Pardon the alliteration, but I am quite excited about the headliners at the Supply Management 2.0 Forum in Chicago this Thursday. The second stop on the Forum’s U.S. swing will feature leading supply management executives:

• Alliant Techsystems (ATK) Corporate Director of Supply Chain Management Greg Shifflett will provide a progress report on his company’s ongoing supply maangement transformation initiative. At Empower last year, we heard how ATK’s multi-phase initiative used improved visibility into spending to define its category and global sourcing roadmap. In this session, Greg will discuss how ATK is executing on this plan and laying the groundwork for supplier performance management and continuous improvement initiatives.
• The second practitioner at the Chicago Forum is a surprise guest – the head of global sourcing at one of the world’s largest technology companies. (To learn which company, you’ll have to attend.) This presenter will discuss how to launch and sustain a susccessful, value-based global sourcing program without mandates and in an environment that places a premium on innovation and time-to-market. Expect lots of tips on navigating internal politics, setting and communicating goals, and aligning sourcing and business strategies.

Moved to a larger space in The Westin O’Hare, the Forum will also provide a valuable setting for supply managers to network and exchange tips and best practices with their peers. There are still a few slots available, so register here today.