Advisory Board

The Center for Supply Chain Research^®️ (CSCR^®️) Advisory Board enables the center to remain at the forefront of the supply chain discipline by aligning Penn State Smeal supply chain research, programs, and offerings with current and future industry challenges and trends.

Our board members commit to a two-year appointment, act in a brand and sponsor development role for the University, Smeal College of Business, and CSCR, remaining active in center-sponsored programs and events. They provide input and guidance for CSCR's strategic plan and forward-thinking initiatives, as well as approve our faculty research affiliates and fellowships.

The CSCR Advisory Board charter can be accessed here.

Meet the CSCR 2023-2024 Advisory Board

2023 CSCR Advisory Board Chairperson
Linda Bixby, Ph.D.
Executive Vice President, Academic Partnerships
NobleReach Foundation
CSCR Corporate Sponsor since 2001

Linda Bixby leads academic partnerships at NobleReach Foundation, working to bring independence, objectivity, diversity, and the best entrepreneurial talent of industry, academia, and government to deliver solutions with impact for our greatest national security challenges.

Access Linda Bixby's complete bio here.

Shannon Beecher
Vice President, Services Supply Chain
IBM
CSCR Corporate Sponsor since 1991

Shannon Beecher has over 40 years of supply chain experience and leadership. She is responsible for the global end-to-end business execution and strategy development for the IBM Service Supply Chain operation.

Access Shannon Beecher's complete bio here.

Jessica Gerhard
Director, Demand Planning & Customer Supply Chain
The Hershey Company
CSCR Corporate Sponsor since 1993

Jessica Gerhard partners with The Hershey Company's retailers and customers to create joint value and to co-plan for future growth. She has served in increasing roles of responsibility throughout her 15-year service at Hershey's, including operations planning, supply chain strategy, and procurement.

Access Jessica Gerhard's complete bio here.

Andrew Spicher
Integrated Planning Director
Unilever
CSCR Corporate Sponsor since 2006

Andrew Spicher is an experienced supply chain leader with a proven track record of delivering results. He is known for his ability to lead teams, implement process optimization, drive change, and deliver high performance.

Access Andrew Spicher's complete bio here.

David Vieira
President & Chief Executive Officer
CLX Logistics
CSCR Corporate Sponsor since 1992

David Vieira brings more than 25 years of executive logistics industry experience to his role as Chief Executive Officer of CLX Logistics. Prior to this role, he serviced the company as President and Chief Operating Officer from 2015 to 2018. 

Access David Vieira's complete bio here.

Ron Volans
Head of North America Janssen Deliver
Johnson & Johnson
CSCR Corporate Sponsor since 1997

Ron Volans has over 30 years of supply chain experience and leadership. His supply chain experiences include plan, source, make and deliver within medical devices, consumer products as well as pharmaceuticals.

Access Ron Volans' complete bio here.

Former Board Members

We want to thank the following past CSCR Advisory Board members for their time, service, and commitment to our mission.

CSCR 2022 - 2023 Advisory Board Chairperson
Matt Schlosser
Vice President, Supply Chain Strategy & Program Management
The Hershey Company
(CSCR Corporate Sponsor since 1993)

CSCR 2022 - 2023 Advisory Board
Michael A. del Rosario
Regional Transportation Manager
Walmart
(CSCR Corporate Sponsor since 2015)

CSCR 2022 - 2023 Advisory Board
Jim Owens
Chief Growth Officer
SDI
(CSCR Corporate Sponsor since 2014)

CSCR 2022 - 2023 Advisory Board
Linda Pulli
Executive Director, Global Supply Chain
Merck
(CSCR Corporate Sponsor since 2016)

CSCR 2022 - 2023 Advisory Board
Marie Robinson
Executive Vice President & Chief Supply Chain Officer
Sysco
CSCR Corporate Sponsor since 2020

CSCR 2022 - 2023 Advisory Board
Sylvie Thompson
Consulting Vice President, Consumer Brands, Retail and Distribution
NTT Data Consulting
(CSCR Corporate Sponsor since 2021)

CSCR 2021 - 2022 Advisory Board
Tony Horton
Vice President, Operations and Supply Chain Execution
IBM Corporation
(CSCR Corporate Sponsor since 1991)

CSCR 2021 - 2022 Advisory Board
Paula Natoli
Director, Americas - Global Supply Chain, Logistics & Transportation
Google Cloud

CSCR 2021 - 2022 Advisory Board Chairperson
Ashlie Wallace
Vice President, Global Services Logistics and Operations
Cisco

2020 - 2021 CSCR Advisory Board
Kristyn Harkins
Vice President, Engineering & Property Services Americas & Global RE Governance
Johnson & Johnson
(CSCR Corporate Sponsor since 1997)

2019 - 2020 CSCR Advisory Board
Jack Wilson
Director, UPS Global Customer Solutions
UPS
(CSCR Corporate Sponsor since 2016)

2019 - 2020 CSCR Advisory Board
John Burke
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Armada
(CSCR Corporate Sponsor since 2006)

2019 - 2020 CSCR Advisory Board
Robert Zelis
Vice President, Operations - Animal Health
AmerisourceBergen^®️
(CSCR Corporate Sponsor since 2014)

2015 - 2019 CSCR Advisory Board
Irv Grossman
Executive Vice President, Americas
CHAINalytics
(CSCR Corporate Sponsor since 2010)

2017 - 2019 CSCR Advisory Board
Donna G. Palumbo-Miele, EdD
Senior Director, Global Procurement
Bloomberg L.P.
(Ex Officio Board Member)

2018 - 2019 CSCR Advisory Board
Matthew S. Mallard
Director of Projects
Volvo Group Service Market Logistics North America
(CSCR Corporate Sponsor since 2016)

2018 - 2019 CSCR Advisory Board
Susan M. Gentry, CPIM, CSCP
Associate Director, Integrated Business Planning - Supply Lead
Dow AgroSciences
(CSCR Corporate Sponsor since 2010)

2018 - 2019 CSCR Advisory Board
Mike Metheny
Executive Vice President, Supply Chain
Corporate Services and Asset Protection Burlington
(CSCR Corporate Sponsor since 2012)

2015 - 2017 CSCR Advisory Board
David Kaduke
Vice President, Supply Chain Planning
L Brands, MAST Global
(CSCR Corporate Sponsor since 1998)

2015 - 2016 CSCR Advisory Board
Jason Reiman
Vice President, Global Logistics
The Hershey Company
(CSCR Corporate Sponsor since 1993)

2015 - 2016 CSCR Advisory Board
Larry P. Smith
Vice President, Global Supply Chain
Becton Dickinson and Company (BD)
(CSCR Corporate Sponsor since 1997)

2015 - 2017 CSCR Advisory Board
Sean S. Trainor
Senior Vice President, Global Operations Engineering & Technology
Dell, Inc.
(CSCR Corporate Sponsor since 2004)

2015 - 2017 CSCR Advisory Board
Taylor H. Wilkerson
Program Manager
LMI
(CSCR Corporate Sponsor since 2001)