Healthcare supply chain teams can’t allow critical items to go out of stock, and it is not as simple as substituting another brand. While healthcare organizations historically relied upon suppliers much larger than themselves, the pandemic challenged them to mature quickly and pick up best practices from other industries.
Bill Selles is the Senior Vice President of Supply Chain for Corewell Health, a $14.7 billion not-for-profit integrated health system based in Michigan. Under his leadership, the Corewell Health supply chain team has saved over $100M, centralized their procurement activity, launched a supply chain analytics department, and created a system-level value analysis structure.
In this Healthcare Supply Chain Leadership Series interview, Bill speaks with host Scott Luton about:
• Lessons that healthcare companies learned from supply chains in retail, automotive, and consumer packaged goods (CPG) to make it through the toughest days of the pandemic
• What he sees as the key to all innovation, and why Corewell Health’s commitments to resilience, sustainability, and supplier diversity are important to their overall mission
• How he manages his team and their stakeholders through times of change, balancing the need to move forward with active empathy
Intro/Outro (00:03):
Welcome to Supply Chain. Now the voice of global supply chain Supply chain now focuses on the best in the business for our worldwide audience, the people, the technologies, the best practices, and today’s critical issues, the challenges and opportunities. Stay tuned to hear from Those Making Global Business Happen right here on supply chain now.
Scott Luton (00:31):
Hey, good morning, good afternoon, good evening, wherever you are, Scott Luton with you here on Supply Chain. Now welcome to today’s show. Hey, on today’s show, we’re continuing a new series of interviews that really focus on healthcare supply chain leadership. So, you know, there aren’t too many topics that impact everyone more than supply chain management and healthcare. And we’re delighted to continue this important series here at Supply Chain Now with a recognized leader in the healthcare industry and an organization that was recognized with a number three ranking in the most recent Gartner Healthcare Supply chain Top 25. So, with that said, I wanna welcome in Bill Sellis, senior Vice President Supply Chain with Corwell Health Bill. How you doing?
Bill Selles (01:13):
I’m doing really well. Thanks for having me today, Scott.
Scott Luton (01:16):
You bet. Uh, okay. We’ve, we’ve really enjoyed getting to know you better pre-show and doing some of our due diligence on you and your organization and all of its growth and, and its mission. So, so before we get there though, I wanna start with getting to know Bill Sellis a little bit better. So Bill, where’d you grow up?
Bill Selles (01:33):
Uh, I grew up in West Michigan. Uh, I had a chance to move around the state with a prior employer, which was actually really beneficial now that I work for a statewide organization, uh, but settled back in West Michigan to join what is now Cornwell Health about 11 years ago,
Scott Luton (01:45):
11 years ago. And we’re gonna dive into, uh, some of what you’ve learned in those 11 years for sure. But before we do that, so I understand our team is uncovered that you are a passionate college basketball fan. Is that right,
Bill Selles (01:59):
<laugh>? Yeah, that’s right. I’m guilty of that. I will be, I I’ll be taking, like, I I treat the start of the NCAA tournament as a holiday every year, and so you will not find me those Thursday and Friday afternoons. I’ll be watching the tournament somewhere, uh, but not in my office.
Scott Luton (02:13):
I love it. Okay, so maybe you can submit your brackets so I can do, so I can, uh, get learn from the experts and my own March Madness brackets. But, um, in particular, you’re a Michigan State fan, is that right?
Bill Selles (02:26):
Yeah, yeah. I, you know, just growing up in, in West Michigan, you kinda get to pick between the two big state schools and, uh, was not a difficult choice for me, I will say. Uh, and so it’s, you know, March is definitely the time where Michigan State fans kind of come alive. And so it’s, uh, it’s an exciting time, you know, everybody’s full of optimism and, you know, we will hopefully not be too disappointed in the early, early days of the bracket. But, uh, few things like college basketball in the winter takes all approach,
Scott Luton (02:50):
Man. What is such a special time of year March Madness? Um, whether you follow basketball or if you don’t, you can have a lot of fun with it. Um, and of course, Michigan State coached by a legend. Uh, he’ll be in the Hall of Fame at the minute he hangs up probably. So good luck to the Spartans. And by the way, great supply chain management school, by the way. Um, okay. So let’s get into industry. You’ve got a very interesting background. So Bill, you left Target, all right, the big, uh, retail behemoth in 2012. You’ve been in healthcare as you mentioned now for over a decade, about 11 years. So the first question for you, from a supply chain management standpoint, what has been a critical learning for you early on, especially as to the uniqueness of the healthcare industry?
Bill Selles (03:36):
Yeah, maybe a couple things. Uh, from a healthcare industry perspective, uh, wanna use the word critical, and I would say that’s, that’s certainly the case. I mean, I can remember my days in retail supply chain, and while you never want a stock out in retail supply chain, realistically someone buys a different brand of ketchup or they, they, they get a shirt from a different retailer. Uh, healthcare supply chain doesn’t have that same luxury, you know, so, you know, really delivering for our patients is, is critical. Um, you know, another thing that’s different though, you know, candidly, is going from a very large and progressive retailer into an industry that is just less mature, is being met with some of the lower maturity elements of the healthcare supply chain relative to retail and, and other more mature industries. Uh, some of that comes from a history of outsourcing, uh, that’s been in place in healthcare supply chain that other industries, you know, really didn’t experience. Uh, a lot of that also though, just gets from the market dynamics. You know, you see working for Target, you are the big company buying from small companies and in health systems, you know, up until the last, you know, decade or so, you largely had mostly smaller hospitals buying from very, very large suppliers. And so, you know, when you look at even large health systems like Corwell, we represent typically less than one or 2% of the book of business of any of our suppliers today.
Scott Luton (04:50):
Hmm. Um, a amongst the things you shared there, I think it’s, it is really important for folks to, to take away that, um, the, the maturity curve in s supply in healthcare for the supply chain, uh, profession. Right. Um, the good news on the flip side of that though, is how really the healthcare industry has been embracing the supply chain management profession for, for years now. And, and I would argue, bill, it’s probably one of the reasons why they were able to navigate through the pandemic, um, as, as well as a, uh, were able to Bill. Would you agree with that?
Bill Selles (05:23):
Yeah, I, I would absolutely agree with that. Organizations that invested in their supply chains did far better in the pandemic than those who didn’t. Uh, addition from an industry maturity perspective, um, you know, healthcare is, doesn’t have to carry the burden of figuring out the new solution. You know, we get to look at automotive and retail and c p and other industries and see best practice, and not all of it fits for healthcare, but most of it does. And what that allows is for us to, you know, not be carrying the machete going through the jungle, uh, but we get to walk the path behind that person.
Scott Luton (05:53):
Uh, that’s a perfect segue, uh, to this next question. Cause if there’s, there’s anything I really admire about some of the health court healthcare organizations I’ve been really pleased rub elbows with is how they hire from outside the industry. And to your point, bring that, bring that critical experience and expertise about how supply chains done elsewhere into healthcare, right. Where it’s life and death and, and outcomes driven. So, to your point, from a leadership or maybe even an operational standpoint, what’s one common theme between what you experienced in a retail environment and then what of course you’ve spent in the last 10, 11 years in, in a healthcare environment?
Bill Selles (06:28):
Yeah, I, I, I would say operationally, you know, just from an industry standpoint, retail to healthcare, um, you know, we’re still buying finished goods. And so the, the general supply chain is fairly similar from a footprint perspective. Uh, you know, the global dynamic of the supply chain is, is consistent. Um, I can remember, you know, making an expression on, when someone asked me why I was leaving Target, I said I really wanted to do something that was more than just, you know, moving diapers and toothpaste. And then I remember walking into the distribution center the first day, uh, for what was on Spectrum Health now, now Cornwell Health, and, you know, I’m greeted with diapers and toothpaste on the shelf of things that will go over to our patients in the hospital. So, so there, there’s, there’s a tremendous amount of overlap. But then the, um, you know, one piece that you mentioned just a minute ago, you know, is really the investments that have been made, uh, in the healthcare supply chain. And so, you know, the industry just in terms of maturity and, you know, really where it’s going and the, the nature of how supply chain is used strategically within health systems today, you know, that is starting to feel much more similar to what it was in retail, which is a, a welcome change.
Scott Luton (07:29):
Yeah. Love that. Okay. Uh, diapers and toothbrushes, is that what you said? <laugh>? What’s, uh, what’s old is new. Um, okay. So I wanna level set here cuz some folks may not know just the breadth of, of Corwell Health’s, uh, footprint. So, um, your organization’s a not-for-profit health system that encompasses over 60,000 team members, 22 hospitals through over 300 outpatient locations. And that’s just really the tip of iceberg. There’s a lot more to there. So, in your words, uh, tell us if you had to describe Cornwell Health and in kinda in a nutshell, what would that be? And, and where do you spend your time as senior vice president supply chain?
Bill Selles (08:10):
Yeah. Uh, so Cornwell Health is a, is a fully integrated health system, which means we really have all levels of care. Uh, that, and included under that umbrella is a 1.3 million member health plan. And so, you know, we’ve got this tremendous opportunity because we have everything from ensuring the member, uh, to caring for the patient in all the different places where they could get care, you know, that we have, and also just our, our scale and size in the state of Michigan, we have a real opportunity as an organization to reposition healthcare in the state of Michigan, which is pretty motivating, uh, at an organization level. We’re a pretty progressive company. Uh, you know, we’ve got a fairly young senior leadership team that is, you know, well experienced, uh, but also, you know, is not beholden to ways that the industry has always worked, which is, which is really exciting. Uh, from my standpoint in terms of where I spend my time. Uh, it’s really making sure that I am leveraging our supply base to achieve the strategic vision for the organization and making us more competitive. Uh, so that means a lot of time with suppliers trying to find that next thing that we can be doing differently, uh, but also working within the organization to make sure I’m understanding and representing, you know, where the organization’s trying to go to supply base and in the opposite direction.
Scott Luton (09:19):
Mm-hmm. Let me pick up on one of the things you shared there. Um, when, and during my time in the manufacturing space, uh, one of the most valuable things that, uh, where I spent my time was going out and, and meeting with suppliers face-to-face, walking their facilities, sitting down, problem solving or just finding better ways. Uh, you were just talking about, you know, spending time with your suppliers. How important is it if you were telling our listeners, you know, get off email, get off text, go out and meet ’em face to face, how much, how valuable is that?
Bill Selles (09:48):
It, it’s incredibly valuable. Uh, I, I would say that it probably happens less in healthcare supply chain than it does in some other industries, maybe just because of some of those market dynamics I referenced earlier. But, uh, realistically, all great innovation happens from people connecting and, and thinking about problems differently. Uh, I can say that, you know, some of the most exciting things that we’ve been able to do from a corwell health supply chain perspective have been because of that, specifically on working with, with our supply base in a really different fashion. And just having, you know, open-ended conversations about problems and seeing where that will lead us,
Scott Luton (10:23):
Bill. I love it. All of that needs to be background on t-shirt needs to be a mantra. That’s how the industry can move forward regardless of sector. So, love that. Um, okay. So I’ve been stalking you a little bit, bill, and prior to interview I was checking out your, your LinkedIn profile and some of the stuff you put out really enjoyed it. And I came across these three leadership priorities that you list in your, your LinkedIn profile. Uh, we won’t hit all of them, but you’re number one, if you can speak to this immense value of developing a great team at all levels.
Bill Selles (10:55):
You, um, you know, Scott, I think I probably wrote that about a decade ago. And, um, you know, when, when I was going through and just trying to understand like what really has been true for me in my career, it started by identifying that the times when I’ve been happiest and achieved the most have been when I’ve been part of great teams and also when I’ve been leading teams of people who are high performing. And, you know, so from my vantage point, you know, I view that high performers really only want to be around other high performers. And I think that, you know, if you create a culture where high performers have the latitude to be successful, uh, really have that empowerment to do the things that are progressive and, and move them forward, whether it’s in their resume or their career, or just the things that they’re trying to accomplish in their current position, uh, you get really impressive results from people.
Bill Selles (11:44):
And so, you know, in that, you know, I’m, I’m just the sort of person that loves the phase of building new teams, you know, kind of getting that dynamic right. Uh, and then trying to bring that down through every layer of the organizational structure. And so when, you know, team members decide where they’re going to choose to work, you know, I believe in trying to grow and develop people so they would be marketable anywhere. Um, but treat them so well that they choose to stay. Um, that’s been very successful for me in my past and something that’s, you know, really been, you know, I think an early element of what’s making our Corwell health team come together well, uh, is just that focus on investing in strong people.
Scott Luton (12:19):
Bill. I love that. Um, cause I completely agree with you. High performers attract other high performers. They love working with each other that have that commitment and discipline to, um, to quality and doing great work. Right. Um, and you don’t have to speak this. I’d love to get any thoughts if you did. Um, and I wanna be sensitive about this cause I’m a big believer that the overwhelming majority of folks in the workforce want to get, you know, get to work and do a good job, right? This overwhelming majority, you know, upper 90 uh, percent. However, um, would you agree with, you know, when high performers see leaders compromise on standards with folks that aren’t, you know, bringing their best every day, you know, that could be a big reason why folks look for new, new opportunities. Would you agree with that?
Bill Selles (13:07):
Yeah, well, a hundred percent Scott. Um, you know, one of the things that happens, and I don’t think leaders realize they’re doing this, but when we tolerate performance that’s, you know, less than what our customers would want from us, uh, you know, what that allows is we’ve, you know, kind established a new standard. You know, you can look at a team and say that your expectation of your team is the lowest performer. Uh, and you know, and, and that’s, you know, that I think it could be a little bit of a negative outlook on things, but realistically, you know, to some extent people do have that could build that perception. Um, but on the other side of that, you know, when you build a team that is, you know, just ripe with rich talent that’s growing and developing people, that’s investing in, in really making people successful in what they do and achieving the objectives for the customer, that’s the kind of environment that’s incredibly attractive to those high performers that you mentioned.
Bill Selles (13:55):
But it’s also a space that, you know, almost recruits for itself because people start to see, you know, just the momentum that’s coming within a particular function. Uh, they see the ability to go out and to create something and to do something. Uh, it’s also, whereas a leader, you know, it, it, the job just gets easier, just gets more fun because you’re around people who are pushing you as the leader, uh, who are pushing you as peers. And, you know, the, the, that type of environment is one where, you know, there’s really not a problem you can, you can’t solve
Scott Luton (14:24):
Bill. Man, I think we were separated at birth. I think we might be second or third cousins. I wholeheartedly agree with you. And, um, and it does make a fun environment, right? We’re you’re achieving more, there’s a camaraderie, there’s a, a spri de corps, especially if you’re like an missional, you know, missional environment like, like the healthcare industry, right? Where, where you’re having an impact on lives. So I love that. Um, and we could spend the next three hours talking about some of the things you mentioned, but, but for the sake of time here today, um, alright. So it’s gotta be really gratifying and fulfilling for the whole team. When Gartner ranked Corwell Health number three in its most recent healthcare supply chain, top 25. So beyond some of the things we’ve already discussed, what do you believe are some other factors that really has allowed your organization to excel?
Bill Selles (15:12):
Uh, well, I think it starts just organization by having a commitment to supply chain. And, you know, referenced earlier that not all organizations have had that historically within healthcare. And, you know, very fortunate, you know, to work for a company that sees the value, uh, you know, where supply chain is treated like a top of stack function. Uh, so that, that’s, that to me is, you know, the, the unlocked almost everything that comes behind it. Um, within that though, you know, I reference that we’ve got a, a, a fairly, you know, kinda young and progressive senior leadership team and, you know, that’s true within our supply chain team as well. And so, you know, there’s a respect for how we’ve always done things. There’s a, an understanding for the way that the industry works today, but also a, a willingness to, to be a little bit more innovative to try things differently.
Bill Selles (15:53):
And, you know, so we, we’ve done a couple things from an innovation standpoint that have been, you know, maybe a little bit ahead, uh, of some, some peers in industry, which we’re really proud of. And so we, you know, I I’d say we, we kind of treated resiliency like a, a top level initiative before the pandemic, before it was, you know, something that’s, you know, as, as, um, you know, talked about as what it is today. You know, we’ve been committed on our work for sustainability and supplier diversity for a number of years. We’re committed to our healthcare anchor network, uh, as being an anchor institution in the state of Michigan. That’s, that’s really meaningful for us. And, you know, we’ve also been, you know, really looking at how we can harvest different ways of working. And so, you know, something we’ve talked a lot about recently is just, you know, how we leverage the data, uh, within our supply chain and within the organization to, you know, better the lives of our patients and members. And, you know, leaning into those spaces for us has allowed us to, you know, just identify potential solutions and to, you know, run towards fires that were there, uh, and, and solve some problems that have been pretty exciting.
Scott Luton (16:52):
Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, man, you shared a lot there. Um, a couple things I heard. I love that an organization that commits to the, uh, whole supply chain management, uh, team and function and value that’s so important, that should cut across all industries. That’s great. Uh, great advice. Um, I love how, how y’all already knew. And, um, it’s, it’s amazing to me how many folks have come across, uh, supply chain resiliency as if it’s, uh, a late breaking <laugh> value or, or thing. And I love how y’all have identified certain things, um, that really, uh, make you more successful long before the pandemic. And, uh, and then thirdly, I loved your point there about running to the fires. You’re not shying away from, from problems or opportunities or tough conversations, man, folks, when you’ve got a high performing team, like clearly y’all have there, you’re empowered and you’re confident towards to do more of running to the fires and making things better. Your quick comment there, and then I’m gonna, we’re kind of coming down the home stretch.
Bill Selles (17:51):
Yeah, for sure. Well, and I, I, I think some of that, you know, is just the focus on the problem statement so often. And, you know, one, one of the things I reference is that, you know, as a organization that really controls all elements or plays in all elements of the healthcare continuum, we can work with our suppliers in a way that is exciting for them. Also. You know, it’s one of those cases where, you know, there’s some really deep-rooted issues. And when we can bring a supplier into that risk equation, that’s pretty exciting because historically, you know, we’ve, we’ve lacked that alignment as an industry. And what that’s meant is our suppliers have been, you know, you know, unfortunately just unengaged to some extent in that work. And, you know, our suppliers want nothing more than to make sure the work that they’re doing is improving the outcomes for a patient. And so that’s, that’s some of the exciting work, uh, that’s there. And, you know, someone, what’s ahead for us at Corwell that I’m really excited about.
Scott Luton (18:39):
Yeah. And what you imply on the front end of your response there is, uh, you know, the, the whole equations gotta work for your suppliers too, right? Uh, if they’re losing money or if they’re getting beaten down, you know, with a bat every, every conversation, they’re not gonna be your supplier long. And, and that’s one of the, the, uh, that’s been around for a long time, but the pandemic certainly, um, illustrated that in a way maybe that we haven’t seen in, in decades. So, um, so speaking of running to fires, running to opportunities, um, one of my next questions here. What’s one big continuous improvement initiative bill for your team in 2023 moving forward? And then I’m gonna ask you about change management next.
Bill Selles (19:21):
Okay. Um, yeah, I’m, from a 2023 standpoint, you know, we’re finishing up a lot of the underpinnings of our integration. Uh, and so we’re 13 months in, and so, you know, common medical record, common e r p system, common warehousing system. So getting, getting all those in place is, is key. Um, but what I’m excited about, honestly, is what happens in the second half of this year after all that’s in place. It’s just how we start to gather insights from our data. Uh, so I, I’ve, I’ve had an expression I’ve used with the team for a number of months now, and, uh, a few years for those who are coming from the, the half of the organization I came from initially, uh, which is starting your day with data. Uh, I, I have this belief that no industry has more data at its disposal than healthcare.
Bill Selles (19:59):
Unfortunately, I think no industry uses less data than healthcare. Uh, and so, you know, we, we’ve got a tremendous amount of insight and opportunity to do things differently from healthcare supply chain perspective just by using the data that’s in front of us. Uh, and then by connecting that upstream with our suppliers, uh, and, and really, you know, getting that, uh, that, that full look at, you know, patient outcomes, total cost of care, uh, as we keep leaning in on that work can keep driving that. Like that, that’s a space that, you know, that’s about half of 23 for us, but that’s gonna be most of 24 also, uh, just really harvesting the insights that we can leverage.
Scott Luton (20:33):
Hmm. Okay. I’m gonna be sharing with my three kids that in addition to their OJ and their Fruity Pebbles, they need to start their day with data and they can be better off. I love that. Uh, bill, um, okay. So you’re, you’re talking about, uh, continuous improvement and opportunities and, and we have so many different opportunities, right? Uh, so in your career as you’re, you’re driving those gains and driving that continuous improvement and driving change, what is one element of your approach to driving change that’s really worked well in your career?
Bill Selles (21:05):
Um, yeah, I’ll, I’ll say this is a space that Coral will helped us really well. Uh, you know, we’ve invested a lot, uh, in, you know, just formal change management training for leaders, uh, you know, so for us that’s meant, you know, adopting some formal change practices and, and there’s, there’s a variety of good ones that are out there, but, uh, you know, so much, this really just starts though with bringing people with you in change. Uh, you know, I, I talk to people about, you know, the, you know, this excitement that can come from, from change, but also the nervousness that comes through change, and really making sure that you’re being situational with people and guiding them through, you know, wherever they may be in that change continuum. Uh, you know, your job as a leader is the person who often goes through that first and sometimes fastest is, you know, recognizing that others might be in a different position and pulling them through the process. And sometimes you have to pull, um, you know, and there’s some people who don’t always make it through a change, but, uh, you know, for the most part, you know, people want to come out the other side, but change is tough. I mean, we all complain every time our iPhone updates. I mean, that’s a small change. <laugh>, you know, when you’re driving organizational change, it requires a level of discipline and work and, and people centeredness to that
Scott Luton (22:06):
Man. Um, we’re gonna have to bring you back for change management 1 0 1. There’s so much of what you shared, um, but bringing people with you, bring people with you. And I think, uh, a corollary to that, I would argue, is, uh, drive change with your people, not to your people, you know? Um, so Bill, a lot of good stuff there. And you’re right when there smart device <laugh> reloads or, or you get the blue update screen on your PC, man. Um, okay. So as we’re starting to wrap up our interview here with Bill Sellis, with Cornwell Health, I wanna ask you, um, just a couple questions, final questions. One of my favorites that I’ve been talking with healthcare leaders really beyond this series, you know, for most of my career, bill, what’s one thing that you think a lot of our listeners are just folks out in the marketplace that, that, that our, uh, customers, cause we all are of the healthcare industry, what’s one thing that they don’t know or understand about supply chain management in the healthcare industry?
Bill Selles (23:03):
No, I, I, I think honestly, people don’t think about it, uh, even as a, as, as a piece of the marketplace. Uh, I, I’ll be candid, I didn’t when I was in my retail role, uh, you know, if you look at healthcare supply chains today, though, I mean, they’re, they’re significant. I mean, while no one teaches healthcare supply chain in schools, um, you know, the, you know, we tend to focus on manufacturing and kind of our more established and brick and mortar industries. You know, the healthcare supply chain is really significant and, you know, the opportunity is there. Uh, also, it’s not hard to connect a purpose. You know, there were times and I said, said, as much as that, there were times where, you know, I loved the work that I was doing, but the medium of retail wasn’t just didn’t do it for me, and it does for others, and that’s fantastic. But I’ll tell you, there’s nothing quite like spending, you know, a little bit of, a little bit of email time sitting in the lobby at Children’s Hospital to get you motivated as to, you know, why you do what you do. And healthcare just has that in a way that other industries, uh, you know, can, you know, would, would have a difficult time replicating.
Scott Luton (24:02):
All right, bill, so, uh, great conversation. I tell you, we need a couple more hours to book in next time. We’ll have to have you back. Uh, I wanna, I wanna wrap with this final question to you. Uh, you know, I’ve been posing this question, you know, far beyond this series for most of our, uh, most of my career as I’ve really wanted to understand, uh, supply chain management in healthcare better. So from your perspective, what’s one thing you think that folks don’t know or understand about supply chain management in the healthcare industry?
Bill Selles (24:31):
Yeah, I, I think supply chain management in the healthcare industry is probably outside the consciousness for most people. And we, we don’t learn this in school. Uh, you know, when we take supply chain classes, even at large universities that have a, a strong program, it’s focused typically on more established industries like automotive and manufacturing and CPG and the like. Uh, you know, and because of that, you know, people don’t really consider it as a career opportunity. But, you know, realistically, healthcare supply chains today are incredibly robust, you know, and along with that, you know, honestly, is the fact that in healthcare, supply chain connection of purpose is really simple. You know, if I’m ever feeling that disconnect, if I spend too many days, you know, in the basement or in a corporate setting, you know, in one of our offices, you know, the simplest thing I can do is just go spend some email time working in the lobby at the children’s hospital. I mean, you spend an hour or two there watching families come through and you know, you are motivated to do anything and everything to improve your supply chain at that point to help those patients. And so connection and purpose and healthcare supply chain is really simple. Uh, really lucky to be able to have that kind of connection.
Scott Luton (25:34):
Bill, I, you couldn’t have said it better. Uh, I mean, if you ever need a moment to, to understand why you’re doing what you’re doing, you’re spending an hour or so in that lobby and seeing the folks that are the beneficiaries of all the great work, you and your team and, and really the whole healthcare, um, um, industry is doing, man, it’s gotta be a powerful, some powerful time spent. Um, bill really have enjoyed your perspective here today. Uh, again, we’re, we’re gonna have to have you back, um, that there’s so much more we couldn’t get to, but we really have enjoyed the last tournaments or so, so how could folks learn more? How can they connect with you and all the cool things you’re doing at Corwell Health?
Bill Selles (26:10):
Yeah, you can find me simply on LinkedIn. Uh, so Bill Sellis, S e L L E s, uh, and then, uh, all the things happening at Corwell Health quickest way, uh, as are through our social media accounts, or, uh, just going to corwell health.org. Uh, learning more about what we do as an organization.
Scott Luton (26:26):
Wonderful. Well, bill, thanks so much spending some of your valuable time with us here. We’ve been talking with Bill Sellis, senior Vice President supply chain with Corwell Health, and Bill, we’ll see you again real soon.
Bill Selles (26:37):
Great. Thanks so much, Scott. Enjoyed it.
Scott Luton (26:38):
You bet. Folks, man, what a great conversation. I’ve really enjoyed. Hopefully you have too in this new series, within a series really focused on the intersection of supply chain management and the, uh, the healthcare industry. So, but folks, um, it’s all about these not words take to heart and put to actions from what you heard here, from Bill especially, that bring people with you. I, I love that universal, uh, value and truth that’s in that phrase there. So, uh, but hope you enjoy the episode. Um, hey, find us on YouTube, find us wherever you get your podcast. Don’t, don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss powerful conversations like this one. And whatever you do, Scott Lutton, on behalf of the Apache Now team, challenging you to do good, to give forward and to be the change that’s needed. And we’ll see you next time, right back here at Supply Chain now. Thanks everybody.
Intro/Outro (27:29):
Thanks for being a part of our supply chain now, community. Check out all of our programming@supplychainnow.com and make sure you subscribe to Supply Chain now, anywhere you listen to podcasts. And follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram. See you next time on Supply Chain. Now.
Bill Selles is senior vice president, supply chain, for Corewell Health, a $14.7 billion not-for-profit integrated health system based in Michigan. He is an experienced leader in system-level thinking who aligns people and strategy to create competitive advantage in large, complex organizations. Bill is responsible for all aspects of supply chain, including procurement, operations, clinical supply chain, supplier performance management, and technology & analytics. He is charged with leveraging the Corewell Health supply base to help the organization realize its vision to deliver personalized health made simple, affordable, equitable and exceptional. Under his leadership, supply chain has saved over $100M, centralized procurement activity, launched a supply chain analytics department, and created a system-level value analysis structure. Additionally, supply chain at Corewell Health is breaking new ground with driving outcomes-based partnerships with suppliers and has co-founded the Healthcare Industry Resilience Collaborative (HIRC) with the Mayo Clinic. This work has contributed to Spectrum Health supply chain, a division of Corewell Health, receiving the Gartner Healthcare Top 25 award each year from 2018 to 2022, most recently achieving the 3rd overall ranking among health systems. Connect with Bill on LinkedIn.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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 Cisco, Microsoft, 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 University, O’Reilly Media, LinkedIn Learning, and Pluralsight. Mr. Jackson retired from the U.S. Navy in 1994, earning specialties in Space Systems Engineering, Carrier 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.
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.
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’.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.