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 patron 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.

Meet the CSCR 2025-2026 Advisory Board

Advisory Board Chairperson
Ron Volans
Head of North America Janssen Deliver
Johnson & Johnson
CSCR Corporate Supporter 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.

Advisory Board Vice Chairperson
Jessica Gerhard
Director, Integrated Dynamic Planning
The Hershey Company
CSCR Corporate Supporter since 1993

With nearly 20 years of supply chain leadership, Jess Gerhard currently leads Hershey’s Integrated Dynamic Planning process. In this role, Jess links the commercial, supply chain, and financial teams to build and execute the strategic and operational plans for Hershey’s $10B+ confection business.

Access Jessica Gerhard's complete bio here.

Linda Bixby, Ph.D.
Executive Vice President, Academic Partnerships
NobleReach Foundation
CSCR Corporate Supporter 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.

Drew Ceschini
Global Supply Planning CoE Manager
Rockwell Automation
CSCR Corporate Supporter since 2011

Andrew "Drew" Ceschini is the Global Supply Planning CoE Manager for Rockwell Automation. With over 15 years of supply chain experience and leadership, he works to translate the demand forecast into achievable load against internal and external capacity while maintaining Service and Inventory expectations and providing global standard work / governance.

Access Drew Ceschini's complete bio here.

Kim Hadlum
Senior Director, Inventory Planning
Armada Supply Chain Solutions
CSCR Corporate Supporter since 2012

Kim Hadlum is the Senior Director, Inventory Planning for Armada Supply Chain Solutions. In this role, Kim leads Armada’s Demand Planning, Supply Planning, and Planning Analytics and Capabilities functions to drive efficient assured supply for clients in the restaurant space.

Access Kim Hadlum's complete bio here.

Shea Nesseler
Vice President of Logistics
Danone
Ex-Officio Member

Shea Nesseler is the Vice President of Logistics at Danone. He brings more than 20 years of international supply chain experience leading FMCG, Health and Beauty logistics, manufacturing, and supply chain design.

Updated bio available soon.

Marilia Perez-Santiago
Associate Director, Programs and Project Management
Verizon
CSCR Corporate Supporter since 2005

Marilia Perez-Santiago champions strategic initiatives within the monetization team to create value and plan for future growth. She is responsible for post-sales support of the $3B dollar revenue Monetization business along the Verizon Concessions Program.

Access Marilia Perez-Santiago's complete bio here.

Ron Walters
Director of Digital Technology
Collins Aerospace (an RTX business)
CSCR Corporate Supporter since 2023

Ron Walters is an accomplished operations and technology leader with over 25 years of Fortune 500 industry experience. He has held leadership roles in manufacturing, supply chain, strategic sourcing, and IT business transformation at globally recognized companies, including General Electric, Black & Decker, Ingersoll Rand, and Trane Technologies.

Access Ron Walters' complete bio here.

Chad Whyte
Executive Vice President, Supply Chain
Utz Brands, Inc.
CSCR Corporate Supporter since 2020

Chad Whyte is the Executive Vice President, Supply Chain for Utz Brands, Inc. in June 2022. As EVP, Supply Chain, he has responsibility for Procurement, Supply and Demand Planning, Distribution, Transportation and the Customer Logistics functions.

Access Chad Whyte's 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 2024 Advisory Board
Shannon Beecher
Vice President, Services Supply Chain
IBM
(CSCR Corporate Supporter since 1991)

CSCR 2023 - 2024 Advisory Board
David Vieira
President & Chief Executive Officer
CLX Logistics
(CSCR Corporate Supporter since 1992)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CSCR 2021 - 2022 Advisory Board
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 Supporter since 1997)

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

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

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

2015 - 2019 CSCR Advisory Board
Irv Grossman
Executive Vice President, Americas
CHAINalytics
(CSCR Corporate Supporter 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 Supporter since 2016)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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