Small Group Sessions: Room 1
Session A
Session Title: AI Is Not a Test Strategy: Where Supply Chain Leaders Still Need Automation, Not Predictions
Session Description:
Not every supply chain challenge can be solved by throwing AI at it. Before leaders can trust an AI-driven prediction, they need to know the underlying systems work. When a WMS update or EDI change breaks order fulfillment, a confidence score won’t tell you why. Test automation will. This session shows where AI earns its place in supply chain testing, and where deterministic validation protects you from costly downtime.
Speakers:
Josh Owen, Founder, President & Executive Chairman, Cycle Labs
Casey Brasford – Software Engineering Manager, Polaris
Session B
Session Title: From Fragmentation to Orchestration: Advancing Healthcare Supply Chain Performance Through Control Tower Integration and Intelligent Planning
Session Description:
Discover how Stanford Health Care transformed its supply chain by integrating a digital control tower, intelligent planning, and AI-driven automation to improve visibility, streamline procurement, reduce financial leakage, and align supply chain operations with clinical and financial performance. This session will explore the technology, change management, and governance strategies behind one of healthcare’s most advanced supply chain transformation initiatives.
Speaker:
Omar Devlin, Executive Director, Supply Chain Technology, Stanford Medicine
Session C
Session Title: Modernizing Beverage Distribution: How Southern Glazer’s and Dematic Built a Scalable Fulfillment Network
Session Description:
Join Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits and Dematic for an inside look at how the companies partnered to transform a complex distribution network into a scalable, future-ready operation. Learn how consolidating two legacy facilities into one automated fulfillment center doubled throughput, increased picking capacity by 25%, improved delivery efficiency, and created the flexibility to support continued growth and evolving customer demand.
Speakers:
Paul Havens, Director, Project Management, Dematic
Speakers
-
Carlos OsmaSr. Director, Engineering OperationsSouthern Glazer's Wine & SpiritsCarlos Osma is the Senior Director of Engineering for Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits (Southern Glazer’s), the preeminent total beverage distributor. In his current role, he leads strategic engineering initiatives across 40+ distribution centers, with an emphasis on high-throughput warehouse automation, including racking systems, robotic shuttles, conveyor sortation systems, and Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS). He also partners closely with Operations, Information Technology, and Logistics teams to implement innovative solutions that enhance efficiency, scalability, and operational performance across the Company’s national distribution network.
Carlos joined Southern Glazer’s in 2010 as Corporate Project Manager and a year leader took on roles in the warehouse space. Since then, he has held a series of progressively advancing leadership positions, including SAP Plan to Deliver Internal Warehouse Operations Lead, Senior Manager of Engineering Operations, Director of Engineering Operations, and Director of Engineering. Throughout his tenure, he has led large-scale automation initiatives, SAP warehouse management implementations, and enterprise-wide engineering projects that have supported the Company’s continued growth and operational excellence.
With more than 15 years of engineering and supply chain experience, Carlos has successfully directed the deployment of advanced automation technologies, including robotic solutions, shuttle systems, and warehouse management integrations. He has overseen multimillion-dollar capital projects, managed cross-functional teams, and served as a trusted advisor on automation investment strategies and emerging technologies.
Carlos’s overall career has focused on driving innovation, operational efficiency, and continuous improvement through engineering excellence and strategic leadership. He is passionate about developing high-performing teams and leveraging technology to create safer, more productive distribution environments.
Carlos earned his Master of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Dallas and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the Catholic University of Santiago de Guayaquil. He also holds an Executive Certificate in Leadership from the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business and a Six Sigma Green Belt certification from the University of Texas at Dallas.
-
Casey BasfordSoftware Engineering ManagerPolarisCasey Basford is a technology and operations leader with more than 13 years of experience at Polaris, where he has led software engineering initiatives and enterprise technology solutions supporting manufacturing, distribution, and supply chain operations.
His expertise includes warehouse management systems (WMS), systems integration, software engineering, automation, and technology strategy.
A strong advocate for quality and automation, Casey has helped lead Polaris’ automated testing strategy since partnering with Cycle Labs nearly eight years ago. He has established testing standards and best practices that transformed testing from largely manual processes into scalable, repeatable automation, improving software quality, reducing risk, accelerating deployments, and increasing confidence in enterprise system changes.
-
Josh OwenFounder, President & Executive ChairmanCycle LabsJosh Owen is the President & Executive Chairman of Cycle Labs, which he founded after more than a decade leading a global supply chain consulting firm. With over 19 years of experience deploying enterprise solutions across diverse industries, Josh guided the evolution of Cycle from an idea into today’s patented Cycle® Test Automation Platform, now used by leading global organizations to modernize solution deployment and reduce business risk.
In his role, Josh focuses on product vision, customer and partner engagement, and strategic initiatives that accelerate Cycle’s long-term growth. Known for his emphasis on culture, innovation, and curiosity, Josh encourages his teams and customers to question everything and pursue continuous, iterative improvement.
-
Omar DevlinExec. Dir. – Supply Chain TechnologyStanford Health CareOmar Devlin is Vice President of Supply Chain Technology, Planning & P2P at Stanford Health Care, where he sets strategic direction for technology, data analytics, planning, and procure-to-pay operations across a top-ranked academic health system. He has driven AI adoption initiatives that cut manual P2P intervention by 30%, implemented Control Tower and Command Center capabilities purpose-built for healthcare, and led GPO and value analysis programs delivering tens of millions in savings.
Prior to Stanford, Omar held senior supply chain and program leadership roles at Google, Facebook, Apple, and BlueScope Steel, where he managed multi-billion-dollar infrastructure portfolios, led global teams of up to 200, and delivered over $300M in cumulative cost savings through ERP, TMS, and S&OP transformations. He holds an MBA, an MSc in Logistics, and a BE in Mechanical Engineering, and is ASCM CSCP-certified. Omar recently completed Stanford’s AI-Driven Leadership program and speaks frequently on applying AI and analytics to modern supply chain operations.
-
Paul HavensDir., Project ManagementDematicPaul Havens is Director of Project Management at Dematic, bringing more than 20 years of experience in the material handling and conveyor industry. Since joining Dematic in 1998, he has held a variety of roles within project management, building extensive experience leading complex projects and supporting successful customer implementations.
Paul holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Grand Valley State University.
