[{"id":19960,"date":"2025-11-11T16:40:59","date_gmt":"2025-11-11T16:40:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/haslam.utk.edu\/supply-chain-forum\/?page_id=19960"},"modified":"2025-11-11T16:42:03","modified_gmt":"2025-11-11T16:42:03","slug":"fall-2025-supply-chain-forum-agenda","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/haslam.utk.edu\/supply-chain-forum\/fall-2025-supply-chain-forum-agenda\/","title":{"rendered":"Fall 2025 Supply Chain Forum Agenda"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Supply Chain Forum<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Agenda (Fall 2025)<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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November 4-6, 2025<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Fall 2025 Supply Chain Forum will take place at the modern Marriott Knoxville Downtown, conveniently located between the vibrant UT campus and the heart of Knoxville. An agenda with detailed session descriptions, speaker biographies, exclusive resources and more will be provided closer to the event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Marriott Map<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Tuesday, November 4<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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2-3 p.m. Check-in & Registration<\/strong>, Atrium<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Welcome to the Fall 2025 Supply Chain Forum. Partners may check in with volunteers at the desk. Registration is required to attend the day\u2019s two student networking events. Space is limited, so make sure to sign up early!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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3-4 p.m. Graduate Student & Corporate Partner Networking<\/strong><\/strong>, The Assembly<\/strong><\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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A structured opportunity for talent specialists with corporate partner organization to meet students currently enrolled in Haslam’s highly ranked graduate supply chain management (SCM) programs: Full-Time MBA<\/a> (SCM concentration), M.S. in Supply Chain Management Online<\/a> and M.S. in Supply Chain Management (Global<\/a>).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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4-4:30 p.m. Break<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Break time between events<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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4:30-5:45 p.m. Scholars of Distinction and Corporate Partner Networking<\/strong>, The Assembly<\/strong><\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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A dynamic and interactive networking session with UT\u2019s Scholars of Distinction<\/a>, a select group of rising second-, third-, and fourth-year SCM students eager to meet industry leaders across supply chain functions and gain firsthand knowledge of job opportunities and career paths.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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5:45-8 p.m. Welcome Reception, Atrium<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Join us at the Opening Reception for hors d\u2019oeuvres, drinks, and brief remarks from GSCI Co-Executive Director Ted Stank<\/a>. This casual networking event is a great opportunity to connect with other supply chain professionals and UT faculty and staff.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Wednesday, November 5<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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7:30-8:15 a.m. Breakfast & Check-in<\/strong><\/strong>, The Assembly<\/strong><\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Stop by the registration table and enjoy a delicious breakfast buffet before a day of Main and Breakout sessions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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8:15-8:30 a.m. Opening Remarks<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong>, The Assembly<\/strong><\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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A brief welcome and update from GSCI Managing Director Scott DeGroot<\/a> and Co-Executive Director Ted Stank<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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8:30-9:15 a.m. Main Session #1\u2014Reinventing Retail Supply Chains<\/strong><\/strong>, The Assembly<\/strong><\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Annette Danek-Akey<\/a>, chief supply chain officer at Barnes & Noble, brings decades of publishing and distribution experience\u2014including her leadership role at Penguin Random House\u2014to a brand in the midst of rapid growth. Named one of Alcott Global\u2019s Top 30 Supply Chain Leaders, she is pioneering a localized fulfillment model to support B&N\u2019s nationwide expansion. In this conversation with GSCI Managing Director Scott DeGroot<\/a>, Danek-Akey will share candid lessons on scaling operations, balancing efficiency with flexibility, and turning growth into a lasting logistics advantage.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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9:15-9:30 a.m. Break<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Break time between events<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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9:30-10:30 a.m. Main Session #2\u2014A View from the Front Lines of US Manufacturing<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong>, The Assembly<\/strong><\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Professor Alan Amling<\/a> and ZYCI Founder Mitch Free<\/a> bring a direct look at how North American manufacturers are responding to cost pressures, innovation demands, and shifting labor realities. With combined experience across industry, academia, and entrepreneurial ventures, they\u2019ll translate front-line lessons into practical insights on agility, workforce resilience, and rethinking what makes domestic production competitive.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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10:30-10:45 a.m. Break<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Break time between events<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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10:45-11:15 a.m. <\/strong><\/strong>Main Session #3\u2014Bridging Theory and Practice: Insights from Emerging Scholars<\/strong>, The Assembly<\/strong><\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Join professor Alex Scott<\/a> for a fast-paced session featuring presentations from doctoral students<\/a> Lila Al-Shwaf, Vlada Snyder, and Nadja Vorontsova. Each presenter will share key insights from their work in under 10 minutes, followed by an open Q&A session. This interactive format offers a unique glimpse into the next generation of supply chain scholarship and an opportunity for industry partners to engage directly with UT\u2019s top emerging researchers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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11:15-11:45 a.m. <\/strong><\/strong>Main Session #4\u2014Implementing AI in Supply Chains: From Conception to Action<\/strong>, The Assembly<\/strong><\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming how supply chains plan, source, and execute. In this session, clinical associate professor Sara Hsu<\/a> and Chuanren \u201cCharles\u201d Liu, associate professor of business analytics and statistics, introduce Implementing AI in Supply Chains: Playbook for AI Decision Services and Action Steps<\/em>\u2014a new UT-developed guide for translating AI concepts into measurable operational and financial results. The discussion highlights real-world applications such as demand sensing, supplier risk prediction, logistics exception automation, and predictive maintenance, along with governance and change-management practices that make AI adoption sustainable across the enterprise.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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11:45 a.m.-1 p.m. Lunch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Lunch<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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1-1:45 p.m. Main Session #5\u2014Beyond Supply Chain (Live Podcast Recording)<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong>, The Assembly<\/strong><\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Retired Rear Admiral Kevin Sweeney<\/a> has led sailors in combat and served as chief of staff to Defense Secretary James Mattis. In this live recording of Tennessee on Supply Chain Management<\/a><\/em>, host Ted Stank<\/a> will explore how the military principles of rapid decision-making, organizational readiness, and building trust under pressure translate into effective supply chain leadership in today\u2019s volatile environment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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1:45-2:15 p.m. Networking Break<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Enjoy a 30-minute networking break featuring fall-themed snacks in the atrium, sponsored by the UT Supply Chain Management Graduate and Executive Education programs. Learn about UT\u2019s master\u2019s and executive offerings while connecting with students at the reverse career fair in the hallway outside The Assembly. Student-interest tables will feature representatives from the Tennessee Association of Supply Chain (TASC), Supply Chain Analytics & Reporting Club (SCAR), SCM Career Ready, SCM Veterans, Diverse Organization Propelling Excellence (DOPE), MS SCM Global, MS SCM Online, and Women’s Organization of MBAs (WOMBA), offering a great opportunity to meet emerging supply chain talent and engage with the next generation of professionals.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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2:15-3 p.m. Breakout Sessions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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