Tennessee on Supply Chain Management

Listen in as co-hosts Ted Stank and Tom Goldsby set sail into the world of end-to-end supply chain management. They dive deep into today’s most relevant business topics while sharing insights into pressing industry issues and tackling the challenges that keep supply chain professionals up at night. If you’re enjoying the ride, download and subscribe to Tennessee on Supply Chain Management on your favorite podcast platform.

Tennessee on Supply Chain Management is a business podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 63 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Unknown Host hosts Tennessee on Supply Chain Management, a business show with 63 episodes published.

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  Episode #11

  S4E11: Thirty Years of 3PL Research: What It Takes to Build Better Supply Chain Partnerships with John Langley

  Sep 24, 202633 minS4

  In this episode, co-hosts Ted Stank and Tom Goldsby welcome John Langley, professor emeritus at the University of Tennessee, founder of the Annual Third-Party Logistics Study, and a leader who helped establish the UT Supply Chain Forum in 1998. As the 31st Annual 3PL Study enters its next chapter with GSCI as an official partner, Langley reflects on what more than three decades of research reveal about the evolution of logistics outsourcing and the relationships that make it work. From an era when companies bought transportation and warehousing separately to today’s end-to-end logistics providers, he explains why the most effective shipper-3PL relationships are built on shared information, honest dialogue, aligned incentives, and a mutual understanding of each other’s business. The conversation also examines the risks reshaping supply chains in 2026: freight fraud, AI-enabled threats, geopolitical disruption, changing trade lanes, and rising transportation costs. Langley shares why preparation, education, and the ability to change quickly separate resilient organizations from the rest, as well as why strategic partnerships cannot be strategic in name only when providers are rebid solely on lowest cost. Along the way, Langley discusses the legacy and future of the Annual 3PL Study, the role of UT faculty and students in its next phase, and his long connection to the Supply Chain Forum. The episode was recorded virtually on September 14, 2026. Related links: Learn more about the Annual Third-Party Logistics Study and download past reports. Save the date for the Fall Supply Chain Forum , Nov. 10–12 Download free white papers from UT experts Become a GSCI partner to learn, network, and recruit with the top supply chain education institution in North America Join the Advanced Supply Chain Collaborative to explore advanced concepts in SCM with top industry experts and scholars Follow GSCI on LinkedIn Subscribe to GSCI’s monthly newsletter Read the latest news and insights from GSCI Text the Tennessee on Supply Chain Management team!

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  Episode #10

  S4E10: The Transformation Fallacy: Why Supply Chain Change Never Really Ends with Cummins' Heather Kettelhohn

  Aug 20, 202635 minS4

  In this episode, Ted Stank is joined by favorite fill-in co-host Lance Saunders to welcome Heather Kettelhohn, executive director of global supply chain planning and logistics at Cummins and a member of the GSCI Advisory Board. Drawing on a recent two-and-a-half-year planning system implementation, Kettelhohn dismantles the caterpillar-to-butterfly fantasy that surrounds big supply chain initiatives. Going live, she argues, isn't the finish line—it's the starting point of a journey that never truly ends. She and the hosts dig into why "buy, not build" and "configure, not customize" kept Cummins out of the "we're different" trap, why bad processes only get faster (not better) when you layer technology or AI on top, and why customer value—not premium freight savings or inventory reduction—is the ROI that actually matters. The conversation gets honest about the human side of change and why leaders have to ask new questions—and celebrate quick wins and change champions—to drive real adoption. Along the way, the trio look at today's volatility—shifting tariffs, closed and reopened shipping lanes, scarce metals and helium, softening jobs numbers, and stubbornly high prices—and manage to squeeze in a running debate over Seinfeld, The Office, Ted Lasso, and Friends. The episode was recorded in person at GSCI's summer Advisory Board meeting in Knoxville, Tennessee on August 13, 2026. Related links: Learn more about Cummins at cummins.com Register for Early Access Recruiting Night for GSCI Partners, September 21 Attend the Fall SCM Career Fair , September 22 Register for virtual SCM Academies in Finance , Procurement , and Technology Save the date for the Fall Supply Chain Forum , Nov. 10–12 Download free white papers from UT experts Become a GSCI partner to learn, network, and recruit with the top supply chain education institution in North America Join the Advanced Supply Chain Collaborative to explore advanced concepts in SCM with top industry experts and scholars Follow GSCI on LinkedIn Subscribe to GSCI’s monthly newsletter Read the latest news and insights from GSCI. Text the Tennessee on Supply Chain Management team!

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  Episode #8

  S4E8: Service, Specialization, & the Evolving 3PL Landscape with Red Stag CEO Wally Shaw

  Jun 18, 202635 minS4

  In this episode, hosts Ted Stank and Tom Goldsby welcome Wally Shaw, CEO of Red Stag Fulfillment , to explore how a purpose-built 3PL is carving out a competitive edge by focusing on what others avoid. Shaw shares how Red Stag built its model around big, bulky products—an overlooked segment of the fulfillment market—and why that specialization enables stronger service performance, tighter quality control, and meaningful differentiation. He also discusses the company’s distinctive approach to service guarantees, including zero tolerance for shrinkage and financial accountability when service levels are missed. The conversation spans how leading 3PLs are navigating today’s most pressing challenges: AI adoption and automation readiness, geopolitical uncertainty, tariffs, and shifting global sourcing patterns. Shaw also offers perspective on why customer selectivity and long-term decision making can lead to better outcomes for both providers and brands. The episode was recorded virtually on June 9, 2026 . Related links: Complete the Annual 3PL Study survey for 2027 Register for virtual SCM Academies in Leadership , Finance , Procurement , and Technology Save the date for the Fall Supply Chain Forum , Nov. 10–12 Download free white papers from UT experts Become a GSCI partner to learn, network, and recruit with the top supply chain education institution in North America Join the Advanced Supply Chain Collaborative to explore advanced concepts in SCM with top industry experts and scholars Fill out Tom Goldsby’s survey on warehouse automation Follow GSCI on LinkedIn Subscribe to GSCI’s monthly newsletter Read the latest news and insights from GSCI Text the Tennessee on Supply Chain Management team!

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  Episode #7

  S4E7: Industrial Real Estate's New Reality with KBC Advisors' Todd Steffen

  May 21, 202634 minS4

  In this episode, hosts Ted Stank and Tom Goldsby welcome Todd Steffen , market leader at KBC Advisors, to discuss how the industrial real estate market is both a mirror and a leading indicator of supply chain health. Steffen, a longtime GSCI Advisory Board member, brings a practitioner's eye to the industrial market, drawing on his background running distribution and logistics technology at Walgreens and years advising major occupiers and investors. The conversation spans how data centers are upending traditional site selection by competing for the same power infrastructure and land that distribution centers need; how sublease space and landlord concessions are creating hidden opportunities for occupiers; and why modular automation and AI are finally moving the needle on productivity inside the four walls. Related links: Fill out Tom Goldsby’s survey on warehouse automation Save the date for the Fall Supply Chain Forum , Nov. 10–12 Download free white papers from UT experts Become a GSCI partner to learn, network, and recruit with the top supply chain education institution in North America Join the Advanced Supply Chain Collaborative to explore advanced concepts in SCM with top industry experts and scholars Follow GSCI on LinkedIn Subscribe to GSCI’s monthly newsletter Read the latest news and insights from GSCI Text the Tennessee on Supply Chain Management team!

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  Episode #6

  S4E6: The Reality of Oil & Gas Supply Chains with HF Sinclair VP Tom Johnson

  May 6, 202652 minS4

  What does it take to keep a refinery running when the world won't stop throwing curveballs? In this episode, Ted Stank and guest co-host Lance Saunders speak with Tom Johnson , VP of procurement at HF Sinclair, an independent petroleum refiner with operations throughout the mid-continent, southwestern and Rocky Mountain regions. Recorded live at the Supply Chain Forum , the conversation pulled back the curtain on one of the more essential and misunderstood industries in the global economy. Among the topics discussed were why surety of supply—not cost—is the 3 a.m. concern keeping procurement leaders awake, and how the Strait of Hormuz closure and ongoing geopolitical volatility are rippling through petrochemical supply chains in ways consumers never see. Johnson also discussed the crude oil import-export paradox and how refinery infrastructure dictates crude "diets," the rise of data analytics as a seat at the operations table, how tariffs stress-tested supplier relationships and exposed the limits of sub-tier supply chain visibility, and what the skilled trades shortage means for heavy industrial operations. Johnson is a UT Knoxville SCM alum who has spent his entire career in oil and gas, previously holding roles at Valero and Holly Frontier. He oversees a procurement organization of approximately 100 professionals managing roughly $2 billion in annual spend, including labor, plant inventory, and category management. The episode was recorded live at the Supply Chain Forum on April 22, 2026 . Related links : Save the date for the Fall Supply Chain Forum , Nov. 10–12 Download free white papers from UT experts Become a GSCI partner to learn, network, and recruit with the top supply chain education institution in North America Join the Advanced Supply Chain Collaborative to explore advanced concepts in SCM with top industry experts and scholars Follow GSCI on LinkedIn Subscribe to GSCI’s monthly newsletter Read the latest news and insights from GSCI Text the Tennessee on Supply Chain Management team!

  ListenShow Notes

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