Roadmap to Market: Supply Chain in Animal Health Seminar

This program will present the common challenges of supply chain logistics within the animal health industry and provide examples and applications of how to overcome the challenges through best practices and planning.

Participants will learn:

• Where major challenges have occurred in the animal health industry supply chain and how to make strategic decisions to overcome them through: manufacturing, procurement, purchasing, warehousing, and shipping
• Helpful considerations and questions to ask related to getting products to market
• How different strategic decisions related to talent acquisition and development can impact getting products to market.

Steve Eck
Hallmark Cards Inc.

Steve Eck’s Hallmark career of 23 years has been focused in the supply chain across many different functions. Steve has led teams in distribution, manufacturing, demand and inventory in the communities of Liberty, Lawrence, Leavenworth and Kansas City. In Steve’s current role as vice president of supply chain solutions, he and his team ensure that the supply chain has solutions in place to solve current challenges that arise but also enabling new solutions to help the business in strategic initiatives. This team of engineers, project managers and supply chain professional work with supply chain partners and business partners across the globe to ensure success.

Joris Meijs
Merck Animal Health

With more than 10 years of experience in supply chain, manufacturing and operations, Joris Meijs leads Merck Animal Health's De Soto site as the plant manager, operating with an annual budget of over $35 million. Other notable roles have included the director of operations and program management, with his key focus areas being operation supply guarantee, production standaridization, operational excellence and digital transformation, and global process owner for manufacturing where he developed strategy with IT to implement new solution like Advanced Track & Trace and Manufacturing Execution Systems while safeguarding the governance structure in a manufacturing network with over 25 locations. Meijs holds a bachelor of science in business engineering from Fontys University of Professional Education and a master of science in international supply chain management from University of Plymouth.

Chris Ragland
Animalytix

Chris Ragland is an experienced Senior Executive with 30+ years of success in the global animal health industry. His assignments have included commercial operations, R&D, business development and general management. Key areas of responsibility have emphasized strategy development, business integration, research program leadership and merger / acquisition oversight. In founding Animalytix, Chris and his team have brought to life a long-term dream for the animal health industry, a true market insight platform designed to serve distributors, manufacturers, veterinarians, and retailers in their efforts to drive improved performance and understanding across all segments of the animal health market.

Dave Saunders
Hallmark Cards Inc.

Dave’s Hallmark career has spanned a variety of functions, which have included Hallmark’s local manufacturing operations, as well as a focus within the Asia-Pacific region. Dave and his family lived in Hong Kong for several years, where he directly supported the procurement of products for Hallmark’s global businesses around the world. In his current role as vice president of manufacturing and procurement, Dave is responsible for global manufacturing and procurement strategy development and execution. This includes Hallmark U.S. manufacturing facilities as well as procurement teams and suppliers across Asia and other global regions, with a key focus on leading and adapting Hallmark’s product supply chain to meet today’s competitive marketplace, business and global supply chain needs.

Tony Totta
eShipping

Tony Totta is the chief sales officer at eShipping. He joined eShipping in 2009 to help grow the company under a mission-focused culture. At eShipping, Tony has filled a variety of roles including oversight of the eShipping Client Services division, developing the suite of operational services offered to customers, and building an employee recruiting and development model that is employed across the organization today. In 2013, Tony assisted in the development and launch of eShipping Exchange, a sister company and partnership sales channel. As Chief Sales Officer, Tony is responsible for all new business development for eShipping, eShipping Distribution and eShipping.

Luke Helm
eShipping

Luke Helm is the vice president of distribution at eShipping. He graduated from the University of Kansas with a B.S. in Business Administration. He started his career at UPS, learning the nuances of the logistics business. Through that experience, he found his passion aligned best in the warehouse and distribution portion of the supply chain. After spending the next 10 years at Smart Warehousing, he moved up the career path as an inventory control manager, warehouse manager, general manager, regional director, VP of customer experience and VP of operations. Luke joined eShipping Distribution Services in 2017 and serves as VP of Distribution. He oversees all facets of the warehousing, fulfillment and distribution services offered as well as warehouse account management and sales.

1 p.m. | Welcome and Introductions 
Lauren Racki, K-State Olathe

1:05-1:30 p.m. | Animal Health: Channels to Market Overview and COVID-19 Effects
Chris Ragland, Animalytix

1:30-2:15 p.m. | The Impact to Supply Chain: Manufacturing Decisions
Joris Meijs, Merck 

2:15-2:25 p.m. | Break 

2:25-3:10 p.m. |Trends and Challenges in Warehousing and Fulfillment
Tony Totta, eShipping
Luke Helm, eShipping

3:10-3:55 p.m. | Managing with Agility
Dave Saunders, Hallmark
Steve Eck, Hallmark

3:55-4:05 p.m. | Break

4:05-4:50 p.m. | Panel Discussion and Questions
Chris Ragland, Animalytix 

4:50-5 p.m. | Wrap-up 
Lauren Racki, K-State Olathe