Speakers

The 2010 Tennessee State University Supply Chain Summit features some of the leading voices in the industry. Attendees will hear about best practices, real-world challenges and solutions, and the current and future state of “the next last frontier.” Featured speakers include:

Leland Buddress, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Supply and Logistics Management
Portland State University

Lee Buddress, Ph.D., C.P.M. is Robert G. Gleason Professor and Director of the Supply and Logistics Management undergraduate degree program at Portland State University.  He is also responsible for the four-course Global Supply Chain Management specialization within the Master of International Management degree.  In addition to his  Ph.D. Degree in Supply Chain Management from Michigan State University, he has twenty years of supply and logistics management experience.  He has received teaching awards from the School of Business Administration and the School of Engineering as well as awards from several professional associations for contributions to the supply management profession.

Tonya Jackson
Director of Sustainability
Lexmark International, Inc.

Tonya Jackson is the director of  sustainable technology and services for Lexmark International, Inc.  She is responsible for laboratory operations and environmental sustainability initiatives. Previously, Jackson was the director of sustainable practices – environmental, health and safety, and was responsible for managing Lexmark’s sustainable environmental initiatives.  Jackson holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Hampton University and a master’s degree in chemistry from Vassar College.

Andrea Thomas
SVP Sustainability
Wal-Mart

Andrea B. Thomas is Senior Vice President, Sustainability for Walmart.  She is responsible for working across the global organization as well as with external stakeholder to embed sustainability into all aspects of the company.  Prior to joining Walmart in October 2007, Thomas was Vice President, Global Innovation of The Hershey Company.  Thomas also has 13 years of experience at Pepsico where she worked in Brand Management, Innovation and Retail Marketing and Promotions. Thomas holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah and a master’s degree in business administration from Brigham Young University where she was elected to Beta Gamma Sigma and Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Societies. She serves on the National Advisory Council for the Marriott School of Management at Brigham Young University and was named one of the Top 25 Global Champions of Innovation by BusinessWeek Magazine in 2006.

Regina Hauser
Executive Director
The Natural Step Network

Bill Hutchinson
Director
Global Logistics and Fulfillment

Bill Hutchinson joined Dell Inc. in April 2007 as the Director of Global Fulfillment and Logistics. He is responsible for logistics and fulfillment strategy and operations for all finished goods, software, and peripherals globally. Prior to joining Dell, Hutchinson has served as the Vice President of Logistics for Best Buy Corporation, the Vice President of Logistics at the Rite Aid Corporation, the Director of Supply Chain for Commerx (a startup technology company based in Chicago) and a Senior Manager in the Supply Chain Strategy Practice of Accenture where he consulted with a number of Fortune 500 clients. Hutchinson holds a MBA in Supply Chain/Logistics and Marketing from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and a bachelor’s degree from Clarkson University in Economics and Finance. He is a member and regular speaker for the Retail Industry Leaders of America (RILA), the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP), and the University of Tennessee Supply Chain Forum.

Timothy Konrad
Senior Vice President
GENCO

Tim Konrad is Senior Vice President, Strategic Account Management for GENCO. In his role he supports such diverse Customers as Best Buy, Johnson and Johnson, Target,Wal*Mart, Whirlpool, HP and DELL. He has spent his entire career within the Supply Chain and has managed from both sides of the desk. Konrad’s initial training was with U.P.S. in Operational and Industrial Engineering management positions. He has had Domestic and International Transportation and Distribution responsibilities at both Avon Products and Sony Corporation of America. Prior to joining GENCO in 2000, Konrad held the position of Vice President, Transportation/Traffic and Returns for Ingram Distribution Group. The world’s largest distributor of books, pre-recorded video cassettes and the parent of Ingram Micro, a $30 Billion distributor of Computer Hardware and Software.

Diane A. Mollenkopf, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Marketing and Logistics
University of Tenneseee

Before pursuing an academic career, Dr. Mollenkopf worked as a logistics and product manager for several international organizations, coordinating production/shipping from European factories, as well as managing transportation and delivery activities, both internationally and domestically.  Her academic research focuses on logistics/supply chain integration and the other relating to environmentally responsible logistics/supply chain practices, as these are two areas in which firms can create value—for themselves, their customers, supply chain partners, communities and other stakeholders.  Much of her work has been conducted in an international environment.  Her work has been published in leading logistics and supply chain journals.

Cathy A. Rodgers
Vice President – Global Engagement Office
IBM Corporation

Cathy Rodgers is a 33-year veteran of the IBM Corporation where she is responsible for providing complex global opportunity engagement and international deal pursuit leadership for IBM GTS (Global Technology Services). Rodgers supports IBM’s global business development and related commercial requirements in approximately 170 countries and is actively involved in IBM’s growth/emerging market strategy. Rodgers currently chairs the IBM GTS Smarter Planet Global Advisory Board and serves as chairman for the Institute of Supply Management (ISM) Committee on Sustainability & Social Responsibility. She was recently featured in Jordan’s Venture Magazine as a Global Leader driving business in the Middle East, has been recognized twice as California Woman of the Year in business and has been featured in the New York Times for her work with strategic sourcing with minority suppliers.

David Simchi-Levi, Ph.D.
Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Engineering Systems
Co-Director, Leaders for Global Operations and System Design and Management Programs
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

David Simchi-Levi, whose fourth book is due out in September, is co-author of The Logic of Logistics, Designing and Managing the Supply Chain, and Managing the Supply Chain:The Definitive Guide for the Supply Chain Professional. His research currently focuses on developing and implementing robust and efficient techniques for logistics and manufacturing systems. He has published widely in professional journals on both practical and theoretical aspects of logistics and supply chain management.

Dr. Simchi-Levi has been the principal investigator for more than five million dollars in funded academic research. He is the Editor-in-Chief of Operations Research, the flagship journal of INFORMS, the former Editor-in-Chief of Naval Research Logistics and a member of the board for several scientific journals including Management Science, Networks, Transportation Science and Telecommunication Systems, and a former Area Editor of Transportation for Operations Research.

Brian Weldy
Sr. VP of Engineering and Facilities Management
HCA Healthrust

Carolyn Williams
Manager of Business Services- Strategic Sourcing
FedEx

Carolyn P. Williams is the Manager of Business Services in Strategic Sourcing at FedEx Express with responsibility for sourcing more than $700M annually in Enterprise Services.  With more than 28 years experience in supply chain development, sourcing and procurement, Williams has provided leadership for multiple sourcing initiatives across diverse commodities and services. She directs a staff of eight Supply Chain Professionals providing program management for six key corporate programs.  Williams received a bachelor’s degree from Lane College and a master’s degree from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.

F. Blair Wimbush
Vice President – Real Estate and Corporate Sustainability Officer
Norfolk Southern Corporation

Blair Wimbush was named a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation in 2005 and has been recognized as a part of Virginia’s Legal Elite. He is the Alumni Council President at University of Virginia School of Law, a University of Virginia School of Law Business Advisory Council member and a member of the Virginia Bar Association Committee on Special Issues of National and State Importance. Wimbush serves on the board for Hampton Roads Association of Commercial Real Estate, Virginia Historical Society, Virginia Symphony Orchestra and Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance.