The two-day event, global supply chain forum, “Building Resilient, Inclusive and Technology-Enabled Supply Chains: From Local Operations to Global Networks” was held at the School of Business April 22 to 23. The forum was co-organized by associate professors of management Iddrisu Awudu and Yan Jin in collaboration with the School of Business department of management.

Professor and Chair of Management Julia Fullick-Jagiela expressed her gratitude to Awudu and Jin for their dedication to building a community of practice centering student learning and industry exposure.

Interim Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs and Professor of Business Analytics and Information System, Kiku Jones, welcomed the event’s wide range of industry experts and attendees including Quinnipiac faculty, staff, undergraduate and graduate students from diverse disciplines. The forum also invited attendance from professional and community practitioners interested in exploring the strategic, technological and relational dynamics shaping modern supply chain management.

With a strong focus on building resilient and adaptive supply chains and advancing digital integration and data-driven decision-making, the forum also emphasized the importance of supplier relationships, trust and ethical governance as well as incorporating cross-sector and global-local perspectives.

“This forum reflects the growing importance of supply chains in shaping organizational success and global impact,” Jones said. “Today’s supply chains demand innovation, resilience, ethical leadership and strong collaboration, and this event will bring together those folks who are going to move that forward.”

Expert insights from panelists delved into strengthening supplier-buyer collaboration, best practices in risk management, resilient supply chain design and how technologies like artificial intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, and enterprise resource planning (ERP) support integrated, data-driven operations.

Jones encouraged students to contribute to the energy of the event with their engagement and by asking questions of the panelists.

“This is a highlight of experiential learning, connecting both your academic skills – knowledge that you’ve learned from the classroom — to real-world applications. You’ll be hearing from those that are in the job day in and day out and understanding what they’re doing to tackle some of these challenges,” said Jones.

On April 22, panelists examined integration and digital adoption in the healthcare supply chain; International Organization for Standardization quality and blockchain for ethical sourcing; and co-creation strategies with suppliers. On April 23, panelists discussed local challenges and opportunities in supply chain in Connecticut, global supply chain challenges and risk management. Throughout the forum, networking sessions helped put participants in touch with panelists, ask additional questions and make connections.

Moderated by Nitish Patidar, professor of management, healthcare-specific supply chain challenges — including digital systems, coordination and cost pressures — were examined alongside insights from panelists Jim Fusco, Yale New Haven Health director of strategic sourcing; Rick Flath, president of Institute for Life Sciences Collaboration; and Julie Culmone, Hartford Healthcare system director.

School of Business part-time management professor Jim Timmons discussed supply chain management and lean operations, explored collaborative supplier innovation, joint planning and long-term value creation with expert panelists. Among them was William Kelly, president of BK Supply Chain Consulting LLC, and Carlye Synakowski, Embraer program director at Pratt & Whitney.

Moderated by Tan Gürpinar, assistant professor of business analytics & information systems, a panel on blockchain applications and ethical sourcing practices explored the powerful synergies between emerging technologies. Panelists included Peter Glyman, founder and CEO of Coinbax; Benjamin Olmsted, founder of Bridges AI Consulting; Dante Amaral, head of go-to-market strategy at Ducat; and Edem Wornyo, responsible AI lead at Google.

Gürpinar also gave a shout-out to members of Quinnipiac Blockchain and asked executive board member Edith Rodriguez ’29 to share panelist biographies with the audience. The student-led interdisciplinary initiative is dedicated to building a vibrant blockchain community at Quinnipiac University and beyond.

In a post on LinkedIn, Gürpinar highlighted the advice the panelists have to students for thriving in the upcoming Web 4.0 landscape: “Get uncomfortable."

“If you don't step out of your zone to try new tools, new perspectives, new failures, someone else will,” Gürpinar noted. “Growth lives at the edge of the zone, and understanding new tools, but especially also diverse perspectives, has become a core competency. Always stay on the chase for your own passion. Finding that niche intersection where your drive meets these new tools we have at hand is where you will truly shine.”

The forum concluded with two sessions moderated by part-time management professor Jamison Scott. The first examined Connecticut-based manufacturing hurdles with panelists Mark Auletta, chief people officer at Bauer; William Hazard, president at Novo Partners; Richard Lyons, president of C. Cowles & Company; and Marcia LaFemina, president and CEO at Penn Globe. In the second session, Scott explored global disruptions and geopolitical risks with panelists Jeffrey Flynn, plant/site manager at BYK Additives & Instruments; Ryan Adams, plant manager at Elm City Tools; and Bill Mahoney, CEO at Surys Inc.

As the next step in their professional journey, Fullick-Jagiela urged all Bobcats attending the event to leverage the chance to network with the forum’s industry-specific panelists.

“Take advantage of the opportunities this forum gives you to really connect and introduce yourself. Be brave. Put yourself out there,” said Fullick-Jagiela.

Jones said the inaugural Global Supply Chain forum was a celebration of collaboration between Quinnipiac School of Business faculty and industry professionals.

“It’s a connection of related expertise, and hopefully, a continued partnership as we move forward,” said Jones.