The Global Supply Chain Institute

After nearly two decades away from the classroom, Steven Mull—a father of three—made the decision to go back to school. What started as a small step through an employer-supported program turned into something much bigger: a Master’s in Supply Chain Management through Vols Online. 🍊

Steven’s journey included career changes, financial setbacks, and the realities of balancing work and family. But it also included something just as powerful: support, persistence, and the realization that it’s never too late to start.

Today, he’s working toward his 2027 graduation, learning from Haslam College of Business - UT faculty, supported by his student success team, and even competing with his son on grades along the way.

His story is a reminder that many of the biggest barriers are the ones we place on ourselves.

So, what’s stopping you?

Read Steven’s story and learn more about the MS SCM Online:

Continuing His Education After a 19 Year Break He Thought College Just Wasn’t for Him. Now He’s Earning His Master’s Degree Online.

What if differentiation comes from focusing on what others avoid? 🤔

In the latest episode of the Tennessee on Supply Chain Management podcast, Ted Stank and Tom Goldsby sat down with Wally Shaw, CEO of Red Stag Fulfillment, to explore how specialization can become a competitive advantage.

By focusing on big, heavy, bulky products—an area many providers avoid—Red Stag has built a model centered on service discipline, careful handling, and accountability. 📦

The conversation dives into the forces shaping today’s logistics environment:
🔸 AI adoption and real-world applications
🔸 Tariffs and geopolitical uncertainty
🔸 Shifting global sourcing patterns
🔸 Inventory strategy and network decisions

It’s a practical look at how focused strategy—and knowing what you do best—can create a lasting advantage.

Listen on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts 🎧
https://hubs.la/Q04lGRT50

The Annual Third-Party Logistics (3PL) Study has officially come home to Tennessee. 🍊

First launched by Professor Emeritus John Langley in 1996, the study now welcomes the Global Supply Chain Institute as a formal co-sponsor, alongside leading industry partners—marking a new chapter for one of the most trusted research efforts in logistics.

The 2027 edition will explore:
🔸 How artificial intelligence is being used across supply chains
🔸 Alignment and collaboration between shippers and 3PLs
🔸 The growing impact of freight fraud • Ongoing geopolitical disruptions

The survey closes July 17, with results to be presented at the CSCMP EDGE Conference in Nashville in October.

Take the 2027 3PL Survey:
https://hubs.la/Q04lBz2C0

Learn more about the Annual 3PL Study: https://hubs.la/Q04lBKFr0

Industrial real estate isn’t just reacting to shifts but helping predict them.

In our latest episode of Tennessee on Supply Chain Management, Todd Steffen (KBC Advisors) joins Haslam College of Business - UT co-hosts Ted Stank and Tom Goldsby to break down how the industrial market is evolving and what it signals for the broader economy.

Key takeaways:
⚡ Data centers are reshaping site selection — competing directly with distribution for power, land and infrastructure
📉 Sublease space + landlord concessions are creating hidden opportunities for occupiers
🤖 Automation + AI are finally delivering productivity gains inside the four walls
📊 Industrial real estate continues to act as a leading indicator of supply chain health

For leaders, this conversation is a clear reminder that what’s happening in real estate today has the potential to affect operations tomorrow.

Listen on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts 🎧
https://hubs.la/Q04h91th0

At this year’s Haslam College of Business - UT Awards, several supply chain management faculty members were recognized for their leadership, research excellence, and real‑world impact. 🏆🍊

🔸 Alex Scott was named an inaugural recipient of the Rigor & Relevance Distinguished Research Award, Haslam’s highest honor for research achievement. Alex’s scholarship in , logistics, public policy, and sustainability exemplifies what it means to pair academic rigor with industry impact. Alex regularly engages policymakers and industry leaders to ensure research informs real‑world decisions. He also serves as a project leader with the Advanced Supply Chain Collaborative (ASCC).

🔸 Seongkyoon Jeong was honored with the Rising Star Research Award, recognizing early‑career faculty who have already made outstanding contributions to their discipline. SK’s research addresses some of today’s most pressing challenges, including cybersecurity and technology‑enabled operations. His work has been published in several premier journals and is helping shape how scholars and practitioners think about an increasingly connected global economy.

🔸 Lance Saunders received the Richard Sanders Faculty Leadership Award, honoring exceptional leadership in graduate and executive education. As Professional MBA Academic Director, Lance is known for his mentorship, curriculum innovation, and industry‑engaged learning. He also serves as a project leader at ASCC, where his work translates research excellence into applied industry impact.

Learn more about our faculty:
https://hubs.la/Q04gwQts0

Season 4 of the 🎙️🍊 podcast continues with a live conversation from the Supply Chain Forum on the realities of oil and gas supply chains—and why surety of supply, not cost, is the procurement priority that keeps leaders up at night.

In this episode, host Ted Stank and guest co‑host Lance Saunders speak with Tom Johnson, VP of procurement at HF Sinclair, an independent petroleum refiner with operations across the mid‑continent, Southwest, and Rocky Mountain regions.

Recorded live at the Supply Chain Forum, the conversation explores one of the most essential—and misunderstood—industries in the global economy.

🎧 Listen here:
https://hubs.ly/Q04fxKY80

What are leaders learning right now? 🌍

Our 10 Key Takeaways from the Spring 2026 Supply Chain Forum capture real lessons shared by executives and practitioners across more than 75 partner companies—on AI adoption, data readiness, resilience, and leadership under frequent disruption.

These aren’t predictions or hypotheticals, but what leading companies are prioritizing and putting into practice today.

Read the full article:

10 Takeaways from the Spring 2026 Supply Chain Forum Top insights from the Spring 2026 UT Supply Chain Forum, covering AI, energy transition, resilience, talent, and leadership.

No. 1 nationwide for empirical supply chain research 🏆

The Haslam College of Business - UT has been ranked No. 1 in the United States for empirical management research by the SCM Journal List. UT has placed in the ranking’s top five for 12 consecutive years.

“Some of the world’s foremost supply chain minds call Haslam home, and this ranking is a fitting testament to their exceptional capabilities," said department head Yemisi Bolumole.

For partners, this distinction reinforces the value of engaging with a research community whose work is shaping how supply chains evolve today and in the future.

🔗 Read more:

UT Haslam No. 1 Nationwide for Supply Chain Management Empirical Research - Haslam College of Business The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Haslam College of Business was recognized as the No. 1 producer of empirical supply chain research by the SCM Journal List in its annual ranking.