Supply Chain Now
Episode 530

Episode Summary

“If you’re going to be putting so much effort into building something from scratch, that you want to be having fun while you do it.”

– Dale Wilkinson, Founder of goodgigs

 

Large organizations are taking notice of the fact that consumers want them to create more than just shareholder value – they want societal value as well. It can lead to greater consumer loyalty. That trend has expanded into the hiring space, with socially-oriented companies and candidates trying to find each other.

goodgigs, which was founded by Dale Wilkinson in 2018, was initially started to help creative freelancers find companies that share their values and causes. In 2021, they plan to expand into a full jobs board, but they will be screening all participants in order to ensure that their platform remains focused on their core mission: combining profit with purpose.

In this conversation, Dale tells Supply Chain Now Co-hosts Greg White and Scott Luton:

· When he had his own epiphany that he wanted to do a job that he loved but do good for society at the same time

· What trends he is seeing among mission-driven companies as the workforce prepares to remain virtual for the foreseeable future

· About the other media channels he is branching out into to raise awareness about the goods works people and companies are doing

Episode Transcript

Intro/Outro (00:05):

It’s time for supply chain. Now broadcasting live from the supply chain capital of the country. Atlanta, Georgia heard around the world. Supply chain. Now spotlights the best in all things. Supply chain, the people, the technologies, the best practices and the critical issues of the day. And now here are your hosts. Good morning, Scott Alvarez with blockchain.

Scott Luton (00:33):

Welcome to today’s show. Hey, they show us all about continuing our logistics with purpose series here, powered by our dear friends or vector global logistics. And where we focus on here are the leaders and organizations that are all changing the world in some way, shape or form. So stay tuned. We’ll look to not only increase your supply chain IQ, but your leadership IQ quick programming. If we get started to hear, if you enjoyed today’s episode, be sure to check out [inaudible] now, wherever you get your podcasts from subscribe for free. So you don’t miss a single episode or conversation just like this here today. So with no further ado, Greg and Enrique are y’all ready. Very excited. Ready? I didn’t do my check-in with either. Y’all usually I’ll say, Hey, good afternoon. How you doing? And, and, uh, get the juices going for the conversation. I didn’t do that.

Scott Luton (01:20):

So, Greg, how are you doing today? I’m doing well. Uh, this is one of my favorite series. I’m so glad that Enrique and the team bring this to us where we get to talk about people who give forward agreed in our producer. This has, this has become his favorite series, by the way, that’s a huge, that comes with a championship belt. So I agree. We’ve gotten a lot of great feedback around logistics with purpose and Enrique. How are you doing today? I’m doing great. Scott and Greg. This is a pleasure as always. And this is also my favorite series. I’m the only one that we have. But for now, maybe we shed some light on that towards the end of today’s episode, but Hey, we’ve got an outstanding conversation teed up today. We’ve all done our homework on the one and only Dell Wilkinson is joining us here today and our audience audiences in for a great discussion.

Scott Luton (02:07):

So let’s bring in Dell officially, they’ll Wilkinson founder at good gigs, which is a platform to connect mission-driven companies with professionals that want to use their skills for good leave their Mark. Right? Give forward. As we talk about here at supply chain now, so Dale, good morning. How are you doing? Thank you so much, Greg Enrique. How are you done? Good to have you great having you. Yep. You know, w it’s one of those cases, Greg and Enrique, where we should have been recording the pre-show conversation. We enjoyed chatting with Dell and learn about some of the things he’s up to, but Hey, we’ve got the next hour or so the dive into that. So Dale, thanks for carving some time out. Of course, looking forward to it. All right. So for starters, Greg, where we want to start with Dell, tell us a little bit about where you’re from. Cause I’m guessing it’s not precisely the United States of America and maybe share a little bit about childhood

Greg White (03:00):

Upbringing early life. Well, what would you guess? Where am I Australia? There you go. Yes. Is that right?

Dale Wilkinson (03:09):

Well, you are correct. Okay. Uh, you’d be surprised at what I get. I was going to say New Zealand. Yeah, Kiwi, uh, English, South African,

Greg White (03:20):

All of the above and confusing, but

Dale Wilkinson (03:22):

I’m Australian. Uh, I’m an Aussie ex-pat living in Los Angeles. I’ve been here 10 years. Grew up in rural Australia, country, Australia, the Outback.

Greg White (03:34):

Wow. Whereabouts

Dale Wilkinson (03:36):

Kaia. It’s two hours North of Melbourne. I grew up in a dairy farm.

Greg White (03:41):

Hold up. I’m a little bit familiar. So that’s two hours North of Melbourne is as we say, in the States, the sticks sticks. Yes, definitely. The sticks,

Dale Wilkinson (03:51):

Small country town, uh, grew up there till I was 18 moved to Melbourne for about a year or so. And then eventually Sydney, which is obviously the biggest, biggest city in Australia. Right. And was there for seven years and the seven year itch and came over to the States one holiday season for a, uh, for a vacation and decided I want to make that move. And six months later I was, I was here.

Greg White (04:17):

Yeah. Maybe tell us a little bit about, I don’t know, you know, it’s always nice to find out what has shaped a person. Right. So maybe tell us a little bit about your upbringing in Oz or, or maybe what caused you to come to the States or why particularly the States or what’s happened here since any of those things is on fast.

Dale Wilkinson (04:34):

Great. As I mentioned, I grew up in a dairy farm, which that would be hard not to shape you. Like I got the, I was one of seven kids, second youngest. And uh, I think the folks had that many kids to work the farm, right. Hopefully one of us would take over, uh, which

Greg White (04:56):

They hate, if you can’t find good help, just make good help. But that really has grown yeah.

Dale Wilkinson (05:04):

Up on the dairy farm for a number of reasons, really kind of shaped my work ethic, my appreciation of early mornings. And there was a lot of good times, uh, growing up on, uh, on the farm and, um, uh, enjoy whenever I get the opportunity to go back there, which, you know, I try and make a couple of times a year. Um, unfortunately hasn’t been a year, uh, considering, right. Um, you know what we’re in at the moment, but, um,

Greg White (05:31):

Yeah, it was, I definitely think the

Dale Wilkinson (05:33):

Seeing my parents work ethic on the farm has really been ingrained into me as an entrepreneur now trying to, you know, build, uh, build a company and the consistency that, that takes to run a dairy farm, you know, it’s, um, 24 seven job. It’s, you’re milking the cows twice a day. There’s no vacation, it’s staying in day out. It’s very consistent regimented. And I think I’ve taken that with me throughout my whole career. And then the reason I moved to the States, I was in Sydney working for a production company, doing a business development role there, where we were creating the promos and the trailers for a lot of the TV shows in Australia. So after seven years of being in Sydney, gorgeous city, but wanted to make a change. And the next logical move for me was to come to the States if I wanted to continue in that kind of space in a working for a production company in the entertainment space. And at that time I was starting to kind of enjoy the creative process of working at an agency and a production company, and yet made the move to get to the States. You’re

Scott Luton (06:51):

Shouting some of our next question, which is about that professional journey leading up to, you know, founding good gigs and beyond. What else would you add to that pre was good gigs your first in entrepreneurial venture before we talk about no. Okay, perfect. Well then shed some more light shed, some more light on some of the, on some of the other pre good gigs journey. And then I’m gonna ask you about some epiphanies you had

Dale Wilkinson (07:14):

When I was actually, uh, 18 going on 19, I’ve always had that entrepreneurial spirit, that mindset. And I started my first business when I was 18. I had just done a traineeship. I was living in Melbourne for a bit. And then I came back to the country. And when I told country I talk, you know, a town of 5,000 people, very small rural country town. And I decided to create an events event marketing company, uh, in a very small country, rural town. So a couple of little events that were, that was successful, but then plan this comedy gala. And then I, so I was 18. I really had no business experience. I had no marketing experience. I was flailing my way through, you know, trying to work this out. I ended up getting some decent comedians from Melbourne to appear and to, and to perform at this comedy gala.

Dale Wilkinson (08:06):

I worked out and had to kind of do some radio ads, some newspaper ads, but again, nothing about advertising or marketing, the radio ads, the kind of first mistake there was, it was a week before I realized the ads didn’t even have the date of the show. So as you can imagine, the night of the gala, we did have a pretty big theater. I think it was like a 400 seat theater. It was just family and friends like 20 people showed up and, you know, being that naive, I didn’t, I didn’t expect that mum and dad kind of forked out some money to, you know, to put this on. Um, and before the show even started, I was like, I need to get a full-time job then I guess like after this, I’m not gonna have made a loss on this. So, uh, but funny enough though, after that knew I had to pay mom and dad back knew I had an interest in the creative side, advertising marketing, and I actually got to my first kind of full-time job at the newspaper that I was running these ads in. And I knew I had to kind of get my head around marketing and advertising. And it was after the fact when I did something so terrible, then kind of jumping in and letting the basics, the principles and kind of looking back at that experience and going, maybe I should’ve done this, should’ve done that.

Scott Luton (09:24):

Those are some of the most powerful learnings and in business and in life is when, when disaster strikes or when, when you got it, when it, when you have a failure, what you learn from that and then apply for the next go round. I mean, that that’s like some of the secret sauce. Right?

Dale Wilkinson (09:41):

Definitely, definitely. Right. And, and the show itself, it was amazing. It was a great, you know, the comedians were hilarious. Uh, the people that did come had to, you know, had a great night, but, um, yeah, exactly right. We were able to then kind of work out, uh, after the fact what I should have, you know, I should have done then. Um, and it did set me on the trajectory of, you know, where I’m at now and, and kind of going into that marketing direction. So what came next? So I was working for this newspaper, getting my head around, advertising the, the principles of advertising, again, having that itch that I needed to move to a bigger city. Uh, so from there I moved to Sydney and continued that, uh, that career in advertising, um, ad sales, right then it, when digital was really kind of taking off.

Dale Wilkinson (10:27):

So I got a job with, uh, news Corp Rupert Murdoch’s company, which, uh, I’d say, you know, the desktop, it was like, so I was working, uh, selling ads on the internet basically. And it was right when my space actually launched and Fox bought MySpace. So we were actually in the Australian market, we were selling the ads on MySpace and then creating bespoke, uh, ad campaigns on MySpace with the live events that they were doing. They at dinner, if you can remember, they would do secret shows, uh, both for movies and music. And it was a really, really cool time. But then obviously Facebook was launching at the same time and I’d lift NewsCorp before that happened. But that really was pivotal for me because I, I enjoyed coming up with those creative concepts, both for the digital campaigns, as well as experiential in-person campaigns. So I actually took that experience and went to event marketing agency to really kind of, you know, build that out. Uh, and then, uh, went to, uh, uh, a production company then, um, doing more of a, a biz dev role,

Scott Luton (11:36):

The combination and the collection and the accumulation of these skillsets, especially on the visual side, the biz dev side, the advertising and marketing side at what a, what great ammunition as you know, you launched good gigs, which we’re gonna talk about here momentarily. You’ve already kind of shared some of your key learnings, but if you had one,

Dale Wilkinson (11:57):

The more the point to that you haven’t shared, that was a significant Eureka moment for you. What would that be? I think it was back on my first job working for this newspaper. Again, it was a, it was a small country newspaper, but in the position that I was as doing sales and, you know, selling ads in the newspaper, you were dealing with small businesses and mom and pop shops, and you were selling the space, but you were also responsible for the creative side of it. And coming up with the, uh, uh, the campaigns and what did that ad look like, uh, which was really enjoyable. So having that position and kind of wearing multiple hats, both sales and advertising, you really got that perspective of how to integrate sales and creative, and then dealing with a mom and pop shop where it’s their money coming out of their pocket, selling these ad spaces. It really had this kind of human connection for me. And it was kind of perfect at that stage of this. Isn’t a big multinational company with massive budgets. So to really care for your customers and your clients, and really understand, you know, what they trying to achieve with, you know, whatever they were doing. And it was like the local pub. It was, you know, the local furniture store. Yeah. It was such a good experience. Can really move the needle and be part of a

Scott Luton (13:26):

Family business, small business, you know, something really meaningful and impactful to them.

Dale Wilkinson (13:30):

You couldn’t disappear into the backdrop because chances are good. They knew your parents, right. Or somebody knew somebody that you knew. Right. I mean, it really was a real personal connection. It’s interesting that if you think about it, Dale, it’s interesting what that prepared you for in terms of what you’re doing today, right. I mean, understanding that human connection in marketing and engagement, right. How to make that life easier, you know, w w what’s the pain, uh, that you’re trying to solve for them. All right. Love that

Scott Luton (14:03):

Enrique let’s stop into good gigs,

Enrique Alvarez (14:06):

Dale. And as Greg was saying, I think it kind of shows through to what you’ve told us so far that you not only care for people, but, uh, but I think that upbringing in the farm has been very important throughout your career. Well, first and foremost, before I ask you, why, what does the company do? Explain a little bit more about what a good geeks is, what it stands for and, and just, yeah. What it is so people can understand. Yeah,

Dale Wilkinson (14:33):

Yeah, yeah. So good gigs as a platform to connect mission-driven companies. So non-profits social enterprises, uh, be co-ops, uh, to come and find professionals, uh, predominantly in tech marketing design, uh, product who want to use that skills for good, you know, so that’s what we’ve been building over the last and a half, you know, it’s pivoted in terms of what the business model was. It was initially a, a marketplace model where we would take a commission mostly from the freelancer side of the market. It’s, it’s evolved more into, uh, currently a jobs board, uh, and we’re launching a community platform for the job seeker side of the, the marketplace, uh, early 2021. Uh, and with that is, we’ll be releasing courses, cohort-based courses on how to, uh, improve job seekers, soft skills. And I think that will help them upskill and, uh, job readiness to start working for these mission-driven companies.

Enrique Alvarez (15:34):

That’s very interesting. And some of the audience out there that, uh, are in logistics, um, so you said nonprofits, B corpse, and some other organizations like that, how would accompany kind of contact you and then sign up and onboard you? And also is it on both ends of the spectrum? You’re dealing with people that are seeking the jobs and then also people are offering the jobs. And how are you thinking about all this

Dale Wilkinson (15:58):

It’s it’s like, it’s a balancing act. That’s for sure. Whenever you have this kind of marketplace model where you’ll, you know, trying to get two sides of the, uh, market onto this platform. So, uh, we’ve, you know, done some growth techniques of building a community of job seekers. And that’s what we really kind of started with now for any company that wants to get in front and get access to this community that we’ve built. They just need to go to good gigs.app. And in the navigation bar is find talent. And it just provides a different opportunity is that we have to get access. So you can post a one-off job. You could do an unlimited subscription. So it posts as many jobs as you want, uh, each month.

Enrique Alvarez (16:39):

And, uh, purpose is a big thing. And I personally really, really think it’s a driving force and, and the way that you should probably, uh, I guess, line up your life and what you do and your company, but, um, and in the marketplace, and just trying to sell your company, are you seeing more people that actually are attracted to purpose or more companies that are purpose driven? I mean, what, what’s the balance right now in that equation is that companies are catching up to what people want, or it’s the other way around

Dale Wilkinson (17:09):

Specifically, like who we’re working with. If a company wants to sign up on good gigs and post their jobs, there is a qualification step. So, you know, we do kind of look and see if they are a social entrepreneur, if they really do have kind of purposing, uh, ingrained into their business model. Cause that’s what we’re building over here. Otherwise, you know, there’s plenty of other opportunities for other companies to, you know, post jobs on LinkedIn or indeed, or, you know, wherever they want to go. So, but what we’re really kind of building is this platform and this community specifically focused on, you know, solving some really big social issues. Um, and that’s what we wanted to, uh, for the job seek is create the opportunity to search these companies based on social issues that they care about. Um, if it’s environment, they want to work for a company that is working to solve climate change, there’s an easy way to be able to come to good gigs such for those different companies and see what open positions that they have building that framework where attracting a network of professionals who are interested in this.

Dale Wilkinson (18:14):

This is

Enrique Alvarez (18:14):

Very exciting. And so Y Y Y tell us a little bit more on tell our audience how, how you came up with idea and why this particular idea, uh, what’s the root cause of, of you founding it.

Dale Wilkinson (18:27):

It was really scratch my own itch, going back to Sydney and working for news Corp. There was this book I read, uh, [inaudible]. It was a profound book for me. Once I finished reading that had this kind of epiphany, that I was selling ads on the internet for news Corp doing, you know, no real good, no impact in the world. And literally like the next day after finishing the book, I quit my job within two weeks. I was in Vietnam, volunteering for this organization that built homes for the homeless and mind you, that was my first international trip. Uh, that was my first trip out of Australia. So I went by myself and that was a culture shock for sure. And I was there actually over a month, just kind of traveling. And it was amazing, the people that I met, the experiences, the culture, but also had the poverty and, you know, this real kind of realization, how privileged upbringing that I had in, in, in Australia.

Dale Wilkinson (19:24):

They’ll how did you find and vet the company in Vietnam? I did a Google search and just found different organizations that were doing those kinds of things. I, I, I, I want to say there was a friend that had done something similar and I don’t think it was the same organization, but I did find something close by it. And then I kind of looked at like, well, they had different programs in different countries and just kind of based it on that, made the leap and made the leap and do not regret it. Uh, it, it was so much fun, but once I got back, I still didn’t have the experience to all the understanding about, and this was like 15 years ago, you know, so, um, social enterprise or, or, you know, um, using business for good. So I always struggled with that. I couldn’t reconcile, reconcile using my, uh, skills and experience that I had built up with using them for good and, and, and making a career and making money.

Dale Wilkinson (20:23):

So I think for the next, you know, 10 years in, you know, moving here to Los Angeles, and then I had a, um, uh, production company, uh, he, if, uh, the last nine years, uh, working with clients, creating the, uh, video ad campaigns had some terrific clients love the creative process, but again was like, there’s something missing. And that was, that was, it was really about scratching my own itch. It’s like, I must not be the only person that wants to be able to have a good career and make decent money, but also be something of purpose and appreciate that. So I actually made, uh, was, that was a really, uh, the last year of the production company had a really, really good year and made the decision that, all right, it’s now another Nevo. Uh, I’m going to step back and ideate and come up with my own brand. Um, and number one on that list was it was to be a purpose-driven brand. So it was about a three month period. I was at the coffee shop every day, just coming up with ideas, working out like, you know, what is my skillset, you know, looking at different business models and just playing around with it. And it probably took about three months to, to come up with good gigs and the original concept. And then that, you know, that’s changed.

Enrique Alvarez (21:38):

That’s very interesting. And I was like, I guess, very good entrepreneurs. So always working the first couple of months of our company’s life was also in a, at a Starbucks, or I guess from what Starbucks to the other. So tell us a little bit more, how a day in the life of Del Wilkinson looks like. Cause, uh, cause we know, and you have mentioned before there’s many, many different moving parts. You you’re an entrepreneur and we have interviewed entrepreneurs before and, and we get that, but how, how can, um, how’s the normal day for you? How do you spend your time on how you prioritize your tasks? Tell us a little more

Dale Wilkinson (22:15):

Great question. And you know, it’s, it’s festival, it’s still a struggle like when you a solo founder and you do have to wear multiple hats, it’s a struggle. But I go back to what I was saying with, with, you know, growing up in the farm and that consistency and that having that kind of ingrained in me. I know I can be, I’m great scheduling my time. Uh, I, I think being a producer as well for the last nine years with a production company, having a really good understanding of who and what to bring in what resources I need to kind of bring in and, and at what point, but also being resourceful enough to kind of work out. I can teach myself that I can do this so that I can, you know, buy a camera and do my own video stuff, which is also my downfall because, you know, to try and delegate that stuff. Once you have what that, how you, you know, work in that space, many hats right now, right now though, day to day, I am getting ready to go out for a raise to do the first investment round for good gigs. So just within the last two weeks, you know, made that, made that decision. So right now it’s like pitch decks, uh, revenue, projections, all that fun stuff.

Enrique Alvarez (23:32):

Are you ready? Or can you tell us, or share a little bit more about how much you’re trying to raise and broad terms and conditions just in case maybe someone that’s listening out there. Yay. There might be couple out there, uh, venture capital.

Dale Wilkinson (23:47):

Yeah, for sure. Yeah. So I’m looking to raise the 250 K round pre-seed round, uh, on a safe, uh, so, uh, for the last year I’ve always, there’s something been, uh, something really, uh, that is alluded me to the bootstrapping route, uh, with good gigs and that’s kind of what I started off, uh, doing. Uh, I actually built what you see now, good Gigster app that has been built with no code tool. Um, so there’s a kind of a big movement in, in the, uh, web and mobile app, uh, building space of all these no code tools. So you don’t necessarily need a developer to build these, uh, applications for you. You can go in and use these tools to build pretty comprehensive tools. So, uh, I’m a non technical founder, so I’ve never dealt in that before. So I found a bubble this toll and was able to build a good gigs from that.

Dale Wilkinson (24:48):

So, uh, it’s very cool. So you don’t have to spend as much on, you know, development costs and, uh, but you know, there was a bit of a steep learning curve again, uh, and me putting my head down and, and, and building it. So I say, well that, because I’ve got to a point now where it’s like, okay, you need more content development. Uh, we’re building a community platform for out job seekers. We need community engagement, community moderation, uh, content development for those courses that I was talking about. So really kind of making the decision to, I need to bring in some capital to kind of get this growth. Okay.

Enrique Alvarez (25:26):

No, it’s clearly a technology company, right? I mean, you’d have to like have to leverage technology. Uh, and it, it sounds to me that, uh, you’re not afraid to take risks and try things yourself and roll up your sleeves and work hard. So changing, changing the, the gears a little bit, I like what you must see, like a lot of very interesting companies. And of course, a lot of very interesting people, very purpose-driven and with a very clear cost in their lives. So the two or three things that you think make a company great, a good culture. Um, and, and I guess the kind of culture that you guys have a good gigs, w what would those do? Three components of a company’s good culture with good gigs or any of the companies. I was just assuming that since you have such a great sample of companies, they probably picked a couple here and there, and you, your company kind of is a reflection of what you think a good culture for a company should be. But so either, or, or both, I guess,

Dale Wilkinson (26:24):

Great question. I think they still being a solo founder and, and, you know, what does culture look like for a solo founder? You know, it’s definitely part of the thought process as you build the brand, as you work with, uh, external stakeholders that are, you know, doing a brand designers that you’re working with, it’s part of your identity. So I think specifically with good gigs, and I actually just had Denny Alexander, the co-founder of who gives a crap on the podcast the other day and asked that kind of same question, you know, if, if you had advice to other entrepreneurs just starting out, uh, especially in the impact space, you know, what, what advice would you have? Um, and I’ve, and I’ve kind of taken that from him is to have fun, you know, and I don’t think the good ones are just a mission-driven company is, is any company.

Dale Wilkinson (27:18):

If you’re going to be putting so much effort into building something from scratch, that you want to be having fun while you do it. So I think that has been a guiding principle, the good gigs from the get-go, although we are, you know, working with companies that are tackling social issues and important, serious issues on the good gigs, and we can still have fun and, and, you know, not take ourselves too seriously. The Denny answer the burning question though, who indeed does give a crap. They give us the answer to that question. Well, it is, uh, that is one of the, uh, the top value is give a crap. They ha they have three values, uh, which I think the other one is have fun, give a crap, have fun. And I cannot remember the last one and I can speak from experience because I’ve spoken, spoken to multiple of their team members, just in, you know, the HR, the marketing department. And I actually said this to Danny, like you’ll, it’s Testament to the team that you’ve built. They are all incredible, super responsive, super friendly folks, you know, and, and they started it as a remote first company and now have office in Los Angeles, in Melbourne Australia. So it’s Testament to, you know, what they’ve done, and they’ve been able to build a team that give a crap, you know, if that’s your number one value, then you’re hiring. And you’re employing folks that have values aligned.

Greg White (28:51):

You know, when I think about culture, that’s a great and very difficult question. So the easiest thing I have ever seen anyone do is simplify it. And you’re sitting in a room with three other CEOs or former CEOs. And the thing that I have discovered in being and working with CEOs is that 100% of the time, the company’s values, the company’s core values are the, are the leaders core values. So to make that question simpler for you to answer, you don’t have to look outside for what our company is or what our company ought to be. It’s just, what’s important to you because you are going to either subconsciously or intentionally drive those, those values throughout the organization. And like Danny, um, he must a crap and he must have fun because he must do it. I’m guessing very intentionally to drive that into that organization like that.

Greg White (29:50):

But that’s, that’s what makes culture so simple is while you’re doing it. And it’s hard as a leader to confess this, frankly, but while you’re doing it for an organization, it is all about you because ultimately you can’t be anything other than what you are and, and, or are consciously intending to be. So you you’ll drive that culture. So your, your culture, your values can be a little bit aspirational, but it needs to come from the core of who you are. Sorry, I didn’t mean for that to sound like an education, but it’s as simple as that, I think so many people, they get really tied in knots over culture and core value, but it really is as simple as that

Dale Wilkinson (30:34):

100%. Yeah. I’m, I’m literally going for this exercise is this, this, um, process right now, as I work on the framework for the community of good gigs and the community platform that we’re building. And it’s exactly that, you know, as I’m doing that kind of process, it’s like, well, what am I, what am I, what’s my identity? You know, what do I care about? And, uh, and then also, which is another thing that, um, um, I’m learning as I build this community is it’s also not about me when I build this community. It’s about allowing being the, kind of the, the, the producer and being the I’m building this space and this platform where a community can gather and engage, uh, learn, uh, feel safe, uh, and, you know, getting that, getting that input from the community and it, and it may not. When I look at the content and the, uh, you know, the courses that we’re going to offer, I have all these ideas. The community might not even want that, but being open and flexible to, to hear what they actually want, and then to allow that to happen.

Scott Luton (31:41):

A lot of learnings in this last exchange and, and Dell, I really appreciate you weighing in and, and, uh, um, I must have played ball or something with a James Wilkinson. I keep, or maybe you, you remind me of a, of a long, long story.

Greg White (31:54):

I think we know somebody named James Wilkinson Scott, because the name sounds familiar to me too. Now that you say that

Scott Luton (32:01):

Clearly they’ve made a big impact on me, bill, you are in short order making an even bigger impact. And I love, I love how, um, I think we all, I mean, we do so many of these, you sit down with folks and sometimes you get the guarded, the, the, the hidden, the, the cagey answers. But with, with what I’m hearing from Dell here is just an air of transparency. Um, an air of, I know what I want to do now. It’s about building it and communicating it and doesn’t have to be about me. It’s just, there’s an authenticity here, Dale, that definitely really is a big part of, of who you are. And, and it’s, uh, it’s

Dale Wilkinson (32:40):

A breath of fresh air. I appreciate you saying that, Scott, it, it, it, it’s not easy, uh, you know, especially when you’re trying to run your own business and, and, and, um, it’s tough and it’s something that I’ve actually leaned into and tried to lean into more this year, uh, with starting my own podcast and, you know, getting out of my comfortable zone, even with Enrique, what I was talking about, like looking for a, um, going out for investment, I actually had to ask myself some hard questions that, you know, a couple of weeks ago is like, well, why isn’t there anything else that I, is there some fear in this, you know, idea that I’m going to bootstrap it, you know, um, I’m not going to get investment. Is it some fear because I’m, I’m, I’m fearful of the better B. So I had to actually kind of, I mean, seriously

Greg White (33:25):

Fear as a prime motivator, right.

Dale Wilkinson (33:28):

I mean, yup. Yep. Um, and that’s what I concluded. Yeah.

Enrique Alvarez (33:34):

But at the same time, um, as probably very similar to what you mentioned Greg, about the culture, I think that, uh, investments, in my opinion, and I guess this, my personal investment strategy is you invest in the person, right? It’s the people that really matter. And of course you do have a very good idea. Uh, I was going to ask you, are there any other competitors

Greg White (33:52):

Interviewing you to see if he’s going to invest right now? No. No, but I’ve never heard of this.

Enrique Alvarez (34:00):

No, I think that there’s definitely a need in the, in, in this space. I love purpose. I’ve never heard of any of this before, and I don’t know if I’ll be an investor, but I’ll tell you that I’ll try to be a, at least a client, but is there, do you know of any other companies out there that are trying to do something like that?

Dale Wilkinson (34:18):

Look, when you look at like a jobs board, uh, element or, you know, to find opportunities, that mission driven companies, there’s a number of, uh, places as idealists there’s tech jobs for good handful of other ones that are specific, just unlike design gigs for good, that kind of stuff, but why I’m really leaning heavily into community and building a community platform. There’s no one in that space. There’s no other community. Um, that’s specifically focusing on mission-driven companies career, uh, careers in purpose. So that’s why I’m kind of leaning in and, and this community platform being a really kind of big pot of, uh, good gigs future love it. Uh, man, there’s so much power and focus and purpose, and there’s so much good, good, good work to be done. And there’s so much need. And I was taking a quick sneak peek at some of the, some of the opportunities on your own, on the marketplace.

Dale Wilkinson (35:11):

They’re good gigs and it’s, and it’s, it’s exciting. Cause it’s, it’s not, I think sometimes when folks hear non-profit or they hear a purpose-driven organization or whatever, they make certain assumptions, but there’s, so there’s a, there’s a diverse multitude of different opportunities out there and, and it needs a platform that serves it. So I love what you’re doing. Dale, it’s gonna be a four hour episode. There’s lots of synergy and kindred spirits here, so we better keep moving. Uh, Greg, I know we want to dive into the podcast. Good makers live your purpose. Let’s talk about that, Dale. Yeah, for sure. So I mentioned it, I mentioned it earlier, really what I was talking about, where you as a solo founder have to wear kind of multiple hats and how important content marketing is to build up SEO and build up traffic to the site, especially good gig site. And you know, what we’re trying to do, um, content is important and I can not write to save myself. So, and, and don’t enjoy it. Don’t want to do it. I see myself writing a blog, uh, that will be, uh, and something I need to do. Um, uh, pretty soon as well is to kind of outsource that and get some blogs, uh, happening here, come the offers to do that.

Dale Wilkinson (36:29):

I’m all for it. If you’re interested in the impact space, uh, if, if you know, you’re a great writer, then yeah, please hit me up. Uh, but I know a good platform that can help you find someone. Yeah, yeah, yeah. We’ve got, we’ve got a really good, uh, content and marketing and design is kind of some of our strongest. That’s going to be a super good advantage for you, right. I mean, you’re not going to be struggling finding people because they’ll, you’ll have all of their resumes ready. Yep. And I come to the platform. So enthused, it’s not just about a job. It’s like, I care about LGBTQ rights. I care about women’s rights. I care about, um, racial equity. It’s, it’s really cool. And as they build out their profile and to see, you know, uh, what interested they, they care about. Um, but, uh, with the pocast, I, it was really, uh, uh, a challenge for myself.

Dale Wilkinson (37:26):

It’s like, how do I, you know, kind of step into this leadership role a little bit. I always enjoyed having doing that business development, uh, those roles in my previous experience, I really enjoyed having these kinds of one-on-one connections with folks. So just decided to do it and thought it would be a great content marketing initiative for, uh, good gigs. Um, so good make is, is a podcast series where I get to interview social entrepreneurs. So the clients that I would potentially have, uh, on good gigs, um, and not just social entrepreneurs, what I really kind of want to do different with good makers is also bring in, uh change-makers and, uh, personal and professional development experts. Um, and it really under this ethos of, of to be able to help other people you’ve got to help yourself first. So making sure that you’re in the right mindset, you have the best tools and, um, uh, knowledge and know how to first help yourself, get yourself in a really good place in self care, um, so that you can then, you know, help other people.

Dale Wilkinson (38:33):

I think specifically in this space, especially in the nonprofit space, there definitely can be burnout and overwhelm with the issues that they’re trying to tackle. So there really has to be a focus on looking out for yourself first because you’re going to burn out and, you know, what’s, uh, what’s the, what’s the, um, that’s not going to help you. Uh, so good make is, is interview. You know, we’ve had, I’ve interviewed an energy healer, uh, on that, you know, um, a life coach in with actual social entrepreneurs that are out there doing really, really good work. And it’s been incredible as you guys would attest to as well.

Scott Luton (39:10):

I love the fact that at, even at this early stage, you’re focused on driving the conversation and the multitude of views and walks of life and different callings in life. That is a wonderful channel to invest some of these resources. And it’s such a service industry as some what I’m hearing, I’ll admit I have not listened to my first episode that wasn’t part of my homework, but now Dale, we’re going to make sure not only are we going to be listening to the next 20 episodes, we’re including the link in the show notes. And hopefully some of our audience numbers will tune into good makers, live your purpose, love it, Greg, when you hear plans around that type of content and that podcast series, and, and not just the current state, but where Dale is taking it, what are some initial thoughts you’ve got there?

Greg White (39:56):

You know, what I thought was what a great way to engage and elevate and expose your community is to let them sound off and, you know, and to hear what really makes them tick and let them represent that. Even, even just the community on good gigs, but in general as well. Right. That’s the hope I think I, I think we all have is that spreading the good news creates more good news, motivates more people to do good things. Right. I think it’s a great platform for that.

Dale Wilkinson (40:26):

Yeah. The podcast medium is something I really enjoy. And, you know, just to be able to have these conversations with the folks that are doing such good work has been, I’ve been so fortunate to be able to do that as well. But, uh, I’ve always really enjoyed podcast series that you have some tangible takeaways and you can actually learn stuff. The amount of books I have bought based on people’s recommendations in poker. I don’t know if it’s in the backend. So I’ve got like 50, like all powered up that I still need to read. It’s a bad habit of mine. Yeah. And so that’s a really kind of a key thing I try and do as well. What are those takeaways? So that listeners can go out and do it themselves and, and, and, you know, build a career of purpose.

Scott Luton (41:11):

Love it, love it, Dale. All right. So moving right along from the podcast, let’s, let’s, let’s take a little more, uh, walk through some of your observations here and this and this historically challenging year that is 2020. And thankfully we’re in the final month and ready to move into 2021. You know, when you think of a global business and our global supply chain, global relationships, you name it, what’s one of the trend or development or news story, or, or even challenge that you’re tracking more than others. Right now,

Dale Wilkinson (41:41):

What 2020 has shown us is the remote work-life and what companies are doing with their employees. What opportunities are out there for companies that now are going completely remote? What does that look like for the workforce? Can they leave, you know, these big, these big cities and, and, and live that kind of rural lifestyle, could they move, you know, to a different country? You know, they’re seeing, you’re seeing a few, uh, organizations like Gumroad, uh, I think they just made an announcement last week that they are not going to be paying people based on where they live. So it will be equal salary wherever you live. So, you know, you could move, uh, onto the stick. So that’s going to be really interesting and see what kind of opportunities 20, 21, 2022, um, have fall though, the workforce, you know, you would, you would think that there’s a lot more opportunities for folks that may not have been able to afford to live in, um, the Valley, San Francisco, that kind of stuff. So that’s kind of what I’m keeping an eye on specifically how it relates to good gigs. I’ve definitely seen a lot more remote positions be posted on the platform,

Scott Luton (43:00):

You know, in, in this, as we continue, you know, we’re months and months away from folks wanting to show up at a mode X, Greg, and Enrique, with, with tens of thousands of other people. And there’s a lot of opportunities that could, of course come out of those traditional events and programs, you name it. And, and with that void there, it’s great to have platforms like, uh, good gigs to help folks find those, uh, those opportunities and, and especially those align with what they want to do in life. So the need is now for sure, and even greater moving ahead. So I love what you’re doing at good gigs, such a pleasure to connect with you Del, uh, you are, again, that, that authentic breath of fresh air. I cannot wait to see, you know, this next phase, what it presents from a growth standpoint for you and, uh, the, the team. And, uh, can’t wait to have you back on. And when we’re looking back three years from now and when good gigs is the tightened in the industry, you’re getting some of your lessons learned. Then I liked that vision. Thanks so much, Scott girl, Hey, I appreciate it. Big pleasure. Look forward to staying in touch being here. Hey, really quick. Let’s make sure we’re going to have links in the show notes, of course, but let’s just Dale. Where can folks connect with you and, uh, good gigs.

Dale Wilkinson (44:15):

If you want to connect with the good gigs, good gigs dot AP P good gigs.app is the best place to do it. So both if you are a company looking for professionals that are, purpose-driven come to good gigs, as well as if you’re looking for these opportunities, come on over and we’ll be launching the community

Enrique Alvarez (44:32):

For job seekers in, uh, March of 2021. Uh, and then I’m pretty active on Twitter. You can find me, Dale w Wilkinson on the, on Twitter.

Greg White (44:45):

It’s just that easy, good stuff. Dellwood, Wilkinson founder at good gigs. Thanks so much Dell. You bet. All right, Enrique, Greg, let’s get one thing from both of y’all he, I mean, he shared so much here that, um, I’ve got about 22 pages of notes over my

Enrique Alvarez (45:03):

Obligatory 17, usually interviews. Well, it’s one thing,

Greg White (45:08):

Uh, to you that Dell shared here today, and let’s start with Greg thinking selfishly about doing good. I’m thinking what a great pool for the people for this, this very series, right. Of people who are giving forward as part of their purpose. So Enrique keep your eyes open there. But I think the other thing is, you know, I said it a little bit earlier. It’s the, it’s the community of do gooders, if you will. Right. And, and having them readily available to one another, it’s an affinity group, right. Of people that want to do the right thing. And, you know, I think that’s so valuable. We talked about associations and we talked about, uh, events and that sort of thing. And, you know, I couldn’t help, but think Scott, as you were saying that, think about how quickly virtual events came on and how quickly they have rapidly disappeared.

Greg White (45:57):

I mean, I’m sure there are some still out there, but there aren’t many. And now what people are doing is they’re kind of in pods of people with common interest. And if you, and it forced me to think about that even at a trade show of 40,000 or a hundred thousand people, you wind up talking to the same 67 people at every show every year, you know, the, these kind of affinity groups of people with common interests are so, so valuable. So you’re in the right place at the right time. Dale. And I think it’s encouraging that you’re doing it in the right way for people that want to do the right thing. Well put and Dale and regained. Greg, I got, I got one little quick anecdote. So Greg, Greg is one of the wittiest people I’ve ever rubbed elbows with. We’re interviewing Jasmine Crowe with gooder, G O O D R and a recent podcast. On few months back as we’re silent off Greg challenges, the audience with don’t do good, do gooder. And it’ll just one of those epiphanies could be on the back of a, a million t-shirts, but that’s what I thought you were going there, Greg. All right. Okay. What’s one really neat, uh, powerful thing that, uh, Dale shared with you here today

Enrique Alvarez (47:03):

And just kind of like learning a little bit more about him and getting to know him a little bit more as a, as a person, as an individual. I think that’s already very inspiring for hopefully a lot of, uh, people out there that kind of can see the, this purpose driven community and the platform that Dale’s giving them. It’s really, uh, a lot more than just, just a movement. I think, I think that’s really going to be the future of how business is conducted. And then we’ve said that before and before this series and,

Scott Luton (47:30):

And I will say it again, right? It’s just companies like Dale’s, uh, that want to really have a purpose and are driven by a purpose are going to be at the top of the, of the pyramid when, when and a couple more years, right. It’s just not like a good thing to have, or like a nice thing to do. Or like some, this company is socially responsible thing anymore. It’s like, if you don’t have purpose at the heart of your company, you’re going to go under and that’s it. And so I feel like Dale’s providing the, uh, community, uh, the platform for the community to build that. And that’s super, super interesting and very amazing on a personal note. I just, I just love the fact that he read a book and then went to Vietnam. That was, that was the best. And, and I, and I was going to send him an email, but what was the name of the book again, Dale?

Scott Luton (48:18):

Yeah, it was a new earth that got told. I knew her also the author of the power of now. And I have done some books just like you, and that’s going to be the next Amazon purchase right now. And if you ever show up and re Kay’s office pre B, be prepared to leave with 50 books, like I have so many that I have to start giving them away. Right. I’m kidding. That’s one of the best things that America does. I love that. It’s always a good idea to think differently, which is great, but they’ll excellent stuff. Love that your reflective leadership style really reminds me. It’s important to stop and think about what we’re doing and, and, and build effective, impactful communication around important things like core values and culture and mission and purpose. And, and that’s some of what I picked up here.

Scott Luton (49:03):

Look forward to having you back on a really big fans of the mission, your own, and, uh, all the best as we move into thankfully 2021. So on that note again, big, thanks to Dale Wilkinson. Check him out@goodgigs.app. We’ll have that in the show notes. Big, thanks to my cohost, Greg white, uh, Enrique Alvarez. And of course the vector global logistics team, by the way, Dell mentioned no code, no code. That’s a wonderful movement taking place across business. Uh, if you’re in supply chain looking for no code help check out our friends at you see boss based right here in Atlanta. On that note, if you enjoy this interview, check us out@supplychainnow.com where there’s a plethora of other conversations with inspirational leaders, just like Del Wilkinson, find us and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts from on behalf of the whole team here, challenge you just like with challenge ourselves, a do good, you know, forward and be the change that’s needed. B just like Dell will consent

Intro/Outro (50:00):

On that note. We’ll see you next time. [inaudible].

Featured Guests

Dale Wilkinson is the Former Executive Producer for FOX Network, Facebook Watch, PopSugar, and 17 year veteran of the advertising and entertainment industry, Dale Wilkinson is now the Founder of goodgigs, a platform and community for mission-driven companies to connect with professionals who want to use their skills for good.

Enrique Alvarez 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 a 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 also enjoys traveling, getting to know new people and spending time with his wife and two kids Emma and Enrique. Learn more about Vector Global Logistics here: https://vectorgl.com/

Hosts

Greg White

Principal & Host

Scott W. Luton

Founder, CEO, & Host

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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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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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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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Tevon Taylor

Host

Tevon Taylor is a dynamic leader at Pegasus Logistics, where he has made significant contributions to the company’s growth and innovation in the logistics industry. With a background in supply chain management and operations, Tevon combines strategic thinking with hands-on experience to streamline processes and enhance efficiency.  Since joining Pegasus Logistics, Tevon has been instrumental in implementing cutting-edge technologies and sustainable practices, driving the company toward a more eco-friendly approach. His leadership style fosters collaboration and empowers teams to excel, making him a respected figure among colleagues and industry peers.  Outside of work, Tevon is passionate about mentorship and actively engages in community initiatives, sharing his expertise to inspire the next generation of logistics professionals. His commitment to excellence and continuous improvement has positioned him as a key player in shaping the future of logistics at Pegasus.

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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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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 seasoned production and marketing professional with over 20 years of experience across diverse industries, including retail, healthcare, and digital marketing. Throughout her career, she has worked with notable organizations such as Von Maur, Anthropologie, AmericasMart Atlanta, and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Currently, Amanda manages, produces, and develops digital content for Supply Chain Now and its clients, delivering modern, engaging solutions for a wide range of audiences.

A former Vice President of Information Systems and Webmaster on the Board of Directors for APICS Savannah, Amanda also founded and led Magnolia Marketing Group, a successful digital marketing firm. Outside of her professional life, she enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, reading, listening to podcasts, and spending time with her 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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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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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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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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