“The question became one of who owned the streets. Today we think of streets as a place for cars. Back then, however, ownership was in transition at best – if anything – the streets belonged to pedestrians.”
– Kelly Barner, Dial P for Procurement
In this edition of This Week in Business History, Kelly Barner remembers key innovations, inventions, and firsts that took place between August 2nd and the 6th. In our main story, we learn about the installation of the first electric traffic light and how the road went from being the domain of pedestrians to a throughway for cars. We’ll also learn about the release of the TRS-80 personal computer by Radio Shack and the establishment of the first Federal income tax.
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workforce development
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May 24, 2024
The Buzz for May 24th: Featuring Hilda Abbott and Albert Sorto with RudHil Companies
The Buzz is Supply Chain Now’s regular Monday livestream, held at 12 noon ET each week. This show focuses on some of the leading stories from global supply chain and global business, always with special guests – the most important of which is the live audience! In this week’s episode of The Buzz, host Scott Luton introduces new Supply Chain co-host Marty Parker to the show, and they both welcome special guests Hilda Abbott, Founder & CEO, and Albert Sorto, Vice President of Business Development and Strategic Alliances, both with RudHil Companies. Listen in as together they discuss: The impact of new China tariff expansions The importance of workforce development in the supply chain industry The current state of the industrial and commercial real estate environment Insights on site selection for businesses The importance of strategic planning and networking
artificial intelligence
Podcast
October 6, 2025
Revolutionizing Retail Supply Chain Operations with AI and Automation
In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott Luton welcomes Angie Jula, Director of Product Management, and Matt Brolsma, Sr. Manager of Product Marketing at SPS Commerce, to discuss how AI and automation are transforming retail supply chains. Angie draws on more than a decade in product leadership, while Matt brings cross-functional expertise from both supplier and buyer perspectives. Together, they share how retailers can transform clean, connected data into actionable insights that enhance demand forecasting, supplier collaboration, and pricing strategy, all while reducing manual work that slows down their teams. From tackling organizational silos with cross-functional dashboards to equipping executives with real-time visibility, Angie and Matt emphasize why AI is no longer optional; it’s a strategic imperative. They highlight case studies on supplier scorecarding, automation-driven fill rates, and proactive exception management, showing how early adopters are gaining competitive advantages in resilience, agility, and customer loyalty. This discussion is a roadmap for retailers navigating tariffs, disruptions, and the rising expectations of today’s consumers. This episode is hosted by Scott Luton, and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. Additional Links & Resources Check out all the great resources and information mentioned during the show: Connect…