Spring 2022 Virtual Supply Chain Leaders' Forum Speaker Bios

Forum presentation: "Offshoring and Reshoring under COVID-19: Supply Chain Lessons from the Pharmaceutical Industry"

Gray is a professor of operations and business analytics at the Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University, where he teaches data analytics and an elective called global sourcing. He worked for eight years in operations for Procter and Gamble in an FDA-regulated manufacturing plant before earning his Ph.D. at UNC-Chapel Hill in 2006. One of his key research streams focuses on offshoring and reshoring decision-making, and the hidden performance implications of these decisions. Gray has worked with the FDA, including on contract for two years ending in September 2021.

Forum presentation: "Hybrid Work and the Evolving New Normal"

Brotherton provides solution architect expertise across diverse LMI service lines, focusing on integration of disparate capabilities and innovation areas. She also leads LMI’s Future of Work innovation offerings, including: LMI’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) maturity model, new-normal framework for the hybrid workforce, and data-driven solutions to better understand employee value propositions and map training and career opportunities to employees’ interests.

A prior Air Force Communications Officer with a focus on transformational outcome-oriented change, Brotherton’s previous roles include director of LMI’s Strategy and Organizational Management group and director of Management Services for another federal contractor. In this role, Brotherton was responsible for support to federal defense, national security, and health services organizations through design and development of innovative offerings related to strategic planning, organizational transformation, process improvement, workforce planning, talent development and engagement, strategic communications, and change management. She also previously led programmatic and advisory support to the Army’s Civilian Workforce Transformation team, focused on talent management, employee engagement, people analytics, and career programs as well as programmatic, outreach, IT, and financial management support for OSD’s SMART Scholarship for Service program.

Brotherton has a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Computer Science from Duke University, an MBA with a strategy concentration from London Business School and is currently working on a doctorate in Human and Organizational Learning from George Washington University’s Graduate School of Education and Human Development (GSEHD). She is a PMI-certified project management professional and Scrum Alliance-certified scrum master, and holds additional certificates in Prosci Change Management, HCI Strategic Workforce Planning, Luma Human Centered Design Facilitation, and Harvard’s Continuing Education certificate in Strategy & Innovation.

Forum presentation: Forum presentation: "Port Industry Update"

Newsome is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the South Carolina Ports Authority in Charleston, South Carolina. He assumed that role in 2009 and is only the fifth leader in the history of the port. With twelve years in his position, he is also currently the longest serving leader of a major container port in the United States.

Prior to his current position, Newsome had an extensive career in the ocean container shipping industry. He served from 2008-2009 as President – Region Americas with Hapag-Lloyd AG. Prior to that he served as Senior Vice President – Area Southeast from 1997-2008. Prior to 2008, he held numerous positions at Strachan Shipping Company (1977-1987) and Nedlloyd Lines (1987-1997). Mr. Newsome was the first American to assume the top roles in the United States for both Hapag-Lloyd and Nedlloyd Lines.

Newsome received a BS in Transportation and Logistics in 1976 and an MBA in Transportation and Logistics in 1977 from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN. He was the top graduate in the College of Business Administration for Winter Quarter, 1976 and was named the Outstanding Alumnus in Transportation and Logistics in 1992. Newsome has received several awards and honors, to include: Maritime Association of the Port of New York and New Jersey’s International Maritime Hall of Fame (2021), Outstanding Manufacturing Lifetime Service Award (2020), Roger Milliken Defender of Manufacturing Award (2020), DC Velocity Logistics Rainmaker (2019), University of Tennessee Alumni Professional Achievement Award (2018), Agriculture Transportation Coalition, Person of the Year (2016), South Carolina Public Servant of the Year, South Carolina Chamber of Commerce (2014), Doctor of Humane Letters, The College of Charleston (2014), and Connie Award, The Containerization and Intermodal Institute (2010).

Newsome is involved in numerous organizations within the University of Tennessee, to include College of Business Administration Dean’s Advisory Council and the Global Supply Chain Institute Executive Advisory Board. He is also on boards with the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), American Heart Association, Southeast Region, and American Heart Association, Lowcountry Heart Walk, and Trident United Way, Tocqueville Society.

Newsome is a native of Savannah, Georgia. He has been married for 36 years (wife Kathy) and has two children and two grandchildren. His daughter, Rachel (35), is a school counselor in Jackson, Mississippi. His son, Matt (30), is a doctor doing his residency in urology at UK Healthcare in Lexington, Kentucky.

Forum presentation: "When to Onshore? A Framework for the Manufacturing of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients" 

Irvin is a 4th-year student in the Schreyer Honors College at Penn State University earning a Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management and Information Systems, with a minor in Information Systems Management. Irvin is an active member of the Sapphire Leadership Academic Program, an honors business program representing the top 5% of her class. She formerly served as the Vice-President of Sapphire and is currently serving as the THON Chair. Outside of Sapphire, Irvin is a member of the Lion Ambassadors Student Alumni Corps. She works to foster the relationship between alumni, current, and future Penn Staters through projects and touring. Additionally, Irvin is a mentor for the Smeal Student Mentors program, where she assists in transitioning 8 first-year students to their first semester of college. During her time at Penn State, Irvin completed a co-op with LBrands in Columbus, Ohio, and a remote summer internship with Dell Technologies. After graduation, Irvin will be moving to Austin, Texas to work as a full-time Analyst in the Supply Chain Development Program at Dell Technologies.

Forum presentation: "Sourcing, Near Shoring & Logistics - Why It's Tough to Recover from an Optimized Supply Chain Failure" 

Hancock recently retired from his executive role at Kansas City Southern Railroad. Prior to joining the Kansas City Southern, he served as senior vice president of supply chain for Family Dollar Stores as they were being acquired by Dollar Tree. He was the president of North America for Martin Brower LLP, one of the largest suppliers in the McDonalds system. His responsibilities included complete organizational responsibility for the $8B North America division serving over 10,000 quick serve restaurants. He led the integration after Martin Brower acquired Keystone Foods in 2011 resulting in significant revenue and profitability improvements. He was the chairman of the McDonalds Distribution Council. Prior to Martin Brower, he served as vice president of global supply chain for Whirlpool Corporation where he led all supply chain functions including demand planning, manufacturing planning, customer service, logistics, distribution, inventory, and import management. During this time, he also led the integration of the supply chains following Whirlpool’s acquisition of Maytag Corporation. Hancock spent 9 years at Schneider National serving in several roles including account controller, general manager, vice president of automotive and ultimately vice president and general manager of Schneider Supply Chain Services. During this time, he also served as chairman for the General Motors Supplier Council. Hancock began his career in the finance organization with Honeywell serving in several roles in the Space Systems Group and Home and Building Control Global Finance.

Hancock resides in Kansas City, MO with his wife and is the father of four daughters. He holds his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Brigham Young University and an MBA from VCU. He is an inactive certified public accountant and is fluent in Portuguese.