The Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) announced the 2023 Supply Chain Hall of Fame Inductees
The Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) names Lynn Fritz, Chairman and CEO of Fritz Companies as the 2023 Supply Chain Hall of Fame Inductee. The CSCMP Hall of Fame was first initiated in 2016 to recognize individuals for having made outstanding contributions to the supply chain discipline and served as role models to supply chain students, young professionals, budding entrepreneurs and career supply chain professionals. Since its inception, each of the Distinguished Service Award past winners were inducted into the Hall of Fame and all future DSA recipients will automatically be inducted each year. As such, the 2023 CSCMP Distinguished Service Award Recipient, Ted Stank, joins Lynn in receiving the Hall of Fame honor. A visionary in the global logistics industry, Lynn helped develop and operationalize the concepts of third-party logistics and supply chain services during his 30-year career as Chairman and CEO of Fritz Companies, Inc., which enabled this small San Francisco customs brokerage company to expand to 120 countries and 11,000 employees. The company went public in 1992 and achieved Fortune 1000 status in 1997. His enduring contribution redefined a fragmented and limited services industry through the use of technology. Upon UPS’s acquisition of Fritz Companies in 2001, Inc., Lynn shifted professional gears, dedicating the Fritz Institute to the development and deployment of logistics expertise to the global Humanitarian Sector. Lynn partnered with his wife, Business Professor, Dr. Anisya Thomas, and resolved to be the advocate for humanitarian logisticians, bring academic expertise and private sector resources and best practices to their endeavors. He invested significant financial resources and devoted a majority of his time partnering with a broad array of institutions and individuals in the creation of a field now recognized as humanitarian logistics. The software developed by Fritz Institute, used to track the delivery of necessary relief items, is utilized by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Oxfam, Save the Children U.K. and World Vision. The Institute’s certified training programs and curriculum is the lynchpin of humanitarian logistics operational trading and benefits hundreds of relief logisticians and organizations, while Fritz Institute standards are being utilized in over 25 countries in Africa. Once the Fritz Institute was successfully underway, Lynn founded LynnCo Supply Chain Solutions, headquartered in Oklahoma, a compact technology driven new age domestic forwarding company. Simultaneously over the years, he had begun to appreciate the exceptional potential of a ranch he had purchased in 1980. Although originally intended as a family retreat, slowly over the ensuing 40 years it has become one of California’s leading ultra-premium wineries. CSCMP’s EDGE Conference is supply chain’s premier event™ and provides the finest networking and robust educational experiences unmatched by others in the industry.
KPI Solutions appoints Roger Counihan as Senior Vice President of Sales
KPI Solutions (KPI), a provider in supply chain consulting, software, automation, and systems integration, today announced that Roger Counihan has joined the company as Senior Vice President, of Sales. In this role, Roger will provide strategic leadership to drive growth by delivering successful solutions that help clients reduce labor dependence, increase productivity, and build scalability. “I’m excited to join KPI Solutions as our team designs and integrates new processes coupled with world-class automation technology that supports our clients’ operational transformation,” said Roger. “Developing creative, bespoke solutions for clients is a passion and I look forward to leveraging my experience in supply chain strategy, distribution center design, robotics, and software to help clients meet today’s business challenges.” “We are happy to welcome Roger to the KPI Commercial team as another seasoned, highly skilled leader for our clients as they seek options to elevate performance,” said Ron Adams, Chief Commercial Officer at KPI. “Roger’s ability to quickly grasp business challenges and address them with innovative operational designs and high-performing technologies will create scalable, resilient, and agile automation solutions for our clients.” Most recently, Roger served as Chief Revenue Officer at CognitOps, a supply chain software services firm. Prior, he rapidly rose through positions of increasing responsibility in both sales and delivery roles at Fortna, global telecommunications provider Brightstar, and Capgemini. He holds a B.S. and M.S., Systems Engineering from the University of Virginia and resides in Atlanta.
Women In Trucking Association announces Sarah Smith of Penske Transportation Solutions as Vice Chair
The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) has announced Sarah Smith as vice chair of the association. In this role, Smith will collaborate with WIT’s officers, board of directors, and staff to guide the association’s mission of encouraging the employment of women in the industry, minimizing obstacles they face, and promoting their accomplishments. Along with this volunteer leadership role, Smith is senior vice president of human resources for Penske Transportation Solutions. “We are extremely pleased to have Sarah in this leadership role as she brings a depth of experience that will be invaluable to the association,” said Jennifer Hedrick, president and CEO of WIT. In her current position at Penske, Smith leads teams responsible for corporate and field human resources as well as diversity and inclusion. Throughout her career, she has held several other roles with Penske, including director of labor relations and vice president, human resources operations. Additionally, Smith spent time in private practice as an attorney. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in French from Wilkes University as well as her Juris Doctor degree from John Marshall Law School in Chicago, Il. “It’s an honor to hold a leadership position on the Women In Trucking Board of Directors,” said Smith. “Women In Trucking is the leading organization supporting women in transportation and encouraging more to join our strong industry. To contribute to that mission is professionally and personally rewarding to me. I believe that there is a tremendous opportunity for women in trucking and that my association with WIT demonstrates Penske’s commitment to diversity and inclusion for our association. I look forward to the impactful work that lies ahead.”
Women In Trucking Association announces its October 2023 Member of the Month
The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) has announced Lauren Keeney as its October 2023 Member of the Month. Keeney is a regional driver from S&H Express, Inc. based in York, PA. Keeney was inspired to earn her CDL while waiting at a traffic light. As she finished making Amazon deliveries for the day, she glanced at the tractor trailer beside her and saw a woman was behind the wheel. “I realized that if she could do it, I could too,” said Kenney. Shortly after, Lauren enrolled at the Shelly Truck Driving School in York, PA. Training Supervisor Bob Grimaldi remembers Lauren as someone who always in high spirits and quick to master even the most complicated material. “Lauren never shied away from a new challenge and never settled for good enough,” said Grimaldi, who has closely followed her career at S&H Express which is affiliated with Shelly Truck Driving School. “She wanted to be the best she could be, and she worked with her classmates to help them reach the same level.” S&H Express Recruiting Manager Andrea Whipple has known Lauren since they were teens working together at Tom’s Gas Station and says, “Lauren has always been a hard worker. Even as a kid, she strived to do better. She has one of the biggest hearts and would help anyone out, whenever.” Lauren’s desire to help others and her drive to succeed continues. In September 2021, after earning her CDL, Keeney signed with S&H Express. She has recently begun to train new drivers and is earning rave reviews. Last year, Dispatcher Tina Bailey assigned Keeney to an important dedicated account in Richmond, VA and Keeney has achieved 100% on-time service for the customer. “What is notable is that this is a five-times-per week York, PA to Richmond, VA run to a very difficult, very tight dock location,” said Bailey. “It’s a location that many other drivers have refused after their first run. Not Lauren, and she is always willing to help other drivers, even from other companies, who are having trouble backing into that customer location.” S&H Express Director of Operations Doug Forry adds, “Lauren has a bright future in trucking. She’s smart, determined, and always willing to go above and beyond in this male-populated industry. She is one of a kind!” Keeney’s advice for anyone who is thinking about trucking as a career, especially women, is to do their research stating, “talk to the director of a reputable school, ask to talk with a few of their graduates, and call the recruiting department of a small, large, and mega trucking company. Interview them and a few of their female drivers so that you can make an informed decision for yourself.” Further showcasing her love for the road, Keeney enjoys travel. Her York to Richmond assignment affords lots of opportunities to appreciate beautiful scenery and take note of sites that would be great for vacation.
Supply Chain Quarterly’s Outstanding Women in Supply Chain
Supply Chain Quarterly has announced the inaugural Outstanding Women in Supply Chain awards. We’ll honor three exceptional women who have made remarkable contributions to the supply chain industry at the upcoming CSCMP EDGE 2023 conference. This industry requires strategic thinking, innovative problem-solving, and effective leadership, and these women have consistently demonstrated their commitment to excellence. Their dedication, passion, and accomplishments have not only advanced the supply chain landscape but have also served as an inspiration to countless professionals. INTRODUCING THE HONOREES Ammie McAsey, Senior Vice President, Customer Distribution Experience, McKesson U.S. Pharmaceutical Ammie McAsey is responsible for leading the supply chain strategy across the U.S. for brand, generic, and specialty pharmaceuticals. She oversees more than 40 distribution locations and central fill pharmacies, transportation services, network design, operations quality, inventory replenishment, and customer support. Previously, McAsey was the vice president and general manager of the company’s three Strategic Distribution Centers, where she was responsible for leading supply chain synergies with the national buying center, manufacturers, field distribution centers, and customers. She has also served as vice president distribution operations for the North Central region and director of operations. In these roles, McAsey collaborated across functions to deliver operational excellence, talent development, and financial performance. McAsey is a member of the Women Business Leaders of the U.S. Healthcare Industry Foundation, Supply Chain Leaders in Action, Health Care Distribution Alliance, and Fortna Advisory Board. She serves on the Board of Directors for U.S. Venture in Appleton, Wisconsin. Jackie Sturm, Corporate Vice President, Global Supply Chain Operations, Intel Jackie Sturm leads operations for Intel’s multibillion-dollar global supply chain, which has been one of the top 20 in Gartner’s Supply Chain Top 25 for 19 consecutive years. Her international team supports both direct and indirect procurement; business continuity; supply chain systems and analytics; and Intel’s Supply Chain Environmental and Social Governance program, which includes Intel’s Conflict Minerals initiative. Sturm sponsors targeted advancement programs to address challenges faced by women and under-represented minorities in technology. Sturm is on the advisory board for Banff International Research Station, Gartner and SAP’s Supply Chain practices, Howard University Center for Supply Chain Management, and Women’s Business Enterprise National Council. She is a recipient of several Intel Quality Awards, and she and her team have been recognized with the Intel Achievement Award, Intel’s highest standard of excellence. Sturm received the 2016 AWESOME Legendary Leader Award and has been cited in the IBM, Supply Chain Digital, and Alcott Global Top 100 Women in Supply Chain. Meredith Westafer, Industrial Engineering Manager, Tesla Meredith Westafer leads the Tesla Factory Design team, designing the layouts and material flow for new Tesla Gigafactories. She joined Tesla in 2015 as the company was just beginning construction on its first Gigafactory in Nevada. She was responsible for the material flow design for getting all parts to the powertrain manufacturing lines, including developing an automated guided vehicle program with more than 50 AGVs. Her engineering team also designed the layouts and material flow strategy for Gigafactories in Shanghai, Berlin, and Texas. Her ability to drive systems-level solutions to complex, ambiguous, companywide problems has catapulted her scope to include global factory design and strategic planning. Westafer was named one of Business Insider’s Most Powerful Female Engineers in 2018 and has spoken at industry events. She graduated the University of South Florida in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering and a master’s degree in Engineering Management. The Outstanding Women in Supply Chain event will take place at CSCMP EDGE in the Ask the Experts Theater on Monday, October 2, from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Come and listen to their fascinating stories and participate in a Q&A session. It will be moderated by SCQ’s executive editor, Susan Lacefield.
Raymond names to Food Shippers of America’s 2023 Top Food Chain Technology list
The Raymond Corporation, a global supplier of best-in-class material handling products and intelligent intralogistics solutions, has been named to Food Shippers of America’s (FSA’s) 2023 Top Food Chain Technology list for its iWAREHOUSE® FieldSense (iW.FieldSense) Proximity Notification System. The Top Food Chain Technology program annually highlights standout technologies that are leading the way to revolutionizing the supply chain within the food and beverage industry. iW.FieldSense is part of the iWAREHOUSE Intelligent Warehouse Solutions portfolio and Raymond’s intralogistics capabilities — empowering companies to optimize, connect and automate their operations with a variety of tools and services. The robust system is designed as a training reinforcement tool to alert pedestrians and lift truck operators when they come within a predefined distance of properly equipped lift trucks and pedestrians. iW.FieldSense also can alert vehicle operators to the proximity of structural elements in a facility. Using audible and visual alerts, the technology helps increase a user’s environmental awareness of other properly equipped users, reinforcing training and best practices in today’s congested warehouses. “Raymond offers the food and beverage industry an automated, integrated system — from operator assist technologies like the iW.FieldSense to automated guided vehicles that perform in repetitive applications and automated storage and retrieval systems that offer efficiencies to move goods through facilities,” said Brian Everett, group publisher and editorial director of Food Chain Digest, the official magazine of Food Shippers of America. “We acknowledge that Raymond’s intelligent intralogistics and automated solutions free up labor for food shippers to perform more value-driven tasks to reduce inefficiencies — a major supply chain pain point for many food companies.” Versatile for all operations, industries and applications, Raymond® products help enhance the entire warehouse and distribution operation while delivering actionable, data-driven insights. “This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team,” said Dave Norton, vice president of customer solutions and support, The Raymond Corporation. “We are excited to continue innovating and elevating the food chain industry with cutting-edge technology.” View the full list of companies named to FSA’s 2023 Top Food Chain Technology list here.
Pfannenberg appoints Barbara Ross as new Director of Channel and Representatives
Over thirty years of leadership experience will drive continued growth for the company Pfannenberg, Inc., a global manufacturer of thermal management and signaling technologies, announced that Barbara Ross has been appointed as its new Director of Channel and Representatives. In her new role, Ross will focus on strategically aligning with Pfannenberg’s independent representative partners along with robust channel development. “All of us at Pfannenberg are thrilled to welcome Barbara to the team,” says Earl Rogalski, President. “Her dynamic leadership and impressive decades-long track record make her the ideal person to help drive Pfannenberg towards sustained growth.” Prior to this role, Ross has held several key leadership roles equipping her with over three decades of sales, representative, and distribution leadership experience. Beyond her daily work, Ross is a dedicated volunteer for the Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) and PTDA Foundation. previously serving as the President of the PTDA Foundation Board of Trustees. Additionally, Ross is also a volunteer for the Power-Motion Technology Representatives Association (PTRA). Presently Barbara serves on the PTDA Foundation Board of Trustees and PTRA Board of Directors among other committees for the organizations. Ross’ exceptional leadership ability comes through in every organization she joins. This unwavering commitment has earned her prestigious recognition, including the PTDA Warren Pike Award for lifetime achievement in the power transmission/motion control (PT/MC) industry and the PTDA Foundation Wendy B. McDonald Woman of the Year Award. “Barbara is joining Pfannenberg at an exciting time of our growth trajectory,” continues Rogalski. “Her reputable leadership will be an indisputable value add to our community of trusted advisors, further fueling the speed at which we are able to innovate and engage our customer base.”
Millwood Inc. opens new location in Lordstown Ohio
New location to employ nearly 20 new team members Millwood, Inc. has opened its 39th location nationwide in Lordstown, OH, just minutes from its corporate headquarters in Vienna, OH. A team of 16 team members will operate the 43,200 square-foot space at 5232 Tod Ave SW Warren, OH 44481 including a chaplain who will be available 24/7 to meet their personal, professional and spiritual needs. “We are excited about this new operation as it will expand our coverage area across different regions in the U.S.,” General Manager Lionel Trebilcock said. “Equipment is being installed, and we plan to begin shipping product from the operation by the end of September.” Through various, ongoing relationships with many carriers, this location will serve customers in the Midwest, Northeast and Southeast regions of the U.S. “The operations group has worked tirelessly to get this operation up and running at maximum capacity,” Vice President of Sales Lee Evans III said. “The sales team is excited to have another protective packaging product manufactured by Millwood to support our customers’ increasing demands for streamlined solutions.”
Anand Raghavendran: Transforming supply chain documentation with AI Power
Industry Veteran Shares Vision for AI in Logistics Processes KlearNow, a company specializing in Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered logistics and supply chain solutions, recently announced the appointment of Anand Raghavendran as its new Chief Product Officer. Raghavendran brings over 25 years of valuable experience to his new role and is expected to continue driving the KlearNow team in their pursuit of modernizing traditional supply chain processes. Raghavendran has a comprehensive background in leading product and technology teams, which has been integral to his success in the industry. His history of creating and guiding high-performance teams to achieve transformative results has been recognized and lauded in the sector. At KlearNow, Raghavendran’s extensive experience is anticipated to significantly bolster the company’s strategy for innovation-driven growth. KlearNow stands to benefit from the integration of Raghavendran’s vast experience into its operations. This will ideally enhance the maturity, market-friendliness, and relevance of its AI-driven solutions. Raghavendran has expressed enthusiasm for his new role, stating his desire to act as the crucial link between the end users and the engineering teams at KlearNow. He is dedicated to delivering a product that will maintain and potentially increase KlearNow’s market impact. “As we continue to build on KlearNow’s capabilities, my goal is to establish a framework that offers a seamless end-to-end user experience. This involves packaging our product to ensure consistency and trust, provide enhanced visibility, and become the single source of truth for supply chain data for Enterprises as well as SMBs. It’s about blending the strength of our technology with the needs of the industry to create transformative solutions,” said Raghavendran. Raghavendran has identified KlearNow’s AI capabilities as its market differentiator, the KlearNow platform is capable of not just extracting data from unstructured sources with high accuracy, it also creates a meaningful shipment grouping from these documents for faster customs clearance. “This makes us unique from other OCR-based solutions in the market,” said Raghavendran. KlearNow has already demonstrated its prowess in solving key domain problems, such as centralizing data sources, enhancing visibility and cost-efficiency, and obtaining the endorsement of respected names in the industry. These achievements set KlearNow apart in a highly competitive market. With respect to competition in the industry, Raghavendran recognizes the importance of constant evolution and improvement. He pointed out, “While KlearNow does have a distinct advantage with our AI-driven solutions, we cannot afford to rest on our laurels. Anticipating potential advancements from other market players is key. We need a balanced strategy that involves both proactive innovation and reactive adaptation to maintain our leading position in the supply chain industry.” KlearNow has built a reputation for its AI-based supply chain solutions, which has contributed to its substantial growth. The company has steadily increased its client base (currently over 1350), a testament to its commitment to delivering efficient and reliable solutions. As it continues to develop and innovate, KlearNow remains dedicated to modernizing the supply chain industry.
PLA announces opening of Northwest Arkansas Pallet Management facility
New location further expands PLA’s nationwide pallet, logistics, and supply chain services capabilities PLA, a portfolio company of Silver Oak Services Partners, LLC (“Silver Oak”) has announced the opening of its newest pallet services operation in Northwest Arkansas. The new PLA pallet operation is co-located with an existing Propak facility in Siloam Springs, AR and adds new and recycled pallet supply, repair, and retrieval services to the reverse logistics, transportation, and 3PL services provided to customers throughout the greater Northwest Arkansas area. Conveniently located just off I-49 and I-40, this location will serve PLA’s supply chain customers across a 150-mile radius. The nearly 30,000 square foot facility will process over 1.5 million pallets annually. “PLA continues to expand both our infrastructure and our service offerings across the country,” said Kyle Otting, PLA’s CEO. ”Propak has been providing comprehensive logistics solutions to customers across Northwest Arkansas for nearly 25 years, and we’re very pleased to expand our services to include pallet management for the area.” The new operation will bring approximately 20 new jobs to the area and is located at 701 East Kenwood Street, Siloam Springs, AR 72712.
Mezzanine Safeti-Gates hires Jerry O’Neill to head its sales team
Mezzanine Safeti-Gates, Inc., an innovator in the design and manufacturing of pallet drop safety gates that provide fall protection in distribution centers, warehouses, manufacturing and material handling facilities, has announced the hire of Jerry O’Neill to head the sales team. The material handling sales veteran will lead the efforts in North America, including focus on systems integrators, distributors and consultants. Jerry joins the Mezzanine Safeti-Gates team from InCord, where he worked for over 13 years as a custom safety netting representative serving the Eastern United States and Canadian territories. At InCord, he proved to be an integral team member, helping to spur the company’s rapid growth. “We’ve always emphasized working with material handling distributors to promote pallet drop safety,” said Aaron Conway, president of Mezzanine Safeti-Gates, Inc. “Jerry will be a great addition to our team as we continue to expand our safety gate product line and custom-engineered solutions.” Prior to joining the material handling industry, Jerry spent over 20 years in the printing industry, sharpening his service-oriented problem solving skills. A graduate of Kutztown University, Jerry resides in the Philadelphia area with his family. Used in thousands of locations throughout the world, pallet drop safety gate systems offered by Mezzanine Safeti-Gates are available in single and double wide pallet widths, rack supported configurations, and can be customized to accommodate specific pallet widths, depths and heights. Safety gates can be purchased with manual or power operation, and fully comply with OSHA’s Walking Working Surface Fall Protection Standard, ANSI fall protection guidelines and IBC standards. All models, including safety gates for the loading dock and lifts, are available in powder coated mild steel or electro-polished stainless steel.
Toyota Material Handling’s King and Douglass honored with 2023 Women in Supply Chain Award
Lea Ann King, Kim Douglass recognized for their leadership and contributions to the industry Toyota Material Handling has announced Lea Ann King and Kim Douglass are recipients of the 2023 Women in Supply Chain Award. The award, given annually by Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive, honors female supply chain leaders and executives whose accomplishments, mentorship and actions set a positive example for women at all levels of the supply chain network. “Lea Ann and Kim are exceptional leaders who are paving a path for women in the supply chain and material handling industries,” said Bill Finerty, Toyota Material Handling President & CEO. “These women embody Toyota’s founding principle to contribute positively to society and make the world a better place for all while encouraging others to do the same.” King, Toyota’s Vice President of Legal and General Counsel, is a dynamic leader who inspires others. King founded the Toyota Women’s Impact Network (T-WIN), the company’s women’s initiative that ensures Toyota has an inclusive culture and attracts diverse talent. She is a champion for women in all roles and creates mentorship and teaching opportunities for female professionals. King also showcases her commitment to the supply chain industry by serving on the board of the Industrial Truck Association (ITA), including her most recent position as chair of the ITA’s lawyer’s committee from 2016-2019. She continues to advocate for women in the legal field, regardless of the industry. Douglass, an Assembly Team Leader at Toyota, is a trailblazer and role model in the material handling and supply chain industry. Last year, Douglass became the first woman to medal in the Toyota Material Handling Group’s Global Skill Competition, earning the gold in the 2022 competition for Assembly. Since her historic win, Douglass has committed to advocating for other women within the organization. She represents Toyota’s commitment to encouraging more women to pursue careers in the material handling industry. She also serves as an ambassador for the Toyota Women’s Impact Network. Douglass advocates for women to receive the skills training, professional development, mentoring and coaching they need to have successful careers in the material handling manufacturing world. Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive received over 400 submissions for this year’s award, which set the publication’s record for any of its award categories. Of that number, 118 were submitted by male counterparts, and 39 women were self-nominated.
Lauren Mollencupp named recipient of 2023 Women in Supply Chain Award
This award honors female supply chain leaders and executives whose accomplishments, mentorship and examples set a foundation for women in all levels of a company’s supply chain network TA Services, a premier full-service third-party logistics provider, has announced Lauren Mollencupp a winner of the 2023 Women in the Supply Chain award presented by Food Logistics, the only publication exclusively dedicated to covering the movement of product through the global cold food supply chain, and Supply & Demand Chain Executive, the only publication covering the entire global supply chain. Mollencupp is one of three TA Services female leaders to be honored this year. “This year, we received over 400 submissions, the highest amount of applications not only for this award, but also for all of our awards. This shows hope that one day, we won’t need an award like this because men and women in the supply chain will be equal,” says Marina Mayer, Editor-in-Chief of Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive. “While there’s still more work to be done, what we’re doing is working. From truck drivers to CEOs, what these winners are doing matters to the future of all supply chains.” Mollencupp, who formerly served as site leader for TA Services’ largest warehouse site in Indiana with 250+ employees, was recently promoted to Implementation Manager. Because of her extensive warehouse supply chain knowledge, she now supports all of TA’s warehouse sites in her new role. A testament to her abilities as a leader in warehouse management and innovator in the industry. In her former role as site leader at TA Services’ largest warehouse facility, Lauren’s main objectives were to successfully lead the TA Services warehouse team and deliver a high level of service to her customers while maintaining TA’s position as a cost-effective provider. She also made it her top priority to ensure that employees, primarily warehouse workers, were recognized for their value at the full service 3PL. One way Lauren drove value and recognition, while also boosting morale in the warehouse, was by creating and implementing a point system program—the Extra Mile program—that rewards employees with points that can be redeemed for various prizes like apparel, company branded swag, and additional PTO days. Employees can even redeem points to have their manager dress up in funny costumes, making it an experience for all to enjoy. Lauren and her team have invested in being a family-inclusive environment and hosted an inaugural event in which all employees’ family members were encouraged to attend. This has been a very successful initiative and will now be an annual tradition going forward. This initiative is one of Mollencupp’s favorite achievements as the event brought a family atmosphere to the workplace and helped invest in employee engagement and retention. “Being a woman in the supply chain, especially warehousing, is currently a bit of an anomaly,” said Mollencupp. I hope to help other women excel and discover a passion for the logistics and warehousing industry. I truly believe in a people-first approach, and I have found this method not only creates loyalty from customers, but loyal employees as well.” “Women have been making a significant impact in supply chain management, contributing to the growth and innovation of the supply chain industry. As more women join the supply chain workforce, they bring diverse perspectives that can help address complex supply chain problems and improve global supply chain operations. It is important that we empower, recognize, and elevate these achievements through initiatives like the Women in Supply Chain Award, as seen through the overwhelming response. Congratulations to all the winners, those who nominated others and the bravery of those who nominated themselves,” adds Sarah Barnes-Humphrey, founder of Let’s Talk Supply Chain podcast and Blended Pledge project, both exclusive sponsors of the Women in Supply Chain award.
United Rentals announces departure of Dale Asplund, EVP & Chief Operating Officer
Michael Durand, SVP of Sales & Operations promoted to EVP & Chief Operating Officer United Rentals, Inc. has announced that Dale Asplund, executive vice president and chief operating officer, will be leaving the company on September 29, 2023, to take the role of president and chief executive officer at another public company outside of the equipment rental industry. Mr. Asplund joined United Rentals in 1998, and was named chief operating officer in 2019. He will remain in an active role with United Rentals through September 29 to ensure a smooth transition to Michael Durand, who is being promoted to chief operating officer. Mr. Durand joined United Rentals in 2002 as a branch manager and has held roles of increasing scope through the present day, including district manager, region vice president, and his current role of senior vice president of sales and operations. Mr. Durand has been an integral leader across all aspects of sales and operations at United Rentals, including the company’s go-to-market strategy, large acquisition integrations, operations strategy, and operational excellence. He has built strong and enduring relationships within United Rentals and its customer base over his more than two decade career, making him the ideal choice to follow Mr. Asplund as chief operating officer. Matthew Flannery, chief executive officer of United Rentals, said, “We expect this to be a seamless transition between two seasoned leaders who have worked closely together for many years. Mike is a proven leader whose numerous contributions have delivered strong results across the company. I’m confident that his operational expertise and demonstrated ability to lead our business will play a key role in our continued focus to drive profitable growth and generate shareholder value.” Flannery continued, “We deeply appreciate Dale’s truly extraordinary contributions to making United Rentals the company it is today. On a personal note, I want to thank Dale for his incredible partnership, leadership, and commitment to our employees and shareholders. We wish him the very best as he assumes a new career opportunity.”
Lance Reed promoted to Cisco-Eagle Central Texas Director of Sales
Effective September 1, 2023, Lance Reed has been named Central Texas Director of Sales for Cisco-Eagle, according to Vice-President of Sales James Murphy. Reed has been a successful account executive in the company’s San Antonio office, where he was responsible for significant growth, including multiple large clients in the distribution and manufacturing sector. Reed developed successful automation, storage and material handling systems for a large variety of clients in the area. In his new role, Reed is responsible for market and sales force development in Austin, San Antonio and other areas of the region. His role includes sales leadership and corporate strategy.
Cisco-Eagle promotes Greg Bates to Eastern Director of Sales
Effective September 1, 2023, Greg Bates has been named Cisco-Eagle East Central Director of Sales for the company’s Charlotte office according to Vice-President of Sales James Murphy. Previously, Bates has worked in the Carolinas market as a successful account executive, responsible for growth in the region. He founded the Charlotte office in 2021. In his role as sales director, Bates will develop a sales force to serve industrial customers of all types throughout the region. Bates has helped a growing customer base of warehousing, manufacturing and distribution companies operate better, faster, safer and more efficiently by assisting with material handling, automation, safety and storage projects.
Felling Trailers names Capobianco as Northeastern Regional Sales Manager
Felling Trailers Inc., a manufacturer of industrial and commercial trailers, has appointed Jim Capobinaco as their Northeastern Regional Sales Manager. In his new role, Jim will be responsible for all sales development, activity, and dealer support within Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Washington D.C. Jim will be taking over the Northeastern region once served by Mike Flynn, who retired in January of 2023 after 22 years with the company. Capobianco brings a wealth of knowledge with twenty-five years in the heavy equipment and aggregate industries. Before joining Felling Trailers, Jim Capobianco held several key positions, each contributing to his extensive knowledge and expertise. Most recently, Jim was a territory sales rep for C.N Wood Co., Inc.; it was here that he became familiar with the Felling Trailers’ quality product line. “I had sold a few of the Felling trailers while with C.N. Wood Co., as they were a Felling dealer. All the customers knew of the Felling quality, and the reviews were always good. It made sense to me that this should be the place to go if I was going to work in the trailer industry,” said Capobianco. Nathan Uphus, sales manager for Felling Trailers, believes Capobianco’s specialized experience in the heavy equipment and aggregate markets will be an asset when working with dealers/end-users to find the best trailer solution for their transport needs. “We at Felling Trailers consider ourselves trailer experts because of our real-world experience that many of our team members possess. Jim’s comprehensive knowledge of the heavy equipment and aggregate industries adds to our sales teams’ diverse knowledge base,” said Uphus. Jim expressed his enthusiasm for his new role: “I am honored to join the Felling Trailers family and contribute to the company’s continued success. Felling Trailers has a long-standing reputation for manufacturing top-quality trailers, and I am excited to help our customers find the perfect solutions for their hauling needs.” .
Metalcraft announces October succession for CEO Steve Doerfler
Kyle Bermel adds to role as Metalcraft president; global ID solutions company CEO to become board chairman Metalcraft announced a planned leadership transition reflecting the ongoing elevation of the employee-owned company’s dedicated team. Effective October 1, president Kyle Bermel will add Chief Executive Officer to his title, succeeding Steve Doerfler, who will become board chairman. This transition reflects Metalcraft’s commitment to a customer-centric team inspiring customers to unleash the power of their data with the most effective identification products. Doerfler joined Metalcraft in 1990 and served as CEO since 2012. His leadership championed a culture that prioritizes employee well-being, nurturing a thriving work environment that propelled the Iowa-based manufacturer to a global leadership position in identification products. As Chairman, Steve will continue guiding Metalcraft University, an initiative empowering member-owners’ personal development, cultivating leadership potential, and enhancing skill sets to ensure Metalcraft remains at the forefront of ID technology. “Steve Doerfler’s leadership is central in shaping Metalcraft’s identity and success,” said Bermel. “His transition to Chairman leverages his unparalleled experience to navigate the company’s future. Together with the entire Metalcraft team, we will continue to thrive on challenges to make the complex simple for our customers, showing a better way and delivering as promised.” Bermel brings a background in innovation and technology to his leadership responsibilities. He joined Metalcraft as an RFID engineer in 2012, becoming Metalcraft’s first Chief Operating Officer in 2019. Bermel led development of subsidiaries ARK Business Systems and Inlay Innovation, offering software and the Iowa-based design and manufacture of custom RFID inlays, respectively. “Metalcraft has a culture of employee-led innovation,” said Doerfler. “From our beginning, we’ve always been problem solvers, and our member-owners rally around change. I am confident that Kyle’s passionate leadership of innovative technology development demonstrates we have the experience and expertise company-wide to sustain the growth of our dedicated team.”
Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas President Ken Barina honored for Visionary Leadership in the material handling industry
Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas (Logisnext) announced that Ken Barina has been recognized as a ‘Most Admired CEO’ by the Houston Business Journal. The annual award program celebrates Houston-area leaders who have demonstrated exceptional vision, innovation and dedication within the Houston region. Barina was recognized alongside other leaders from prominent industries, such as energy and technology companies, non-profits, among others. “I am honored to receive this prestigious award. It’s a true testament to the commitment and drive of Logisnext’s entire team – all who play a collective role in helping to achieve our vision to Move The World Forward,” said Ken Barina, President of Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas. “Together, we have experienced remarkable growth over the past decade – tripling sales revenue, doubling market share and tripling our number of employees. I’m extremely proud of our accomplishments.” The material handling industry plays a pivotal role in the global economy, enabling the efficient movement of goods across supply chains. Logisnext remains committed to building a positive culture that empowers employees and the company to achieve success and help Move The World Forward. Ken currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors for both Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas and Equipment Depot. He also holds the position of Senior Executive Officer at Mitsubishi Logisnext Co. Ltd. His extensive background includes previous board membership in various Logisnext subsidiary companies and the Industrial Truck Association (ITA) for more than 15 years. Barina was honored at the ‘Most Admired CEO’ awards ceremony on August 24 in Houston, where he was acknowledged for his remarkable contributions to both Logisnext and the broader Houston community
Plus One Robotics’ Co-Founder Paul Hvass slated to lead Netherlands office as General Manager
Plus One Robotics, a provider of AI vision perception software and solutions for robotic parcel handling, has announced that co-founder Paul Hvass has been named general manager for the European operations, relocating to Utrecht, The Netherlands. This move supports the ongoing sales growth among e-commerce and parcel post companies throughout Western Europe. “Having Paul located in Europe reinforces the significance of our commitment to the region for both our customers and our partners,” said Erik Nieves, Plus One CEO and Co-Founder, “This level of local leadership ensures global alignment across our teams positioning us to provide our multinational customers the highest level of service.” According to Mordor Intelligence, the rise in e-commerce and the persistent labor shortage is creating a gap that can be addressed by robots and automation. The Europe Warehouse Automation Market size is estimated at USD 3.74 billion in 2023, and expected to reach USD 7.32 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 14.40% during the forecast period (2023-2028). Given that 80% of warehouses are still manually operated, this presents a huge opportunity for Plus One. Plus One established the Dutch office, Plus One Robotics BV in 2021 where Hvass sits on the board of directors. “I’m excited about this move and look forward to developing and strengthening associations with our European customers and collaborative partners,” said Hvass. “Despite the convenience of living in a digital world, local proximity still serves us well in developing relationships and better understanding regional trends and needs.” Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, the company has three U.S. locations in addition to The Netherlands office