Appalachian Highlands Supply Chain and Digital Technologies Summit

Join us for the 2025 Appalachian Highlands Supply Chain and Digital Technology Summit hosted by East Tennessee State University.

This event is FREE to ATTEND. However, Registration is required. Registration can be completed here on the Eventbrite event page.

This event is designed for professionals, educators, students, and industry leaders committed to advancing supply chain management, business management, economic growth, and digital innovation. The Summit focuses on collaboration, learning, and hands-on application of best practices in supply chain management and digital technologies.

Several workshops are planned, covering an array of topics, including:

Six Sigma: Driving Quality & Efficiency – Learn how proven methodologies are being used to improve yield, minimize waste, and strengthen quality management systems across industries.

AI in Action: Strategies & Trends – Discover how artificial intelligence is transforming supply chain decision-making, customer engagement, and operational excellence through real-time analytics and reinforcement learning.

Breaking Barriers to AI Adoption: Building Trust with Human-in-the-Loop (HITL) AI – Explore how balancing human judgment with machine learning fosters trust, encourages collaboration, and accelerates responsible AI adoption.

Lean Management: Delivering Quality Excellence – Gain strategies for building robust systems that ensure product integrity, reduce defects, and elevate customer satisfaction through a culture of continuous improvement.

Turning the Tide: How One Plant Became a Center of Excellence – Hear a real-world story of organizational transformation through leadership, employee engagement, and process improvement.

Breaking Barriers in Leadership: Building the Adaptive Advantage – Examine how adaptability, resilience, and purpose-driven leadership can unlock potential and drive success in any environment.

The Summit starts with a keynote address on supply chain strategy and change in the modern environment/ Following the keynote, attendees will dive into a series of breakout learning sessions, each offering practical insights into timely and critical topics.

Following the breakout sessions, participants will enjoy a networking lunch, designed to help professionals, students, and alumni grow their collaborative social networks and exchange ideas across industries and career stages.

The Summit concludes with a panel discussion, where professors, supply chain leaders, students, and alumni will engage in a dynamic dialogue on the future of supply chain management and digital technology.

Info: Senior Vice President of Global Supply Chain at Nouryon

Info: Raul Gomez, Chief Revenue Officer at IntiCo AI, will illuminate how artificial intelligence is being applied in real-world supply chain scenarios to drive greater efficiency, insight, and responsiveness. With a background in computer science and business leadership, Raul will highlight emerging trends, operational levers, and the role of real-time analytics and reinforcement learning in transforming supply chain performance. Attendees will gain strategic ideas for leveraging AI to enhance decision-making, improve customer engagement, and build adaptive advantage in their organizations.

Info: With more than three decades of experience in quality management and continuous improvement, Mark Sebby brings deep expertise in Lean and Six Sigma methodologies. In this session, he will share how organizations can leverage proven tools and frameworks to drive efficiency, reduce waste, and improve overall performance. Drawing from extensive experience across industries—including over 20 years in automotive—Mark will highlight practical approaches to building a culture of quality, sustaining improvements, and aligning processes with organizational goals. Attendees will gain insights into how Six Sigma principles can create measurable impact in today’s competitive environment

Info: Diane Acevedo has led organizations through extraordinary phases of growth and transformation. In this session, Diane will share her perspective on scaling operations, building high-performing teams, and driving customer-focused innovation. With experience spanning supply chain, logistics, sourcing, and customer experience, she brings a holistic view of how organizations can adapt and thrive in fast-changing environments. Attendees will gain insights into the leadership approaches, strategic frameworks, and cultural practices that enable companies to reinvent their supply chains and sustain long-term success.

Info: With a career spanning manufacturing, workforce development, and leadership training, Tim Waldo brings a unique perspective on how organizations can unlock human potential. In this session, Tim will share insights on building stronger people-development systems, applying systems thinking to workplace challenges, and fostering adaptive skills in today’s fast-changing environment. Attendees will gain high-level strategies for shaping tomorrow’s workforce while leaving with ideas that can be tailored to their own organizational context.

Info: Yamila Harris brings over three decades of executive leadership and technology transformation experience to explore one of today’s most pressing topics: building trust in artificial intelligence. In this session, she will discuss how human-in-the-loop (HITL) approaches can break down barriers to AI adoption by combining human judgment with machine learning. Drawing from her extensive background in organizational change and innovation, Yamila will highlight strategies for fostering trust, encouraging collaboration, and empowering teams to embrace AI responsibly. Attendees will gain insights into balancing technology with human oversight to unlock the full potential of AI in shaping the future of work

Info: Daniel Brown, Plant Manager at Cornerstone Building Brands in Elizabethton, will share the journey of transforming a manufacturing site into a recognized center of excellence. With decades of experience in continuous improvement and leadership across global operations, Dan will highlight how disciplined problem-solving, strategic alignment, and employee engagement can turn performance challenges into sustainable success. This breakout session will provide practical insights into building a culture of continuous learning and quality improvement—offering lessons that participants can adapt to their own organizations.

Info: In today’s fast-changing world, leadership requires more than strategy and execution—it demands adaptability, resilience, and the ability to inspire others through uncertainty. Dr. Chris Libutti will explore how leaders at every level can break through barriers that limit growth, build trust and purpose within their teams, and harness adaptability as a core strength. Attendees will walk away with a renewed perspective on leadership that blends purpose, power, and adaptability to create meaningful and lasting impact.

Info: Kenny Smith, Continuous Improvement Manager at Cornerstone Building Brands, will share lessons from more than three decades in manufacturing on how Lean principles can strengthen quality management. With extensive experience applying Lean, Six Sigma, and Total Productive Maintenance around the world, Kenny will explore how organizations can build robust systems that ensure product integrity, reduce defects, and elevate customer satisfaction. This session emphasizes the role of Lean management in fostering a culture of quality excellence that drives long-term organizational success.

Host or Publisher Matthew T. Jenkins, PhD