Spring 2024 Supply Chain Forum Agenda

April 9-11, 2024

The spring 2024 Supply Chain Forum will be held April 9-11, 2024 at the Marriott Knoxville Downtown. An overview of the spring forum agenda is available below. Detailed session descriptions, full speaker bios, exclusive resources and more will be accessible to attendees closer to the event.

Tuesday, April 9

  • 2–3 p.m. Check-in and Registration
    Registration is required and space is limited for both student networking events. Make sure you sign up for both events when you register online.
  • 3–4 p.m. Graduate Student and Corporate Partner Networking
    A structured networking opportunity for corporate partners and graduate students to discuss relevant career and supply chain topics. Meet students from Haslam’s No. 1-ranked graduate SCM programs: the full-time MBA, EMBA-GSC, MS SCM Online, and MS SCM Tri-Continent.
  • 4–4:30 p.m. Break
  • 4:30–5:45 p.m. Scholars of Distinction and Corporate Partner Networking
    A dynamic and interactive networking session with UT’s Scholars of Distinction, a select group of rising second-, third-, and fourth-year SCM students eager to meet industry professionals and gain firsthand knowledge of job opportunities and career paths.
  • 6–8 p.m. Welcome Reception
    Join us at the Opening Reception for hors d’oeuvres, drinks, and brief remarks from GSCI Co-Executive Director Ted Stank. This casual networking event is a great opportunity to connect with other supply chain professionals and UT faculty and staff.

Wednesday, April 10

  • 7:45–8:15 a.m. Breakfast and Check-in
    Stop by the registration table and enjoy a delicious breakfast buffet before a day of main and breakout sessions.
  • 8:30–9:30 a.m. Main Session 1: You’re Not Behind (Yet). The Pragmatist’s Guide to AI in the Supply Chain with Amazon, Everstream, and Micron
    The forum’s opening session features senior leaders for Amazon Web Services, Everstream Analytics, and Micron Technologies discussing one of the most relevant topics in today’s business world. The panelists will discuss automation and supply chain risk, AI applications in procurement and beyond, and complexity and communication challenges their companies faced as they evolved to incorporate new technologies into their daily workflows.
  • 9:30–9:45 a.m. Break
  • 9:45–10:45 a.m. Main Session 2: Beyond Supply Chain with Randy Boyd
    Join John Bell, head of the supply chain management department at UT, in a conversation with business leader and UT System President Randy Boyd about the vision, mindset, and approach required to succeed as a leader across different sectors.
  • 10:45–11 a.m. Break
  • 11–12 p.m. Main Session 3: Sustainability in Manufacturing with Philips and WestRock (Live Podcast Recording)
    In a live recording of the Tennessee on Supply Chain Management podcast, co-hosts Ted Stank and Tom Goldsby, will speak with senior supply chain leaders and GSCI Advisory Board members from WestRock and Philips about sustainable practices in production.
  • 12–1:30 p.m. Lunch and NeXxus Award Presentation
    During lunch, we’ll have a brief presentation of the 2024 NeXxus Outstanding Women in Supply Chain Award. This year’s recipient is Michelle Dilley, CEO of AWESOME (Achieving Women’s Excellence in Supply Chain Operations, Management, and Education).
  • 1:30–2 p.m. Main Session 4: A Conversation with Michelle Dilley, CEO of AWESOME
    In this fireside conversation, Michelle Dilley, CEO of Awesome (Achieving Women’s Excellence in Supply Chain Operations, Management, and Education), will sit down with UT student and AWESOME Scholar Nicole Carvagno to share career insights for young professionals. A former COO for DSC Logistics, Dilley became AWESOME’s first CEO in 2020.”
  • 2–2:30 p.m. Break
  • 2:30–3:15 p.m. Breakout Sessions
    • Breakout #1: Innovative Academic Programs for the Agri-Food Systems of the Future
    • Breakout #2: Beyond the Buzzword: Unlocking the Power of AI and Machine Learning in Supply Chain Software Platforms
    • Breakout #3: Transportation and Logistics Collaborative (TLC) Showcase: Featuring an Intermodal Transportation Roundtable
    • Breakout #4: Demand Driven End-to-End Supply Chain Planning
    • Breakout #5: Developing the Next Generation of Supply Chain Planning Talent and Leadership
    • Breakout #6: Supply Chain Graduate and Executive Education Programs
  • 3:15–3:30 p.m. Break
  • 3:30–4:15 p.m. Breakout Sessions (Repeat)
  • 4:15-5:00 p.m. Break
  • 5–7 p.m. Evening Reception at Neyland Stadium
    The reception will feature poster presentations from seniors who recently completed honors theses as part of the Smith Global Leadership Scholars program. This event will provide partners with a fantastic opportunity to learn about undergraduate student research and connect with a handful of UT’s best and brightest upcoming graduates.

Thursday, April 11

  • 7:45–8:30 a.m. Breakfast
  • 8:45–9:45 a.m. Main Session 5: Leading Procurement in a Complex Global Business: How Category Management Unlocks World-Class Value
    Customer value begins with the procurement of excellent inputs in alignment with organizational strategy. ExxonMobil has elevated its procurement operations by leveraging category management to its fullest potential. In this conversation with Chad Autry, VP Pamela Skaufel will describe how taking a new look at tried-and-true procurement practices has unlocked new value streams for the company.
  • 9:45–10:00 a.m. Break
  • 10–10:30 a.m. Main Session 6: Global Trade and Transport
    Maritime logistics expert Don Maier will provide insights into the state of international shipping, including shifting trade lanes, the impact of issues at the Panama Canal, and bubbling international conflicts in the Red Sea and Asia.
  • 10:30–10:45 a.m. Break
  • 10:45–11:45 a.m. Main Session 7: Design for Value
    In the forum’s final session, GSCI co-executive director Ted Stank will speak with Clorox VP Jennifer Richter about how design decisions made earlier in the manufacturing process can lead to business innovation. In addition to sharing insights on design, Richter will discuss the roles marketing and R&D play in the process, metrics for driving decisions and determining success, challenges and pitfalls, and more.
  • 11:30 a.m.–12:45 p.m. Lunch and Closing Remarks
    The forum ends with a lunch for attendees. The Fall 2024 Supply Chain Forum is scheduled for November 12–14. Visit the website for the latest forum information.

Access Exclusive Content

The GSCI app is the only way to access exclusive Supply Chain Forum content like student resumes, event maps, important announcements, additional resources and more. Content for the spring 2024 forum will be available in the app soon.

Previous Agendas

If you’re curious about what topics were covered and who spoke at previous Supply Chain Forum events, explore the content below.