Vicente Fox, former President of Mexico

A visionary leader with a deep understanding of the economic and social challenges facing Latin America, President Fox is one of the world’s most important voices on the contemporary geo-political landscape and the role of business in the developing world.

David Allen
Senior Vice President Operations and Supply Chain
Del Monte Foods

David Allen was appointed Senior Vice President, Operations and Supply Chain for Del Monte Foods in June 2006, having served as a consultant to Del Monte beginning in November 2005. Prior to that, Mr. Allen was Chief Operating Officer of U.S. Foodservice, a division of Royal Ahold, from 2004 to 2005 and Chief Executive Officer of WorldChain, Inc., a supply chain services company, from 2001 to 2004. He served as Vice President, Worldwide Operations of Dell, Inc. from 1999 to 2000. From 1991 to 1999, Mr. Allen held a variety of positions at Frito-Lay North America, a division of Pepsico, Inc., most recently as its Senior Vice President, Operations. Mr. Allen also serves on the board of directors of American Italian Pasta Company.

Jake Barr
Director, Manufacturing, Planning and Logistics
The Procter & Gamble Company

A 28-year employee of the Procter & Gamble Company, Jake Barr directs the Global Supply Network Design and capability efforts for the Company, in addition to being the functional Director for Customer Service, Logistics, and Planning.

Mr. Barr began his career with P&G in Finance in Risk Analysis and then moved into Operations. He has worked across the breadth of P&G’s business units during his career and was one of the original architects for P&G’s demand-driven supply strategy. This work has become the key enabler to P&G’s effort to make the consumer and shopper the primary focus of the supply network. He brings with him experience in building supply network capability globally through assignments in Asia, Latin America, and North America. He currently serves on MIT’s Supply Chain 2020 Industry Advisory Council and AMR Research’s Consumer Products Industry Advisory Board.

Jean-Jacques Devaux
Chief Procurement Officer
Schlumberger

Schlumberger Ltd., a $23 billion global oilfield services company. He has served in this capacity since 2002.

Schlumberger is the largest oilfield services company in the world with operations in 100 countries. It employs 80,000 people.

Mr. Devaux has been with Schlumberger since 1981. Since then, he has held numerous positions in management, finance, and treasury in the Middle East, Asia, North America, and Europe.

Mr. Devaux earned his MBA at the Institute d’Etudes Politiques de Paris and a Law degree from the Paris University. He and his wife, Christine, live in Paris. They have two children.

Juan Jose Favela
IT Planning Director
CEMEX

Juan Jose Favela is the Planning Director of the Processes & IT (P&IT) function at CEMEX, the world’s leading supplier of ready-mix concrete and the third-largest manufacturer of cement. With customers in over 50 countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia, CEMEX has annual revenue of about $22 billion and employs more than 60,000 employees.

Mr. Favela has more than 10 years of experience evaluating and redesigning business processes in CEMEX, including the definition and the implementation of IT tools, and leading multinational and multifunctional teams in Latin America. As one of the original builders and implementers of the CEMEX Way model, he leveraged his expertise to incorporate divisions in Europe, Asia, and Latin America into this standard model.

In his current position, Mr. Favela is responsible for managing the P&IT function’s business plan and strategic objectives, ensuring alignment to CEMEX’s global strategy. In doing so, he oversees the portfolio of initiatives and budget, guides vendor relations, and defines the technology evolution strategy for the company.

Prior to joining CEMEX, Mr. Favela worked as an accounting external auditor for Price Waterhouse, with a tax planning specialization, where he earned several awards. He holds a Master in International Management (MIMLA) from the Thunderbird American Graduate School of International Management.

Jim Liefer
Vice President of Supply Chain Logistics
Walmart.com

As vice president of supply chain logistics at Walmart.com, Jim Liefer oversees all fulfillment operations, including procurement, distribution, and delivery, for the online business of the world’s largest retailer. He joined the company in June 2004 as director of supply chain and was promoted to vice president in April 2007.

Mr. Liefer manages a broad team across a variety of functions, including inbound product allocation, outbound distribution, customer order fulfillment, the distributor network, customer advocacy, store integration initiatives, and supply chain logistics strategies, including the Drop Ship Vendor program. In addition, he also oversees all fulfillment system development initiatives.

Prior to joining Walmart.com, Mr. Liefer spent 14 years at UPS Supply Chain Solutions and Fritz Companies in roles focused on developing and implementing customer-facing web applications, import and export systems, data center operations, and global data network operations. Before that time, he spent nine years in banking operations.

Walmart.com is a wholly owned subsidiary of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas. Walmart.com’s offices are located in Brisbane, California.

Angel Mendez
Senior Vice President Global Supply Chain Management Cisco Systems

Angel L. Mendez is Senior Vice President of Global Supply Chain Management. He leads a global organization of approximately 2,000 employees who are responsible for helping enable Cisco’s growth and innovation through industry-leading supply chain management practices. This includes supplier management, manufacturing and product operations, advanced sourcing, reverse logistics, manufacturing technology and quality, and demand management and planning.

Mr. Mendez brings more than 24 years of management experience to Cisco Systems, along with proven expertise in developing and implementing comprehensive strategies to improve operations and supply chain performance. Prior to Cisco, he served as Senior Vice President of Global Operations for PalmOne, Inc., where his operational excellence and transformation program fueled the company’s turnaround and return to profitability.

During his career, Mr. Mendez has held leadership roles at leading companies in a variety of industries. A graduate of GE’s Manufacturing Management Program, he served 11 years with General Electric in increasingly responsible manufacturing and supply-chain management assignments. At Allied Signal, he led the aerospace sector’s international sourcing operation and later lead supply-chain efforts at Aerospace Equipment Systems, then AlliedSignal’s largest business unit. While at Citigroup, he served as a division executive for global procurement, leading the consolidation of supply chain management activities during the merger of Citicorp and Travelers Group. At Gateway, Inc. he was responsible for global supply chain management, facilitating operational improvements by upgrading the supply chain organization, improving supplier quality, and implementing Six Sigma.

A native of Havana, Cuba, Mr. Mendez’s business background includes extensive international business experience in Canada, Europe, Latin America, and Asia. He was named by Business 2.0 Magazine to the “Business 2.0 Dream Team-All Star Executives any Company Would Kill For.” In 2005, Hispanic Business Magazine placed him on their list of the 20 Most Influential Hispanic Executives in Corporate America. He was also recently named on MACSA’s list of the 100 Most Influential Latinos in Silicon Valley.

Mr. Mendez holds a Master’s degree in business administration from The Crummer School at Rollins College and a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Lafayette College. He serves on the board of directors of the Supply Chain Management Institute at the University of San Diego and the Lafayette College Board of Trustees. He is also a member of the board of directors at Springboard Forward, a Silicon Valley-based nonprofit organization dedicated to deploying innovative coaching and career development programs for low-wage earners.

Simon Osborn
Vice President of Logistics
7-Eleven

• Simon Osborn has been in the logistics and distribution field for the past 19 years, 18 years of them in the Retail Environment. He joined 7-Eleven in October 1999 as Director of Logistics. Prior to joining 7-Eleven, Mr. Osborn served as Director Planning and Strategy, Logistics and Distribution for the Rite-Aid Corporation, a 3,400-store drug retailer. His responsibilities as VP of Logistics include the end-to-end responsibility of the demand chain and the implementation of a Managed Distribution strategy across all components of the 7-Eleven North American Business to provide world-class quality service to 7-Eleven’s 6,000+ stores and customers, including:
  
  
  • A dedicated Fresh Daily Delivery (FDD) Network consisting of 24 distribution operations, serving approx. 5,100 stores with daily deliveries of fresh food
  • A wholesale service network, which provides service to all North American Stores
  • Oversight of the DSD delivery network, to best support customer and store needs.
  • Ongoing development and implementation of the Logistics Strategy.

  He is also a member of 7-Eleven’s executive committee, which is responsible for development and implementation of 7-Eleven’s strategy.
  
  Born just outside London, England, Mr. Osborn earned a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Brighton University. He moved to the United States in 1995, and now lives in Richardson, Texas with his wife and two sons.

Robert Salerno
Vice President Supply Chain Operations Excellence
Johnson & Johnson

Robert Salerno was named WW Vice President of Supply Chain/Operations Excellence in 2006. In this role, he is responsible for ensuring a capable supply chain for Johnson & Johnson products across all three segments of its business, as well as driving corporate-wide initiatives targeted to benefit our manufacturing operations.

Previous to this role, Mr. Salerno was President of Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc., and a member of the Ethicon Endo-Surgery Global Management Board. In this role, he provided market leadership for one of Johnson & Johnson’s high-growth medical device businesses. In addition, he was responsible for affiliate business marketing development, as well as overseeing the Ethicon Endo-Surgery Institute, a World Class Professional Education Centre.

Mr. Salerno began his career with Johnson & Johnson in 1980 as an industrial engineer with Ethicon, Inc. in New Jersey. After several manufacturing and engineering assignments in multiple plant locations, he was named plant manager for the startup of the Ethicon Endo-Surgery facility in Cincinnati, Ohio. He remained in this position until 1996, when he was promoted to the position of Vice President, Worldwide Business Development and Strategic Planning, and became a member of the Ethicon Endo-Surgery Board of Directors.

In 1998, Mr. Salerno served as Vice President of Operations for Ethicon Endo-Surgery, leading a 1,300-person team with worldwide responsibility for production and sourcing. In this capacity, he established a leadership and achievement environment that has become one of benchmarks for Operations Teams within the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies. In 1999, he returned to Ethicon in Somerville, New Jersey, when he was promoted to the position of Vice President & General Manager of the Ethicon Products Division.

Mr. Salerno stayed in this role until 2001, when he was promoted to Worldwide President, Johnson & Johnson Wound Management. As Worldwide President, he was a member of the Franchise Global Board, providing Business Unit leadership for teams in the United States, Europe, and Latin America.

He has a broad background of functional experiences, coupled with a diverse understanding of Johnson & Johnson and the healthcare marketplace.

Jim Varilek
Vice President of Supply Chain
Dow Chemical

Jim Varilek joined Dow in August 1982 in the Marketing Development Program. In 1983, he moved to Field Sales in the Basic Plastics Department in Charlotte, North Carolina. He relocated in 1984 to Richmond, Virginia, in Field Sales for Polyethylene. From 1986-1990, he held a variety of Marketing assignments before being named Product Manager for DOWLEX* LLDPE Resins in 1990 and Group Product Manager for North American Polyethylene in 1992.

In 1994, Mr. Varilek was named Global Process Leader for Value-Based Management and assumed additional responsibility for China Business Development in 1995. He was named Global Business Director for the Epoxy Products & Intermediates Business in October 1997, and in January 2004 was named General Manager for the Advanced Electronic Materials Business. Prior to being named to his current position in February 2006, he was Business Director for the Chlorinated Organics Business.

Mr. Varilek has a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and his Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Michigan.

Greg Aimi
Research Director
AMR Research

Greg Aimi brings more than 20 years of business experience in the supply chain, technology, marketing, and high technology industries to his position as a research director in AMR Research’s Market Services group. In his current role, Greg provides research and best practice analysis in supply chain management, global trade, and visibility and event management. Greg helps clients understand the impact of these areas on demand-driven supply networks.

Greg pioneered the development of the supply chain execution category of software. This category is composed of the integration of transportation, warehousing and distribution, order fulfillment, and the associated movement of goods and information across an integrated supply chain network. His work has focused on the continual re-optimization of supply chain functions in response to the daily disruptions and dynamic change of the real world.

Before joining AMR Research, Greg held several senior management positions. He worked at RedPrairie and as VP and CTO of two early and mid-stage software companies.

Greg received his BA from the University of North Texas.

David Aquino
Research Director
AMR Research

David Aquino is a research director in AMR Research’s Industry Value Chain Strategies Service. He is responsible for the research and analysis of market trends and developments in apparel, footwear, beverage, and direct store delivery. He also conducts research on demand driven inventory management.

Before joining AMR Research, David was the vice president of supply chain at Aramark Uniform and Career Apparel, where he was responsible for developing the process, organization, and proprietary supply chain technology to support the direct sale apparel organization and several key integration efforts between the three operating divisions.

Prior to Aramark, David was the vice president of supply chain at AAi. Foster Grant, Inc.

David earned his BS in marketing from Syracuse University and his MBA from Fordham University. He is certified in production and inventory management from the Association for Operations Management (APICS).

Jane Barrett
Research Director
AMR Research

As an analyst with AMR Research’s Industry Value Chain Strategies Service, Jane Barrett specializes in industrial manufacturing research. Jane also covers supply chain execution trends and best practices in sourcing and procurement, order management, and collaborative commerce.

Jane brings over 20 years of experience in consulting and ERP to her role as a research director. She has helped global multi-nationals and mid-market manufacturers plan, design, and implement solutions that achieve their business objectives, and she has led the development of tools and methodologies to support clients in project management, process design, lean manufacturing, and performance metrics. Jane has also helped manufacturers address business initiatives involving globalization, operations, supply chain, compliance, standardization, and restructuring.

Jane was the vice president of professional services for Glovia International prior to joining AMR Research. Prior to joining Glovia International, Jane worked for seven years at QAD Inc., where she was responsible for the North American consulting organization

Jane was also the joint owner and director of OpenPro Ltd. in South Africa, the QAD distributor for sub-Saharan Africa. Earlier in her career, Jane worked for Hewlett-Packard and Unilever in South Africa.

Jane earned her BA from the University of Natal, South Africa.

Robert Bois
Research Director
AMR Research

Rob Bois works as a research director in AMR Research’s Market Services team with a specific focus on customer management. He is dedicated to the detailed study of business processes and software related to sales, service, and support functions. Rob is specifically responsible for researching, analyzing, and writing about channel management, sales tools, marketing automation and software-as-a-service. Rob works with AMR Research’s clients across multiple industries, including consumer products, discrete and process manufacturing, high-tech, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and automotive.

Rob joined AMR Research in 1999 as a client research analyst, where he was responsible for research and analysis on industry trends and developments in the enabling technologies market. Rob has also been involved in multiple IT projects related to internal customer management software and strategies.

Before joining AMR Research, Rob worked as a developer and project manager for several different enterprise software suites at Computer Associates.

Rob received his BA in computer science from Gettysburg College.

David Brown
Research Director
AMR Research

David Brown brings more than 25 years of IT leadership and operational experience in the global consumer products, manufacturing, logistics, retail, and consulting industries to his position as a research director at AMR Research. His coverage areas include enterprise applications, IT management, enterprise performance management, and applications portfolio management.

Before joining AMR Research, David was the vice president of merchandising and supply chain systems at Staples, Inc.

Prior to Staples, David held senior leadership positions in various companies including: Stride Rite, Polaroid, Whittman-Hart, Malden Mills and Cranston Print Works.

David has a BA from Unity College, an MBA from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, and an MS in computer science from Rennselaer Polytechnic Institute. He also is a retired U.S. Army Major.

Michael Burkett
Vice President
AMR Research

Mike Burkett is regarded as the leading expert in product lifecycle management (PLM), having co-authored the first industry publication that defined the market. As the vice president of AMR Research’s Industry Value Chain Strategies team, Mike draws on more than 15 years of experience introducing and supporting products from concept to end-of-life.

Over the past eight years at AMR Research, Mike, a Six Sigma Master Blackbelt, has conducted a variety of research on software developments and business issues. He currently focuses on product management and innovation, and specializes in value chain issues that are specific to aerospace and defense companies.

Prior to joining AMR Research, Mike worked as a senior manufacturing engineer at The Foxboro Co. Prior to Foxboro, Mike was a motion control applications engineer for EG&G.

Mike is a member of the Product Development Management Association (PDMA) and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME). He has been quoted in numerous trade publications and in Fortune and The Wall Street Journal.

Mike holds a BS in manufacturing engineering technology from Wentworth Institute of Technology and an MBA from Babson College.

Lora Cecere
Research Director
AMR Research

Lora Cecere is a research director in AMR Research’s Industry Value Chain Strategies Service. She is responsible for the research and analysis of market trends and developments in consumer products and retail. Prior to her current role, Lora was a research director on AMR Research’s supply chain team.

Before joining AMR Research, Lora held progressive roles in corporate marketing, product marketing, and sales at Manugistics and Descartes Systems Group. Prior to her tenure in the software industry, Lora worked in logistics, engineering project management, procurement, new product launch, and manufacturing operations for Procter & Gamble, Kraft General Foods, Clorox, and Dreyer’s Ice Cream. She also spent two years at Gartner, where she was a supply chain analyst.

Lora received her BS in chemical engineering from the University of Tennessee and her MBA from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. She has also completed postgraduate studies in organizational development at Georgetown University.

John Davies
Vice President
AMR Research

As vice president of AMR Research’s Sustainability Forum, John Davies applies his practical business approach, experience performing due diligence for venture capital firms, and knowledge of leading edge technologies to help clients meet their objectives. John has over 25 years of experience in technology, software, and manufacturing.

John launched AMR Research’s Green Technology Research service in 2006 to leverage and extend the organization’s strong history of providing independent, objective research and advisory services focused on technology and supply chain management.

Prior to AMR Research, John was the co-founder and served on the board of directors of Optum, Inc., a provider of supply chain software and services targeting retail, high tech, and industrial distribution firms. John was also the co-founder and director of the computer integrated manufacturing division of Integrated Automation, a Teknekron Corporation.

John received his master’s degree from the University of Delaware and his bachelor’s degree from SUNY Fredonia.

Chris Fletcher
Research Director
AMR Research

Chris Fletcher brings more than 25 years of industry experience to his role as a research director at AMR Research. A well-known industry analyst and enterprise applications veteran, Chris is responsible for research and coverage in customer-facing technologies, customer relationship management, and enterprise mobility as part of AMR Research’s Enterprise Research Strategies Service.

Prior to joining AMR Research, Chris was director of alliance and solutions marketing at Nokia. Chris was also a vice president and research director with Aberdeen Group for six years. Chris has held a variety of business development and management positions within established and start-up technology companies such as Action Technologies, AT&T, Staffware plc, and Symbol Technologies.

Chris has been quoted in many leading trade and business publications including The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and InformationWeek.

Chris received his BA in philosophy from the University of New Hampshire, and his MBA from UNH’s Whittemore School of Business and Economics.

Tony Friscia
President and CEO
AMR Research

Tony Friscia founded AMR Research in 1986 with a vision of creating industry-specific research that the world’s leading companies could use to leverage technology and to shape current and future business strategies. Today, this vision has become a research advisory firm recognized for its ideas, objectivity, quality of research, and positive impact on clients’ businesses. As president and CEO, Tony oversees all research and client service strategy.

During the past 20 years, Tony has significantly expanded the breadth and depth of coverage for AMR Research, enabling the firm to become one of the leading providers of business research as well as domain experts within the industrial, retail, consumer goods, and life sciences industries.

Under Tony’s leadership, AMR Research was instrumental in defining the manufacturing execution systems market and creating the Manufacturing Execution Systems Association (MESA). He also collaborated with PRTM to create the Supply Chain Operations Reference (SCOR) model and establish the Supply Chain Council to drive consensus among large organizations on how to develop and execute supply chain strategies. Today, both of these associations continue to exist as successful non-profits serving the industry.

Prior to founding the company, Tony held a variety of management positions with technology product companies as well as leading market research and consulting firms. He started his career at IBM in the Systems Communications Division.

Tony is a featured speaker at leading industry conferences and has been widely published within business and trade publications. He has been interviewed by the international business and trade media, as well as CNN and CNBC, for his opinions on the future of the technology industry.

Tony is a graduate of Vassar College.

Rob Garf
Vice President and General Manager
AMR Research

Rob Garf leads AMR Research's Retail Strategies Service. He brings more than 15 years of experience with leading retail organizations to his role as vice president. Rob advises line-of-business and technology executives regarding store and cross-channel operations. He covers specific processes and technologies such as workforce and task management, customer intelligence and loyalty, advanced selling strategies, and cross-channel operations.

Prior to joining AMR Research, Rob worked for several retailers in various parts of the organization, including home office, call center, warehouse, and stores. Most recently, Rob worked for Lids, a leading cross-channel specialty retailer. At Lid’s, Rob led cross-channel system development and marketing by integrating the new e-commerce channel with pre-existing operations.

Rob is a frequent speaker at retail events and has been quoted as an expert in trade and top tier publications, such as RIS News, The Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek, and Internet Retailer.

Lee Geishecker
Vice President and General Manager
AMR Research

Lee Geishecker brings more than 25 years of financial, operations, and software industry experience to her role as the vice president and general manager of AMR Research’s Enterprise Strategies Service. Her coverage area includes enterprise applications, IT management, enterprise performance management, and applications portfolio management, which all encompass a cross-industry perspective.

Lee has been an industry analyst for over 10 years, covering ERP selection, financial management systems, administrative applications, corporate performance management, and business intelligence.

Before joining AMR Research, Lee served as research vice president at Gartner, where she was the primary analyst covering Oracle Corporation. Prior to that, Lee spent time in both the user and vendor communities. She held senior management positions in various software companies including: Lawson Software, Marcam Corporation, Cullinet Software, and Telco Systems.

Lee is frequently quoted in leading business publications including BusinessWeek, InformationWeek, The Financial Times, and The Wall Street Journal. She speaks frequently at industry trade conferences, user group meetings, and executive conferences.

Lee graduated with a BS from Bentley College and an MBA from Northeastern University.

Chris Goodhue
Vice President and General Manager
AMR Research

Chris Goodhue brings nearly 20 years of experience in the technology sector to his role as the vice president and general manager of AMR Research's Market Services team. He possesses broad knowledge of the strategic issues affecting senior executives and IT professionals on both the supply and demand sides of the industry. Chris’ analytical background combined with his skill and experience building and leading high-performing teams adds valuable depth and perspective to AMR Research’s services.

Prior to joining AMR Research, Chris was a principal with Barlow Group, a leading retained executive search firm.

Before joining Barlow Group, Chris spent 14 years at Gartner, Inc. where he served in a variety of thought leadership and general management roles. As a senior industry analyst at Gartner, Chris provided strategic insight and guidance to large enterprises and leading technology vendor organizations.

Chris received a BA from Middlebury College and is on the board of PerScholas, a non-profit organization dedicated to using technology to improve the lives of thousands of people in the South Bronx and beyond.

Mike Griswold
Research Director, Retail
AMR Research

Mike Griswold brings over two decades of industry experience to his role as a research director in AMR Research’s Retail Strategies Service. Mike is primarily responsible for researching, analyzing, and writing about the technologies, best practices, and trends that grocers and other fast-moving consumer goods retailers utilize to maintain and enhance their business and retail operations.

Prior to joining AMR Research, Mike was the director of supply chain business programs at Albertson’s. In this position, he directed the systems development lifecycle for an enterprise-wide forecasting and replenishment application. He was also responsible for facilitating the business planning process across marketing, merchandising, and the supply chain.

Before this, Mike held several positions at Shaw’s Supermarkets. Most recently, he was a director of integration. Prior to Shaw’s, Mike spent nine years at Hills Department Stores, where he implemented a new POS system and introduced UPC scanning to the company, which included a network of over 200 stores.

Mike earned his BS in business management from Canisius College and his MBA from the Whittemore School of Business and Economics at the University of New Hampshire. He holds a Six Sigma Green Belt technical certification.

Debra Hofman
Research Director
AMR Research

Debra Hofman brings over 20 years of experience in the research and advisory business to her position as a research director at AMR Research. Her research focuses on supply chain excellence and the effective use of metrics and measures in optimizing performance. Previously, she launched and led AMR Research’s Benchmark Analytix Service, which provided company-specific supply chain performance assessments tied to the use of technology and best practices.

Prior to joining AMR Research, Debra was a partner at Benchmarking Partners, Inc. At Benchmarking Partners, she led primary research studies focused on realizing value from information technology investments. Debra also worked as a senior member of the Center for Information Systems Research at MIT’s Sloan School of Management.

Debra holds a BA in economics and environmental science from the State University of New York at Binghamton, and an MBA from New York University.

Simon Jacobson
Senior Research Analyst
AMR Research

Simon Jacobson is responsible for AMR Research’s coverage of manufacturing operations and ERP providers serving the mid-market. He examines how global manufacturers apply IT to their processes as part of their ongoing evolution toward becoming demand-driven manufacturers. In addition to ERP, Simon also covers manufacturing compliance and quality management (including environmental health and safety), manufacturing services organizations, and the evolving ecosystem of MES providers across the range of industries that AMR Research studies.

Prior to his role as senior research analyst, Simon worked as the program manager for AMR Research’s manufacturing operations group. In this position, he managed the team’s strategic client relationships, business development efforts, and coordinated research efforts to ensure that market trends and demands were adequately reflected. He also worked to create cross-functional synergies with AMR Research’s sales, marketing, and research departments.

Simon earned his BA from the University of Vermont.

Roddy Martin
Vice President and General Manager
AMR Research

As vice president and general manager of AMR Research’s Industry Value Chain Strategies Service, Roddy is responsible for managing the company’s value chain analysis and research across all industries. Roddy researches a variety of topics including systems support to operations, IT, and manufacturing strategy. Roddy was a key contributor in the development of AMR Research’s demand-driven supply chain model. His research brings together the strategic, business, and organizational issues faced when implementing IT and enterprise architectures, processes, and applications across the value chain.

Roddy has over 27 years of experience, most recently as an executive at South African Breweries (SAB), one of the three largest brewers in the world. He held leadership roles in SAB's World Class Manufacturing program and the Strategic Corporate Change Management program. Prior to SAB, Roddy worked for ISCOR (Iron and Steel Manufacturers) as a technician and millwright in production operations. He also worked for G.H. Marais and Partners, an electrical and electronic engineering consulting firm.

Roddy's qualifications include a millwright trade, a technician’s diploma, and a BS in electrical engineering from the University of Pretoria, South Africa.

Wayne McDonnell
Research Director, Life Sciences
AMR Research

Wayne McDonnell brings 18 years of experience to his role as Research Director, Life Sciences. He is responsible for research across the life sciences and healthcare value chain, including the pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device, wholesale, and hospital industries. Wayne’s specific focus will be on manufacturing, quality, and product supply management across these industries.

Wayne joins AMR Research from Stryker Biotech where he held the position of Director of Global Supply Chain. He provided leadership to a global supply chain organization that delivered long-term global strategies for supply chain management, strategic sourcing, packaging and distribution. Prior to Stryker Biotech, Wayne held various roles in operations and materials management with Merck. His experiences at Merck included chemical plant operations, capital projects planning, supply chain management and global procurement.

Wayne earned his Bachelor’s Degree in chemistry from Bucknell University and his MBA from Rutgers University.

Hussain Mooraj
Research Director
AMR Research

Hussain Mooraj brings more than a decade of experience in pharmaceutical and biotech consulting, strategic consulting, and marketing to his role as a research director at AMR Research. As part of the Value Chain Strategies team, Hussain currently focuses his research on the pharmaceutical (branded & generic), biotech, medical device, and wholesale distribution business segments.

Prior to joining AMR Research, Hussain was the director of marketing and business development for Trinity Partners LLC and Trinity Pharma Solutions LLC, firms specializing in strategic consulting and technology-based data management solutions for global pharmaceutical and biotech companies.

Before this position, Hussain worked as a senior corporate strategic consultant at CP&S, a non-profit medical device manufacturer. In this position, he analyzed the medical device and contract manufacturing industries. Hussain also worked as an engagement lead at Internet strategy consultant Zefer Corporation. While there, Hussain helped Fortune 500 companies develop their B2B and Internet marketing strategies.

In addition, Hussain founded two global textile companies, Unicorn International and First Textiles Ltd. where he was responsible for manufacturing & sourcing, new product development, and global sales and marketing.

Hussain earned his BS in textile management, with honors, from Clemson University/Textile University of Pakistan. He also holds an MS in information systems, an MBA, and a graduate certificate in supply chain management from Northeastern University.

Mickey North Rizza
Research Director
AMR Research

Mickey North Rizza brings 22 years of global sourcing and supply chain management experience to her role as a research director in the procurement and sourcing practice at AMR Research. Mickey is a key member of the supply chain team and works to communicate effective procurement and sourcing strategies to AMR Research’s clients.

Prior to joining AMR Research, Mickey worked at Moduslink Corporation, where she held the positions of vice president of global supply base management and director of procurement and sourcing.

Mickey also worked as a materials manager at M/A-Com, Inc., a division of Tyco International. During her career, Mickey has worked as a purchasing manager at Advanced Techcom, Inc., Innova Corporation, and Motorola.

Mickey is a member of the Institute for Supply Management.

Mickey earned a BA in material logistic management from Michigan State University.

Kevin O’Marah
Chief Strategy Officer
AMR Research

As chief strategy officer for AMR Research, Kevin O’Marah brings a unique blend of intellectual prowess, practical business experience, and energy to AMR Research’s clients. During his nearly seven years with the firm, Kevin has worked with hundreds of companies on manufacturing, product lifecycle management (PLM), and supply chain strategy.

Kevin launched AMR Research’s PLM practice, and is a seminal author on PLM, having been included in over 100 articles defining the application's footprint, business impact, and market dynamics. He has also contributed to the firm’s definition and coverage of demand-driven supply networks (DDSN), having authored several reports, including the AMR Research Supply Chain Top 25, defining the link to business operating metrics. He was named an AMR Research Fellow in 2002.

Prior to joining AMR Research, Kevin worked on supply chain projects in a variety of industries including telecommunications, semiconductors, and chemicals. As a vice president at Oracle Corporation, Kevin focused on supply chain and product data management strategy. He spent several years with Gemini Consulting, now part of Ernst & Young (GCE&Y), working with manufacturing companies on supply chain and product strategy. He worked with Mercer Consulting in London and Company Assistance Limited in Warsaw earlier in his career.

A graduate of Boston College, Oxford University, and Stanford Business School, Kevin frequently speaks at industry events and executive conferences, where he is noted for his dynamic and engaging style. He is a widely published author and has been quoted in numerous business publications including The Financial Times, Fortune, BusinessWeek and The Wall Street Journal.

Bill Polk
Research Director
AMR Research

Bill Polk brings more than 15 years of management experience in the manufacturing, supply chain software, and IT operations industries to his role as research director. Bill is a member of the Industry Value Chain Strategies team, focusing on the chemicals, metals and mining industries. His research will also cover the global integration of supply chain and value networks as well as manufacturing centers of excellence.

Before joining AMR Research, Bill was unit director within the enterprise services and support group for State Street Corporation (formerly Investors Bank & Trust). In his role he managed enterprise-wide infrastructure, technology upgrade, and outsourcing initiatives.

Prior to Investors Bank & Trust, Bill was a senior director with Oracle Corporation, where he led business development and implementation efforts for the internet supply chain management group. Bill also spent over 7 years in the manufacturing industry as director of operations, managing facilities in the U.S., Mexico and overseas for ITT Industries and Robinson Nugent Corporation.

Bill earned a BA in mathematics from the College of the Holy Cross and an MA and an MBA from Stanford University. He also served as a logistics officer in the United States Marine Corps.

Bruce M. Richardson
Chief Research Officer
AMR Research

Bruce Richardson brings more than 20 years of experience to his current role at AMR Research. Bruce has spent most of his career analyzing the software industry with a distinct emphasis on ERP and supply chain. Since joining AMR Research in 1988, he has been responsible for spearheading new market research and contributing to the company’s analysis of leading market trends in areas such as: ERP, supply chain management, service-oriented architectures, and software-as-a-service.

Bruce is a sought after public speaker, having lectured and presented worldwide on the firm’s behalf nearly 500 times. He has covered and analyzed SAP since 1991 and made many early market predictions that have been realized, such as the rise of the advanced planning market and the evolution of MRP to ERP. Bruce also coined the term MES early in his role at AMR Research when he was responsible for all the written research that came from the firm.

Prior to AMR Research, Bruce held senior marketing management positions within the software and networking industries. He currently serves on the New England Business Technology Association (NEBTA), Leadership Roundtable Series Advisory Board, and is an active member of the Boston College Technology Council.

Bruce graduated cum laude from Boston College.

Ken Ruggles
Vice President
AMR Research

Ken Ruggles has more than 20 years of business experience within supply chain management from both a consulting and technology user perspective. As vice president in AMR Research’s Industry Value Chain Strategies Service, he is responsible for the Supply Chain Peer Forum and providing research and analysis across several areas within supply chain management, including service supply chain and automotive. Ken also provides thought leadership, strategic guidance, and best practice research to AMR Research’s customers as they look to derive value from streamlining their supply chains and processes.

Ken has spent most of his career gaining expertise across the entire service supply chain from sourcing through sales. Before joining AMR Research, Ken worked at i2 Technologies in various business optimization services roles, including directing i2’s consulting practice/solution delivery for automotive and industrial clients. At Price Waterhouse LLP, Ken worked with several Fortune 500 companies on strategy development, business process re-engineering, and warehouse management implementations. Having worked at both General Motors and Mazda in service parts operations and management, he has firsthand expertise in automotive and aftermarket management.

Ken received his BS in management systems from Kettering, formerly General Motors Institute. He received his MBA from the Amos Tuck School at Dartmouth College.

Alison Smith
Research Director
AMR Research

Alison Smith brings more than 25 years of manufacturing software development, support, marketing, and sales experience to her role as a research director in AMR Research’s Market Services group. Alison is dedicated to the detailed study of the productive application of information technology to the challenges faced by global producers as they seek to implement and evolve demand-driven manufacturing strategies.

Alison’s current research focus is manufacturing operations. She publishes frequently on the application of manufacturing operations software, including manufacturing execution systems, enterprise manufacturing intelligence, and asset performance management across a range of vertical industry manufacturing scenarios. She is currently investigating global specification management for process industry manufacturers.

Prior to joining AMR Research, Alison was a founding officer and marketing vice president of Framework Technologies Corporation.

Alison has also held various management positions with several software companies, including Mainstream Software Corporation, Decision Software Company, Microtouch Systems, and Cyborg, a provider of data acquisition and chromatography workstations sold to the laboratory R&D environment.

Alison graduated summa cum laude with a BA from the University of Wisconsin.

Noha Tohamy
Research Director
AMR Research

As a research director on AMR Research’s Market Services team, Noha Tohamy is responsible for the research and analysis of market trends and technologies in supply chain risk management, strategic network design, inventory management and optimization, demand planning and collaborative forecasting, and price management and optimization.

Noha has over fifteen years of experience in supply chain management. Before joining AMR Research, Noha was an independent supply chain consultant, helping various vendors and user companies with messaging, competitive landscape analysis, and technology selection decisions.

Prior to that, Noha served as a principal analyst at Forrester Research, where her coverage areas included global supply chain management, trade management, inventory management, transportation management, collaborative demand planning, price optimization and others. Before Forrester, Noha held various senior management and technical positions at supply chain technology vendors including Syncra Systems, ProfitLogic, Logistics.com and The Sabre Group.

Noha is currently an adjunct professor at Emmanuel College, where she teaches operations and supply chain management. She is a frequent lecturer on global supply chain management topics at MIT’s Sloan School of Management and Georgia Tech’s Supply Chain and Logistics Institute.

Noha graduated from Emory University with a BS in mathematics and from Georgia Institute of Technology with a MS in operations research with a focus on optimization.

C.J. Wehlage
Research Director, High Tech
AMR Research

C.J. Wehlage brings 16 years of experience to his role as Research Director, High Tech. He is responsible for research of the high tech value chain. C.J.’s specific focus is on supply chain business processes and the integration of information technology.

Before joining AMR Research, C.J. was the Director of Supply Chain Operations at EMC, where he was responsible for third party enablement, outsourcing, and lean design. He also was Director of Information Technology, helping to build EMC¹s IT Portfolio model. C.J. has held leadership roles in large scale SAP and Oracle ERP projects, supply chain optimization, new products, acquisitions, and materials management at Bose, Digital, and Apple.

C.J. earned his BS in Industrial Engineering from Penn State University and his MBA from Boston College. He is certified in supply chain management (CSCP) from APICS, Six Sigma certified, and an Adjunct Professor of supply chain management at Northeastern University.