2 Babes Talk Supply Chain

This is the second episode of Let’s Talk Supply Chain’s brand-new show, Blended. Blended is all about opening up conversations and giving the mic to all of the underrepresented voices in our industry – women, the LGBTQIA community, people of color, those with disabilities, whether they’re visible or hidden, and many more. Today in Episode 2, ‘Story of my Life,’ we’re going to be delving into our guest’s personal stories: the experiences that made them who they are today and the impact, both positive and negative, that those experiences have had on their lives and careers. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [03.23] Introductions to our Blended panelists. Madison Mobley – Senior Account Executive at Fairmarkit Lamont Robinson – President and CEO at Robinson LaRueCo Consulting, LLC Claudia Freed – CEO and President at EALgreen Martin Stark – IT Strategic Sourcing Lead at University of Sydney and Founder and CEO World Gay Boxing Championships Angie Reno – Director of Procurement, Government Services at Crowley [09.35]

As a maverick in the freight forwarding industry, Global Gateway Logistics believes in the creative persistence of deep analysis, learned experience and exceptional customer service. No matter the obstacle, operational challenge or budgetary constraint, Global Gateway Logistics will work tirelessly to support businesses supply chain and logistical needs. A committed and forward-thinking freight forwarder and NVOCC, Gateway Global Logistics provide insights and recommendations through data analysis and experience to create game-changing solutions for your business operations. Today, Caitlin Murphy, Founder & Managing Director of Operations, joins me to talk about Global Gateway Logistics, her approach to business and how exactly we go about creating transparent, strategic and successful supply chains. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [08.57] Caitlin’s background and how previous job dissatisfaction led to her founding Global Gateway Logistics. “I had confidence that I could make an impact – and that confidence

This is the second show in our “Not Just Nuts and Bolts” series, in partnership with Fastenal. Last week in Episode 1, ‘Innovation at Work,’ I spoke to Dan, President and CEO at Fastenal to find out exactly who Fastenal are, what they do and how they’ve evolved to become a global company, with a local focus, who are much more than just nuts and bolts. Today in Episode 2, ‘Bring Us Your Problems,’ we’re chatting with Kris Van Dalen and taking a closer look at Fastenal’s onsite solutions, their response to the COVID-19 crisis and how we can prepare our businesses and supply chains for the future. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [01.05] Kris’s career at Fastenal, and how the scope of their offering might just surprise you. [02.47] Fastenal’s comprehensive COVID-19 response – which became far more than simply delivering PPE. “The problem became much more than just the availability of an item.” [07.37] How the COVID crisis has taught us why it’s so important to have trusted supply chain partners in place before a cr

Loadshop is an online marketplace that connects carriers and shippers in the trucking space, eliminating the middleman, and so providing transparent, efficient and cost-effective solutions for both sides of the transaction. On a mission to create trucking with transparency, they might be a new kid on the block, but they’re utilizing the extensive industry experience of their cross-functional team to ensure they’re on the road to success. Today, Loadshop's Business Lead, Hunter Burke, will be chatting about the Loadshop marketplace, its benefits, and the future of trucking. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [05.56] The history behind the Loadshop brand and the core problems that led to its creation. “The idea started with seeing how much work it is to match loads and trucks in a spot market environment.” [11.02] What Loadshop does and how it works. [12.45] The impact of lack of transparency on the ease and efficiency of shipping. “The lack of transparency creates so many games that the industry are sick of playin

This is the first episode of our latest mini-series in partnership with Fastenal. Over the next four episodes, our “Not Just Nuts and Bolts” series is going to take a closer look at Fastenal, their global reach and the many different ways they serve the industry; their resilience and innovation in response to the COVID-19 crisis, and why they’re putting a focus on the importance of data in bettering supply chains. Today in Episode 1, Innovation at Work, I’m talking to Dan Florness, President and CEO at Fastenal. We’ll be finding out exactly who Fastenal is, what they do and how they’ve evolved to become a global company, with a local focus, who are much more than just nuts and bolts. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [01.26] Dan’s background, his role at Fastenal and how Fastenal is both a provider and its own customer. “Our secret ingredient is agility and problem-solving.”  [4.14] Fastenal’s history and growth. [06.18] What Fastenal stands for. “We go out and find great people – we’re about opportunity, freedo

From an early interest in engineering and logistics, going all the way back to education-level, Carolina has gone on to have an exciting and varied career in the industry. Now, as a logistics leader at top IT company Lenovo, she’s channelling all that incredible insight and experience into creating robust and effective logistics operations across Latin America. Today Carolina will be talking to us about her career so far, her many inspirational achievements and her long-standing love for logistics. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [07.52] Carolina’s background, her interest in international business and culture, and the variety of experiences that have led her to where she is today. “Those experiences were the ones that opened my eyes and allowed me to see the different roles you can perform within supply chain – that has been, and still is, the most exciting part.” [10.54] How Carolina has followed her heart during the course of her life and career, and her passion for giving back to the community. “My driver

This is the fourth and final show in our “What Does Intermodal Mean to You” series, in partnership with IANA. In last week’s episode, ‘The Technology,’ I was joined by Phil Shook, Vice President at C.H. Robinson, to talk about exactly what kinds of tech is used in the industry; the importance of connectivity and partnerships; why technology companies themselves are attracted to the intermodal industry – and the role IANA thinks tech will play in the industry moving forward. Today in Episode 4, ‘The Workforce,’ I’m joined by Mark McKendry, Vice President North American Intermodal at NFI, to shine a light on workforce development: the trends, the skills, the challenges – and what the future will look like for people in supply chain. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [01.14] Mark’s role at NFI and a key misconception about intermodal. “The perception of intermodal is that it’s a minor player compared to truck.” [02.19] e-commerce acceleration, a major supply chain trend affecting the workforce right now. [03.57] Fro

Jon Trask founded Digital SCM over 12 years ago and as the industry changed, he kept up. He went on to found ETA Guru and Identity Guru, which ultimately came together with Digital SCM to create Blockchain Guru, the powerhouse company we’re talking about today. Blockchain Guru is working at the forefront of emerging tech, blending tested technology with modern advancements to deliver tangible results. Today, Jon and I will be chatting about artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency and their benefits; how Blockchain Guru is making big changes in supply chain, and how emerging tech will help to shape the future of, not just logistics, but the world. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [07.51] What exactly is blockchain. [08.55] The benefits of sharing data. “People are generally reluctant to share their data, but [sharing data] gives you the ability to have a better, more robust process in improving your business.” [11.21] From reducing third party dependency to creating immutable data, the benefits of blockchain.

This is the third show in our “What Does Intermodal Mean to You” series, in partnership with IANA. In last week’s episode ‘The Equipment,’ we spoke to Frank Sonzala, CEO of CIE Manufacturing, about the types of equipment that are key within the intermodal industry, what role they play in keeping freight moving and why maintenance is so important. Today in Episode 3, ‘The Technology’ I’m joined by Phil Shook, Vice President at C.H. Robinson to talk about exactly what kinds of tech are used in the industry; the importance of connectivity and partnerships; why technology companies themselves are attracted to the intermodal industry – and the role IANA thinks tech will play in the industry moving forward. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [01.20] Phil’s 20+ year career at C.H. Robinson, how much he’s seen the industry change over that time, and his current role in staying abreast of technology so he can make the right decisions for their intermodal business line. “Collaboration is why the change has been so quick, and

Export Development Canada has been Canada’s credit agency for over 75 years. Through their years of industry experience, they’ve helped businesses across Canada to manage risk, secure finance and establish themselves on a global platform. Today, we talk to Zeeshan Fazal, Senior Account Manager - Technology Group at EDC to talk about helping SME’s achieve global success, how COVID-19 has affected the nations’ industry and the huge role EDC plays in supporting the Canadian economy. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [08.08] An overview of EDC, how they began and how they can help. [10.39] EDC’s financial solutions, and their focus on managing risk. [13.45] EDC’s non-financial solutions, and how they help Canadian businesses to navigate the international market. [19.26] How EDC's Global Trade Team find and facilitate opportunities, by analyzing the global market and ‘matchmaking’ with Canadian businesses. [24.15] The importance of championing SME’s, and their benefits over big business. “The world is asking for innova

This is the second show in our “What Does Intermodal Mean to You” series, in partnership with IANA. In last week’s episode ‘The Industry,’ we spoke to Jim Newsome President and CEO of the South Carolina Ports Authority in Charleston. We found out more about what the intermodal industry is, how it works and how ecommerce has changed the landscape of the industry. We learned more about IANA and its role within the industry, and about the impressive investment in infrastructure that Jim has been overseeing over at the South Carolina Ports Authority. Today in Episode 2, ‘The Equipment’ we’re talking to Frank Sonzala, CEO of CIE Manufacturing. We’re going to explore what equipment is key within the intermodal industry, what role it plays in keeping freight moving, why maintenance is so important – and we’ll be having a little bit of fun with a maintenance horror story, to remind you why paying attention to the details can make or break your supply chain. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [01.01] Frank’s impressive 37 ye

Welcome to Blended! This is a brand new show for Let’s Talk Supply Chain and it’s going to be a little bit different to what you’ve heard before. We talk a lot about the challenges facing our industry as a whole – changing technology, network complexity, surprises like COVID-19 – but what we don’t talk as much about is the people. The people that really drive our industry forward. And specifically, the under-represented people in our industry. I’ve been flying the flag for women in supply chain for a few years now, through the podcast and some of my other endeavors, but Blended is going to go much further than that. Because it’s not just women who are a minority – we need to be thinking about the LGBTQIA community, people of color, those with disabilities, whether they’re visible or hidden. As minorities, we need to join together to support each other and be each other’s allies - to ensure we ALL have a seat at the table to make our industry the absolute best it can be. Today in Episode 1, ‘What’s in a Name,’

Pallet Alliance takes a holistic approach to pallet program management that’s far more than just quoting pallet prices. Through managing cost drivers like sourcing, design and implementation, they deliver comprehensive solutions tailored to fit operational requirements, whilst investments in Iot-based logistics, customized reporting, and industry-leading expertise continue to drive their ongoing improvement. And Tyson Steffens plays a key role. After holding positions at General Electric and United States Gypsum, he initially joined Pallet Alliance in 2003 as a business development manager. But now, after nearly 20 years with the company, Tyson and the team are transforming pallet program management with new technology, tailored solutions and a fresh outlook. Today Tyson will be sharing his thoughts on the importance of partnerships, championing industry improvement, and how Pallet Alliance can help you to optimize cost, quality, and efficiency through their unique collaborative approach. IN THIS EPISODE WE D

This is the first episode of our latest mini-series in partnership with IANA: The Intermodal Association of North America. Over the next four episodes, our “What Does Intermodal Mean to You?” series is going to take a closer look at the intermodal industry and its benefits, the equipment and technology that serves it, and all of the different people involved. Today in Episode 1, The Industry, I’m talking to Jim Newsome President and CEO of the South Carolina Ports Authority in Charleston. We’ll be finding out exactly what the intermodal industry is and how it works; looking at how ecommerce has changed the landscape of intermodal in recent years; learning more about IANA and its role within the industry; and finding out about the impressive investment in infrastructure that Jim has been overseeing over at the South Carolina Ports Authority. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [01.25] Jim’s background, his role with the South Carolina Ports Authority and a closer look at what the intermodal industry is. “To me it’s t

From gaining her degree in Business, with a concentration in transportation, Michelle has gone from strength to strength. Her career has seen her achieve leadership roles within large organizations from Kraft to JC Penney, move all around the USA, and now sees her helping to shape the whole future of transport and supply chain, as the Vice President of Transportation for The Home Depot. She’s also actively engaged within the industry and serves on the boards of a host of different associations, advising the industry and championing female leadership. Today Michelle tells us all about her impressive career, her love for, and commitment to, the industry and the importance of supporting women in supply chain. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [06.44] How lively conversations with her trucking Father brought Michelle to supply chain, despite wanting to be a teacher in her early years. “Never underestimate the power of a dinner conversation with your children! [08.28] How a part-time job at a burger restaurant in her

Parsyl is on a mission to improve the quality of goods we all rely on; from the foods we eat to the medicines we need. They provide insurance products as well as GPS tracking technology, with cell phone monitoring and data analytics through their web platform, to allow companies to take control of their supply chain. And they’re also utilizing that commercial technology to solve major global health challenges, making them a unique player in the supply chain industry. Today I’m delighted to be joined by Ben Hubbard, co-founder and CEO of Parsyl, to talk all about the company’s amazing offering, including their game-changing software and insurance products, and the future of supply chain. Not to mention their partnerships with a range of organizations, from governments to ministries of health, to innovate and strengthen global health supply chains and improve lives. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [07.29] Ben’s background in economic and global health development, an overview of Parsyl and why Ben founded the compa

We’re back with Episode 4, which I’m sad to say is the final episode, of our “Lessons Learned from Crisis” mini-series, in partnership with Tealbook. Over the course of these four episodes I’ve really enjoyed talking to some of the leaders from Tealbook; getting to understand their platform, how they work and their amazing ethos. And, of course, I’ve loved being able to dive into some important discussions around the challenges in our industry right now and the lessons we can take from them, to help us to create robust strategies for the future. I hope you’ve enjoyed the series just as much as I have and don’t forget, you can still catch up on any episodes you might’ve missed HERE. In last week’s episode ‘Diversity Matters,’ we were joined by Tealbook’s COO Ian Woodbury to talk about the importance of diversity, what the COVID crisis has taught Tealbook about resilience and innovation and how, as a company, they continue to evolve to support a rapidly changing industry. Today in Episode 4, Collaborate To Succ

Hope White is the Founder and CEO of HD White Logistics, Founder of Hope White Consulting and of Logistically Speaking Online. Having previously worked for The Home Depot in various capacities, including inbound/outbound operations, EDI and vendor compliance, inventory control, and transportation, Hope had gained all of the knowledge and experience she needed to build a successful business of her own. Now, in her various roles as CEO, logistics consultant and trainer, Hope helps companies to improve operations, develop their skill-sets and strategize, and deliver, cost-effective solutions for their supply chains. Today, we’ll be taking a closer look at Hope’s businesses – how they came about and what problems they’re solving for their respective clients – her strategy for spinning so many plates at once, and why women are the future of the trucking industry.   IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [09.00] How Hope’s experiences working for The Home Depot, and assisting her husband with his own business, helped her to i

We’re back with Episode 3 of our “Lessons Learned from Crisis” mini-series, in partnership with Tealbook. In last week’s episode ‘Stay Ready,’ we talked to Tealbook’s VP of Strategy Matt Palackdharry to talk about the importance of good data, the value to be found in transparency and collaboration and why, despite only being founded in 2014, IDC recently ranked Tealbook as the #4 procurement platform tool currently in use today. Today in Episode 3, Diversity Matters, I‘m joined by Tealbook’s COO Ian Woodbury to talk about the importance of diversity, what the COVID crisis has taught Tealbook about resilience and innovation and how, as a company, they continue to evolve to support our rapidly changing industry. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [00.58] Ian’s background, his role at Tealbook and why diversity is close to his heart. “I saw this incredible opportunity to improve the way businesses are approaching diversity.”  [03.25] Why diversity in supply chain is so important. [07.47] Tealbook’s quick and easy Sup

After spending 16 years in management at Bimbo, part of the Sara Lee Bakery group, focusing on supply chain and purchasing, as well as sales and operations planning, Miquel combined his knowledge, experience and passion to found Solutions & Decisions in 2009. Their mission is to make operations more efficient, reducing costs and creating a clear global company vision. Through his three pillars of ‘Change’, ‘Grow’ and ‘Share,’ Miquel aims to simplify the complexity of supply chain, so that clients can see real operational and economic results. Today, we’re talking about what led Miquel to found Solutions and Decisions, his wealth of experience, how he applies what he’s learned to companies both big and small, and why he’s championing people and talent as the future of supply chain. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [08.22] Miquel’s career history, how he came to found Solutions and Decisions and the amazing story behind the name. [12.01] Exactly what Solutions and Decisions do for their customers. “We’re like s