The Global Supply Chain Institute

10/15/2026

Everyone says they want strategic partners. But are they willing to build relationships that actually create shared value? 🤔

That question is at the heart of the Season 4 finale of 🍊🎙️, where co-hosts Ted Stank and Tom Goldsby sit down with Kate Vitasek, creator of the Vested® business model, Haslam College of Business - UT faculty member, and one of supply chain's most influential voices on strategic partnerships.

Her insights for organizations seeking more from their trading relationships:
🔸 Stop calling suppliers "strategic partners" while managing them transactionally
🔸 Focus contracts on value creation, not just cost control
🔸 Bring legal teams into the conversation early
🔸 Use governance and trust to unlock innovation and flexibility
🔸 Let AI handle transactions so people can focus on collaboration

Listen on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts 🎧
https://hubs.la/Q04B2zWM0

10/12/2026

The UT Knoxville supply chain management program was ranked No. 3 nationally and No. 3 among public institutions in the latest U.S. News & World Report Best Undergraduate Business Programs rankings. 🏆

For six consecutive years, UT has held the No. 3 public-program ranking, reflecting a foundation built on industry-connected faculty, impactful research, engaged corporate partners, and students who are prepared to lead in a rapidly changing environment.

The rankings also placed the Haslam College of Business - UT No. 25 among public business schools and No. 39 nationally.

To the companies that recruit our students, host internships, serve on our advisory board, and help shape what we teach: thank you for being part of this achievement. 🍊

Read more:
https://hubs.la/Q04zVJq00

09/24/2026

What separates a transactional provider from a true strategic partner? That question is at the heart of the latest 🍊🎙️ podcast episode, where co-hosts Ted Stank and Thomas Goldsby sit down with John Langley, professor emeritus at the Haslam College of Business - UT, founder of the Annual Third-Party Logistics Study, and one of the visionaries behind the UT Supply Chain Forum.

As the 31st Annual 3PL Study enters a new chapter with as an official partner, Langley reflects on more than three decades of research into logistics outsourcing and the relationships that drive supply chain success.

His insights for shippers and logistics providers:
🔸 Strategic partnerships require more than a contract; they require trust and transparency
🔸 Shared information and aligned incentives create better outcomes for both parties
🔸 Re-bidding providers solely on lowest cost can undermine long-term value
🔸 Preparation, education, and adaptability are essential amid freight fraud, AI-enabled threats, and geopolitical disruption

Listen on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts 🎧
https://hubs.la/Q04y52JY0

08/20/2026

What if "transformation" is the wrong way to think about supply chain change? 🦋

In the latest episode of the Tennessee on Supply Chain Management podcast, Haslam College of Business - UT co-hosts Ted Stank and Lance Saunders welcome Heather Kettelhohn, executive director of global supply chain planning and logistics at Cummins Inc and a Advisory Board member, for a candid conversation about what companies are really learning as they try to change their supply chains.

Their conversation digs into the realities behind the buzzword:
🔸 Why "transformation" sets teams up for disappointment—and what to say instead
🔸 "Buy, not build" and "configure, not customize" to avoid the "we're different" trap
🔸 Why layering AI on a broken process just gets you bad decisions faster
🔸 Customer value as the ROI that actually matters
🔸 The people side of change: adoption, burnout, and the "emotional support Excel"

Listen on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts 🎧
https://hubs.la/Q04txtwF0

08/17/2026

Supply chain professionals can't rely on experience alone to stay ahead. Today's leaders need to strengthen their expertise across finance, procurement, and technology to drive results across the enterprise.

Registration is still open for three upcoming SCM Academies from the Haslam College of Business - UT Global Supply Chain Institute:

📊 SCM Finance Academy (Sept. 8-Nov. 8)
Learn to evaluate supply chain decisions through cost, cash flow, and profitability.

🤝 SCM Future-Ready Procurement Academy (Sept. 15-Nov. 15)
Discover how procurement creates strategic value across suppliers and the broader organization.

💡 NEW: SCM Technology Academy (Sept. 22-Nov. 22)
Explore AI, digital orchestration, and the technologies transforming supply chains today.

Designed for working professionals, SCM Academies combine expert faculty instruction, a flexible online format, and practical learning that can be applied immediately on the job.

partner employees receive a 15% tuition discount.

Register today and invest in your team's future. 🎓

The University of Tennessee now offers online microcredentials, providing flexible, skill-based learning to meet today’s job market demands.

07/31/2026

What happens when AI moves beyond answering questions and starts taking action? 🤖

In the latest episode of the Tennessee on Supply Chain Management podcast, Ted Stank and Tom Goldsby welcome back Jason Murray, co-founder and CEO of Shipium, along with Thomas Deakins, to explore the next evolution of artificial intelligence in supply chain management.

The conversation traces AI's progression from machine learning and predictive analytics to generative AI and today's emerging era of agentic AI—systems that can act autonomously on behalf of organizations.

Listen on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts 🎧
https://hubs.la/Q04r8cjw0

07/30/2026

Happy ! 🎉

From Knoxville to companies across the country and around the world, Haslam College of Business - UT students are making an impact this summer.

🍊 287 students in internships
🏢 210 companies represented
📍 29 states across the U.S.
🌎 11 countries around the world
🤝 63 students placed with 28 partner companies

Whether they're working in Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Illinois, California—or halfway around the world—UT undergrads are gaining the experience, relationships, and leadership skills that will shape the future of supply chain management.

To every student representing this summer: we're proud of the impact you're making and the way you're representing our program across the U.S. and around the globe. 🍊

Learn more about recruiting the next generation of leaders:
https://hubs.la/Q04rbMt-0

07/29/2026

The profession is evolving fast. Tariff volatility. AI disruption. Tighter margins. The professionals who will lead through it aren't waiting to see what happens; they're building skills now.

is opening fall registration for its SCM Academies — five focused, online programs in leadership, finance, procurement, technology, and planning, built for working professionals who can't step away from their careers.

First up: The SCM Leadership Academy starts August 7. If you're a manager ready to step into a larger role—or a director sharpening your strategic edge—this 14-week program delivers the skills, credentials, and network to get there. You'll earn a University of Tennessee certification and even three transferable credit hours toward the Haslam College of Business - UT's online Master of Science in Supply Chain Management.

Fall cohorts fill quickly. Register at the link below. 👇

Earn an online supply chain certificate in leadership, finance, procurement, and technology. Fall registration is open.

07/28/2026

At this year's SCM Summer Camp, 20 rising high school juniors and seniors spent a week exploring the world of supply chain management through hands-on learning, industry engagement, leadership development, and team-based problem solving. 🍊

Throughout the week, students toured Clayton facilities, connected with professionals, and tackled a case study inspired by the manufacturing and distribution of interior doors before presenting their solutions at the camp finale.

A special thank-you to Clayton Home Building Group for sponsoring the camp for a second consecutive year and for investing in the next generation of talent.

We're also grateful to the outstanding team from the Haslam College of Business - UT's Office of Access & Community Connections for helping create a transformative experience for these students. And thank you to our undergraduate peer counselors for serving as mentors, role models, and ambassadors throughout the week.

Programs like SCM Summer Camp introduce students to one of the nation's top-ranked supply chain programs while helping them envision what's possible in their future careers.

Learn more about how provides opportunities for students and companies:
https://hubs.la/Q04qTz-j0

07/09/2026

Today every supply chain leader is asking the same question: how do we turn technology investments into measurable business results? 🤔

That's the challenge behind the inaugural SCM Technology Academy from the University of Tennessee's Global Supply Chain Institute. Designed for managers, directors, and high-potential leaders, the 8-week virtual program explores the technologies reshaping supply chains—from AI and analytics to automation, digital orchestration, cybersecurity, and organizational change—while helping participants build a practical roadmap for implementation and adoption.

"This academy prepares leaders to make smart technology decisions and build the data, organizational, and talent foundations that turn technology promises into profit," says Alan Amling, a former industry executive and Haslam College of Business - UT professor.

The academy runs from September 22 through November 22, providing a flexible blend of asynchronous and live online learning.

If your organization is navigating AI, automation, or digital transformation initiatives, this academy was built for you. 🎯

Register today:

UT's 8-week Supply Chain Management Technology Academy prepares managers and directors to evaluate AI, automation, and digital investments and lead implementation that delivers real business value.