2024 Schedule & Agenda

Program Agenda

Sunday Feb 25, 2024
Monday Feb 26, 2024
Tuesday Feb 27, 2024
Wednesday Feb 28, 2024

7:00 AM – 3:00 PM

LINK on the Links (Golf Tournament)

This event requires pre-registration through the full conference registration process. Hit the LINKS with your colleagues on Sunday, February 25, for a free round of max score of par style golf at The Golf Club at Fossil Creek. Experience is not required, but enjoying the beautiful outdoors is. Transportation from the Gaylord is provided, starting at 7:00 a.m. with a 9:00 a.m. shotgun start.

Sponsored by NRS

Location: The Golf Club at Fossil Creek

Sponsored By: NRS

10:00 AM – 6:30 PM

Registration & Information Desk

Pick up your registration materials here, along with answers to all your questions.

Government Issues IDs Required.

Location: Longhorn Marble Foyer

1:30 PM – 3:30 PM

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Meeting - Invite Only

Committee Meeting

This is a private meeting for RILA members on the Transportation/Logistics Committee (TRIC). We will use this time to update members on the current legislative and regulatory landscape regarding transportation issues, benchmark alongside peer companies and discuss additional industry priorities.

Location: Grapevine 1-2

3:30 PM – 5:00 PM

Supply Chain Leaders Council Meeting - Invite Only

Committee Meeting

This is a private meeting for RILA members on the Supply Chain Leaders Council, composed of the senior-most supply chain leaders from the country’s leading retailers—the executives who oversee supply chain planning/strategy, transportation/logistics, distribution, fulfillment, inventory, sourcing, returns, trade/customs, and more. These leaders are envisioning the supply chains of tomorrow, even as they’re benchmarking on the common challenges of today.

Location: Ft. Worth 6-7

5:00 PM – 5:30 PM

Supply Chain Steering Committee Meeting - Invite Only

Committee Meeting
Committee Meeting

This is a private meeting for RILA members on the Retail Supply Chain Conference Steering Committee. The committee is comprised of top retail supply chain executives, and is charged with the task of overseeing the structure and programming of the LINK Retail Supply Chain Conference.

Location: Ft. Worth 1

5:00 PM – 6:30 PM

Welcome Reception

Join us to kick off the LINK2024 conference at the welcome reception, where you can reconnect with industry friends, network with your peers and enjoy drinks and light fare.

Sponsored by Oracle

Location: City Hall Lobby

7:30 AM – 6:00 PM

Registration & Information Desk

Pick up your registration materials here, along with answers to all your questions.

Government Issues IDs Required.

Location: Longhorn Marble Foyer

8:00 AM – 8:30 PM

Breakfast

Please join us for breakfast and networking before the day begins.

Sponsored by Designed Conveyor Systems

Location: City Hall Lobby

8:30 AM – 8:45 AM

Welcome to RILA LINK 2024: The Retail Supply Chain Conference

General Session

Kick off LINK with a look at the most pressing demands facing retail supply chain leaders. The omnichannel retail business demands more from its supply chains with new and variable planning cycles, unique partnerships, and personalized store experiences. From end-to-end, supply chains are more customer facing and retailers must utilize the leading edge in data analytics, AI, and technology to deliver. Join us to begin the most important conversation in the retail supply chain year.

Speakers: Chris Blickhan
Vice President, Business Development

DHL Supply Chain; Jess Dankert
Vice President, Supply Chain

RILA

Location: Texas Ballroom

8:45 AM – 9:15 AM

Investing to Meet the Evolving Customer: A Conversation with IKEA

General Session

IKEA is expanding its US presence with a significant investment to enable customers to shop and experience IKEA in more ways. This conversation will discuss the realities of this omnichannel vision coupled with the essential changes to the supply chain required to achieve connection to customers and drive the IKEA mission to support people and the planet.

Moderator: Ylan Mui
Managing Director

Penta Group

Speakers: Tanja Dysli
Chief Supply Chain Officer

IKEA US; Javier Quinones
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Sustainability Officer

IKEA US

Location: Texas Ballroom

9:15 AM – 9:45 AM

Building End-to-End Supply Chains for the New Retail

General Session

Customer behaviors have shifted, reshaping the products, services, and experiences that retailers deliver. This conversation will dive deep into what it takes to enable a truly end-to-end supply chain that is responsive to every mode of delivery necessary to help customers get the products they want when they want them.

Moderator: Michael McLellan
Vice President, Retail

DHL Supply Chain

Speakers: Jennifer McKeehan
Senior Vice President, End to End Delivery

Walmart Inc.; Abhay Patel
Brand President

1-800-Flowers.com

Location: Texas Ballroom

10:00 AM – 10:45 AM 4 Concurrent Events

Extreme Talent Engagement: Tactics for Solving Labor Shortages

Breakout Session

Labor attraction and retention are key problems for retail leaders. Yet, few leaders have developed effective strategies and tactics to reduce turnover and achieve consistent, excellent performance. This panel will share how they have integrated technology, labor management systems, performance management principles and continuous improvement tactics to recruit, reward and retain a high-performing and engaged workforce.

Speakers: Cristin Nestor
Senior Director, Fulfillment Center Operations

Tapestry; Brad Sampson
Former Vice President, Distribution and Logistics

Safelite Auto Glass; Karen Warren
Associate Principal

Joshua Tree Group; Billy Werner
EVP, Distribution and Transportation

Techtronic Industries

Location: Grapevine A

How to Make 2024 the Year of Strategic Optimization for Retail

Breakout Session

Today’s consumers demand widespread product availability and convenient, rapid fulfillment. McKinsey says “fulfill from anywhere” will become a de facto standard as retailers build models that leverage stores as a competitive advantage to support evolving customer needs. The key to success is using a combination of stores, distribution centers and other fulfillment nodes while providing reliable, fast, high-touch delivery service to the end customer. In this session, hear from retail leaders about the technology and systems they’re implementing to improve operational excellence through expanded fulfillment management functionality, inventory visibility, analytics, AI-powered technology to create operations that are adaptable and resilient while keeping the focus squarely on providing a great experience to customers.

Speakers: Geary Eppley
Vice President, Product

DispatchTrack, Inc.; Maryjane Fanizzi
Vice President, Logistics

Mattress Firm, Inc; Sam Moses
SVP, Platform

Flowspace; September Rinnier Votta
Co-Founder

Tuckernuck

Location: Grapevine C

Omnichannel Fulfillment & Customer-Facing Supply Chains

Breakout Session

As ecommerce growth continues to accelerate, and retailers strive for more holistic engagement of channel-agnostic shoppers, fulfillment is a key element of customer engagement. In a dynamic landscape, how can retailers optimize their own facilities and stores, and collaborate with service providers and last-mile partners for maximum effectiveness, while still managing costs? Hear how retailers are evolving their fulfillment strategy and operations—and overcoming business and market challenges—to deliver a seamless shopping experience.

Speakers: Chris Groves
Vice President, Supply Chain

Best Buy Co., Inc.; Mike Herscovici
Director Omni Channel and Final Mile

JCPenney; Rick Miller
Director of Strategic Solutions

Green Mountain

Location: Grapevine B

Retailer-Only Roundtable: Processes, Policies and Technology for Safeguarding the Supply Chain

Breakout Session

Retail supply chain operations continue to evolve along with shopper preferences, and asset protection leaders work closely to address changing circumstances and ensure that people are safe and products are safeguarded. Connect with fellow retailers to discuss your questions and share leading practices on topics in the supply chain space—including cargo security, DC safety, ecommerce fulfillment challenges, inventory control and much more. Roundtables will be conducted under the Chatham House Rule and moderated by a retailer to facilitate a meaningful conversation on an important topic. This session is only available to retail and consumer product manufacturer attendees and is sponsored by RILA’s Supply Chain Asset Protection Working Group. Attend to learn more and join retailer peers in this space! Limited to 30 eligible attendees.

Speakers: John Barton
Sr. Director, Global Logistics

DICK'S Sporting Goods, Inc.; Bryan Hillman
Senior Director, LP & Safety Stores and Distribution Centers

PetSmart, Inc.; Sara Negri
Director, Parcel & eCommerce Logistics

DICK'S Sporting Goods, Inc.

Location: Ft. Worth 2

10:45 AM – 11:15 AM

Business Break

Stop by the LINK2024 Business Break for a morning pick-me-up.

Sponsored by UPS

Location: City Hall Lobby

11:15 AM – 12:00 PM 4 Concurrent Events

Predictive Tools for Retail Growth Through Enhanced Door-Step Experience

Breakout Session

The ability to predict the future before ever making a promise to their end consumer throughout the shopping journey is critical for modern retailers. These promises are complex in that they consider consumer information, merchant fulfillment and inventory, and carrier data to ultimately construct a delivery promise for consumers up front. Once the delivery promise has been made, the retailer needs to continue to provide an outstanding experience through to final delivery. Learn how retailers, regardless of size, are using data to provide an enhanced final mile and door-step experience to their consumers.

Speakers: Shaun Bunch
Chief Supply Chain and Retail Officer

Northern Tool & Equipment Co.; Scott Rogers
Vice President of Core Capabilities, FedEx Dataworks

FedEx Corporation

Location: Grapevine B

Retailer-only Roundtable: Carrier Relationships and Collaboration

Breakout Session

How are retailers evolving their relationships with trucking carriers — through the market volatility of the past few years and with an eye to the future? From “shipper of choice” and scorecarding, to making the most of carrier conferences, to RFPs and bid processes—join fellow retailers to benchmark and discuss leading practices for maximizing the potential of your carrier engagement. Roundtables will be conducted under the Chatham House Rule and moderated by a retailer to facilitate a meaningful conversation on an important topic. This session is only available to retail and consumer product manufacturer attendees. Limited to 30 eligible attendees.

Speakers: Reid Craigmile
Senior Director - Middle Mile & Systems

Best Buy Co., Inc.; Denise McCullough
VP of Transportation

AutoZone, Inc.

Location: Ft. Worth 2

Supply Chain Visibility: Building Blocks of the Future

Breakout Session

Embark on a journey to understand where the current state of supply chain visibility stands and the exciting advancements on the horizon. Discover how retailers are harnessing cutting-edge technology to unlock new dimensions of business value throughout the entire supply chain. Don't miss this opportunity to unlock the full potential of your supply chain.

Speakers: Scott Hines
SVP Supply Chain

JD Sports; Josh Mayer
Head of Professional Services

EasyPost; AJ Sutera
Chief Technology and Logistics Officer

Duluth Trading Company

Location: Grapevine C

The U.S. National Transportation Decarbonization Blueprint and The Role of Retail Supply Chain Collaboration

Breakout Session

Join to hear the latest from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office about the DOT National Transportation Decarbonization Blueprint and the role it outlines for Medium- and Heavy-Duty (MHD) freight. The session will touch federal investments in deploying zero-emission freight technology and infrastructure, including seven regional commercial zero-emission freight corridor planning grants, and how federal government analysis and resources will help inform prioritization of investments, planning, utility growth and deployment of charging and hydrogen refueling infrastructure. Reckitt will also speak about how their company is approaching transportation emissions reduction, and the importance of shipping leaning in on collaboration and public-private partnership opportunities in this emerging area.

Speakers: Eddy Bialostozky
Head of Functional Excellence, North America Logistics

Reckitt; Michael Laughlin
Technology Manager for Technology Integration Program, Vehicle Technologies Office

U.S. Department of Energy; Frank Zambrelli
Managing Director | ESG Retail

Accenture

Location: Grapevine A

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Lunch in the Expo Experience

Join us for lunch and networking in the Expo Experience. The Expo Experience will remain open until the end of the reception tonight.

Lunch sponsored by Kuehne + Nagel

Location: Longhorn Exhibit Hall C-F

12:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Sustainability Committee Meeting - Invite Only

This is a private meeting for RILA members on the Sustainability Committee.

Location: Ft. Worth 5

12:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Ride Along Presented by Werner

Werner delivers premier truckload transportation and logistics services throughout North America. Explore the exciting opportunity to ride alongside one of our accomplished drivers with more than one million accident-free miles of experience. Get an up-close look at our state-of-the-art equipment, modern technology, advanced safety features and mobile tablets during this exclusive experience. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity!

Location: Convention Center Porte-Cochere

12:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Expo Experience Open

The Expo Experience opens now! Join us to network with and learn from the service providers helping retailers meet their supply chain challenges and improve their results! The Expo Experience runs from 12:00 - 6:00 p.m. today.

Location: Longhorn Exhibit Hall C-F

12:20 PM – 12:30 PM

Startup Pitch & Interview with Return Redirect

Join Peter Moroz, CEO, of Return Redirect for a 10-minute pitch and interview session to discuss Return Redirect's innovative solution to supply chain challenges. Moroz will discuss Return Redirects mission to reduce steps in the supply chain, reduce packaging, keep merchandise out of landfills, and improve the profitability of their merchant partners.

Speaker: Peter Moroz
Founder/CEO

Return Redirect

Location: LINK Live Lounge

12:30 PM – 12:40 PM

Startup Pitch & Interview with BlueCargo

Join Alexandra Griffon, CEO, of BlueCargo for a 10-minute pitch and interview session to discuss BlueCargo’s innovative solution to supply chain challenges. Griffon will discuss BlueCargo’s predictive algorithm platform which streamlines container management to increase terminal productivity while reducing operational costs and enhancing the quality of the service.

Speaker: Alexandra Griffon
CEO

BlueCargo

Location: LINK Live Lounge

12:40 PM – 12:50 PM

Startup Pitch & Interview with Butterfly.ai

Join Simon Rakosi, CEO, of Butterfly.ai for a 10-minute pitch and interview session to discuss Butterfly's innovative solution to supply chain challenges. Rakosi will discuss Butterfly's intuitive software which provides a data-driven approach for managers to get feedback, initiate conversations and strengthen their connection to employees, wherever their teams are working from.

Speaker: Simon Rakosi
CEO

Butterfly.ai

Location: LINK Live Lounge

12:50 PM – 1:00 PM

Startup Pitch & Interview with Dropit Shopping

Join Joseph Bozzo, Global VP of Sales, of Dropit Shopping for a 10-minute pitch and interview session to discuss Dropit's innovative solution to supply chain challenges. Bozzo will discuss Dropit's hands-free shopping platform for malls and central shopping districts.

Speaker: Joseph Bozzo
Global VP of Sales

Dropit Shopping

Location: LINK Live Lounge

1:00 PM – 1:10 PM

Startup Pitch & Interview with Gig & Take

Join Rohit Joshi, Head of Workforce Transformation, of Gig & Take for a 10-minute pitch and interview session to discuss Gig & Take's innovative solution to supply chain challenges. Joshi will discuss how Gig & Take is looking to disrupt the century old construct of rigid work schedules and unlock disproportionately diverse talent pools to work in a key sector of the economy.

Speaker: Rohit Joshi
Head of Workforce Transformation

Gig & Take

Location: LINK Live Lounge

1:10 PM – 1:20 PM

Supply Chain Solutions with DHL Supply Chain

Join Song Gao, Senior Director of Solutions Design, at DHL Supply Chain for a 10-minute interview to discuss DHL's innovative solution to supply chain challenges. Gao will discuss DHL's comprehensive range of parcel, express, freight transport and supply chain management services as well as e-commerce logistics solutions.

Speaker: Song Gao
Senior Director of Solutions Design

DHL Supply Chain

Location: LINK Live Lounge

1:20 PM – 1:30 PM

Supply Chain Solutions with FedEx

Join Stephen Tanner, VP of Worldwide Sales, at FedEx for a 10-minute interview to discuss FedEx's innovative solution to supply chain challenges. Tanner will discuss how FedEx can help create a logistics scenario that meets your schedule and your budget.

Speaker: Stephen Tanner
VP Worldwide Sales

FedEx Corporation

Location: LINK Live Lounge

1:30 PM – 1:40 PM

Supply Chain Solutions with Purolator

Join Laurie Weston, General Manager of E-Commerce, at Purolator, for a 10-minute interview to discuss Purolator's innovative solution to supply chain challenges. Weston will discuss how Purolator has continuously raised the bar for supply chain solutions for over six decades.

Speaker: Laurie Weston
General Manager of E-Commerce

Purolator

Location: LINK Live Lounge

2:00 PM – 2:45 PM 4 Concurrent Events

Delivering ROI Through Supply Chain Visibility: How the Control Tower Can Unlock the Potential of Your Supply Chain

Breakout Session

Retailer access to data and improved visibility continues to proliferate; yet data lakes are only a partial answer. How do impactful supply chain business decisions materialize? In this session, you’ll engage in a dynamic discussion on transforming your control tower from a suite of visual dashboards into an analytics-driven decision support platform.

Speakers: Austin McCombs
Co-Founder and CEO

Gnosis Freight; Abir Thakurta
Vice President, Supply Chain

Havertys

Location: Grapevine B

Responsible Play: A Conversation with Kyle Cline, VP of Sourcing, Packing and Engineering at Melissa & Doug

Breakout Session

Join for a conversation with Kyle Cline, VP of Sourcing, Packaging & Engineering at Melissa & Doug about the business benefits of prioritizing supply chain sustainability commitments that support the long-term resilience of brand supply chains. As the top preschool brand for wooden toys, the need to ensure long-term access to key raw materials and deliver on customer satisfaction have led Melissa & Doug to establish public commitments to responsible forest management and sourcing, carbon neutrality, durable design, and inclusivity. Learn how to prioritize – rather than trying to do it all – and how the right corporate responsibility activities support resilient supply chain relationships and a profitable business.

Speakers: Kyle Cline
Vice President Global Sourcing, Engineering, Packaging and DC Quality

Melissa & Doug; Erin Hiatt
Vice President, CSR

RILA

Location: Grapevine A

Retailer-Only Roundtable: Inventory/Demand Planning

Breakout Session

Inventory matters —management, planning, accuracy, etc.— have long been a key supply chain topic but have gained even more importance in the last few years. Join fellow retailers to discuss pressing issues in inventory management, demand planning and other related subjects. Topics may include managing impacts of disruption, systems/technology/innovation, KPIs & goals in a disrupted environment, maximizing inventory & space productivity, SKU proliferation, and more. Roundtables will be conducted under the Chatham House Rule and moderated by a retailer to facilitate a meaningful conversation on an important topic. This session is only available to retail and consumer product manufacturer attendees. Limited to 30 eligible attendees.

Speakers: Bill Best
SVP Supply Chain

Mattress Firm, Inc; Corinne Copello
SVP Inventory

Nordstrom, Inc.

Location: Ft. Worth 2

Transportation Hub – Building the Future of Digital and Analytics in Ecolab’s Logistics Network

Ecolab—the global leader in hygiene, water, and sanitization products—has grown organically and through acquisitions, creating a complex environment of systems and data sources. Specifically, transportation/logistics drives a significant level of data integration due to multiple systems, complex processes and need for data accuracy. Hear about Ecolab’s journey so far in mapping out transportation processes globally, creating a roadmap for system integration with a focus on decision-making actions and driving execution.

Speaker: Kaushik Yathindra
Global Logistics Lead, Transportation Hub

ECOLAB

Location: Grapevine C

2:45 PM – 3:15 PM

Business Break

Enjoy a business break to grab some snacks and refreshments.

Location: City Hall Lobby

3:15 PM – 3:45 PM

Delivering Legendary Customer Service through the Customer-Facing Supply Chain

General Session

Meeting the Next Demand requires more than a customer-facing supply chain. It requires effective collaboration between the supply chain team and Ecommerce team. This session will focus on the power of that effective collaboration to deliver best-in-class customer experiences across all customer channels and touch points.

Moderator: Michael Gregory
Managing Director

Accenture

Speakers: Miguel Almeida
President, Digital and Customer Experience

Nordstrom, Inc.; Alexis DePree
Executive Vice President, Chief Supply Chain Officer

Nordstrom, Inc.

Location: Texas Ballroom

3:45 PM – 4:25 PM

Navigating the Turbulent Geopolitical Landscape

General Session

The new demands placed on retailers have led supply chain leaders to recalibrate their supply chains from creating greater resiliency to reevaluating source countries. This session will provide insight into major geopolitical challenges and the strategic considerations retail supply chain leaders will need to evaluate as they plan for the future.

Moderator: Sally Gilligan
Chief Supply Chain, Strategy & Transformation Officer

Gap Inc.

Speaker: Richard Haass
President Emeritus

Council on Foreign Relations

Location: Texas Ballroom

4:30 PM – 6:00 PM

Expo Experience Reception

Join other conference attendees for this great networking opportunity.

Sponsored by Maersk

Location: Longhorn Exhibit Hall C-F

4:45 PM – 5:15 PM

Supply Chain Visibility: How the US Department of Transportation’s FLOW Program is Helping to Create a More Transparent Supply Chain Picture

Join True Value Hardware’s head of supply chain, the head of DOT’s Office of Multimodal Freight, and CH Robinson for a discussion about the Freight Logistics Optimization Works ("FLOW") program. FLOW’s purpose is to bring together U.S. supply chain stakeholders to create a shared, common picture of the network of supply chains. Via a national exchange of supply chain data, FLOW participants have access to a real-time picture of aggregate incoming container demand and supply-side asset availability data. Learn how FLOW is already improving freight fluidity in U.S. ports and networks, and the nuts and bolts of program participation.

Speakers: Jenna Kuehn
Director, Inland Product

C.H. Robinson; Jennifer McNeill
Senior Vice President of Supply Chain

True Value; Andrew Petrisin
Advisor for Multimodal Freight

U.S. Department of Transportation

Location: LINK Live Lounge

7:30 AM – 6:00 PM

Registration & Information Desk

Pick up your registration materials here, along with answers to all your questions.

Government Issues IDs Required.

Location: Longhorn Marble Foyer

7:45 AM – 8:45 AM

Women in Supply Chain Network Breakfast Workshop: Present Like a Pro

Have you ever wished you had planned a bit more for that major presentation? Would you like to overcome speaking anxiety that holds you back? Could you benefit from higher level influence in front of groups? Coach Cyndi Maxey helps you answer those questions and more. She is an accomplished national speaker and communication coach who has authored six books on communication, presentations, and influence. Bring your burning questions to this Women in Supply Chain Network breakfast workshop! And leave with practical speaking tips and new friends in the industry.

Sponsored by Walmart GoLocal

Speaker: Cyndi Maxey
Communications Coach and Author

Location: Grapevine D

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM

Breakfast

Please join us for breakfast and networking before the day begins.

Sponsored by Yellow

Location: City Hall Lobby

9:00 AM – 9:35 AM

Digitizing the Supply Chain: A Journey Toward Unified Commerce

General Session

Retailers are seeking to create a seamless shopping experience for their customers no matter the channel. This conversation will focus on the technology and processes leading retailers are investing in to move toward a digitized supply chain that creates that unified shopping experience.

Moderator: Darren Saumar
President, Customer Experience and Cloud

Blue Yonder

Speakers: Raul Bujalil
VP of Supply Chain

The Kroger Co.; Ben Hamilton
VP E-Commerce Fulfillment

The Kroger Co.

Location: Texas Ballroom

9:35 AM – 10:15 AM

Strong Ecosystem Partnerships: Collaborative Planning to Tackle Big Challenges

General Session

Retailers are leveraging deep partnerships across the supply chain ecosystem to take on their most difficult challenges. This conversation will focus on how collaborative planning and partnership can enable better movement of product, enhanced data sharing, and progress in achieving sustainability goals.

Moderator: Brian Dodge
President

RILA

Speakers: Raina Avalon
Executive Vice President & Chief Logistics Officer

The TJX Companies, Inc.; Katie Farmer
President and Chief Executive Officer

BNSF Railway; Shelley Simpson
President

J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.

Location: Texas Ballroom

10:15 AM – 10:35 AM

The Store as a Strategic Supply Chain Asset

General Session

Beyond being a channel for sales and customer experience, stores are increasingly a strategic asset to the supply chain. Join this conversation discussing next level collaboration between supply chain and store teams.

Speaker: Frank Bracken
Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer

Foot Locker

Location: Texas Ballroom

10:35 AM – 11:00 AM

Business Break

Stop by the LINK2024 Business Break for a morning pick-me-up.

Sponsored by Optoro

Location: City Hall Lobby

11:00 AM – 11:30 AM

Ask a Supply Chain Leader – L.L. Bean

Each “Ask a Supply Chain Leader” session features a senior retail supply chain executive and offers the unique opportunity for Q&A and discussion with some of the most notable supply chain leaders in the industry. The topics are up to you! Ask your most burning questions on supply chain issues, industry trends, career development, and more! These sessions are open only to retailers and are limited to 25 participants.

Speaker: Kirsten Piacentini
Chief Supply Chain Officer

L.L.Bean, Inc.

Location: Ft. Worth 1

11:00 AM – 11:45 AM 4 Concurrent Events

Accelerating Your Transportation Emissions Data Journey (Followed by Lunch Roundtables)

Whether your company is just ramping up efforts at tracking transportation emissions or looking for ways to improve accuracy and reliability of data, you’ll benefit from participating in this discussion with fellow retailers—and industry experts like EPA SmartWay and the Smart Freight Centre’s Global Logistics Emissions Council (GLEC). Discuss what’s working and what needs improvement with tools and practices retailers (and their partners) are using on the journey to comprehensively assess their transportation footprints and identify collaboration opportunities with carrier and industry partners. Stick around for lunch discussion tables with peers and experts on all things emissions measurement and reduction.

Speakers: Shwetha Balagali
Senior Manager Logistics Capabilities, North America

Unilever; Katy Evans
Sustainability Manager

JCPenney; Alan Lewis
Technical Director, Global Logistics Emissions Council (GLEC)

Smart Freight Centre; Buddy Polovick
Team Leader

U.S. EPA Smartway

Location: Grapevine D

Retailer-Only Roundtable: Disruption in the Red Sea and Suez Canal

Ongoing attacks in the Red Sea have led to widespread disruption and delays in the retail supply chain. Join fellow retailers to discuss the impacts and logistical challenges presented by the volatility in the Red Sea, and how shippers are responding. Roundtables will be conducted under the Chatham House Rule and moderated by a retailer to facilitate a meaningful conversation on an important topic. This session is only available to retail and consumer product manufacturer attendees. Limited to 30 eligible attendees.

Speakers: Paul Cox
Vice President, Global Transportation & Logistics

Tupperware Brands Corporation; Tim Hemmert
Head of Global Transportation, Trade Compliance, Sustainability and Logistics Brand Ops

Gap Inc.

Location: Ft. Worth 2

Stories of Reverse Logistics: Cracking the Code for Program Success

Breakout Session

Today, retailers face increasing costs and complexity in their reverse logistics processes that distract from their core business and erode margin. In many cases, the rigor and precision of the forward-focused supply chain is lacking in reverse streams. Consequently, decision-making is not dynamic, processes are undefined or poorly managed, and a lack of adequate tools result in poor program visibility and oversight. In this session, you will hear directly from leading retail executives on how they have built programs which tackle these challenges and drive bottom-line value. Participants will also glean insights into the results from a recent benchmarking study focused on improving recovery and efficiency in reverse logistics, conducted among more than 100 senior reverse logistics professionals.

Speakers: Sacni Leon
Head of DTX Operations, Inventory Control and Circularity Operations

Logitech; Chris Naso
Sr. Director, Supply Chain Strategy

Overstock.com; Jeff Rechtzigel
VP and General Manager

Liquidity Services Inc

Location: Grapevine B

The Power of Flexibility: Building an On-Demand Workforce of the Future

Breakout Session

In an era where labor challenges still persist and gig work is on the rise, today’s supply chain leaders are finding themselves at a critical juncture, one that requires looking at the future of work through a new lens. Imagine a world where you can fill labor gaps with a workforce of vetted people. Think about the opportunity to scale your workforce based on seasonal demand, in real-time, without overplanning. From distribution centers—to the retail shelf, learn how Meijer has built a flexible workforce that enables them to combat turnover, respond to demand and capture cost savings across their entire supply chain.

Speakers: Dave Dempsey
Founder, CEO

Hyer; Jeff Gustinis
Complex Director

Meijer

Location: Grapevine C

11:30 AM – 4:30 PM

Ride Along Presented by Werner

Location: Convention Center Porte-Cochere

11:45 AM – 12:45 PM

Sustainability Lunch Roundtables

All attendees are welcome to join lunch roundtables with supply chain sustainability thought leader speakers from throughout the LINK event. Roundtable topics: EPA SmartWay, Smart Freight Centre, Emissions (Unilever), Maritime Emissions (ZEMBA), Scope 3 - Category 11 Emissions (Optera), Freight Decarbonization (DOE).

Location: Grapevine D

11:45 AM – 1:00 PM

Lunch in the Expo Experience

Join us for lunch and networking in the Expo Experience. The Expo Experience will remain open until the end of the reception tonight.

Lunch sponsored by LOG-NET Inc.

Location: Longhorn Exhibit Hall C-F

11:45 AM – 6:00 PM

Expo Experience Open

The Expo Experience opens for it's final day now! Join us to network with and learn from the service providers helping retailers meet their supply chain challenges and improve their results! The Expo Experience runs from 11:45 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. today.

Location: Longhorn Exhibit Hall C-F

12:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Distribution Committee Meeting - Invite Only

Committee Meeting

This is a private meeting for RILA members on the Distribution Committee composed of the senior-most distribution/fulfillment leaders from the country’s leading retailers.

Location: Ft. Worth 6

12:20 PM – 12:30 PM

Startup Pitch & Interview with Newmine

Join Navjit Bhasin, CEO, of Newmine for a 10-minute pitch and interview session to discuss Newmine's innovative solution to supply chain challenges. Bhasin will discuss how Newmine is using AI, natural language processing and prescriptive analytics, to help retailers reduce product returns and create a sustainable and more efficient business for their customers, the environment, and the bottom line.

Speaker: Navjit Bhasin
CEO

Newmine, LLC

Location: LINK Live Lounge

12:30 PM – 12:40 PM

Startup Pitch & Interview with Hyer

Join Dave Dempsey, CEO, of Hyer for a 10-minute pitch and interview session to discuss Hyer's innovative solution to supply chain challenges. Dempsey will discuss how Hyer is delivering on-demand staffing to the retail industry with the tap of an app.

Speaker: Dave Dempsey
Founder, CEO

Hyer

Location: LINK Live Lounge

12:40 PM – 12:50 PM

Startup Pitch & Interview with FenixCommerce

Join Akhilesh Srivastava, CEO, of FenixCommerce for a 10-minute pitch and interview session to discuss Fenix's innovative solution to supply chain challenges. Srivastava will discuss how Fenix performs real-time inventory optimization in the fulfillment network and combines that with live carrier rate shopping and its AI algorithms to determine the accurate and personalized options for each customer while they are shopping on the site.

Speaker: Akhilesh Srivastava
CEO

FenixCommerce

Location: LINK Live Lounge

12:45 PM – 1:30 PM

Waterway Shipping: The Role of Oceans and Rivers in Cost and Emissions Reductions

Learn how governments and NGOs are partnering with industry to enable green corridors over the blue waterways. The U.S. DOT Maritime Administration (MARAD) will share the Office’s decarbonization activities, including the United States Marine Highway Program and efforts between the American Association of Port Authorities and MARAD to survey the maritime and intermodal industry on electrification plans and progress. Then, the Zero Emission Maritime Buyers Alliance (ZEMBA), managed by the Aspen Institute Shipping Decarbonization Initiative, will speak about their platform for corporate customers of the shipping industry to work collaboratively to accelerate the transition to zero-emission shipping. Both organizations will share examples of how retail and brand shippers, and their value chain partners, are collaborating to drive savings and GHG reductions.

Speakers: Tretha Chromey
Deputy Associate Administrator, Office of Ports & Waterways, Maritime Administration

U.S. Department of Transportation; John Hodges
Director, ESG, Climate and CSR

Burlington Stores, Inc.; Ingrid Irigoyen
President and CEO, Zero Emission Maritime Buyers Alliance (ZEMBA)

Senior Director, Ocean and Climate, Aspen Institute Energy and Environment Program; Natasha Pavlovich
Team Lead for Port Development and Intermodal Planning, Office of Ports & Waterways Planning, Maritime Administration

U.S. Department of Transportation

Location: Grapevine D

12:50 PM – 1:00 PM

Startup Pitch & Interview with WurkNow

Join Sammy Singh, CEO, of WurkNow for a 10-minute pitch and interview session to discuss WurkNow's innovative solution to supply chain challenges. Singh will discuss how WurkNow finds the right people at the right time and the right cost. WurkNow’s technology enables fulfillment providers to win, retain and grow their customers.

Speaker: Sammy Singh
Co-Founder/CEO

WurkNow Inc

Location: LINK Live Lounge

1:00 PM – 1:10 PM

Supply Chain Solutions with Oracle

Join Terri Hiskey, Vice President of SCM Product Marketing, at Oracle for a 10-minute interview to discuss Oracle’s innovative solution to supply chain challenges. Hiskey, will discuss how Oracle engages in the provision of products and services that address all aspects of corporate information technology environments, including supply chain management.

Speaker: Terri Hiskey
Vice President, SCM Product Marketing

Oracle

Location: LINK Live Lounge

1:10 PM – 1:20 PM

Supply Chain Solutions with Green Mountain

Join Mike Lambert, COO, at Green Mountain for a 10-minute interview to discuss GM's innovative solution to supply chain challenges. Lambert will discuss how Green Mountain's network optimization reporting, a consultative approach, and a comprehensive Parcel Spend Management solution can help alleviate supply chain challenges.

Speaker: Mike Lambert
COO

Green Mountain

Location: LINK Live Lounge

1:20 PM – 1:30 PM

Supply Chain Solutions with TGW Logistics Group

Join Stipe Galic, VP of Business Development, at TGW Logistics Group for a 10-minute interview to discuss TGW's innovative solution to supply chain challenges. Galic will discuss how TGW Logistics can plan, implement and maintain highly automated, efficient and future-proof fulfillment centers around the world – and solve customers' supply chain challenges along the way.

Speaker: Stipe Galic
VP of Business Development

TGW Logistics Group

Location: LINK Live Lounge

1:30 PM – 1:40 PM

Supply Chain Solutions with Dematic

Join Kim Baudry, Global Development Marketing Director, at Dematic for a 10-minute interview to discuss Dematic's innovative solution to supply chain challenges. Baudry will discuss how Dematic can help power the future of commerce in manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution at your company.

Speaker: Kim Baudry
Global Market Development Director

Dematic

Location: LINK Live Lounge

2:00 PM – 2:30 PM

Ask a Supply Chain Leader – Burlington

Speaker: Al Tresvant
SVP Global Logistics

Burlington Stores, Inc.

Location: Ft. Worth 1

2:00 PM – 2:45 PM 6 Concurrent Events

Enhancing Community Engagement through Retailer and Supplier Diversity Partnerships

Breakout Session

Seeking and building on stakeholder feedback are key tenets of successful supplier diversity and ESG programs. This session will present a variety of successful joint retailer and supplier programs used to strengthen community ties while building positive brand awareness. We will explore important considerations when partnering with suppliers to achieve the co-benefits of strengthening retailer and supplier relationships, developing customer insights, attracting and retaining talent, promoting diversity and inclusion, and advancing the organization’s purpose and values.

Speakers: Dirk Cockrum
Managing Director

FORVIS; Shequeita Orr Frazier
Senior Director, Enterprise Growth

Target Corporation; Antoine Hinton
Director of Supplier Diversity

Dollar General; Ali Mize
Senior Director, ESG, Belonging, and Corporate Philanthropy

The Neiman Marcus Group

Location: Grapevine C

Retailer-Only Roundtable: Customer-Facing Supply Chain

Now more than ever, supply chain is considered a critical strategic component of customer experience. But what does that look like in practice? And how are retailers executing behind the scenes? Join fellow retailers in a candid discussion about the evolution of supply chain and the strategies and tactics employed not just to serve the customer, but to create a differentiated shopping experience. Roundtables will be conducted under the Chatham House Rule and moderated by a retailer to facilitate a meaningful conversation on an important topic. This session is only available to retail and consumer product manufacturer attendees. Limited to 30 eligible attendees.

Speakers: Joe Bowe
Senior Vice President, Chief Supply Chain Officer

Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc.; Sekar Sundararajan
Chief Supply Chain Officer

Melissa & Doug

Location: Ft. Worth 2

Retailer-Only Roundtable: Technology and Automation

The need for speed and responsiveness, coupled with an often-challenging labor landscape, has increased many retailers’ focus on technology and automation, especially in DCs. Hear from other retailers who have implemented new technology ranging from enhanced order picking to large-scale AS/RS and more. Technology is part of the conversation, but we’ll focus on the process—discussing how companies are evaluating automation and determining what to implement, designing pilots, assessing results, and managing deployments and change management. Roundtables will be conducted under the Chatham House Rule and moderated by retailers to facilitate a meaningful conversation on the topic(s). This session is only available to retail and consumer product manufacturer attendees. Limited to 30 eligible attendees.

Speakers: Brian Bobigian
VP Supply Chain Strategy

Ulta Beauty, Inc.; Diane Padgett
Senior Director, Technology

Penney OpCo LLC

Location: Grapevine D

Successfully Integrating Your Workforce into an Automated Environment

Breakout Session

Join panelists from a diverse group of retailers as they discuss their wins, losses, and lessons learned from their automation transformations, with a focus on workforce impact. They’ll explore topics such as: impacts of automation on attraction and retention, workforce change management and upskilling, and performance management strategies.

Speakers: Andrew Billings
Vice President

North Highland Consulting; Mike Burns
Senior Vice President, Supply Chain

Torrid; Mark Dorwart
Chief Logistics Officer

Sparc Group; Larry Grischow
EVP of Supply Chain and Procurement

Abercrombie & Fitch Co.; Ngoc Phan
Vice President, Supply Chain System & Engineering

Nordstrom, Inc.

Location: Grapevine B

Successfully Integrating Your Workforce into an Automated Environment

Supply Chain Logistics Decarbonization Tactics

Breakout Session

Over 90% of a typical retailer’s carbon footprint comes from indirect sources of emissions, with most of those emissions linked to supply chains. As extreme weather, regulation, and company target setting continue to heighten the importance of decarbonization, join this session for an overview of the key supply chain logistics decarbonization tactics companies are leveraging to reduce spend and emissions. This interactive discussion with case studies will outline the key “need to know” strategies across supply chain logistics decarbonization for retailers looking to address scope 3 emissions now or preparing to tackle them in the future.

Speakers: Dan French
Director, Domestic Inbound Logistics

Meijer, Inc.; Erin Hiatt
Vice President, CSR

RILA; Jason Roberts
SVP, Digital Enablement

MODE Global

Location: Grapevine A

2:45 PM – 3:15 PM

Business Break

Enjoy a business break to grab some snacks and refreshments.

Location: City Hall Lobby

3:15 PM – 3:45 PM

Supply Chain Leadership Insights

General Session

A panel of supply chain senior executives will share their personal leadership journeys, including how their roles are evolving, navigating demanding supply chain challenges, addressing changes in the retail business impacting their supply chain teams, and offer their best advice to aspiring supply chain leaders.

Moderator: Lisa Lisson
Senior Vice President, Network Operations

FedEx Express

Speakers: Amanda Martin
Executive Vice President, Chief Supply Chain Officer

The Neiman Marcus Group; Sylvia Wilks
Senior Vice President, Chief Supply Chain Officer

Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI)

Location: Texas Ballroom

3:45 PM – 4:30 PM

Preparing a Team to Face the Next Demand

General Session

Join legendary Coach Bill Belichick for a conversation about what it takes to build great teams, how to foster durable culture, and define an enduring legacy.

Moderator: Brian Dodge
President

RILA

Speaker: Bill Belichick
Legendary Coach and 8-Time Super Bowl Champion

Location: Texas Ballroom

4:30 PM – 6:00 PM

Expo Experience Reception

Join other conference attendees for this great networking opportunity.

Sponsored by Prologis

Location: Longhorn Exhibit Hall C-F

7:30 AM – 10:30 AM

Registration & Information Desk

Pick up your registration materials here, along with answers to all your questions.

Government Issues IDs Required.

Location: Longhorn Marble Foyer

8:00 AM – 8:30 AM

Breakfast

Please join us for the last breakfast of the conference.

Sponsored by Forvis

Location: City Hall Lobby

8:30 AM – 9:15 AM 2 Concurrent Events

The Path to Building a Strong Culture Focused on Data and Analytics is Often Underestimated

Breakout Session

Data-driven cultures are inherent to a modern supply chain but how do you know if your organization is actually a “Best-in-Class” data-driven culture? This retail panel will showcase an organization considered “Best-in-Class,” one in the midst of their journey, and one just starting. The conversation will focus on common pitfalls such as KPI overload, the power of communication and change management when aligning stakeholders on your data first journey, and how to operationalize data and analytics to inform high-level decision-making.

Speakers: Kevin Kinnaman
Vice President, Supply Chain Strategy & Fulfillment

DICK'S Sporting Goods, Inc.; Christina Shiminsky
Strategy Principal Director

Accenture

Location: Grapevine C

What to Expect When You’re Expecting Disruption

Breakout Session

From labor negotiations to weather impacts to constrained canals, these days supply chains are seemingly in a state of permanent disruption…and 2024 is shaping up to be more of the same. Join us for an in-depth look at what you need to know—what situations around the world will affect your transportation plans, and dig into the data of what capacity, fluidity, rates, and contracts will look like in 2024 and beyond. And we’ll discuss how retailers can factor in these contingencies for more resilient supply chains.

Speakers: Mike Baudendistel
Head of Intermodal Solutions

FreightWaves; Rick DiMaio
Senior Vice President, Supply Chain

Ace Hardware Corp.; Ryan Hammett
Director, Market Intelligence & Insights

C.H. Robinson

Location: Grapevine A

9:30 AM – 10:15 AM 2 Concurrent Events

Continuous Planning: How New Balance Builds a Supply Chain for Disruption

Breakout Session

The Red Sea crisis is only the latest supply chain disruption and won’t be the last. In this era of near-constant shocks to supply chains, hear how one company optimizes its planning for resilience. Go behind the scenes to learn how proactive re-planning and response, plus near-shoring and on-shoring, help future-proof their supply chain against future uncertainty.

Speaker: Dave Wheeler
Chief Operating Officer

New Balance Athletics Inc.

Location: Grapevine C

Inventory, Demand Planning and Supply Chains: Getting It Less Wrong!

Breakout Session

Inventory issues—too much, not enough, not at the right time, not in the right place—have challenged supply chain operations for years. We will explore these never-ending cycles that ebb and flow through supply chain operations. Leveraging new tools like AI and machine learning aim to help retailers plan (and execute) better, though foundational processes and internal collaboration are most critical. Following a stress-testing period of historically high inventory levels across the industry, hear some key insights from leading retailers on how they managed the situation. Engage with us in the group discussion to benchmark and share valuable lessons learned!

Speakers: Sean Barbour
Senior Vice President, Supply Chain

Macy's Inc.; Steve Szilagyi
Executive Vice President & Chief Supply Chain Officer

Advance Auto Parts

Location: Grapevine A

11:00 AM – 1:30 PM

Post-Conference Tour: DroneUp (Registration Required)

Join DroneUp for a Drone Delivery Demonstration and Tour at a local Hub. DroneUp offers autonomous, custom drone delivery solutions that give businesses a leg up on the competition. From clothing, to groceries, household items, and much more, DroneUp partners with retailers to provide convenient and quick drone delivery in 30 minutes or less. In this demo, see how drone delivery services can take a retail business to new heights.

Tour registration is exclusively for retailers only. Registration is required. Boxed Lunch will be provided. Buses will depart from the hotel and return to Convention Center Porte-Cochere.

Location: Convention Center Porte-Cochere

11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Post-Conference Tour: Kroger Fulfillment Center (Registration Required)

Automated Fulfillment with Kroger and Ocado: Kroger’s 350,000 ft facility outside Dallas is a highly-automated operation that can fill an order in as little as 6 minutes, utilizing approximately 1,000 robots. Experience the future of automated fulfillment and learn more about the automation journey, as Kroger advances it capabilities to serve the next demand.

Tour registration is exclusively for retailers only. Registration is required. Boxed Lunch will be provided. Buses will depart from the hotel and return to Convention Center Porte-Cochere.

Location: Convention Center Porte-Cochere

All times listed in Central Time (CT). Schedule Subject to Change.

2024 Speakers

LINK features retailer-led breakouts and round tables, inspiring Keynotes, general sessions, and startup pitches. View our speakers!

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Hosted Retailers & CPMs Program

New for 2025, we’ve introduced a groundbreaking new Hosted Retailers & CPMs Program to unlock incredible new opportunities for retailers/consumer product manufacturers and participating solution providers.

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Bring Your Team

With over 2,000 retail supply chain leaders in one place, LINK is the perfect event to bring together your team and connect with carriers, vendors and other key partners.

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