For the first episode of our third season, co-hosts Ted Stank and Tom Goldsby speak with Haslam College of Business lecturer Paul Fortunato and partners from his Supply Chain Project Management (SCM 430) course at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Fortunato, a former executive with Dow Chemical Company, invited Lori Maurer, director of the center for supply chain excellence, and Riley Clayton, logistics and supply chain manager, from Albemarle to talk with Ted and Tom about the corporation’s three-year involvement in his course.

UT’s top-ranked supply chain management programs are held up by their real-world relevance and the close work with corporate partners such as Albemarle, a leading provider of lithium, bromine, and other essential chemical elements.

Don’t miss this exciting discussion on talent identification, university and business collaborations, and real-world supply chain challenges addressed by UT students. To open the episode, our hosts also talk about the impact of U.S. port strikes, economic growth numbers, the upcoming presidential election, and more!

Is your company interested in partnering with the University of Tennessee? Learn more about becoming a member of our renowned Supply Chain Forum.

The episode was recorded virtually on October 28.

Related links:

• The U.S. economy remains engine of global growth in latest IMF forecasts
• Election-year effect: scenarios that could impact the supply chain
• Don Maier on understanding the impact of organized labor on the U.S. supply chain
• For the fifth year, UT ranked No. 1 in the SEC and No. 4 nationally for SCM programs by U.S. News and World Report
• Register for the Fall 2024 Supply Chain Forum, Nov. 12–14 in Knoxville
• Become a Supply Chain Forum member
• Subscribe to GSCI’s monthly newsletter
• Read the latest news and insights from GSCI

Text the Tennessee on Supply Chain Management team!

In between Seasons 2 and 3, co-hosts Ted Stank and Tom Goldsby were at the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) Conference, where they caught up with Kate Vitasek, a GSCI Fellow and internationally renowned business leader, educator, and founder of Vested, a model for creating highly collaborative business relationships in which both parties are equally committed to each other’s success.

Vitasek and her Vested model were nominated for the CSCMP Supply Chain Innovation and Teaching Innovation awards.

Later this month, she will operate back-to-back courses on UT’s campus: Vested Executive Education (Oct. 28-30) and Collaborative Contracting (Oct. 31-Nov. 1). She also offers virtual courses and opportunities worldwide. You won’t want to miss out!

***Vitasek is offering a full scholarship to Ports and their management to send a group to Knoxville to attend either course***

The episode was recorded live on September 30, 2024, during the CSCMP Edge Conference in Nashville, Tennessee.

Related links:

• Learn more about Kate Vitasek and the Vested business model
• Download Vitasek’s full library of white papers and case studies in English, Spanish, French, Swedish, Dutch, and Portuguese
• Dockworkers go on strike, snarling traffic at East and Gulf Coast ports
• Hurricane Helene may devastate tech and health supply chains
• Register for the Fall 2024 Supply Chain Forum, Nov. 12–14 in Knoxville
• Become a Supply Chain Forum member
• Download GSCI’s latest white papers for free
• Subscribe to GSCI’s monthly newsletter
• Read the latest news and insights from GSCI

Text the Tennessee on Supply Chain Management team!

In the final episode of Season 2, co-hosts Ted Stank and Tom Goldsby speak with Elijah Ray, chief customer officer of Sunland Logistics Solutions about the evolution of third-party logistics, the importance of company culture, employee retention, and creating trust with clients.

With nearly four decades of experience in logistics and supply chain management, Ray has contributed to a culture of continuous improvement and big-name brand engagement at Sunland. He is a member-at-large and former president of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.

Don’t miss this exciting discussion on great workplace environments, thriving business partnerships, creating value for both parties, leading with care, and more.

The interview with Elijah Ray starts at 5:40.

The episode was recorded on August 15, 2024, during the GSCI Advisory Board meeting at the Haslam College of Business.

Related links:

• US unemployment claims fall in sign of resiliency in job market
• Inflation dipped in July, Fed expected to cut interest rates
• Canada rail strike, lockouts slated to start this week
• Register for the Fall 2024 Supply Chain Forum, Nov. 12–14 in Knoxville
• Become a Supply Chain Forum member
• Download our latest white papers for free
• Subscribe to GSCI’s monthly newsletter
• Read the latest news and insights from GSCI

Text the Tennessee on Supply Chain Management team!