Unpacked: Insights hosted by the Penn State Smeal Center for Supply Chain Research™

In this episode, hosts Donna Palumbo and Tom Nightingale sit down with Mark Baxa, President & CEO of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP). Mark reflects on his career journey from crop scientist to global supply chain leader, exploring how strategic alignment and human judgment drive long-term business resilience. He shares critical perspectives on why the cheapest load is not always the lowest-cost solution, how to move beyond dashboard noise toward actionable data governance, and the evolution of 3PLs from transactional freight haulers into true supply chain orchestrators. Mark also discusses CSCMP’s vital mission to bridge academia and industry, equip professionals in the era of AI, and cultivate lifelong learning.

Takeaways:

• The enduring value of human judgment and professional competency alongside AI advances
• Why total cost to serve must supersede short-term spot rate savings
• Data governance principles that prioritize business decisions over dashboard metrics
• Transitioning 3PL relationships from transactional billing to strategic network orchestration
• The power of continuous education and curiosity across every career stage

Stay connected with CSCR on LinkedIn (Center for Supply Chain Research) and Instagram (@pennstatesupplychain), and be sure to follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you are tuning into Unpacked: Insights hosted by the Penn State Smeal Center for Supply Chain Research™. Thank you for joining us! 

Visit our website: https://www.smeal.psu.edu/cscr 

Guest Bio:

Mark’s experience in Global Supply Chain leadership spans 44 years. As CSCMP’s President & CEO, he brings broad and deep leadership
experience to lead the world’s premier supply chain education
association. Creating meaningful people leadership and development
opportunities for the world’s supply chain professionals is job #1 with
Mark. The supply chain is the backbone of progress. Society counts on
the supply chain to “deliver the goods while doing the right things right.” 

As President & CEO of FerniaCreek Global Supply Chain Consulting
Group, a boutique consulting firm specializing in holistic, company-level
global supply chain practices, Mark leverages his in-depth knowledge
of International Supply Chain Management, global trade practices, and
government policy to improve company performance while preserving
their freedom to operate. 

Mark’s vast leadership experience spans sales, customer service,
logistics, distribution, global trade & compliance, procurement,
sustainability, supplier diversity, and supply chain strategy. His CSCMP
experience spans 27 years, including Roundtable President, the Global
Board of Directors & Chairman of the Board. He instituted CSCMP’s
Supply Chain Sustainability practice, supercharged the CSCMP Talent
Center, created the Ukraine Logistics Operations Relief Fund, and the
Executive Inner Circle. Mark also serves as Chairman St Louis
University Center of Supply Chain Excellence and Northwestern
University NUTC Business Advisory Council board member. Mark
served as a global board member for WEConnect International,
consistent with his belief in the value diversity brings to the supply
chain. He facilitates supply chain policy development at the EU & US
Federal levels, teaches executive courses at the university level, is
broadly published in numerous supply chain & business media, and
keynotes at conferences worldwide. Among the awards and recognition
Mark has received, he is most proud of his induction into the
prestigious DC Velocity Rainmakers. He is a University of Illinois alum.

In this episode, Cezar Mansour, President of Beach Lending, reveals how he applied "The Toyota Way" to revolutionize real estate financing. Drawing from his background at the Army Navy Academy and Toyota Technical Center, Cezar explains how principles like PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) and 5S can eliminate operational waste and drive business success. He shares the inspiration behind his AI-driven tools, including Savvy Broker and a custom "Nick Saban" coaching agent, which transform static databases into active "goldmines." Cezar discusses his transition from the automotive industry to entrepreneurship, emphasizing that routine matters more than rates. He also redefines networking as "socializing," sharing insights from his upcoming book, Memoirs of a Mortgage Broker. Whether you're interested in supply chain efficiency, AI integration, or relationship-based growth, this conversation offers a masterclass in disciplined execution. Learn why a good process always produces good results and how to stay ahead of automation in a shifting market.

Key Takeaways:

• The Toyota Framework: How to apply PDCA and 5S to streamline business operations and eliminate "waste."
• AI as a Coach: Using custom AI agents for "film breakdown" style sales coaching and real-time analytics.
• Mining the Goldmine: Turning idle spreadsheets into active income through automated client touchpoints.
• Socialize, Don't Network: Why showing up in people's lives is the ultimate strategy for referral-based growth.

Stay connected with CSCR on LinkedIn (Center for Supply Chain Research) and Instagram (@pennstatesupplychain), and be sure to follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you are tuning into Unpacked: Insights hosted by the Penn State Smeal Center for Supply Chain Research™. Thank you for joining us! 

Visit our website: https://www.smeal.psu.edu/cscr 

Guest Bio:

Cezar Mansour is President and Owner of Beach Lending, Inc., a real estate financing firm located in Redondo Beach, California. His business specializes in assisting people with the purchase of their first residence and the purchase of investment properties, both commercial and residential. (www.beachlending.com). To support the mission of Beach Lending, Cezar is currently co-developing two additional businesses, Clear Blue Realty and Clarity Escrow.

After 15 years in the automotive industry, Cezar decided to follow his entrepreneurial instincts. Naturally outgoing and helpful, he was quickly drawn to the business of real estate financing because of its ability to positively impact people’s lives and their futures. He earned his real estate broker’s license and launched Beach Lending shortly thereafter.

Cezar’s experience of starting and operating his own referral-based business inspired him to author his first book, “The Official Guide to Building a Referral Based Business,” a comprehensive guide that helps mortgage brokers, independent contractors, and small companies successfully manage and grow their businesses. Cezar is also Co-founder and CEO of the Business Success Club, a networking company consisting of various networking groups created to help likeminded entrepreneurs support and expand each other’s businesses (www.biznetclub.com).

Cezar is the Chairman of the Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Committee. He is also a Member of the Board of Realtors, the California Association of Mortgage Brokers, and the National Association of Mortgage Brokers. A graduate of the Army and Navy Academy, he also holds a Web Masters Degree from Penn State University.

Residing in beautiful Redondo Beach, Cezar and his wife of sixteen years, Tiffany, have three children. When he isn’t busy launching a new business venture, Cezar enjoys spending time with his family and volunteering as an AYSO soccer coach. He feels that coaching is a great way to instill confidence in players by emphasizing the importance of focus, commitment, and teamwork.

In this episode hosts Donna Palumbo and Tom Nightingale welcome Joe Cubellis, Partner and Managing Director at AlixPartners. With over two decades of experience spanning both industry and consulting, Joe provides a masterclass in supply chain execution and strategic resilience. The conversation dives deep into the "perpetual disruption" state of modern logistics, where Joe argues that companies must learn to metabolize volatility rather than wait for a calm that may never come.

He shares critical insights on why most "control towers" fail due to a lack of executive accountability and how distributors can truly create value through disciplined GMROI management. Joe also explores the hidden traps of complex M&A carve-outs and the importance of structured price pass-throughs in inflationary environments. Whether you are a seasoned operator or a rising professional, Joe’s "practical operator" mindset offers a clear roadmap for driving results when they aren't optional.

Takeaways:

• Metabolizing Disruption: Why resilience must be a design plan rather than a heroic act.
• Control Towers vs. Dashboards: The critical role of executive ownership and accountability in taking decisive action.
• M&A and Carve-out Traps: Identifying hidden dependencies like procurement leverage and institutional knowledge.
• The "Practical Operator" Philosophy: The value of simplifying complex problems into actionable bullet points.

Stay connected with CSCR on LinkedIn (Center for Supply Chain Research) and Instagram (@pennstatesupplychain), and be sure to follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you are tuning into Unpacked: Insights hosted by the Penn State Smeal Center for Supply Chain Research™. Thank you for joining us! 

Visit our website: https://www.smeal.psu.edu/cscr 

Guest Bio:

Joe has ~23 years of broad-based experience in P&L leadership, operations, supply chain and carve-out/M&A in roles with increasing functional and P&L responsibility in both industry and consulting prior to joining AlixPartners. He applies his hands on business experience as a leader in the Performance and Technology Practice for AlixPartners. 

Joe can often be heard telling his teams “If you can’t explain it in a few bullet points, it is too complicated”. Having “sat in the seat” for many years in industry, Joe has experienced similar challenges to his clients and has a passion for creating clarify in the face of the complicated problems they face. 

Joe has held many functional roles for wholesale distributors including overall P&L leadership and he now translates that experience to value delivery for distributors across their value chains as a cross-industry expert with AlixPartners. He has deep experience in M&A, participating in several transactions while in industry and leading multiple complex M&A engagements for transportation and logistics clients. 

Joe brings a P&L owner mindset, strong bias for action, and a proven track record in delivering strong operating and financial results to his clients. Joe has a BS in Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering from Penn State and an MBA from Carnegie Mellon. 

In this episode, Donna and Tom sit down with Erin Van Zeeland, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Truckload and Dedicated Services at Schneider, to discuss the evolution of transportation and the power of strategic logistics. Erin shares insights from her 33-year journey at Schneider, exploring how the company leverages AI and "D4 science" to drive efficiency through platforms like Schneider Freight Power. She breaks down the critical difference between transactional and durable shipping rates, explaining why chasing the lowest cost per mile is often a false economy that leaves shippers exposed during market peaks. Listeners will gain valuable perspectives on leadership, the importance of curiosity, and Schneider’s commitment to developing talent through the Schneider Women’s Network. Erin also reveals how real-time AI bots are transforming the driver experience by slashing resolution times for gate issues from 34 minutes to under three. Whether you're a student or a seasoned professional, this conversation offers a masterclass in balancing cutting-edge technology with a people-first philosophy.

Takeaways:

• The strategic shift from transactional to durable shipping rates for long-term resilience.
• How Schneider utilizes AI and bots to enhance driver productivity and real-time problem-solving.
• Leadership lessons on the "human side" of logistics and the power of curiosity.
• Navigating the 18-20 month freight market cycles and long-term industry trends.

Stay connected with CSCR on LinkedIn (Center for Supply Chain Research) and Instagram (@pennstatesupplychain), and be sure to follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you are tuning into Unpacked: Insights hosted by the Penn State Smeal Center for Supply Chain Research™. Thank you for joining us! 

Visit our website: https://www.smeal.psu.edu/cscr 

Guest Bio:

Erin Van Zeeland is Senior Vice President and General Manager of Truckload and Dedicated Services at Schneider, a premier provider of transportation, logistics and intermodal services, enhancing the standard of living worldwide. Schneider Logistics Services is Schneider’s fastest growing segment and in 2018 achieved the $1B revenue milestone for the first time. In this position, she is responsible for all aspects of the company’s Logistics Service offerings, including Transportation Management (Brokerage), Supply Chain Management, Transloading and Distribution, Warehousing and Port Dray. Within her functional responsibilities, she ensures that over 34,000 third party carriers and service providers are effectively utilized to meet supply chain needs, service and profitability objectives across any mode of transportation and logistics services.‍

With 27 years of operations, commercial, transportation logistics experience, Van Zeeland has held several leadership roles in both Schneider’s Logistics and asset-based divisions. She has also served as vice president of Business Transformation, where she managed the enterprise business process engineering and change management/change leadership efforts for the Schneider enterprise. Van Zeeland started her career at Schneider in 1993 as a service team leader at the Harrisburg Operation Center and was subsequently promoted to operations/customer service Integration manager, Van Operations in 1995 before becoming the operations center manager at Schneider’s headquarters in Green Bay, Wis. in 1997. During her career with Schneider, Van Zeeland has served in a variety of leadership positions with increasing responsibility for customer growth and business expansion.

Van Zeeland holds a bachelor’s degree from Pennsylvania State University and an MBA from Silver Lake College in Manitowoc, Wis. Van Zeeland was recognized in Computer World’s Premier 100 IT leaders in 2009, a WIT finalist for the 2019 Distinguished Woman in Logistics Award and was named the recipient of the Supply & Demand Chain Executive’s first-ever Women in Supply chain award. She currently serves on the board of directors for the United Way – Green Bay and she has in the past served on board at the Cerebral Palsy Center. She is an active member in women’s ministries at her local church. She serves as a co-lead in the Schneider Women’s network and various other women in leadership and business programs. She also represents Schneider in the Transportation Intermediaries Association.

In this episode, Donna and Tom sit down with Amit Bansal, Senior Vice President of Procurement at Dell Technologies, to explore the evolution of strategic sourcing, the transformative impact of AI on procurement, and what it takes to build resilient supply chains in a global landscape. Amit shares insights from his 20+ year career at Dell, spanning roles across Texas, Singapore, and Taiwan, and discusses how adaptability, cross-cultural collaboration, and continuous learning have shaped his leadership philosophy. He also discusses Dell's approach to developing the next generation of supply chain talent and offers advice for students entering the industry. Listeners will gain practical perspectives on navigating complexity, leveraging technology, and creating value through strategic partnerships.

Takeaways:

• The evolution of strategic sourcing and procurement at Dell Technologies
• How AI is transforming procurement operations and decision-making
• The importance of adaptability and cross-cultural collaboration in global supply chains
• Dell's approach to mentoring and developing future supply chain leaders
• Career advice for students and professionals entering the supply chain field

Stay connected with CSCR on LinkedIn (Center for Supply Chain Research) and Instagram (@pennstatesupplychain), and be sure to follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you are tuning into Unpacked: Insights hosted by the Penn State Smeal Center for Supply Chain Research™. Thank you for joining us! 

Visit our website: https://www.smeal.psu.edu/cscr 

Guest Bio:

Amit Bansal is Senior Vice President of Technology Silicon and Server Infrastructure Procurement at Dell Technologies. He leads the strategic procurement of technology silicon, including CPUs, GPUs/AI modules, and networking chips, supporting all lines of business. Additionally, Amit oversees server infrastructure procurement, driving ODM sourcing strategy and relationship management. His leadership extends to global manufacturing initiatives, including supply chain localization efforts in India under the government’s Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme.

Since joining Dell in 2001, Amit has held various global leadership roles in procurement, operations engineering, supplier quality, and manufacturing. His career has taken him to Austin, Singapore, and Taipei, where he has consistently delivered results through cross-functional and cross-cultural collaboration.

Amit holds a Master of Manufacturing Management from Penn State and a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Panjab University, India. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling and exploring new cultures with his wife, and their two sons.

In this episode, Donna and Tom sit down with Steve Carrel, Partner and Investment Committee Chairman at TRP Capital Partners, to discuss private equity investment in the transportation sector, leadership lessons, and what makes companies resilient through economic cycles. Steve shares his unique perspective from evaluating and partnering with transportation businesses across seven verticals, from dealerships to logistics and manufacturing. He explains the critical question he asks every potential investment, the skills that matter most in business, and the importance of curiosity and adaptability. Steve also reflects on career advice, the value of being nice over being right, and how his Penn State education shaped his professional journey. Listeners will gain valuable insights for both operators and investors in the supply chain space.

Takeaways:

• The investment perspective on transportation and logistics companies
• The critical question Steve asks every potential portfolio company
• Essential skills for success: curiosity, adaptability, and interpersonal excellence
• Career wisdom and the importance of being nice over being right

Stay connected with CSCR on LinkedIn (Center for Supply Chain Research) and Instagram (@pennstatesupplychain), and be sure to follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you are tuning into Unpacked: Insights hosted by the Penn State Smeal Center for Supply Chain Research™. Thank you for joining us! 

Visit our website: https://www.smeal.psu.edu/cscr 

Guest Bio:

Steve Carrel is a Partner and Investment Committee Chairman at TRP Capital, a Birmingham, Michigan-based private equity firm focused exclusively on the transportation sector. He joined TRP in 1998 and leads deal sourcing, execution, and portfolio management across the firm's seven verticals, which span dealerships, aftermarket services, collision repair, logistics, and manufacturing. Steve currently serves on nine portfolio company boards. Prior to TRP, he worked as an analyst in the Investment Banking Division at Merrill Lynch. 

Steve holds a BS in Finance from Penn State and an MBA from Harvard Business School. 

In this episode, Donna and Tom sit down with Jennifer Becka, Global Sourcing Leader at Intuit and a supply chain innovator with over 15 years of global sourcing experience across manufacturing, healthcare, and technology. Jennifer shares insights from her diverse career journey, from managing the world's largest powered industrial fleet at Amazon to leading procurement transformation at GE, Cleveland Clinic, and Diebold, and now driving AI-powered sourcing at Intuit.

Jennifer explores the critical distinction between resilient and anti-fragile supply chains, explaining how organizations can build systems that don't just withstand stress but actually improve because of it. She discusses the evolution of value creation from physical goods to digital services, strategies for earning executive buy-in through stakeholder collaboration, and her groundbreaking end-of-life fleet initiative at Amazon that optimized total cost of ownership.

Takeaways:

• The difference between resilient and anti-fragile supply chains
• How value definition evolves across physical goods, healthcare services, and digital platforms
• Strategies for stakeholder engagement and earning executive buy-in
• Lifecycle management and total cost of ownership optimization
• Jennifer's career philosophy: building systems strong enough to improve under stress

Stay connected with CSCR on LinkedIn (Center for Supply Chain Research) and Instagram (@pennstatesupplychain), and be sure to follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you are tuning into Unpacked: Insights hosted by the Penn State Smeal Center for Supply Chain Research™. Thank you for joining us! 

Visit our website: https://www.smeal.psu.edu/cscr 

Guest Bio:

Jennifer F. Becka leads Accelerating Functions and Services Sourcing at Intuit. With over 15 years of global sourcing leadership, Jennifer has built and transformed procurement functions across manufacturing, healthcare, and technology—including leadership roles at GE, Diebold, Cleveland Clinic, and Amazon, where she directed global categories spanning the world's largest powered industrial fleet and critical digital security and marketing services.

Known for building high-performing teams and driving enterprise transformation, Jennifer brings a rare combination of operational rigor, strategic vision, and technical fluency—including a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, and certifications with ASCM and AI for Business Strategy.

Jennifer is a member of the Penn State Smeal Executive DBA Cohort of 2029, where her research explores the governance of agentic AI in cognitive supply chains. She is based in San Diego, California.

In this episode, Donna and Tom sit down with Vineet Khanna, CEO of Advanter Advisory and former Global Head of Supply Chain at Nestlé, to explore the evolution of supply chain leadership in an era of rapid technological change. Vineet shares insights from nearly four decades of multi-cultural experience, discussing how AI and digital transformation are reshaping supply chain operations. He emphasizes the critical importance of mindset shifts required to leverage AI effectively, noting that success in the next several years will separate companies based on their ability to adopt these technologies. Vineet also provides valuable perspective on developing the next generation of supply chain leaders, highlighting the essential skills and cultural shifts needed to thrive in an increasingly complex global landscape.

Takeaways:

• The transformative potential of AI in supply chain operations and the mindset shift required for success
• Critical talent and cultural changes needed for next-generation supply chain leaders
• Lessons from leading global supply chain transformation at Nestlé
• Strategic approaches to navigating technological disruption in supply chain management

Stay connected with CSCR on LinkedIn (Center for Supply Chain Research) and Instagram (@pennstatesupplychain), and be sure to follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you are tuning into Unpacked: Insights hosted by the Penn State Smeal Center for Supply Chain Research™. Thank you for joining us! 

Visit our website: https://www.smeal.psu.edu/cscr 

Guest Bio:

Vineet Khanna is a global business leader with nearly four decades  of multi-cultural experience across various domains, including supply chain & procurement, finance, digital technologies, and operational excellence.

As the CEO of Advanter Advisory, he is a trusted advisor to several leading corporates, tech firms, consulting firms, and startups. Prior to Advanter Advisory, he was the Global Head of Supply Chain at Nestlé where he exemplified his strategic prowess and leadership, managing end-to-end supply chain operations and transformation projects encompassing demand and supply planning, physical logistics & sustainability, digital transformations, customer service and materials management.

Throughout his career, Vineet has delivered results in senior leadership roles for 25 years, contributing his expertise at country, regional, and global levels. Vineet's influence extends to the boardroom, having served as a board member of Nestlé Enterprises SA.

Currently, Vineet lends his transformative insights to diverse companies and start-ups as an advisor for the entire strategy-transformation-execution spectrum, leveraging his extensive experience to drive excellence. He is widely recognized as a thought leader in the realms of business, leadership, and societal progress, making him an inspiring and highly sought-after keynote speaker.

Academically, Vineet holds an MBA degree from IIMA (India) and has pursued advanced studies at esteemed institutions including IMD, Lausanne, and London Business School.