Supply Chain Symposium

The Future of Supply Chain Management –
Balancing Competitive Priorities of Profitability,
Sustainability and Resilience

May 1st, 2023, Weasler Auditorium, Ӱ

  • 08.30 am - Registration and Networking
  • 09.00 am - Symposium Keynote - John Jacobson
  • 10.15 am - Symposium Panel Discussion - John Jacobson, Barry Greenhouse and Adam Koontz, moderated by Acting Keyes Dean, Tim Hanley

John Jacobson

Barry Greenhouse

Adam Koontz

John Jacobson
Chief Hardware and Supply Chain Officer
Lime Micromobility

Barry Greenhouse
Senior Vice President and President, Global Supply Chain and Customer Experience
Grainger

Adam Koontz
Director of Strategic Sourcing
Zurn Elkay Water Solutions

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Speaker biographies

John Jacobson

John is presently Chief Hardware and Supply Chain Officer for Lime, the global leader of shared electric micromobility transportation services.  Over his 30+ year career, John has led operations, manufacturing, engineering, sourcing, quality and new product Introduction activities in high-growth, high-tech, dynamic environments ranging from startups to $50B+ enterprises.  He has a proven track record leading and scaling operations and developing global supply chain capabilities – across multiple industries, including automotive electronics, IT infrastructure, consumer electronics, and light electric vehicles. He has broad international business experience sourcing, managing, and partnering with suppliers of technology, components, systems, and manufacturing services. John has built and developed global teams, and has integrated them across cultural and geographic boundaries.  John was born and raised in Janesville, Wisconsin. He earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical and computer engineering from Ӱ in 1990, and his Master’s in Manufacturing Systems Engineering from Stanford University in 1993. John lives in Santa Barbara, California, with his wife Krissa.

Barry Greenhouse

Barry Greenhouse is the Senior Vice President and President, Global Supply Chain and Customer Experience of W.W. Grainger, Inc., a $15.2 billion leading broad line distributor with operations primarily in North America, Japan and the United Kingdom. He is responsible for all aspects of the customer experience from order to delivery, as well as the overall design and capabilities for Grainger’s industry-leading fulfillment network. This includes the North American distribution centers (DC), customer service centers and U.S. and Canadian Branch Network, as well transportation, inventory planning and investment, and supplier performance management.

Since joining Grainger in 2004, Barry has held several roles of progressive responsibility in the supply chain organization. He was promoted to his current role in November 2019. The distribution network Barry manages is highly automated and geographically dispersed, providing next-day service to customers in 99 percent of U.S. postal codes and shipping around 145,000 orders a day. Barry’s leadership was instrumental during Grainger’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring continuity in supply chain operations as an essential business providing critical products to help customers maintain a safe, healthy and productive work environment. He started his Grainger career as an Operations Manager at the Los Angeles Distribution Center in Mira Loma, Calif.

Prior to joining Grainger, Barry held roles in operations, sales, marketing, and project management at McMaster-Carr and Webvan. Barry holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and an MBA, both from the University of California, Los Angeles.

He currently serves on the board of trustees for Grainger-affiliated MonotaRO, a Japan-based leading eCommerce direct marketer of maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) products. He also serves on the advisory board of the Marquette Center for Supply Chain Management and the board of FIRST Illinois Robotics, which designs accessible, innovative programs that motivate young people to pursue education and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

Adam Koontz

Adam is a Sr. Director of Strategic Sourcing for Zurn Elkay Water Solutions responsible for our Global, Direct Material Supply Chain. He has been with Zurn Elkay (ZE) for 11 years and have an undergraduate degree from Penn State in Mechanical Engineering Technology. The first 5 years of his ZE careerhe spent in various roles in operations, engineering, & project management. Adam spent the last 6 years with ZE within the Supply Chain team, and have progressed from a Purchasing Manager into Category Management, to now his current role. Adam enjoys working in Supply Chain is it exposes him to different cultures all over the globe and the ability to balance competing priorities while putting together the “Sourcing Puzzle” in a way that aligns with the companies goals. In his free time, he enjoys boating, watersports, skiing, golfing, watching most sports, and spending time with family and friends.