Smarter Sourcing

Cost avoidance delivers the same strategic value as cost savings, but CFOs often miss this reality when evaluating procurement performance. At JLL , Sr. Director, Group Sourcing Lead Brent Kellett has cracked the code on demonstrating total cost of ownership value through cross-functional partnerships that quantify operational efficiencies, energy savings, and service reliability improvements that...

Mark Vierling , Procurement & Supply Chain Leader, makes a simple observation: while fractional COOs, CEOs, and CFOs are common, virtually no one was providing fractional Chief Procurement Officer services to companies that desperately needed them. His embedded approach, which he shares with John , differs from traditional consulting by making fractional leaders part of the client team rather...

How do you centralize procurement across a $1+ billion health system while maintaining 24/7 operations that literally keep people alive? Dawn Watkins , Director of Strategic Sourcing at UF Health , gives John her blueprint for transforming independent hospitals into an integrated clinical enterprise. Her team of 25 is expanding to 50+ as they merge previously independent facilities across 12 hospi...

When Aramark acquired Avenger International—the GPO consortium built by Marriott, Hilton, and other major hotel chains—they weren't just buying a customer list. They were executing a 15-year strategic plan to close competitive gaps while creating unprecedented scale for premium hospitality products. Autumn Bayles , SVP Global Supply Chain & GPOs at Aramark , reveals how this acquisition transf...

Arvind Nathan , SVP of Private Brands & Sourcing at The Michaels Companies, Inc. , didn't plan to revolutionize how global teams think about private brand sourcing, but his mathematical approach to procurement has transformed operations in both his current role and his previous one at Walmart. Managing 220 people across Asia and the US taught him that successful sourcing isn't about having bet...

David Pennino , CEO & Founder, built LogicSource by recognizing that indirect procurement represents the largest untapped opportunity for most enterprises. His conversation with John highlights how a company processing $150 billion in spend data approaches categories that consume 20% of revenue but receive minimal professional attention. David's methodology challenges traditional consulting mo...

Sean Park , VP of Procurement and Transformation at Arm , didn't set out to revolutionize procurement at Arm, but when you're scaling a $4 billion semiconductor company at 20% year-over-year growth without adding procurement headcount, revolution becomes necessity. Sean offers John a peek at how Arm achieved nearly 20% savings on an 8-figure server deal using AI agents that required zero human int...

Managing 8+ billion products annually across 180+ countries while reducing logistics footprint by 27% requires more than traditional supply chain thinking. Steeve Yammine , Global SVP of Supply Chain at BIC , has orchestrated this complex operation by fundamentally reimagining how global companies approach contingency planning, regionalization, and talent development.    He tells John his journey...

"I'm a fireman," is how Yelena Mogelefsky , SVP of Production and Sourcing at Komar describes her role to her children — a perfect metaphor for the daily crisis management that defines sourcing leadership in fashion. In this captivating episode of Smarter Sourcing, Yelena walks John through how she transformed an entrepreneurial opportunity into a $150+ million division over 14 years.    From navi...

"If your supply chain only reduces costs, it's not a strategic asset — it's a commodity," Randy Bradley , PhD & EVP of Digital Transformation in Life Sciences at BSMA , tells John in this episode of Smarter Sourcing. When 80% of executives claim their supply chain is strategic but expect it only to cut costs, Randy helps expose the disconnect that keeps procurement leaders trapped in operation...

What does it take to transform procurement from a cost center into a strategic value driver? Johnathon Baker , Operating Partner & Head of Strategic Sourcing and Procurement at Apollo Global Management , shares his expertise in procurement transformation, gained from leading strategic initiatives at major companies like Starbucks, before taking on his current role at Apollo.    His discussion...

In this episode of Smarter Sourcing, John welcomes Jeff Bever , VP of Strategic Sourcing and Procurement at Russell Stover Chocolates , to discuss how a 100-year-old company is transforming its procurement and supply chain operations for the modern era. Jeff reflects on his diverse career journey across agriculture, construction, and confectionery, sharing how each experience has shaped his leader...

In this episode of Smarter Sourcing, John speaks with Brent Rohrs , VP of Global Procurement & Program Management at Mayville Engineering Company (MEC), to discuss the evolving world of procurement and supply chain management. Brent shares insights from his career, including the importance of centralizing procurement operations to enhance supplier collaboration and efficiency.    Brent and Joh...

In this episode of Smarter Sourcing, John speaks with Asmara Agha , Head of Strategic Sourcing at Nitto Avecia , who shares her insights on the evolving landscape of supply chain management. She discusses the critical role of resilience and adaptability in navigating challenges, especially in the wake of the pandemic.    Asmara emphasizes the importance of leveraging AI and predictive modeling to...

In this episode of Smarter Sourcing, John speaks with Stephen Sharr , VP of Procurement & Logistics and GM, Contract Manufacturing at Footprint , who shares his decade-plus journey from Anheuser-Busch to a dynamic startup environment. Stephen discusses the evolution of procurement from a transactional role to a strategic partner in driving business growth, particularly in the wake of the pande...

In this episode of Smarter Sourcing, John speaks with Marisa Farabaugh , SVP & Chief Supply Chain Officer at AdventHealth , who brings her insights on the transformative role of supply chain management in healthcare, particularly during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. She discusses how her team adapted operations to ensure the availability of critical supplies and the importance of collaborat...

In this episode of Smarter Sourcing, John speaks with Kevin Spinti , Vice President of Global Procurement at Heraeus Medevio . Kevin shares his insights on the evolving landscape of supply chain management, offering his perspective on the significant impact of remote work on team dynamics and communication as well as how technology has facilitated collaboration in a virtual environment.    Kevin a...

In this episode of Smarter Sourcing, John speaks with Carlos Maceda , Chief Supply Chain Officer at Mount Sinai Health System . They discuss the evolution of leadership in a post-pandemic landscape, with Carlos emphasizing the importance of mentorship and maintaining team morale, while also holding teams accountable.    Carlos shares his personal journey to his current role, highlighting key lesso...

In this episode of Smarter Sourcing, John speaks with Colette Crandall , Head of Procurement at One Medical. Colette shares her inspiring journey to her current role, highlighting the importance of maintaining a human touch even as technology advances. She touches on the integration of AI in procurement processes, the thorough vetting required for new vendors to ensure data security, and the evolv...

In this episode of Smarter Sourcing, John speaks with Heleen Du Toit , VP of Procurement, Rigid Packaging at PepsiCo . Heleen shares her perspective on the vital role of balancing experience and skills for career growth. She touches on the importance of tactical empathy in negotiation, drawing from Chris Voss's book Never Split the Difference .    Heleen also discusses the future of sourcing and p...

In this episode of Smarter Sourcing, John speaks with Adam Cummins , Principal & Director of Portfolio Procurement at The Carlyle Group . Adam shares valuable insights into the importance of creating mutual win-win initiatives, emphasizing the need for engagements that benefit all stakeholders.    Adams touches on how technology and automation, including AI and machine learning, are revolution...

In this episode of Smarter Sourcing, John speaks with Rick Harrison , founder and host of the TV series Pawn Stars and the founder of the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop . Rick shares his journey from humble beginnings to becoming a household name in the pawn industry thanks to his international hit show Pawn Stars .  He discusses the importance of media strategy in elevating his business and how leve...

In this episode of Smarter Sourcing, John speaks with Bill Courtney , 7x CFO & Senior Financial Executive, about his extensive experience in procurement and sourcing across various industries. Bill reflects on his time at companies like Ford, Hertz, and Delta, highlighting the challenges faced and the strategic decisions made during critical periods such as 9/11 and the COVID-19 pandemic.  The...

In this episode of the Smarter Sourcing podcast, John sits down with Ulunda Baker , Senior Director, Business Diversity, Category Management & Sourcing, Purchasing at TIAA , who shares her inspiring career journey. Ulunda discusses the importance of strategic sourcing and supplier relationships in achieving business goals.   She also explores her leadership approach and the value of teamwork a...

In this episode of the Smarter Sourcing podcast, John speaks with Anna Hammons , Senior Director, Procurement at Sam's Club , about her day-to-day experience in procurement, as well as what characteristics she looks for when building her team.  Anna also talked about how before the COVID-19 pandemic, contingency planning was to simply "figure it out," but now it requires much more planning. They a...