2026 Appalachian Highlands Supply Chain and Digital Technologies Summit

Hosted by East Tennessee State University. Get ready for a deep dive into the future of supply chains and digital technologies.
About this Event

The 2026 Appalachian Highlands Supply Chain and Digital Technologies Summit, hosted by East Tennessee State University, brings together supply chain managers and executives, business leaders, entrepreneurs, government employees, educators, industry professionals, and students for a day of learning, discussion, and networking.

A major highlight of the Summit is its lineup of executives, business leaders, and experienced industry professionals who will share their perspectives on today's challenges and opportunities. Presenters include senior leaders with experience in global supply chain management, healthcare, manufacturing, technology, procurement, logistics, materials management, operations, supplier relationships, and organizational transformation. Attendees will hear directly from leaders who are making decisions, managing complex operations, leading change, and addressing real-world business and organizational challenges.

The Summit also includes interactive workshops on artificial intelligence in supply chain and business operations, critical thinking and decision-making in an AI-enabled workplace, and Lean Six Sigma for process improvement and operational excellence. Whether you work in supply chain, government, education, business, or industry—or are a student preparing to enter the workforce—the Summit offers a valuable opportunity to learn from executives and business leaders, gain practical ideas you can take back to your organization, make new connections, and be part of conversations about the future of supply chains, technology, and business in the Appalachian Highlands and beyond.

Agenda

🕑: 08:00 AM - 08:30 AM
Coffee and Networking
🕑: 08:30 AM - 09:35 AM
Presentations
Presentation: Elo Touch Systems
Host: Nathan Swisshelm, VP of Global Supply Chain
Presentation: Becker Global
Host: Kenneth Perry, Director of Materials
🕑: 09:35 AM - 09:50 AM
Break: Coffee and Networking
🕑: 09:50 AM - 11:35 AM
Presentations
Presentation: Fastenal
Host: Jim Thornstrom, Regional Vice President
Presentation: B&B Filters
Host: Ryan Berkley, President and Owner
Presentation: Becker Global
Host: Kenneth Perry, Director of Matrials
Presentation: Ballad Health
Host: Ken York, Chief Supply Chain Officer
🕑: 11:35 AM - 12:30 PM
Networking Lunch
🕑: 12:20 PM - 01:30 PM
Workshops
AI in Supply Chain: Turning Emerging Technology into Business Value
Host: Jason Thorne, SVP of Supply Chain, Nouryon

Info: Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how supply chain organizations plan, operate, and make decisions. This interactive workshop will explore AI's evolving role across the supply chain and examine how organizations can move from experimentation to practical business application. Participants will consider opportunities, challenges, and lessons learned in applying AI within supply chain operations, and discuss how leaders can identify high-value use cases, prepare their organizations for adoption, and translate emerging technologies into measurable business value. The workshop encourages discussion and practical thinking while allowing flexibility to address current developments, industry examples, and participant interests.

Critical Thinking in the Age of AI: An Interactive Supply Chain Workshop
Host: Dr. Chris Libutti, Professor, ETSU

Info: In this interactive workshop, participants will explore why critical thinking and human judgment become more important, not less, in an AI-enabled supply chain. Through practical exercises, participants will practice asking better questions, challenging assumptions, identifying missing context and tradeoffs, and making decisions when AI can provide valuable insights, but uncertainty remains. Participants will leave with a practical approach for using AI to augment human reasoning while remembering

Lean Six Sigma: Driving Process Improvement and Operational Excellence
Host: Mark Sebby, Solutions Consultant, UT CIS

Info: Lean Six Sigma gives organizations a practical framework for improving processes, reducing waste, solving problems, and delivering more consistent results. This interactive workshop explores how Lean and Six Sigma principles apply to real-world operational challenges across a variety of business and supply chain settings. Participants will examine practical approaches for identifying improvement opportunities, analyzing processes, addressing root causes, and creating sustainable performance improvements. The workshop is designed to be engaging and application-focused, with flexibility to incorporate relevant tools, examples, exercises, and participant discussion.