Freight, AI, tariffs, automation highlight small group sessions at 2025 NextGen Supply Chain Conference

For the first time, the NextGen Supply Chain Conference will offer five special Small Group breakout sessions during this year’s conference, taking place Oct. 22-24 in Nashville.

These Small Group sessions will take place in themed themes and feature strategic and operational sessions by leading consultants and academics, as well as case studies of innovative technologies and problem-solving from practitioners at some of the leading companies in America. Each small group block runs 90 minutes and is repeated twice daily — first in the morning beginning at 11 a.m. CT, and again in the afternoon beginning at 3:30 p.m. CT. Within each block, sessions are staggered at 30-minute intervals to allow attendees to maximize participation.

Among the companies scheduled to send executives to speak in the Small Group sessions are Moody’s, IBM Consulting, Reshoring Institute, Kearney, Gap, Kohler Co., Blue Tiger International, RXO, Kenco, Maersk, Medline Industries, Hai Robotics, Kellanova, Cycle Labs, IFMA-The Food Away from Home Association, TGW Logistics, GreyOrange, and leading academics from the University of Tennessee and University of Michigan.

The Small Group sessions have been divided into 90-minute blocks across five themed rooms. The themes are:

Room 1: Freight Market Strategies

Room 2: Strategy & Optimization

Room 3: Automation & Applied Intelligence

Room 4: Strategy & Execution

Room 5: Operational Agility & Innovation

The 2025 NextGen Supply Chain Conference, taking place Oct. 22–24 at the W Nashville in Nashville, Tennessee, will bring together more than 50 senior executives and thought leaders from across the supply chain ecosystem. This year’s program offers a dynamic mix of keynote presentations, awards recognition, and deep-dive breakout sessions designed to showcase how these leading companies are transforming their supply chains with AI, automation, data, and innovative strategies.

The entire event kicks off with an evening reception on Wednesday, Oct. 23.

Scheduled Small Group sessions

Room 1: Freight Market Strategies

• The State of Freight Markets – Jared Weisfeld, RXO, with moderator Alan Amling, University of Tennessee
• The Automated Edge: How 3PLs Stay Ahead in a Demanding Market – Hunter Senn, Hai Robotics & Andy Modale, Maersk
• Beyond Reshoring: What Companies are Doing Now – Rosemary Coates, Reshoring Institute

Room 2: Strategy & Optimization

• Maximizing AI ROI in Supply Chain Operations – Pushpinder Singh, IBM Consulting
• From Firefighting to Forward Planning: A Fireside Chat with Kellanova – Ian Johnston, AutoScheduler & Kandi Crowe, Senior Director Customer Distribution, Kellanova
• Tackling Tariffs, Turmoil, Typhoons and Other Supply Chain Risks – Andrei Quinn Barabanov, Moody’s

Room 3: Automation & Applied Intelligence

• Intelligent Care: How AI Is Powering the Healthcare Supply Chain – Dave Kordik, Medline Industries, with moderator Michael Levans, Peerless Media
• Test Automation: The Key for Improved Speed and Quality of WMS Implementations – Josh Owen, Cycle Labs, & Jonathon Crafton, Kohler

Room 4: Strategy & Execution

• Navigating Evolving Food Regulations in the Supply Chain – Phil Kafarakis, IFMA
• The Power of Partnership – How URBN Found an Automation Solutions Partner with TGW Logistics – Jeff Rhodes, TGW Logistics, & Brian Horton, URBN
• Leading Beyond the Silo: Elevating and Enhancing the Supply Chain – Steven Melnyk, University of Michigan

Room 5: Operational Agility & Innovation

• Tariff Mitigation & Supply Chain Resilience: 20 Proven Solutions – Tom Cook, Blue Tiger International
• From Robotic Uptime to Fulfillment Outcomes: Warehouse Orchestration at Scale – Saurabh Gupta, GreyOrange & Kristi Montgomery, Kenco

Among the 50-plus companies scheduled to speak across NextGen’s four focus areas are:

• Consumer Packaged Goods: Dole Packaged Foods, Walmart, Gap, Kohler, Our Home
• Life Sciences/Healthcare: Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson MedTech, Regeneron, Imbed Biosciences, Medline
• Food & Beverage: Diageo, IFMA, Our Home
• 3PL/Logistics: Uber Freight, RXO, C.H. Robinson, Kenco, GEODIS

Conference registration is now ongoing.

Who are the 2025 NextGen Award Winners?

• Visionary Award: Diageo
• End User Awards:
  • Artificial Intelligence: FedEx Supply Chain
  • Digital Transformation: Sysco
  • Robotics: GNC
• Solution Provider Awards:
  • Artificial Intelligence: Quickcode.ai
  • Digital Transformation: Easy Metrics
  • Robotics: Corvus Robotics
• Startup Award: Dexory

To register, visit NextGen Supply Chain Conference

What keynotes are scheduled?

Thursday morning keynote:

Speaker: Val Marchevsky, EVP & CTO, Uber Freight

Session title: Reimagining Logistics with AI: Turning Intelligence into Action

Thursday afternoon Visionary keynote:

Speaker: Lisa Drane, director of procurement supply innovation at Diageo.

Friday morning keynote:

Speaker: Todd Stillwell, VP Supply Chain & Manufacturing, Dole Packaged Foods

Session title: Scaling for Innovation and Growth with Flexible Manufacturing and Data-Driven Forecasting

Attendees will also hear from leaders at companies including Walmart, Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilly, Kenco, Kohler, Maersk, Medline, Blue Tiger International, IBM Consulting, Moody’s, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Kenvue, Imbed Biosciences, C.H. Robinson and more. A full list of speakers is available here. The agenda can be found here.

Networking and sponsorship opportunities

The W Nashville is offering group hotel rates (three days before and after the event, subject to availability). Networking highlights include rooftop receptions, entertainment and small-group discussions.

Sponsors include:

• Diamond: Zion Solutions Group (awards sponsor); Dematic, Warehouse on Wheels
• Gold: Shippeo
• Silver: Hai Robotics, TGW Logistics, Cycle Labs, GreyMatter by GreyOrange, AutoScheduler, Imaginnovate, eSoft Labs,
• Bronze: Corvus Robotics, enVista, Gnosis Freight, Herowear
• Associate: Arvist, Loadsmart, Pelican Robotics, Made4Net, Third Wave Automation

Now in its seventh year, the NextGen Supply Chain Conference brings together senior executives, thought leaders, and technology innovators to explore the future of supply chain management. With a program featuring keynote presentations, breakout sessions, and the annual NextGen Supply Chain Awards, the event spotlights the technologies and strategies shaping tomorrow’s supply chains.

Registration and the full agenda are available at NextGenSupplyChainConference.com.

Register to attend now

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