BY RICK D. BLASGEN, PRESIDENT AND CEO, CSCMP
THE VERY BEST IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ... DESIGNED EXCLUSIVELY FOR YOUWelcome to Anaheim, California, and to the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals’ (CSCMP) EDGE 2019 Supply Chain Conference. This conference is the largest of its kind in our discipline, and for the next three and a half days, you and more than 3,000 of your peers from around the globe—leading supply chain authorities, practitioners, and thought leaders—will take part in the most innovative and exciting supply chain experience in the world.
EDGE is built by members, for members, and all of those attending will walk away with ideas and connections to be utilized throughout their careers. This year’s conference provides attendees the opportunity to be immersed in more than 30 hours of high-quality education and more than 20 hours of dedicated networking time to engage, debate, and collaborate with supply chain management leaders. Sessions will investigate some of today’s top issues and trends, exploring topics as diverse as order fulfillment and customer service, manufacturing and service operations, supply chain leadership, transportation and logistics, and current research and surveys.
EDGE 2019 will kick off with Jeremy Gutsche, chief executive officer of the online research firm Trend Hunter. Gutsche will share lessons drawn from the experiences of both billionaires and ordinary people who achieved remarkable feats by seeing and seizing opportunities that others overlooked. He’ll explain how to recognize patterns and clues that will lead you to be a better investor, better innovator, better creator, and a better adaptor. Join Jeremy as he unpacks how individuals and organizations can become idea generators and world-class changemakers.
Tuesday’s keynote session will feature a one-of-a-kind panel of millennial entrepreneurs who will address the many facets of the entrepreneurial journey in the 21st century. On Wednesday, Sarah Thomas, the first permanent female NFL official, will close the conference with her keynote about going after your goals for the right reasons.
EDGE 2019 will also feature CSCMP’s Academic Research Symposium; an opportunity to volunteer for the “Rise Against Hunger” program; the Women Leaders Forum, featuring a keynote by Ashley Tyrner, CEO of Farmbox Direct, on creating a business that solves a problem; CSCMP’s annual roundtable and business meetings; and a Young Professionals reception.
We’re also hosting the EDGE Supply Chain Exchange Exhibition—a fully integrated exhibit that will introduce you to new technologies and innovations in product design and development, sourcing and procurement, demand planning and inventory management, manufacturing and material handling, transportation and fulfillment, and reverse logistics.
EDGE 2019 is an invaluable forum for developing the kinds of collaborative relationships that are key to successful supply chains in the new economy. That’s why we have created a variety of unsurpassed networking opportunities at CSCMP’s annual conference where you will be able to build and expand your professional network.
CSCMP believes that education is the foundation of continuous improvement. We are confident that this conference will provide you with a broader, deeper vision of the profession; the opportunity to participate in relevant learning programs and networking activities; and the inspiration to enhance your personal and organizational development.
Here’s to a great conference!