, North America and the Middle East. He currently serves as a Research Associate for MIT; a member of Supply Chain Industry Advisory Council; Member of Gartner’s Supply Chain Think Tank; Consumer Goods “League of Leaders“; and a recipient of the 2015 - 2021 Supply Chain “Pro’s to Know” Award. He has been recognized as a University of Kentucky Fellow.

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Marcia Williams

Host

Marcia Williams, Managing Partner of USM Supply Chain, has 18 years of experience in Supply Chain, with expertise in optimizing Supply Chain-Finance Planning (S&OP/ IBP) at Large Fast-Growing CPGs for greater profitability and improved cash flows. Marcia has helped mid-sized and large companies including Lindt Chocolates, Hershey, and Coty. She holds an MBA from Michigan State University and a degree in Accounting from Universidad de la Republica, Uruguay (South America). Marcia is also a Forbes Council Contributor based out of New York, and author of the book series Supply Chains with Maria in storytelling style. A recent speaker’s engagement is Marcia TEDx Talk: TEDxMSU - How Supply Chain Impacts You: A Transformational Journey.

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Luisa Garcia

Host, Logistics with Purpose

Luisa Garcia is a passionate Marketer from Lagos de Moreno based in Aguascalientes. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from Universidad Autonoma de Aguascalientes, Mexico. She specializes in brand development at any stage, believing that a brand is more than just a name or image—it’s an unforgettable experience. Her expertise helps brands achieve their dreams and aspirations, making a lasting impact. Currently working at Vector Global Logistics in the Marketing team and as podcast coordinator of Logistics With Purpose®. Luisa believes that purpose-driven decisions will impact results that make a difference in the world.

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Astrid Aubert

Host, Logistics with Purpose

Astrid Aubert was born in Guadalajara, she is 39 years old and has had the opportunity to live in many places. She studied communication and her professional career has been in Trade Marketing for global companies such as Pepsico and Mars. She currently works as Marketing Director Mexico for Vector Global Logistics. She is responsible for internal communications and marketing strategy development for the logistics industry. She is a mother of two girls, married and lives in Monterrey. She defines herself as a creative and innovative person, and enjoys traveling and cooking a lot.

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Sofia Rivas

Host, Supply Chain Now en Espanol

Sofia self-identifies as Supply Chain Ambassador, her mission is to advocate for the field and inspire young generations from diverse backgrounds and cultures to join the industry so that thought diversity is increased and change accelerated. Recognized as Linkedin Top Voice and Linkedin Community Top Voice in Supply Chain Management, as well as Emerging Leader in Supply Chain by CSCMP 2024, Top Women in Supply Chain by Supply & Demand Executive 2023, and Coup de Coeur Global Women Leaders in Supply Chain by B2G Consulting in 2021

Public speaker at multiple international events from keynotes and panels, to webinars and guest lectures for bachelor's and master's degrees, discussing topics such as sustainability, women in the industry, technology and innovation. Writer at different online magazines on logistics, supply chain and technology. Podcast host and guest on different recognized programs in the industry. Sofia has more than 5 years of experience from academic research and field studies to warehouse operations, demand planning and network design. She has worked in manufacturing, airport operations, e-commerce retail, and technology hardware across Latin America, North America and Europe

Currently working as Supply Chain Network Design and Optimization Manager at HP within their Global Supply Chain and Logistics team

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Karin Bursa

Host

Karin Bursa is the 2020 Supply Chain Pro to Know of the Year and the Host of the TEKTOK Digital Supply Chain Podcast powered by Supply Chain Now. With more than 25 years of supply chain and technology expertise (and the scars to prove it), Karin has the heart of a teacher and has helped nearly 1,000 customers transform their businesses and share their success stories. Today, she helps B2B technology companies introduce new products, capture customer success and grow global revenue, market share and profitability. In addition to her recognition as the 2020 Supply Chain Pro to Know of the Year, Karin has also been recognized as a 2019 and 2018 Supply Chain Pro to Know, 2009 Technology Marketing Executive of the Year and a 2008 Women in Technology Finalist. 

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Vin Vashishta

Host

Vin Vashishta is the author of ‘From Data To Profit’ (Wiley 2023). It’s the playbook for monetizing data and AI. Vin is the Founder of V-Squared and built the business from client 1 to one of the world’s oldest data and AI consulting firms. His background combines nearly 30 years in strategy, leadership, software engineering, and applied machine learning.

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Trisha Cordes

Administrative Assistant

Trisha is new to the supply chain industry – but not to podcasting. She’s an experienced podcast manager and virtual assistant who also happens to have 20 years of experience as an elementary school teacher. It’s safe to say, she’s passionate about helping people, and she lives out that passion every day with the Supply Chain Now team, contributing to scheduling and podcast production.

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Scott W. Luton

Founder, CEO, & Host

As the founder and CEO of Supply Chain Now, you might say Scott is the voice of supply chain – but he’s too much of a team player to ever claim such a title. One thing’s for sure: he’s a tried and true supply chain expert. With over 15 years of experience in the end-to-end supply chain, Scott’s insights have appeared in major publications including The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and CNN. He has also been named a top industry influencer by Thinkers360, ISCEA and more.

From 2009-2011, Scott was president of APICS Atlanta, and he continues to lead initiatives that support both the local business community and global industry. A United States Air Force Veteran, Scott has also regularly led efforts to give back to his fellow veteran community since his departure from active duty in 2002.

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Greg White

Principal & Host

When rapid-growth technology companies, venture capital and private equity firms are looking for advisory, they call Greg – a founder, board director, advisor and catalyst of disruptive B2B technology and supply chain. An insightful visionary, Greg guides founders, investors and leadership teams in creating breakthroughs to gain market exposure and momentum – increasing overall company esteem and valuation.

Greg is a founder himself, creating Blue Ridge Solutions, a Gartner Magic Quadrant Leader in cloud-native supply chain applications, and bringing to market Curo, a field service management solution. He has also held leadership roles with Servigistics (PTC) and E3 Corporation (JDA/Blue Yonder). As a principal and host at Supply Chain Now, Greg helps guide the company’s strategic direction, hosts industry leader discussions, community livestreams, and all in addition to executive producing and hosting his original YouTube channel and podcast, TEChquila Sunrise.

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Chris Barnes

Principal, Supply Chain Now
Host of Supply Chain is Boring

Talk about world-class: Chris is one of the few professionals in the world to hold CPIM-F, CLTD-F and CSCP-F designations from ASCM/APICS. He’s also the APICS coach – and our resident Supply Chain Doctor. When he’s not hosting programs with Supply Chain Now, he’s sharing supply chain knowledge on the APICS Coach Youtube channel or serving as a professional education instructor for the Georgia Tech Supply Chain & Logistic Institute’s Supply Chain Management (SCM) program and University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Center for Professional Education courses.

Chris earned a BS in Industrial Engineering from Bradley University, an MBA with emphasis in Industrial Psychology from the University of West Florida, and is a Doctoral in Supply Chain Management candidate.

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Tyler Ward

Director of Sales

Tyler Ward serves as Supply Chain Now's Director of Sales. Born and raised in Mid-Atlantic, Tyler is a proud graduate of Shippensburg University where he earned his degree in Communications. After college, he made his way to the beautiful state of Oregon, where he now lives with his wife and daughter.

With over a decade of experience in sales, Tyler has a proven track record of exceeding targets and leading high-performing teams. He credits his success to his ability to communicate effectively with customers and team members alike, as well as his strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.

When he's not closing deals, you can find Tyler on the links or cheering on his favorite football and basketball teams. He also enjoys spending time with his family, playing pick-up basketball, and traveling back to Ocean City, Maryland, his favorite place!

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Kevin L. Jackson

Host of Digital Transformers

Kevin L. Jackson is a globally recognized Thought Leader, Industry Influencer and Founder/Author of the award winning “Cloud Musings” blog.  He has also been recognized as a “Top 5G Influencer” (Onalytica 2019, Radar 2020), a “Top 50 Global Digital Transformation Thought Leader” (Thinkers 360 2019) and provides strategic consulting and integrated social media services to AT&T, Intel, Broadcom, Ericsson and other leading companies. Mr. Jackson’s commercial experience includes Vice President J.P. Morgan Chase, Worldwide Sales Executive for IBM and SAIC (Engility) Director Cloud Solutions. He has served on teams that have supported digital transformation projects for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the US Intelligence Community.  Kevin’s formal education includes a MS Computer Engineering from Naval Postgraduate School; MA National Security & Strategic Studies from Naval War College; and a BS Aerospace Engineering from the United States Naval Academy. Internationally recognizable firms that have sponsored articles authored by him include CiscoMicrosoft, Citrix and IBM.  Books include “Click to Transform” (Leaders Press, 2020), “Architecting Cloud Computing Solutions” (Packt, 2018), and “Practical Cloud Security: A Cross Industry View” (Taylor & Francis, 2016). He also delivers online training through Tulane UniversityO’Reilly MediaLinkedIn Learning, and Pluralsight.  Mr. Jackson retired from the U.S. Navy in 1994, earning specialties in Space Systems EngineeringCarrier Onboard Delivery Logistics and carrier-based Airborne Early Warning and Control. While active, he also served with the National Reconnaissance Office, Operational Support Office, providing tactical support to Navy and Marine Corps forces worldwide.

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Enrique Alvarez

Host of Logistics with Purpose and Supply Chain Now en Español

Enrique serves as Managing Director at Vector Global Logistics and believes we all have a personal responsibility to change the world. He is hard working, relationship minded and pro-active. Enrique trusts that the key to logistics is having a good and responsible team that truly partners with the clients and does whatever is necessary to see them succeed. He is a proud sponsor of Vector’s unique results-based work environment and before venturing into logistics he worked for the Boston Consulting Group (BCG). During his time at BCG, he worked in different industries such as Telecommunications, Energy, Industrial Goods, Building Materials, and Private Banking. His main focus was always on the operations, sales, and supply chain processes, with case focus on, logistics, growth strategy, and cost reduction. Prior to joining BCG, Enrique worked for Grupo Vitro, a Mexican glass manufacturer, for five years holding different positions from sales and logistics manager to supply chain project leader in charge of five warehouses in Colombia.

He has an MBA from The Wharton School of Business and a BS, in Mechanical Engineer from the Technologico de Monterrey in Mexico. Enrique’s passions are soccer and the ocean, and he also enjoys traveling, getting to know new people, and spending time with his wife and two kids, Emma and Enrique.

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Kelly Barner

Host of Dial P for Procurement

Kelly is the Owner and Managing Director of Buyers Meeting Point and MyPurchasingCenter. She has been in procurement since 2003, starting as a practitioner and then as the Associate Director of Consulting at Emptoris. She has covered procurement news, events, publications, solutions, trends, and relevant economics at Buyers Meeting Point since 2009. Kelly is also the General Manager at Art of Procurement and Business Survey Chair for the ISM-New York Report on Business. Kelly has her MBA from Babson College as well as an MS in Library and Information Science from Simmons College and she has co-authored three books: ‘Supply Market Intelligence for Procurement Professionals’, ‘Procurement at a Crossroads’, and ‘Finance Unleashed’.

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Mary Kate Soliva

Host, Veteran Voices

Mary Kate Soliva is a veteran of the US Army and cofounder of the Guam Human Rights Initiative. She is currently in the Doctor of Criminal Justice program at Saint Leo University. She is passionate about combating human trafficking and has spent the last decade conducting training for military personnel and the local community.

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Constantine Limberakis

Host

Constantine Limberakis is a thought leader in the area of procurement and supply management. He has over 20 years of international experience, playing strategic roles in a wide spectrum of organizations related to analyst advisory, consulting, product marketing, product development, and market research.Throughout his career, he's been passionate about engaging global business leaders and the broader analyst and technology community with strategic content, speaking engagements, podcasts, research, webinars, and industry articles.Constantine holds a BA in History from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and an MBA in Finance & Marketing / Masters in Public & International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh.

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Amanda Luton

Vice President, Production

Amanda is a production and marketing veteran and entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience across a variety of industries and organizations including Von Maur, Anthropologie, AmericasMart Atlanta, and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Amanda currently manages, produces, and develops modern digital content for Supply Chain Now and their clients. Amanda has previously served as the VP of Information Systems and Webmaster on the Board of Directors for APICS Savannah, and founded and managed her own successful digital marketing firm, Magnolia Marketing Group. When she’s not leading the Supply Chain Now production team, you can find Amanda in the kitchen, reading, listening to podcasts, or enjoying time with family.

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Clay Phillips

Business Development Manager

Clay is passionate about two things: supply chain and the marketing that goes into it. Recently graduated with a degree in marketing at the University of Georgia, Clay got his start as a journalism major and inaugural member of the Owl’s football team at Kennesaw State University – but quickly saw tremendous opportunity in the Terry College of Business. He’s already putting his education to great use at Supply Chain Now, assisting with everything from sales and brand strategy to media production. Clay has contributed to initiatives such as our leap into video production, the guest blog series, and boosting social media presence, and after nearly two years in Supply Chain Now’s Marketing Department, Clay now heads up partnership and sales initiatives with the help of the rest of the Supply Chain Now sales team.

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Chantel King

Social Media Manager

My name is Chantel King and I am the Social Media Specialist at Supply Chain Now. My job is to make sure our audience is engaged and educated on the abundant amount of information the supply chain industry has to offer.

Social Media and Communications has been my niche ever since I graduated from college at The Academy of Art University in San Francisco. No, I am not a West Coast girl. I was born and raised in New Jersey, but my travel experience goes way beyond the garden state. My true passion is in creating editorial and graphic content that influences others to be great in whatever industry they are in. I’ve done this by working with lifestyle, financial, and editorial companies by providing resources to enhance their businesses.

Another passion of mine is trying new things. Whether it’s food, an activity, or a sport. I would like to say that I am an adventurous Taurus that never shies away from a new quest or challenge.

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Lori Sofian

Marketing Coordinator

Lori is currently completing a degree in marketing with an emphasis in digital marketing at the University of Georgia. When she’s not supporting the marketing efforts at Supply Chain Now, you can find her at music festivals – or working toward her dream goal of a fashion career. Lori is involved in many extracurricular activities and appreciates all the learning experiences UGA has brought her.

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Katherine Hintz

Director, Customer Experience

Katherine is a marketing professional and MBA candidate who strives to unite her love of people with a passion for positive experiences. Having a diverse background, which includes nonprofit work with digital marketing and start-ups, she serves as a leader who helps people live their most creative lives by cultivating community, order, collaboration, and respect. With equal parts creativity and analytics, she brings a unique skill set which fosters refining, problem solving, and connecting organizations with their true vision. In her free time, you can usually find her looking for her cup of coffee, playing with her puppy Charlie, and dreaming of her next road trip.

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Mary Kate Love

Chief of Staff & Host

Mary Kate Love is currently the VP of marketing at Supply Chain Now focused on brand strategy and audience + revenue growth. Mary Kate’s career is a testament to her versatility and innovative spirit: she has experience in start-ups, venture capital, and building innovation initiatives from the ground up: she previously helped lead the build-out of the Supply Chain Innovation Center at Georgia-Pacific and before that, MxD (Manufacturing times Digital): the Department of Defense’s digital manufacturing innovation center. Mary Kate has a passion for taking complicated ideas and turning them into reality: she was one of the first team members at MxD and the first team member at the Supply Chain Innovation Center at Georgia-Pacific.

Mary Kate dedicates her extra time to education and mentorship: she was one of the founding Board Members for Women Influence Chicago and led an initiative for a city-wide job shadow day for young women across Chicago tech companies and was previously on the Board of Directors at St. Laurence High School in Chicago, Young Irish Fellowship Board and the UN Committee for Women. Mary Kate is the founder of National Supply Chain Day and enjoys co-hosting podcasts at Supply Chain Now. Mary Kate is from the south side of Chicago, a mom of two baby boys, and an avid 16-inch softball player. She holds a BS in Political Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

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Joshua Miranda

Marketing Specialist

Joshua is a student from Institute of Technology and Higher Education of Monterrey Campus Guadalajara in Communication and Digital Media. His experience ranges from Plug and Play México, DearDoc, and Nissan México creating unique social media marketing campaigns and graphics design. Joshua helps to amplify the voice of supply chain here at Supply Chain Now by assisting in graphic design, content creation, asset logistics, and more.  In his free time he likes to read and write short stories as well as watch movies and television series.

Donna Krache

Director of Communications and Executive Producer

Donna Krache is a former CNN executive producer who has won several awards in journalism and communication, including three Peabodys.  She has 30 years’ experience in broadcast and digital journalism. She led the first production team at CNN to convert its show to a digital platform. She has authored many articles for CNN and other media outlets. She taught digital journalism at Georgia State University and Arizona State University. Krache holds a bachelor’s degree in government from the College of William and Mary and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of New Orleans. She is a serious sports fan who loves the Braves. She is president of the Dave Krache Foundation. Named in honor of her late husband, this non-profit pays fees for kids who want to play sports but whose parents are facing economic challenges.

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Vicki White

Controller

Vicki has a long history of rising to challenges and keeping things up and running. First, she supported her family’s multi-million dollar business as controller for 12 years, beginning at the age of 17. Then, she worked as an office manager and controller for a wholesale food broker. But her biggest feat? Serving as the chief executive officer of her household, while her entrepreneur husband travelled the world extensively. She fed, nurtured, chaperoned, and chauffeured three daughters all while running a newsletter publishing business and remaining active in her community as a Stephen’s Minister, Sunday school teacher, school volunteer, licensed realtor and POA Board president (a title she holds to this day). A force to be reckoned with in the office, you might think twice before you meet Vicki on the tennis court! When she’s not keeping the books balanced at Supply Chain Now or playing tennis matches, you can find Vicki spending time with her husband Greg, her 4 fur babies, gardening, cleaning (yes, she loves to clean!) and learning new things.

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Katherine Hintz

Creative Director, Producer, Host

Katherine Hintz, MBA is a marketing professional who strives to unite her love of people with a passion for positive experiences. Having a diverse background, which includes nonprofit work with digital marketing and start-ups, she serves as a leader who helps people live their most creative lives by cultivating community, order, collaboration, and respect. With equal parts creativity and analytics, she brings a unique skill set which fosters refining, problem solving, and connecting organizations with their true vision. In her free time, you can usually find her looking for her cup of coffee, playing with her puppy Charlie, and dreaming of her next road trip.

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Kim Reuter

Host

From humble beginnings working the import docks, representing Fortune 500 giants, Ford, Michelin Tire, and Black & Decker; to Amazon technology patent holder and Nordstrom Change Leader, Kimberly Reuter has designed, implemented, and optimized best-in-class, highly scalable global logistics and retail operations all over the world. Kimberly’s ability to set strategic vision supported by bomb-proof processes, built on decades of hands-on experience, has elevated her to legendary status. Sought after by her peers and executives for her intellectual capital and keen insights, Kimberly is a thought leader in the retail logistics industry.

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Kristi Porter

Host, Logistics with Purpose

Kristi Porter is VP of Sales and Marketing at Vector Global Logistics, a company that is changing the world through supply chain. In her role, she oversees all marketing efforts and supports the sales team in doing what they do best. In addition to this role, she is the Chief Do-Gooder at Signify, which assists nonprofits and social impact companies through copywriting and marketing strategy consulting. She has almost 20 years of professional experience, and loves every opportunity to help people do more good.

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Sofia Rivas Herrera

Host, Supply Chain Now en Espanol

Sofia Rivas Herrera is a Mexican Industrial Engineer from Tecnologico de Monterrey class 2019. Upon graduation, she earned a scholarship to study MIT’s Graduate Certificate in Logistics and Supply Chain Management and graduated as one of the Top 3 performers of her class in 2020. She also has a multicultural background due to her international academic experiences at Singapore Management University and Kühne Logistics University in Hamburg. Sofia self-identifies as a Supply Chain enthusiast & ambassador sharing her passion for the field in her daily life.

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Demo Perez

Host, Supply Chain Now en Espanol

Demo Perez started his career in 1997 in the industry by chance when a relative asked him for help for two just weeks putting together an operation for FedEx Express at the Colon Free Zone, an area where he was never been but accepted the challenge. Worked in all roles possible from a truck driver to currier to a sales representative, helped the brand introduction, market share growth and recognition in the Colon Free Zone, at the end of 1999 had the chance to meet and have a chat with Fred Smith ( FedEx CEO), joined another company in 2018 who took over the FedEx operations as Operations and sales manager, in 2004 accepted the challenge from his company to leave the FedEx operations and business to take over the operation and business of DHL Express, his major competitor and rival so couldn’t say no, by changing completely its operation model in the Free Zone. In 2005 started his first entrepreneurial journey by quitting his job and joining two friends to start a Freight Forwarding company. After 8 months was recruited back by his company LSP with the General Manager role with the challenge of growing the company and make it fully capable warehousing 3PL. By 2009 joined CSCMP and WERC and started his journey of learning and growing his international network and high-level learning. In 2012 for the first time joined a local association ( the Panama Maritime Chamber) and worked in the country’s first Logistics Strategy plan, joined and lead other associations ending as president of the Panama Logistics Council in 2017. By finishing his professional mission at LSP with a company that was 8 times the size it was when accepted the role as GM with so many jobs generated and several young professionals coached, having great financial results, took the decision to move forward and start his own business from scratch by the end of 2019. with a friend and colleague co-founded IPL Group a company that started as a boutique 3PL and now is gearing up for the post-Covid era by moving to the big leagues.

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