Author, educator, and business consultant Kate Vitasek is a nationally recognized innovator in the practice of supply chain management. She is the founder, faculty and lead researcher in the concept of vested (also known as vested outsourcing), which was developed in conjunction with the University of Tennessee. She is a pioneer in the university's Performance-Based Logistics work, authoring the industry's first book on the subject, and she currently serves as a faculty member in UT's Graduate and Executive Education.

Kate's approaches and insights have been widely published. She is the author of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals' best selling mini-book series, Supply Chain Process Standards, and has contributed to other management books as well. Kate has written more than 75 articles that have been published in respected academic and trade journals, including the Journal of Business Logistics, Supply Chain Management Review, Inside Supply Management, Aviation Week, Distribution Business Management Journal, The Manufacturer, World Trade Magazine, Supply Chain Quarterly, and Outsourced Logistics. She also hosts an "Expert Insight" blog on performance management for Supply Chain Digest. She is the creator and author of an upcoming book series on vested for Palgrave Macmillan.

The Journal of Commerce recently recognized Kate as a "Woman on the Move in Trade and Transportation" for her leadership in the profession, and DC Velocity Magazine dubbed her a "Rainmaker" for her efforts in helping to build the logistics and supply chain profession. Logistics Quarterly and Supply Chain Digest have both honored her as a "Woman in Supply Chain" and she was honored as a "Woman of International Influence" by Global Executive Women. She has served on the Board of Directors for the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals as well as on the Supply Chain Council's Deliver Committee.

Kate's career includes positions with P&G, Microsoft, Kroger, Accenture and Founder of Supply Chain Visions - a boutique consulting firm recognized by ARC Advisory Group as a Top 10 Boutique Consulting firm specializing in Supply Chain Management.

Kate graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Tennessee with an MBA in Logistics; she also holds a B.S. in Marketing.