Supply Chain Forum
Speakers
Huseyn Abdulla
Assistant Professor,
Haslam College of Business
Huseyn Abdulla studies the ways people, policies and processes interact to shape performance in retail supply chains. His scholarship appears in journals including the Journal of Operations Management, Production and Operations Management and Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, and his insights have been featured in outlets such as Fast Company and Supply Chain Digital. Abdulla also plays an active role in advancing academic standards, serving as initiative editor for the Journal of Operations Management’s registered reports review initiative and reviewing for top journals across supply chain and operations management.
Lila Al-shwaf
Ph.D. Candidate,
Haslam College of Business
Lila Al-shwaf is a fourth-year doctoral candidate in supply chain management. Her research examines how public policy shapes supply chain outcomes related to social equity and environmental resilience. Current projects explore gender diversity in logistics and geopolitical risks in raw material sourcing. Before pursuing her Ph.D., Al-shwaf worked at General Motors in value chain engineering, global purchasing, and supply chain sustainability. She holds a master’s in industrial and systems engineering and a bachelor’s in global supply chain management from Wayne State University.
Alan Amling
Assistant Professor of Practice,
Haslam College of Business
Alan Amling helps organizations navigate disruption and rethink innovation in logistics and manufacturing. During a 27-year career with UPS, he led strategic planning and venture initiatives that shaped the company’s digital-era growth. Today he advises through his firm Thrive and Advance LLC, sits on the executive advisory board for the Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute and speaks worldwide, including on the TEDx stage. Amling’s work bridges executive practice and academic research, offering forward-looking perspectives on how firms can adapt supply chains to thrive amid technological and market shifts.
Chad Autry
Associate Dean,
Haslam College of Business
Chad W. Autry is known for his expertise in supply chain strategy and network design, particularly in how organizations integrate across firm boundaries. He has written more than 70 peer-reviewed studies and previously served as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Supply Chain Management. Autry has partnered with companies such as American Airlines, IBM, Goodwill Industries and the U.S. Department of Defense on process improvements. He has also held leadership posts with CSCMP, WERC, ISM and other professional groups, and is widely recognized as a forward-looking voice on the evolution of global supply chains.
Yemisi Bolumole
Ryder Professor,
Haslam College of Business
Director,
UT Transportation & Logistics Collaborative
Yemisi Bolumole explores the intersection of logistics, transportation policy and supply chain talent development. She has published more than 40 papers in leading journals and earned recognition including the Bernard J. LaLonde Prize for Best Paper in the Journal of Business Logistics. Her expertise has informed national task forces with the U.S. Department of Transportation and the National Academy of Sciences Transportation Research Board. In addition, she shapes the field through her editorial leadership with the Journal of Business Logistics and other journals, as well as through frequent speaking and advising engagements with industry leaders.
Annette Danek-Akey
Chief Supply Chain Officer,
Barnes & Noble
Annette Danek-Akey has built her career leading supply chain transformation in publishing and retail. She joined Barnes & Noble in 2024 after years at Penguin Random House, where she directed both U.S. and U.K. fulfillment operations. She began as an industrial engineer with Bantam Doubleday Dell and advanced through acquisitions and leadership changes to oversee global distribution networks. Recognized among the Top 100 Women in Supply Chain by Supply Chain Digital and honored with the Chief New Era of Leadership Award, Danek-Akey also contributes her expertise on boards for MHI and the Warehousing Education and Research Council.
Scott DeGroot
Managing Director,
UT Global Supply Chain Institute
Scott DeGroot draws on more than 30 years of supply chain leadership experience at Kimberly-Clark Corporation. As vice president of global distribution and planning, he directed sales and operations planning, logistics performance, and transportation across North America. Earlier, he led Kimberly-Clark’s Eastern Grocery business, generating more than $650 million in revenue with major retailers including Publix, HEB and Ahold. Over the course of his career, DeGroot advanced strategy, distribution operations and procurement initiatives that strengthened supply chain resilience across one of the world’s largest consumer products companies.
Drew DeLong
Global Lead for Geopolitical Dynamics,
Kearney
Drew DeLong advises executive teams on how to anticipate disruption and align strategy in a shifting global landscape. He works with Fortune 500 companies, private equity firms and portfolio businesses on scenario development, contingency planning and shock analysis, while also helping organizations strengthen external engagement with governments. DeLong previously served on the U.S. State Department’s Policy Planning Staff and held earlier posts in the White House, Congress and the Department of Transportation. Based in Dallas, he is a frequent advisor to business leaders navigating geopolitical volatility.
Anne Dohmen
Project Leader,
Advanced Supply Chain Collaborative
Anne Dohmen researches how companies can leverage supply chain planning to strengthen performance. She has industry experience from Procter & Gamble and General Mills, where she worked in engineering and operations roles that inform her academic perspective. Dohmen earned her Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, following a master’s degree in agricultural and biosystems engineering from Iowa State University and dual bachelor’s degrees in electrical engineering and systems engineering from Washington University in St. Louis. Her work bridges technical expertise and practical application in the pursuit of more effective supply chain strategies.
Stephanie Eckerd
FedEx Supply Chain Professor,
Haslam College of Business
Stephanie Eckerd examines the behavioral side of supply chain management, with a focus on how psychological and social dynamics affect buyer-supplier relationships. Her award-winning scholarship has been recognized by the Journal of Supply Chain Management and the Academy of Management. Eckerd shapes the field through editorial leadership roles with the Decision Sciences Journal, Journal of Operations Management and Journal of Supply Chain Management, and by serving on the Academy of Management’s executive committee. Her work helps bridge the human and technical elements of supply chains, bringing fresh insight to research and practice alike.
Darrell Edwards
Assistant Professor of SCM,
Haslam College of Business
Darrell Edwards has decades of global operations and supply chain leadership, most notably as senior vice president and COO of La-Z-Boy Incorporated. There he managed supply chain and manufacturing functions for more than 9,000 employees, driving excellence across consumer markets. Edwards has also served on corporate boards, authored articles in industry publications and spoken widely at national forums. Recognized with multiple awards for operational leadership, he is known for his emphasis on people-first leadership, team building and process innovation, which have delivered sustained performance gains in competitive industries.
Mitch Free
Owner and CEO,
ZYCI CNC Machining
Mitch Free is a manufacturing entrepreneur recognized for advancing innovation in aerospace, defense and advanced industries. He is founder and CEO of ZYCI, a CNC machining company delivering mission-critical components under tight timelines. Earlier in his career, Free patented new methods of reverse engineering aircraft parts at Northwest Airlines and went on to launch ventures including 3DATUM, MFG.com, and Fast Radius. A frequent commentator on manufacturing’s future, his insights appear in Forbes, CNBC and Fox Business, and he has spoken at universities worldwide. He co-authored The Great Disruption and is a past Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
Kevin Heaslip
Director,
UT Center for Transportation Research
Kevin Heaslip is a professor of civil and environmental engineering. He previously worked at Virginia Tech, where he led the Information Systems Laboratory of the Hume Center for National Security and Technology. From 2014 to 2020, he was an appointed member of the National Academy of Sciences’ Resilient America Roundtable.
An expert in transportation engineering, technology and infrastructure cybersecurity, Heaslip has secured more than $25 million in research funding from federal and state agencies and industry partners. He has authored more than 150 peer-reviewed publications on connected and automated vehicles, transportation big data and cybersecurity.
Sara Hsu
Clinical Associate Professor,
Haslam College of Business
Sara Hsu is a clinical associate professor of supply chain management at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s Haslam College of Business. Previously, she was an associate professor of economics at the State University of New York at New Paltz.
Hsu specializes in supply chain disruptions, supply chain fintech and the Chinese economy.
Daniel Myers
Retired EVP Global Supply Chain, Mondelēz International
Daniel Myers is a global supply chain leader with more than three decades of executive experience at Mondelez International, Kraft Foods and Procter & Gamble. At Mondelez, he oversaw procurement, manufacturing, engineering, logistics and customer service, leading 70,000 employees and delivering $3 billion in productivity savings. Earlier, he directed P&G’s global customer service and logistics operations and played a central role in the $56 billion Gillette integration. Myers has managed more than 250 plants and 400 distribution centers across 54 countries, served as an operating executive with The Carlyle Group and currently sits on multiple corporate boards.
Thomas Goldsby
Co-Executive Director,
UT Global Supply Chain Institute
Thomas J. Goldsby has authored more than 100 journal articles and six books on logistics and supply chain management, with contributions ranging from lean and agile strategies to B2C operations and integration. Goldsby is past co-editor-in-chief of the Journal of Business Logistics and editor emeritus of Transportation Journal. He co-hosts the “Tennessee on Supply Chain Management” podcast and has earned recognition for both research and teaching, including best paper awards, lifetime achievement honors and selection as a DC Velocity Rainmaker.
Jason Merrick
Project Leader,
Advanced Supply Chain Collaborative
Jason Merrick’s research spans supply chain agility, design and sustainability, as well as risk in areas such as oil spills and counter-terrorism. His work has appeared in leading journals including Production and Operations Management, Management Science and the Journal of the American Statistical Association. He has secured research grants from organizations ranging from the National Science Foundation to the U.S. Coast Guard and BP, and partnered with companies such as Procter & Gamble, Cummins and McKesson. A past president of the Decision Analysis Society, Merrick earned his doctorate in operations research from George Washington University.
Lance Saunders
Professor of SCM,
Haslam College of Business
Lance Saunders researches and teaches in the areas of supply chain management and operations, with articles published in journals such as the International Journal of Logistics Management and the Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management. His scholarship explores topics that link purchasing practices, analytics and operational effectiveness. Saunders earned his bachelor’s, master’s and MBA degrees from the University of Tennessee before completing his doctorate at Virginia Tech. He has built a reputation for connecting rigorous academic study with practical applications in business supply chains.
Georg Schaur
Professor of Economics,
Haslam College of Business
Georg Schaur studies international trade, supply chain economics and applied econometrics. His research, published in outlets such as the American Economic Review and Journal of International Economics, has advanced understanding of trade policy uncertainty, transit time as a trade barrier and the structure of global supply chains. He contributes to MBA and executive education programs at the University of Tennessee and is affiliated with the Global Supply Chain Institute. Schaur also serves as co-editor of Economic Inquiry and holds editorial positions with the Review of International Economics and other journals.
Alex Scott
Associate Professor,
Haslam College of Business
Alex Scott is the Gerald T. Niedert Professor in the Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. His research examines transportation safety, sustainability, and market dynamics, and has been published in leading journals such as Journal of Operations Management and Transportation Science. His work has been cited by industry outlets and presented before a U.S. Congressional subcommittee. Before academia, Scott spent nine years in logistics and consulting roles across multiple countries, leading projects in supply chain strategy, network design, and transportation planning.
Laura Smith
VP Corporate Planning & Inventory Productivity,
Shaw Industries
Laura Smith has more than two decades of experience advancing supply chain operations at Shaw Industries. She has led initiatives to strengthen inventory management, optimize performance metrics and align business strategy, drawing on expertise developed as director of sales, inventory and operations planning. A Six Sigma Black Belt, Smith is recognized for her focus on operational excellence, financial acumen and talent development. She earned her MS in supply chain management from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and an MBA from Kennesaw State University.
Vlada Snyder
Ph.D. Student,
Haslam College of Business
Vlada Snyder is a doctoral student in the Department of Supply Chain Management at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s Haslam College of Business. Before joining the doctoral program in 2022, she earned an MBA and a Bachelor of Science in biomedical sciences from Marquette University.
Kevin Sweeney
Rear Admiral, Retired
United States Navy
Rear Admiral Kevin Sweeney is a national security strategist with leadership experience in both the military and private sector. He served as chief of staff to Secretary of Defense James Mattis, overseeing Department of Defense operations and advising on global security challenges. A retired Navy officer, he commanded Carrier Strike Group Ten, Destroyer Squadron 26 and the USS Cole following its restoration. Today he leads KSweeney Consulting and advises organizations through senior roles with McKinsey & Company, The Roosevelt Group and multiple defense-related boards, bringing operational insight to complex global issues.
Ted Stank
Co-Executive Director,
UT Global Supply Chain Institute
Ted Stank directs the Advanced Supply Chain Collaborative at the Global Supply Chain Institute, working closely with Fortune 500 companies to apply innovative practices. He has published more than 100 scholarly articles and co-authored five books on global supply chain strategy and integration. Stank has delivered consulting and executive education for leading corporations and previously served as chairman of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. Honored with the organization’s 2023 Distinguished Service Award and inducted into the Supply Chain Hall of Fame, he is widely regarded for blending academic rigor with industry relevance.
Sean Trainor
SVP Personal Systems Operations
HP Inc.
Sean Trainor has led global supply chain and operations organizations across technology, healthcare and consumer industries. He draws on nearly two decades at Dell, where he advanced supply chain transformation, product quality and operations engineering, following earlier experience in product development and operations management at General Electric. His career also includes leadership in medical devices and personal systems, where he guided large-scale organizations through periods of rapid technological change. With a background in electrical engineering and finance, Trainor is known for steering complex supply chains toward greater resilience, efficiency and customer impact.
Kate Vitasek
Distinguished Fellow,
UT Global Supply Chain Institute
Kate Vitasek is internationally recognized for pioneering the Vested® model, a framework for highly collaborative business relationships featured by CNN, Bloomberg and NPR. She has written seven books, including Vested: How P&G, McDonald’s and Microsoft Are Redefining Winning in Business Relationships, and contributed to more than 300 articles in outlets such as Harvard Business Review and Forbes. Named to the Sourcing Industry Group’s Hall of Fame and honored as a DC Velocity Rainmaker, Vitasek teaches UT’s Certified Deal Architect Program and speaks around the world on reinventing supply chain partnerships.
Nadja Vorontsova
PhD Student,
Haslam College of Business
Nadja Voronstova joined the doctoral program in the Department of Supply Chain Management at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s Haslam College of Business in 2022. She earned a Master of Science in integrated supply chain management from UT and a bachelor’s in marketing from Western Carolina University. Vorontsova previously worked for J.Crew and Madewell as a supply chain and operations analyst and later served as a senior lead at Heyday, a digitally native startup focused on consumer packaged goods. Her research examines the intersection of operations and marketing strategy in the context of sustainability.