2007 Pros to Know

David Clevenger, vice president with group purchasing organization Corporate United (www.corporateunited.com), preaches the value of refining best practices for indirect spend management before supply chain and procurement audiences, helping to raise the value of indirect materials sourcing to a strategic priority in the enterprise.

Joe D'Andria, senior vice president of operations with NewlineNoosh (www.newlinenoosh.com), a provider of print sourcing and procurement solutions, evangelizes the impact that effective commercial print procurement can bring to the bottom line, raising Procurement's profile in the sales and marketing process.

Priyan Fernando, executive vice president and chief operating officer at American Express Business Travel (corp.americanexpress.com/gcs/travel/us/default.htm), has helped evangelize the need for Procurement organizations to achieve greater control over, and savings from, all aspects of their travel and entertainment (T&E) spend, including the so-called "long tail" of employee business services. Last year Fernando spearheaded the launch of the American Express Intelligent Online Marketplace (AXIOM), an online corporate travel booking platform.

Patrick Grady, founder, chairman and CEO of employee business services procurement platform provider Rearden Commerce (www.reardencommerce.com), advocates that Procurement can and must take greater control over this massive category that remains woefully under-managed (40 percent purchased outside preferred vendor contracts, according to industry estimates).

Gary Hare, president and CEO of supplier enablement specialist Vinimaya (www.vinimaya.com), created the first independent supplier network for MRO and indirect e-procurement, helping improve the strategic importance of Supply Chain in reducing costs and increasing efficiencies throughout organizations.

John Matthews, executive director of indirect procurement services provider DSSI LLC (www.directsourcing.com) and a veteran of purchasing and manufacturing operations in the automotive sector, has promoted attacking the indirect buy as a way of generating savings and improvements that help raise Supply Management's importance to corporate management.

Jason Treida, vice president of operations, founder and senior partner with e-sourcing software and services provider Iasta (www.iasta.com), focuses on the value that the Procurement organization can bring to the table by streamlining its sourcing process for the indirects, raising Procurement's profile in the enterprise.

Janet A. Whitcomb, executive vice president at services procurement specialist ProcureStaff (www.procurestaff.com), has worked to change the way that companies perceive and approach their contract labor spend, helping to bring high-level attention to this important component of total spend.

Public Sector Supply Management Evangelists

Governments and government agencies at all levels have always operated some of the most complex supply chains in the world, and yet only in recent years have public sector Procurement and Supply Management organizations begun to achieve recognition as a strategic contributor to the overall success of public policies. With this recognition has come an increased need to bring best-in-class practices to government supply management operations. Supply & Demand Chain Executive recognizes the following 2007 Pros to Know — "Public Sector Supply Management Evangelists" for their contributions in promoting supply chain excellence in the public sector.

Tom Jones, senior vice president and general manager of supply chain solutions at Ryder System (www.ryder.com), participates as a member of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce Board to advance the state's understanding of how Supply Chain plays a key role within the overall economy. Jones preaches before senior-level audiences on the importance of logistics as a strategic competency and a fundamental differentiator, and on the role of technology in facilitating the management of complex supply systems.

James Kelly, CEO and managing principal with sourcing and procurement services firm JVKellyGroup (www.jvkg.com), demonstrated the impact that supply management can have in the public sector when he was elected chairman of the then-troubled Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce and, within five months, turned around the once financially shaky organization. Under his leadership, the Chamber is once again becoming a strong force on Long Island, and Kelly has been recognized by the Long Island Press, in the newspaper's 2006 Power List, for his contributions.