Panel: The Future of Supply Chain Talent: Rethinking Education, Training, and Career Pathways
Moderator: Dan Pellathy, Director of Corporate Programming in Supply Chain Management, University of Tennessee
Panelists:
Ron Volans, Head of NA Janssen Deliver, Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine
The traditional pipeline for supply chain talent is being disrupted by automation, digital technology, and changing workforce expectations. Companies are experimenting with new ways to attract and develop talent, including non-degree credential programs, expanded internships, industry-university partnerships, and accelerated upskilling initiatives. In this session, supply chain leaders join University of Tennessee professor Daniel Pellathy to explore how the talent pipeline is evolving and what organizations must do to ensure their workforce can keep pace with technological transformation.
Speaker
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Dr. Dan PellathyDir. of Corporate Programming in Supply Chain ManagementUniversity of TennesseeDan Pellathy is Faculty of Practice and Director of Corporate Programming in Supply Chain Management at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville’s Haslam College of Business. Pellathy holds a Ph.D. in Supply Chain Management from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, an MBA/MPIA with a focus on international economics from the University of Pittsburgh, and a BA in philosophy and anthropology from Cornell University.
Pellathy’s professional background includes enterprise risk management and he continues to actively consult with companies across a broad range of issues related to strategic supply chain planning, organizational alignment, supply chain risk management, and end-to-end operational excellence.
Pellathy’s research has been published in academic journals including Journal of Business Logistics, Journal of Supply Chain Management, International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, and International Journal of Logistics Management. He is also co-author of numerous papers on forward-thinking topics in supply chain management. This work has been featured in practitioner and popular outlets including Supply Chain Quarterly, Supply Chain Management Review, The Conversation, and the Wall Street Journal. He is also co-author of “Advanced Practice Playbook: Right-to-Left Planning” (Great River Learning Publishing, Copyright 2026).
