Call for Track Chairs

The Call for Track Chairs for EDGE 2022 is open for applications: December 6, 2021 – January 14, 2022

The 2022 EDGE Conference Committee are seeking 13 members to join the 2022 Class of Track Chairs.

Track Chairs play a vital role in the development and execution of the conference itself, working behind-the-scenes to deliver an educational experience to nearly 3,000 people. If accepted, you will receive a complimentary registration to EDGE 2022.

As Track Chair, your role will be to produce sessions that drives the theme: Supply Chain in the Spotlight: Positioned to Win—

Rarely have supply chain leaders faced more complex, changing conditions than they have during the COVID-19 pandemic. With supply chain in the spotlight, the recovery will be even more complex. However, for the companies willing to take the right actions during this critical recovery phase the rewards are truly transformative.

Resiliency and innovation will be key to adapt quickly and maintain a competitive advantage in the marketplace. Rather than go back to what was always done, the true winners will push forward toward a new and different future.

To be considered for Track Chair, you have/are/must:

• Complete the application by January 14.
• A current CSCMP member.
• Attended 2 EDGE conference in the last five years.
• Volunteering on your behalf and not your company.
• The sole contact person who will be developing the sessions and sourcing speakers.
• Be comfortable informing speakers they must register ($900 discount to all confirmed speakers.)
• Available to attend the virtual Track Chair Orientation Thursday, February 10, 12:00 – 5:00 CDT.
• Able to meet all critical dates outlined herein.
• Able to command a room with energy and focus.
• Strong supply chain knowledge in your respective field.
• Ensure all sessions are educational; selling is not tolerated. A Track Chair's company may present one session in their track and only once across the entire program
• Ensure that all sessions include a shipper/retailer/manufacturer. Service and technology providers/academics may not present alone. 

Track Chair Benefits

• Complimentary registration to EDGE 2022
• Opportunity to present one session in your track.
• Meet people from all over the world—approximately 50-75 per session
• Be part of the logistics behind hosting a global event
• Engage with CSCMP in a new way and work with fellow members
• Inspire attendees to take action and continue to advance the supply chain profession

Critical Dates

January 21 – January 27               CSCMP Notice to all Candidates on Final Selection
February 10 – February 17            Track Objectives Due to Launch Call for Sessions
February 10                                   Track Chair Orientation & Onboarding
February 10 – June 23                   Track/Session/Speaker Development
February 24 – March 24                Call for Sessions Opens/Closes
March 21                                        Portal Training for Track Chairs & Committee
March 21 – March 31                     Committee Rates all Submissions via Call for Sessions
April 1 – April 15                             Track Chairs Selection of Session(s) via Call for Sessions
May 10                                            CSCMP Notice to all Call for Sessions Participants on Status of Submission(s)
June 23                                           All Sessions/Tracks Final
August 25                                        All Sessions’ PowerPoints Uploaded to Portal
September 8                                   Track Chair Briefing—Onsite Preparedness
September 18                                 Track Chair Kick-Off
September 19 – September 20      Host Track at EDGE 2022 Gaylord Opryland Resort, Nashville, Tennessee

2022 Track Themes
Tracks change from year-to year and are determined by the EDGE Conference Committee comprised of your peers. Tracks expected to produce 6 sessions will host 3 sessions on 9/19 and 3 sessions on 9/20; tracks with 3 sessions will only host 3 sessions on 9/19 or 9/20.

C-Level Discussion Forums—6 sessions
This track has a different format in that it offers attendees the opportunity to get up close and personal with leaders of companies in a shared-group experience. As track chair, you will take an active role in developing and leading the conversation in all sessions, encouraging lively discussion and knowledge share between speaker and attendee. The room is set in a circular/forum-style allowing all to see each other during discussion. PowerPoint presentations should be kept to a minimum.

Global Supply Chain—6 sessions
Global Supply Chain has taken on new meaning in the last two years. It refers to the process in which a business operates on an international scale. As Track Chair, you will be responsible for delivering sessions that address the challenges and successes affecting the global supply chain from both the US and International perspective.

Leadership & Talent Development—6 sessions
There’s a saying: “You get what you plan for.” Companies understand that principle when it comes to the goods they produce, but not when it comes to the people they hire and train. As track chair, you will have a unique role in creating session topics that focuses on the strategy to building and retaining a workforce that meets the demands of a modern economy.

Network Planning and Optimization—3 sessions
Defined as a methodical process to establish a complete view of the organization's supply chain, a robust supply chain network can position companies for growth. As Track Chair, your role is to develop sessions that will help attendees evaluate different aspects of their supply chain and identify ways to optimize processes and reduce costs.

Order Fulfillment & Customer Service—3 sessions
Order fulfillment is the process of receiving goods, as well as processing, delivering, and returning the product. As Track Chair, you will be responsible for developing sessions and recruiting speakers who can speak to the challenges and successes of volume of orders, customer demands, and delivery delays in the post-pandemic environment.

Risk Mitigation—6 sessions 
Risk Mitigation refers to the process by which businesses take strategic steps to identify, assess, and prevent internal and external risks within their end-to-end supply chain. As companies begin to recover from the pandemic, your role as track chair will be to deliver sessions that cover strategies to reduce exposure to risk via globalization, cyber interference, personnel, emergency etc.

S&OP and Inventory Planning—3 sessions
Sales and Operations Planning requires alignment between supply planning, production planning, inventory planning and demand planning. However, many companies are still using manual S&OP processes. Your role as track chair will be to develop sessions that positions attendees to survive the next significant supply chain disruption as it will require a level of flexibility to keep pace with shifting market trends and disruptive events.

Sourcing Strategies—6 sessions
A new track for 2022! “Regular” supply chain sourcing is focused on the bottom line and short-term productivity, whereas strategic sourcing is defined as sourcing goods/products for your supply chain through collaboration, value proposition, efficiency and diversifying your supply base. As Track Chair, you are responsible for procuring speakers and sessions that help improve companies’ sourcing and supply chain strategies taking end-to-end costs and other opportunities into consideration.

Specialty Supply Chain—6 sessions
A new track for 2022! We all know what supply chain means: a series of steps involved to get a product or service to the customer, including moving and transforming raw materials into finished products, transporting those products, and distributing them to the end-user. But what about the “specialty supply chains?” As Track Chair, your role is step outside the typical supply chain and produce sessions that includes the aftermarket supply chain, reverse logistics, ecommerce and more.

Sustainability—3 sessions
A new track for 2022! Considered a major trend for the next decade, supply chain sustainability refers to efforts a company makes related to conducting business in a socially and environmentally responsible manner. Using CSCMP’s State of Supply Chain Sustainability 2021 Report as a baseline, your role as Track Chair will help expand attendees’ view on sustainability.  

Technology & Innovations—6 sessions
OVID-19 amplified the need for technology tools to manage supply chain challenges and it is predicted that organizations will continue to invest in supply chain technology to address all areas of supply chain. With an innovative approach, the Track Chair is responsible for producing sessions that influence digitization reducing inefficiencies, lowering costs, improving flexibility—all critical for boosting resiliency.

Transportation & Logistics—6 sessions
Driver shortages, port congestion, soaring freight rates, failing infrastructure, lack of dock workers and truck drivers have directly affected the freight market. All of which is predicted to continue through 2022. As Track Chair, you will develop sessions that will address how companies pivoted to stay in the game and better yet, what does the future hold for logistics?

Warehousing & Distribution—6 sessions
Warehousing and Distribution proved challenging these last two years largely due to consumer purchasing behavior and the widespread transition to online shopping. As Track Chair you will be responsible for delivering sessions that embrace the successes and challenges in Warehousing while embracing the future of warehousing such as micro-warehousing, cross docking and automation.