Small Group Sessions – Session 4 – Room Studio 2: Strategy & Execution
Moderators: Lucy Alexander, Advisor, KeyChain Consulting & Phil Kafarakis, President & CEO, IFMA The Food Away From Home Association
Navigating Evolving Food Regulations in the Supply Chain
Speaker: Phil Kafarakis, President & CEO, IFMA The Food Away From Home Association
As food regulations continue to evolve, supply chain leaders must stay ahead of shifting compliance requirements to protect their brands and ensure product integrity. This session will explore the latest regulatory developments impacting food production, packaging, labeling, and distribution – along with strategies to adapt efficiently and proactively.
The Power of Partnership – How Gap Found an Automation Solutions Partner with TGW Logistics
Speakers: Jeff Rhodes, Director of Sales, TGW Logistics & Eric Formanek, Senior Director MHE, Engineering Maintenance & Capital, GAP
Discover how the right partnership can unlock transformative results. In this session, learn how Gap teamed up with TGW Logistics to overcome operational challenges and implement cutting-edge automation solutions. Explore the journey from identifying the need to achieving scalable success through collaboration, innovation, and trust. This session highlights the power of strategic partnerships in driving efficiency, agility, and long-term growth in today’s fast-paced retail landscape.
Leading beyond the Silo: Elevating and Enhancing the Supply Chain
Speaker: Steven Melnyk, Professor, University of Michigan
Supply chain management has evolved beyond traditional silos, requiring leaders to engage cross-functionally—both within the organization and across the value chain—to achieve true balance. This session explores the shift in responsibilities, the complexity of modern supply chain roles, and the practical steps needed to implement balanced, integrated strategies.
Speakers
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Dr. Steven Alexander MelnykProfessor EmeritusMichigan State UniversitySteven A. Melnyk (Ph.D., Western – 1981) is Professor of Supply Chain Management (retired/Emeritus) at Michigan State University. He has co-authored 25 books, over 100 refereed journal articles and over 300 practitioner articles.
His research focus includes buyer-supplier relationships (as viewed from the supplier’s perspective), supply chain risk and resilience, strategic supply chain management, supply chain cyber security, and certified management standards. From 2014 to 2016, Dr. Melnyk was a member of the APICS Board of Directors. From 2017 to 2019, Dr. Melnyk had a joint appointment from the University of Newcastle (Australia) where he was the Newcastle Global Innovation Chair in Supply Chain Management. In 2017, the Academy of Management — the Operations and Supply Chain Division — recognized Dr. Melnyk as a Distinguished Scholar in the field. In 2018, Dr. Melnyk received the Withrow Teacher-Scholar Award from the Eli Broad School of Business, Michigan State University, in recognition of his work as both a researcher and a teacher.
He has held appointments at Cranfield (UK), Cambridge (UK), Erasmus University (Rotterdam, the Netherlands), and the University of Newcastle (Australia). He is currently part of the DBX initiative (DoD sponsored) — a research initiative in support of the CHIPS Act. Dr. Melnyk is recognized for this ability to bridge the gap between theory and practice. Since retiring, Dr. Melnyk has now part of the Executive Development Program at Michigan State University.
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Eric FormanekSr. Dir. MHE, Engineering Maintenance & CapitalGap Inc.Strategic leader and manager with extensive experience in Supply Chain and Manufacturing industries. Driven by a passion to lead team development & succession planning, build and realize continuous improvement & growth opportunities — Success.
Work collaboratively with Supply Chain Executive team to build and execute annual operating plans, achieving growth strategies. Develop, select, implement and support automation solutions to decrease labor dependency while improving customer promise and driving lower CPU. Build robust Support team model that address the wide range of technologies, labor market dynamics and deliver exceptional service to our customers and brands.
Successfully converted live Ecom operations from legacy WES platforms to our current standard. Entailed systems integration, automation overhauls and implementation of new MHE. Developed and implemented MHE designs to incorporate Ecom operations within existing DCs. These efforts enabled the deferral of constructing new operations for several years by maximizing existing asset base.
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Lucy B. AlexanderAdvisorKeyChain ConsultingLucy Alexander is a global supply chain executive with deep experience across all aspects of supply in life sciences and consumer products. Most recently she led Lean Digital Excellence for AstraZeneca Global Supply Chain & Strategy, developing robust strategy, Lean, digital, data management and people capabilities across the global organization to create and improve efficient, reliable, innovative global supply chains in an increasingly volatile world. She currently serves as an advisor to Paxafe, a risk-management and decision-intelligence platform for temperature-controlled logistics that works with quality, transportation and supply-chain planning leaders to reduce product loss, optimize network performance, and accelerate decision-making.
During the COVID-19 pandemic she led global supply chain management of AstraZeneca’s novel COVID-19 vaccine, from licensure through late-stage development, approval, commercialization, launch and distribution across approximately 1BN doses to 100+ countries in record time.
Previously she managed commercialization and supply of a pipeline of large-molecule medicines through a number of innovative external partnerships for AstraZeneca, and was responsible for leading 100% growth in supply of AstraZeneca’s live-virus flu vaccine. Prior to AstraZeneca Ms. Alexander held a number of roles in supply management at Johnson & Johnson and Novartis.
Ms. Alexander holds an MBA from the Darden School of Business Administration at the University of Virginia, as well as a BA and MA from Oxford University in the UK.
In her free time Ms. Alexander rehabilitates rescue dogs and helps re-vitalize communities.
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Phil KafarakisPresident & CEOIFMA The Food Away from Home AssociationPhil Kafarakis is a global food industry executive with more than 40 years of leadership experience in food manufacturing, as well as managing non-profit food industry associations. Currently, Phil serves as President & CEO of IFMA The Food Away from Home Association, a U.S. trade group representing food, beverage, packaging, and equipment manufacturing companies within the $1.5 Tillion Food-Away-From-Home industry.
Phil is credited with the development and execution of the current “LevelUp2027” strategic plan, which has redefined membership benefits, invested in technology and marketing, while expanding the education and news platforms of the association. The plan has produced exponential revenue and membership growth along with increased attendance at the organization’s signature conferences.
Prior to his IFMA appointment, Phil served as President of the Specialty Food Association (SFA) representing more than 4,000 small and emerging food entrepreneurs in the $160 Billion U.S. Specialty Food Industry and previously, as Chief Innovation & Member Advancement Officer at the National Restaurant Association (NRA), the leading business association for the $900 Billion restaurant industry. Preceding his executive leadership with the non-profits, Phil successfully led and managed foodservice and retail businesses at McCormick & Co., Cargill, Jones Dairy Farm, and Kraft.
Mr. Kafarakis was born in Athens, Greece and immigrated to the U.S. with his family as a child. He is a graduate of Northern Arizona University (BS Business) and Georgetown University (Exec. MBA), a Forbes contributor, a SchwabTV network contributor, and frequently quoted and sought after food industry speaker who also volunteers on several industry Boards.
