Bobby Holland is a man in the know. Nearing four decades of broad-based data processing, software engineering, and consulting experience, he is now the Vice President/Director of Freight Business Analytics, and in charge of the U.S. Bank Freight Payment Index. Published every quarter by U.S. Bank, it has become a go-to source of information for freight shipping trends at a national and regional level. Joining Bobby on this episode of the podcast is the returning Eric Olson, Sales Support Operations Director at Total Quality Logistics (TQL), where he has spent almost 20 years working in a variety of management roles. Listen in as the conversation focuses on the U.S. Bank 2023 Q4 Freight Payment Index, based on billions of dollars worth of spend data. Bobby reveals that one region of the country saw a huge drop in shipments of more than 25% year over year. Insights such as this, underpinned by raw and unquestionable data, are why companies such as TQL and supply chain professionals like Eric turn to it for valuable insights that help to underpin their own strategies. Through the podcast, the duo talk through seven key takeaways from the 2023 Q4 report, explaining some of the trends…

In this episode of Supply Chain Now, host Karin Bursa welcomes a powerhouse panel of women supply chain leaders who are rewriting the rules in today’s “never normal” world. Joining the discussion are Stephanie Beal, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Hasbro; Tamera Fenske, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Kimberly-Clark; Eliza Simeonova, Vice President of Global Supply for Mars Pet Nutrition; Whitney Shlesinger, Vice President of Global Planning and Logistics at McCormick; and Sylvia Wilks, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Lamb Weston. Together, they share defining moments that shaped their careers, from early plant leadership to global transformation initiatives. They explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping supply chain performance: driving operational discipline, improving demand planning, enhancing knowledge management, and freeing teams to focus on creative, strategic work. The panel also reflects on the importance of clean data, talent development, and building integrated value chains that deliver measurable business results. Looking back, each leader offers advice to their younger selves, highlighting the power of mentorship, confidence, and learning from failure while encouraging the next generation to own their careers and pay it forward.   This episode is hosted by Karin Bursa, and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton.  …