Penn State Supply Chain Podcast

About Penn State Supply Chain Podcast

Unpacked: Insights hosted by the Penn State Smeal Center for Supply Chain Research™ explores the strategies, challenges, and opportunities that define today’s supply chains through biweekly conversations with industry leaders on the critical role supply chains play in business success. ________________ Hosted by Donna Palumbo, Executive Director of the Center for Supply Chain Research at Penn State, and Tom Nightingale, Chief Executive Officer of MNC Transportation, Unpacked: Insights hosted by the Penn State Smeal Center for Supply Chain Research™ brings you engaging conversations with top industry leaders, including many Penn State alumni, who share firsthand insights on how supply chains shape resilient, agile, and thriving organizations. From planning and procurement to logistics, manufacturing, and distribution, this podcast explores the full spectrum of supply chain functions and the leaders driving them forward. Whether navigating periods of growth or overcoming disruption, you’ll discover how strong supply chain strategies fuel business performance. New episodes are released every other Wednesday and are available on all major podcast streaming platforms, as well as on the Center for Supply Chain Research website.

Publisher

Penn State Smeal Center for Supply Chain Research

Category

business · education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

14 Jan 2021

Latest episode

30 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

58 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   30 Sept 2026

   Speed, Scale, and Service: Lee Beard on Transforming Logistics at Nike, Nordstrom, and Swire Coca-Cola

   In this episode, Donna and Tom sit down with Lee Beard to unpack key lessons from an exceptional 35-year career spanning leadership roles at Dell, Nike, Nordstrom, and the Coca-Cola system. Lee details what it takes to build agile, customer-centric transportation networks, navigate major shifts toward direct-to-consumer and omni-channel retail, and balance speed with precision. He addresses cutting through tech hype by focusing on high-leverage use cases and shares why professional engagement through organizations like CSCMP remains a powerful career catalyst. Finally, Lee reflects on his transition into academia to mentor the next generation of supply chain leaders. Takeaways: Managing rapid scale and omni-channel fulfillment across global retail and beverage networks Navigating supply chain technology by avoiding vendor hype and running targeted pilot programs The strategic value of active industry networking and external engagement Core leadership philosophies, career advice, and keeping priorities balanced over a long career 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: Lee Beard is a customer-focused operations executive with over 30 years of experience and extensive industry knowledge in transportation, logistics, and supply chain management. He most recently served as SVP, Logistics for Swire Coca-Cola, one of the five largest Coca-Cola bottlers in the world. Over three years, Lee led a sweeping operational transformation of Swire’s distribution centers, delivery operations, transportation, and fleet management, along with cold drink equipment service and remanufacturing. Prior to joining Swire CCUSA, Lee was at Nordstrom where he was responsible for all aspects of transportation across the US and Canada, including international ocean and air freight, domestic inbound, store delivery networks, e-commerce customer shipments and returns. Lee also led global transportation at Nike where he and his team developed critical transportation capabilities to power their “Consumer Direct Offense” – a transformational e-commerce strategy to serve consumers personally at scale around the world. Before Nike, Lee spent ten years in the Coca-Cola System in key transportation, logistics, and procurement leadership roles and served as a key member of the executive startup team for a logistics-focused joint venture between The Coca-Cola Company and its largest US bottler. He also worked at Dell, Inc. for six years in various manufacturing, logistics, and global strategy roles. At Dell, Lee was a member of a small team that designed a ground-breaking planning and replenishment methodology for Dell’s assembly factories that was implemented globally and earned a patent for the company (US7577577). Serving the supply chain and logistics profession has long been a passion for Lee. He has been active in CSCMP (Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals) for many years, serving on the organization’s Board of Directors, as a Board officer, and Board Chair in 2022. He also served CSCMP as past chair of the Annual Conference Planning Committee and past member of their Research Strategies Committee. Lee also serves on the Board for the Transportation & Supply Chain Institute at the University of Denver and is a member of the editorial board for the Journal of Supply Chain Management, Logistics, and Procurement. He enjoys teaching and mentoring those pursuing careers in supply chain and logistics and is a frequent guest speaker in supply chain programs. Lee earned a bachelor’s in industrial engineering and a master of science in management from the Georgia Institute of Technology and is currently pursuing his

2. 

   16 Sept 2026

   Leading Through Disruption, Data, and Lifelong Learning with Mark Baxa

   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.

3. 

   19 Aug 2026

   The Toyota Way to Real Estate Success: Cezar Mansour on AI, Systems, and the Art of Socializing

   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.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.1 / 5

7 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

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Guest appearances

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