Defining a New Generation: Meet the "30 Under 30 Rising Supply Chain Stars"

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Jan 29, 2015, 09:00 ET

ThomasNet and ISM Honor 30 Role Models with Extraordinary Accomplishments

NEW YORK and TEMPE, Ariz., Jan. 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- ThomasNet^® and Institute for Supply Management^®(ISM) today unveiled the winners of their first "30 Under 30 Rising Supply Chain Stars" Recognition Program, a jointly sponsored initiative to advance the future of the supply chain profession. At age 30 or younger, these outstanding professionals have made significant contributions to their organizations, professional associations and the industry at large. They include one "megastar," Kathryn Conrad Maynor, Category Manager, Finished Lubricants/B2B with Shell Oil. Names of all the winners appear below.

"The caliber of the nominations we received was truly inspiring. These '30 under 30' are representative of a generation that's ready to lead and make a difference. Their accomplishments demonstrate that Millennials are clearly capable of driving real results for their employers," said Tom Derry, Chief Executive Officer, ISM.

In May 2014, ThomasNet and ISM launched the "30 under 30" program to generate awareness among Millennials (age 18-32) about the rewards of a supply chain career. The program spotlights those professionals whose initiative, collaboration, innovation, and/or leadership are impacting this sector. Those who were chosen have already demonstrated accomplishments far beyond their years of experience. They're introducing their organizations to new sourcing strategies and technologies, developing solutions to complex problems based on comprehensive data analyses, gaining buy-in from multiple stakeholders with different needs and interests, and negotiating with vendors to achieve significant savings. They're also taking the extra step of sharing their learnings and best practices through their professional associations.

"Having exceptional people in supply chain positions is critical to the health and vitality of individual businesses, and the strength of our economy. These rising stars are making significant contributions to their organizations every day—saving them millions of dollars while improving their performance," said Mark Holst-Knudsen, President of ThomasNet.

At an average age of 28, the rising stars represent a wide swath of industries, from manufacturing to oil and gas, and from education to the public sector. A "high energy" group, they give their all at work and are just as active outside the office—whether volunteering or spending time with family and friends.

In fact, they say that the biggest misperception about their generation is that they are entitled and averse to working hard. As one rising star stated: "We are not looking for a handout. We are looking for an opportunity to make a difference." The "30 under 30" love their careers and would choose them all over again. One honoree noted: "My position is interesting, varied, and shifts with new projects. In a single day, I can write, present, negotiate deals, lead projects, and analyze information...before lunch!"

For more information on Ms. Maynor and profiles of all this year's winners, please visit thomasnet.com/30under30.

The full list appears below:

Nicholas Ammaturo, Hudson's Bay Company, New York, NY
Natalie Andrasko, ConAgra Foods, Inc., St. Louis, MO
Alejandra Baptista, NuStar Energy, San Antonio,TX
Matthew Bauer, City of Mesa, Mesa, AZ
Stephanie Bedard, Johnson & Johnson, New Brunswick, NJ
Jenna Benkula, Glanbia Foods, Twin Falls, ID
Paul Boyer, Genentech, Inc. (F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Ltd), South San Francisco, CA
Christina Butterworth, Halliburton, Houston, TX
Erica Canlas, Johnson & Johnson, Skillman, NJ
Robert Cassin, Ingredion Incorporated, Westchester, IL
Erin Clancy, Mars Chocolate, North America, Hackettstown, NJ
Brian Dean, General Dynamics C4 Systems, Scottsdale, AZ
Laura Dearborn Stearns, Cisco, San Jose, CA
Christina DeKoning, Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, San Diego, CA
Aubrey Edwards, CBRE, Dallas, TX
Leah Halvorson, Minneapolis Public Schools, Minneapolis, MN
Stephanie Kessler Thayer, Panera Bread, St. Louis, MO
Sarah Klemsz, The Boeing Company, Portland, OR
Andrew Lattof, Xcel Energy, Denver, CO
Kathryn Conrad Maynor, Shell Oil, Houston, TX
Ryan Mulcrone, DuPont, Wilmington, DE
Arun Raman, Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL
Thomas Raterman, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD
Tania Santiago-Mirabal, Millicom International Services, Coral Gables, FL
Amy Schwantner, CBS Corporation, New York, NY
Pamela Ton, Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, El Segundo, CA
Maren von Platen, Bayer HealthCare, Whippany, NJ
Jamie Walker, Lititz, PA
Wesley Whitney, Enterprise Products, Houston, TX
Jennifer Wolff, Masco Cabinetry, Ann Arbor, MI

About ThomasNet^®
ThomasNet provides solutions that make it easier for buyers and engineers to partner with the right industrial suppliers. For nearly a century the Company's "big green books" – the Thomas Register -- were considered indispensable to B2B buyers and manufacturers alike. Today, ThomasNet offers tools to facilitate every step of the buying process. These include industry's leading supplier discovery platform, free online at ThomasNet.com.

About ISM
Institute for Supply Management^® (ISM) is the first supply management institute in the world. Founded in 1915, ISM's mission is to enhance the value and performance of procurement and supply chain management practitioners and their organizations worldwide. By executing and extending its mission through education, research, standards of excellence and information dissemination — including the renowned monthly ISM Report On Business^® — ISM maintains a strong global influence among individuals and organizations. ISM is a not-for-profit educational association that serves professionals with an interest in supply management who live and work in more than 90 countries. ISM offers the Certified Professional in Supply Management^® (CPSM^®) and Certified Professional in Supplier Diversity^® (CPSD^®) qualifications.

Contact: Dawn Ringel, Warner Communications
781-449-8456 or [email protected]

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SOURCE Institute for Supply Management