The AI-powered enterprise of the future is no longer just an idea
It’s already here. Are you ready? Worried? Hopeful? All of the above?
GEP INNOVATE 2024 has the answers. The premier AI event of the year for procurement and supply chain pros connects you with the visionaries who are shaping the industry. Join us to collaborate and learn with the leading voices driving the conversation on AI — an opportunity you can’t get anywhere else.
SEPTEMBER 16 – 18, 2024 | NEW YORK HILTON MIDTOWN
Agenda
16th
Registration & Opening Reception
17th
GEP INNOVATE 2024 DAY ONE
18th
GEP INNOVATE 2024 DAY TWO
GEP INNOVATE 2024, with a packed agenda of future-focused presentations, discussions and workshops, will be the can’t-miss procurement and supply chain experience of the year!
Featuring leading voices from across industries presenting and discussing their insights and perspectives, the agenda will also include deep dives led by GEP experts and our strategic partners as well as technology workshops and consultation sessions.
The agenda will evolve as GEP INNOVATE 2024 approaches, so keep an eye on this page for the latest information.
Speakers
Stay tuned! We’re continuing to add speakers to the lineup for GEP INNOVATE, so check back here for updates on the experts and visionaries joining us!
Venus Williams
Tennis Legend and Entrepreneur
7 Grand Slam titles, 5 Wimbledon championships and 4 Olympic gold medals only tell part of her story. Venus Williams is without a doubt one of the most accomplished and inspiring women in the history of sports, but she has also had a transformative impact as an author, entrepreneur and steadfast advocate for gender equality.
Always staying true to her creative, bold spirit, Williams has parlayed her fine-tuned business acumen and entrepreneurial side into multiple successful roles as founder of V Starr, a full-service commercial and residential design firm, Chief Brand Officer to Asutra, and founder of plant-based protein company Happy Viking.
In 2009, Williams and sister Serena became the first female African Americans to have a stake in an NFL franchise after joining the ownership group of the Miami Dolphins. The following year, Venus published her motivational book, Come to Win, which reached No. 5 on the New York Times Best Sellers list.
In 2006, UNESCO, the United Nations’ cultural organization, named her as the first “Promoter of Gender Equality.’ In 2007 it was her unwavering fight that led Wimbledon to award women players the same pay as their male counterparts. Most recently, she launched an awareness initiative called the #PrivilegeTax to bring attention to wage inequality and unveiled a platform of resources to inspire young women and address the issue on a grassroots level.
Williams has been honored as part of Variety’s annual “Power of Women,” Forbes’ ‘Celebrity 100’ and Glamour Magazine’s ‘Woman of the Year,’ and she has been awarded the CARE Impact Award for Gender Equality, ESPN’s ‘WTA Player of the Year’ and many others.
Photo: Laura Metzler
Ethan Mollick
AI scholar and Professor, the Wharton School; Author; Entrepreneur
Ethan Mollick is an Associate Professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he studies and teaches innovation and entrepreneurship, and also examines the effects of artificial intelligence on work and education. His papers have been published in top journals and his book on AI, Co-Intelligence, is a New York Times bestseller. His research is highly cited by other academics, and has been covered by CNN, The Wall Street Journal, and other leading publications.
In addition to his research and teaching, Ethan also leads Wharton Interactive, an effort to democratize education using games, simulations, and AI. Prior to his time in academia, Ethan co-founded a startup company, and he advises numerous organizations.
Mollick received his PhD and MBA from MIT’s Sloan School of Management and his bachelor’s degree from Harvard University.
José Andrés
Chef, Restaurateur, Humanitarian
Named one of Time’s “100 Most Influential People” in both 2012 and 2018 and recipient of the 2015 National Humanities Medal, José Andrés is an internationally recognized culinary innovator, author, educator, humanitarian and Founder and Executive Chairman of José Andrés Group.
A pioneer of Spanish tapas in the United States, he is also known for his groundbreaking avant-garde cuisine and his award-winning group of nearly three dozen restaurants located throughout the country and beyond. José Andrés Group’s concepts include the two Michelin-starred minibar by José Andrés in Washington, DC, the acclaimed NYC food hall Mercado Little Spain, and multiple locations of the Bazaar by José Andrés. José has received the James Beard Foundation’s “Outstanding Chef” and "Humanitarian of the Year" awards.
Andrés is a committed advocate of food and hunger issues and is known for championing the role of chefs in the national debate on food policy. In 2010, Andrés formed World Central Kitchen, a non-profit specializing in delivering food relief in the wake of natural and humanitarian disasters. Since serving nearly 4 million meals to the people of Puerto Rico following the devastation of Hurricane Maria, World Central Kitchen has responded to dozens of disasters worldwide, distributing tens of millions of meals in the process. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization has partnered with restaurants, small farms, and community leaders around the country to combat food insecurity.
A naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Spain, Andrés has been a tireless advocate for immigration reform and on July 4, 2014 was named by President Barack Obama as that year’s “Outstanding American by Choice.”
Photo: Josh Telles
Susan Caminiti
CNBC, Editor
Susan Caminiti is a writer and editor whose work covers a wide range of business and social topics, including corporate profiles, health care, work/life issues, technology, governance, sustainability and personal finance. Her writing appears in Fortune, NYSE, Time, and Money magazines, as well as NYSE’s Big Stage digital site and CNBC Digital. Susan is a former staff writer for Fortune. During her 13 years there, she developed the magazine’s award-winning coverage of the retailing industry. You can follow her on Twitter @SusanCaminiti.
Subhash Makhija
Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder, GEP
Under Subhash’s leadership, GEP has become a leading provider of supply chain solutions to global enterprises worldwide, as well as one of the fastest-growing firms in the industry. Subhash founded GEP in New Jersey in 1999, and the firm now has approximately 6,000 employees in offices and operations centers around the world. Media outlets, industry analysts and technology research firms regularly recognize GEP as one of the most innovative companies in the supply chain software and services sector. The firm is guided by core values of customer-centricity and caring for its employees, with an increasing focus on diversity, equity and inclusion. GEP is proud of its recognition as a Great Place to Work® across its operations worldwide.
Subhash was named Entrepreneur of the Year by EY. As an active member of the World Economic Forum, he is focused on the intersection of digital innovation, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, and sustainability in procurement and global supply chains. He is a strong proponent of and contributor to GEP’s robust program of corporate social responsibility initiatives, undertaken in communities around the world. Subhash and his wife, Roopa, have focused their philanthropy on child poverty, education and women-related issues. Prior to co-founding GEP, Subhash led strategy, supply chain, procurement and global outsourcing engagements at Accenture.
Subhash has a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering, an M.S. in chemical engineering from the University of Rhode Island and an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering from the University Department of Chemical Technology (UDCT) in Mumbai. Subhash also holds an MBA from the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago, where he also serves as a member of its advisory board, the Council on Chicago Booth.
Joe Awad
General Manager of Engineering and Design, Colorado Springs Utilities
Joe Awad joined Colorado Springs Utilities as the General Manager of Energy Construction Operations and Maintenance (ECOM) Department in 2016. In 2019, he was named General Manager for the Planning and Engineering Department in the System Planning and Projects division. Three years later, he became the General Manager of Engineering and Design. Joe leads a team of talented managers and dedicated individuals engaged in the design of cost-effective engineering solutions that meet the safety, resiliency, quality, and reliability requirements across all four services: electric, gas, water, and wastewater.
To meet the Clean Energy Plan requirements of 80% greenhouse gas reductions by 2030, Joe is currently sponsoring a strategic program to implement the Sustainable Energy Portfolio.
Prior to joining Colorado Springs Utilities, Joe started his career as a mechanical engineer designing coal fired plants at Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, and was the Assistant General Manager in Pasadena Water and Power.
Joe has a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from the Catholic University in Washington D.C. He is a Registered Professional Engineer in California.
Marielle Beyer
Head of Global Procurement, Roche
Marielle joined Roche in 2012 and has held Procurement roles of increasing responsibility before assuming her role as Head of Global Procurement in January of 2018. Prior to joining Roche, Marielle held a number of Indirect and Direct Procurement roles in the Airline industry and Financial sector, and has significant experience in leading business through Procurement transformations. She holds a Master of Science degree in Geography from the University of Zurich. Marielle is based in Basel.
Where was she before? Zurich Financial Services, E-Gatematrix LLC.
Where can you find her? Basel, Switzerland.
What else should you know? She loves playing The legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and is in a fierce competition with her son to get the master cycle!
Micky Keck
Director Analyst, Gartner®
Micky Keck is part of the team that advises application leaders on procurement and strategic sourcing applications. This includes helping define and identify technologies across the source-to-pay landscape and creating procurement technology strategy. Mr. Keck helps clients understand the market landscape, prioritize investments, evaluate vendors and determine best-fit, negotiate contracts, and deploy best practices across a variety of market segments including Source-to-Contract (S2C) (spend analysis, supplier management, e-sourcing, and contract life cycle management) and Procure-to-Pay technologies. He also assesses and advises clients on the use of emerging technologies, such as AI, RPA, and advanced analytics, across sourcing and procurement. Additionally, Mr. Keck has a special focus on AP Invoice Automation and Supplier Information Management.
GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved.
Glen Walden
Director Procurement Excellence, NEOM
With a history of senior procurement leadership roles across multiple industries and geographies, Glen has been with NEOM for 2.5 years. As the Director of Procurement Excellence, his mandate is to assist the firm in establishing industry-leading processes and technology.
A recent client, NEOM has started working with GEP to establish an end-to-end source-to-pay platform to service the full NEOM customer base.
Brian O’Conor
Finance and Technology Project Manager, D.A. Collins
Brian O’Conor is a finance and technology project manager for D.A. Collins Companies, a multifaceted organization focused on civil construction projects and material deployment. Brian’s work is dedicated to the modernization of D.A. Collins Companies’ financial systems, specifically procurement and payment processing.
Benjamin Ford (Ben)
Senior Director of Procurement, Ameren Corporation
Ben Ford is the Senior Director of Procurement for Ameren Corporation, a Fortune 500 leading U.S. utility serving 2.4 million electric and nearly 1 million natural gas customers across Missouri and Illinois. Ben leads the Procurement function for Ameren which includes the Company's Operations Sourcing, Project Procurement Management, Category Management, Contracting and Supplier Relationship Management functions. His organization is responsible for managing over $3 billion of spend for Ameren while focusing on customer affordability and risk mitigation. Additionally, he is responsible for promoting access and development opportunities for diverse suppliers within the sourcing activities for Ameren.
Ben has over 20 years of supply chain experience and prior to joining Ameren in 2019, has held various supply chain leadership roles with Enbridge and Alcoa across Australia and North America. His supply chain roles have been complemented with over 7 years of experience in Operations, Engineering and Project Delivery roles spanning many global locations and has worked in industries such as Oil and Gas, Mining & Metals, Automotive, and Engineered Products. He has a strong commitment to developing supply chain maturity in the renewables field and supporting the growth of Ameren's project execution plans and the application of digital technologies to benefit the organization. He places an emphasis on valuing multiple points of view and is devoted to furthering Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in all interactions.
Ben holds a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from the University of Queensland, Australia and holds a Graduate Diploma in Business from Curtin University in Western Australia.
He resides in St. Louis.
Peter V. Poggi
Category Management, Tennessee Valley Authority's (TVA) Supply Chain
Peter spearheaded category management at the Tennessee Valley Authority's (TVA) Supply Chain for over a decade. During his tenure, he pioneered the development of one of the initial carbon emissions Scope 3 baselines within the electric utility sector. Peter was instrumental in formulating Supply Chain's carbon reduction plan and implementing key metrics to track progress.
He is an esteemed member of the Construction Industry Institute's (CII) working group dedicated to embodied carbon. Notably, Peter created a groundbreaking solar project carbon estimating model, set to be featured in the team's whitepaper slated for publication in 2025. Recently, Peter transitioned into a new role focusing on solar and battery purchased power origination.
Peter's professional journey began in 1989, encompassing diverse sales and operations positions with various transmission and distribution equipment manufacturers. He has extensively engaged with utilities across Europe, Asia, and Latin America throughout his career.
Peter has a BS and MBA from Cornell University, and lives in Chattanooga, TN.
Mario de la Cruz
Global Procurement Director, Grupo Bimbo
Mario is the Global Procurement Compliance Director with Grupo Bimbo, the largest bakery company in the world, with more than 100 brands and operations in over 33 countries.
In his role, he works closely with procurement teams to drive sustainable reductions in the cost of goods and services; improve quality, competitiveness and service; and enable continued performance improvement. A passionate advocate for the strategic value of procurement, he brings deep experience in project, program and portfolio management across procurement and IT. Prior to joining Grupo Bimbo, he held a variety of project management and leadership roles for a variety of firms, including Empresas ICA and Scotiabank.
Sopan Shah
SVP, Global Chief Procurement Officer, IHG® Hotels & Resorts
Sopan Shah is the SVP and Global Chief Procurement Officer at IHG® Hotels and Resorts, a leading global hospitality company with 19 hotel brands and over 6,300 open hotels in 100+ countries. IHG® is committed to providing True Hospitality for Good and offers one of the world's largest hotel loyalty programs, IHG® One Rewards.
Sopan leads the IHG® Global Procurement organization. The organization is dedicated to creating value for all stakeholders by being simpler, faster, and better in all activities across the supply chain. By working collaboratively with those who stay, work, and partner with IHG®, the organization delivers breakthrough results. Sopan has had a broad 20-year career in supply management, with leadership roles at Nestlé, NBC Universal, General Mills, and Intel before joining IHG®. His passion for this field began when he earned his degree in Supply Chain Management from the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University.
Jim Gruwell
Senior Vice President of Procurement, Chief Procurement Officer, Westrock
Jim Gruwell is the Chief Procurement Officer with Smurfit Westrock, a global leader in sustainable packaging, operating in 40 countries across 500 packaging converting operations and 62 paper mills.
An accomplished and impactful executive with expertise in supply chain transformation, global procurement, strategic sourcing and global operations management, Jim has deep experience in diverse industries, including e-commerce, electronics, retail, automotive, technology and manufacturing.
As CPO with Smurfit Westrock, he champions global procurement operations and leads the orchestration of global transformations to expand the company’s capabilities and optimize value delivery.
Prior to joining Smurfit Westrock, he held various leadership roles for companies such as Dell, Cummins, Chewy and JB Poindexter. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University.
Dennis Choi
Product Manager, ERP Supply Chain, ConocoPhillips
Dennis Choi is the Supply Chain Product Manager for the ERP Program at ConocoPhillips. In this role, Dennis is responsible and accountable for the design and execution of the Supply Chain scope within the ERP program across both the global function and all Business Units.
Previously, Dennis held a role leading the Crude Oil Tanker Business Unit within the Supply Chain function. Additionally, during his tenure with ConocoPhillips, Dennis has worked in the Global Functions, Category Management and Strategic Sourcing, and the L48 Business Unit.
Prior to joining ConocoPhillips in 2012, Dennis was with Deloitte in Tax Consulting & Advisory positions.
Dennis holds a Masters and Bachelors in Accounting, both from the University of Texas at Austin. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the State of Texas.
James Gellert
Executive Chairman, RapidRatings
James Gellert, Executive Chairman of RapidRatings, a financial health data and analytics company based in New York City. James is a recognized international authority on corporate counterparty risk management, supply chain risk, the health of public and private businesses, and US rating regulation.
Mr. Gellert began his career in the credit world, working in Debt Capital Markets at multiple global banks. Since entering the technology world, he has run four private companies – three in data, risk, and media, and one, an investment banking boutique focused on raising capital and M&A in the financial information services industry. He sold three of these companies and acquired RapidRatings to focus entirely on financial risk for credit and supply chain risk professionals. RapidRatings has received awards and accolades for risk management in credit and supply chain, and Mr. Gellert has been awarded the “Pros to Know” title in the supply chain industry.
Thomas Udesen
EVP and Chief Procurement Officer, Bayer AG
Thomas leads the dynamic Procurement function at Bayer, the global Life Science company. “Health for all, hunger for none" is Bayer’s vision and the guiding principle for Thomas and his leadership team.
Procurement is determined to ignite Bayer’s external partners, to enable profitable and sustainable growth benefiting patients, farmers and consumers around the world. Procurement’s value add is not limited to financials but includes crucial levers like innovation and new business models. Moreover, his team contributes to safeguarding the reputation of Bayer by unconditional adherence to the principles of sustainability, with proactive risk management and by ensuring compliance.
Sustainability is a matter close to Thomas’ heart, inspiring and driving him way beyond his Bayer duties. With the Sustainable Procurement Pledge #SPP, Thomas has privately co-founded this initiative. He strives to activate #SPP Ambassadors around the globe to drive a much-needed change towards responsible behavior and sustainable decision-making across supply chains.
At Bayer, Thomas reports directly to the CFO. His team of around 2,000 professionals manages an annual spend of ~24 billion Euros.
Madhur Aggarwal
Chief Product Officer, EcoVadis
Madhur Aggarwal is Chief Product Officer (CPO) at EcoVadis, a global leader in sustainability and decarbonization solutions. As CPO, Madhur drives portfolio strategy, product management, user experience, pricing, and packaging of the Sustainability Suite and EcoVadis Academy. Prior to joining EcoVadis, Madhur spent more than two decades building and scaling solutions for global companies across Europe and North America. He was General Manager of SAP Digital Commerce, where he expanded the marketplace to more than 120 countries. Madhur also previously served as the CPO of Pearson’s digital business and as SVP Product at Pluralsight. He holds an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
In conjunction with his business success, Madhur is passionate about giving back and mentoring young people. He is a Board member at the Center for Ethical and Social Leadership at Michigan State University, the Center for Brand Leadership at Columbia Business School, an active member of the New York technology community, and a frequent speaker at international and academic conferences.
Ali Mansuri
Associate Director of ISV Partnerships and Alliances, Whatfix
Ali Mansuri serves as the Associate Director of ISV Partnerships and Alliances at Whatfix, where he plays a pivotal role in shaping and managing strategic relationships that fuel the company’s growth. Ali is instrumental in defining and identifying key partnership opportunities, developing collaborative strategies, and optimizing alliances to enhance Whatfix's digital adoption solutions.
Ali's extensive expertise in digital transformation technologies enables him to guide partners effectively, assess market trends, and implement best practices. His role involves leveraging a deep understanding of industry dynamics to foster innovation and ensure alignment with Whatfix’s strategic goals.
With a strong background in partnerships and a proven track record in driving business growth, Ali brings valuable insights into the evolving needs of the digital adoption market. His strategic acumen and commitment to excellence are key to advancing Whatfix's mission of delivering transformative digital solutions and building impactful, long-term partnerships
Dawn Tiura
CEO, SIG
Dawn Tiura is the President and CEO of Sourcing Industry Group (SIG), the world’s premier membership association representing Fortune 500 and Global 1000 companies with a combined spend of $17 trillion USD in sourcing and outsourcing. SIG’s goal is to elevate the strategic impact of these organizations on their company’s top and bottom lines. Dawn is also the President of SIG University, an online and in-person training and education organization that offers certifications in sourcing, governance, risk management and intelligent automation. Dawn has a passion to improve sustainability in global supply chains, she helps organizations to meet the 17 Sustainable Development Goals as part of SIG’s UN Alliance and is an ambassador to the Sustainable Procurement Pledge.
Dawn has over 30 years of leadership experience, with the past 25 years focused on the sourcing and outsourcing industry. She is a frequent speaker, presenter and writer. Dawn has been featured at global events and in numerous publications, newspapers, magazines, videos and books including Forbes, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and Fortune. Prior to joining SIG, Dawn held leadership positions as founder and CEO of Denali Group and before that as a partner in a CPA firm, focused on early Silicon Valley enterprises and high wealth individuals. Dawn is the proud mother of six and actively involved on several boards promoting civic, health and children’s issues in the Jacksonville, Florida area. Dawn is a licensed CPA and has a BBA from the University of Michigan and an MS in International Taxation from Golden Gate University.
Neha Desai Shah
President & Co-Founder
As president and co-founder, Neha Shah has been a pivotal force in developing GEP from its beginnings into a globally recognized leader in digital supply chain and procurement transformation. A purpose-driven entrepreneur and executive, Neha steers the company's growth strategies, forging and managing strategic relationships at the C-level with clients and spearheading complex transformation engagements.
A constant source of innovation and inspiration, Neha is the key driver of GEP’s sustainability, DEI and social initiatives strategies. Under her guidance, the company prioritizes talent, emphasizing engagement and connecting employees to a higher purpose.
Throughout her career, Neha has been recognized for her leadership and dedication. Among her recent recognitions, Neha received the Supply & Demand Chain Executive’s Women in Supply Chain award, ISM Women & Leadership Diamond Award and TiE Entrepreneur of the Year award. In 2022, Neha was named a winner of the prestigious Henry Crown Fellowships within the Aspen Global Leadership Network at the Aspen Institute.
In 2023, Neha's innovative spirit and dynamic leadership were further recognized as she was named Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year for New Jersey. This award celebrates visionaries who are leading successful and ambitious businesses.
Neha’s work as a liaison between non-profit organizations, the public sector and corporations is a testament to her dedication to human rights. Her role includes raising awareness, inspiring others and providing actionable steps to combat child labor and other related human rights abuses in global supply chains. She is currently the vice-chair of Pratham USA, a leading global education non-profit, working closely with other board leaders on governance, brand and marketing, and acting as an ambassador for Pratham's work across India and its expansion into Africa and Latin America.
She is also an advisory board member of Sakhi for South Asian Women — an organization committed to supporting survivors of gender-based violence. And she advises the Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation, supporting its efforts to eliminate child labor in supply chains worldwide. Recently, Neha and Satyarthi led a discussion on this topic at the World Procurement Congress 2023.
In the past, Neha advised the founders of Princeton Choose, an initiative that focuses on racial literacy and understanding. She is also an active member of the Young Presidents’ Organization.
She is an art and music enthusiast and serves as a board member of McCarter Theatre in New Jersey.
Neha earned a Bachelor of Arts in international relations from the University of Pennsylvania's College of Arts and Sciences. She also received a Bachelor of Science in economics and an MBA in entrepreneurial management from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. All of her degrees were granted with the highest honors and distinctions.
Neha resides in Princeton, New Jersey, with her husband, Dr. Shalin Shah, and their three children.
Amy Snider
Global Director of Procurement, Bitsight Technologies
Amy joined Bitsight Technologies as the Global Director of Procurement in 2022. Bitsight is a global cyber risk management leader transforming how companies manage exposure, performance, and risk for themselves and their third parties. In her current role, Amy is responsible for developing and implementing procurement processes, aligning sourcing efforts with business goals, and negotiating complex contracts for cost-effective sourcing.
With over 20 years of expertise in indirect procurement, Amy is an experienced professional recognized for her strategic acumen and deep knowledge of the procurement landscape. She successfully executes strategic sourcing strategies and implements best practices to significantly reduce costs while enhancing performance, improving supplier quality, and reducing company risk.
Prior to her time at Bitsight, Amy held procurement leadership roles at KeyBank and Michael Baker International.
Roopa Gandhi
President & Founder
Roopa Gandhi is the president and founder of GEP. She founded GEP to build a beautiful company that positively and sustainably impacts employees, clients and communities.
Roopa is passionate about supporting women, from ensuring access to education and healthcare to creating an organization that attracts, supports and advances women in the workplace. She actively supports multiple not-for-profit organizations working to promote women's education, upliftment and guidance.
She advocates a sustainable employee culture and is actively involved in daily employee management of GEP. She spearheads many initiatives within the company that foster holistic employee growth and advancement.
As an extension of GEP’s CSR efforts, Roopa serves on the board of directors for the Akshaya Patra USA, a nonprofit organization with a vision that no child in India is deprived of education because of hunger.
Roopa's journey has taken her to global platforms such as the World Economic Forum where she has participated in panel discussion on “Reinventing Globalization.” She has been an invited speaker at numerous events including Booth Women Connect Conference, Deshpande Development Dialogue and the Dale Carnegie for Executives panel. Roopa's achievements include being recognized as one of the 50 Fastest Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies by the Women Presidents Organization, being a finalist for E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year, and winning both the NJBiz Best 50 Women in Business and SDCE Women in Supply Chain Award. Furthermore, Roopa is a council member of the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
Roopa holds an MBA from the University of Chicago, an MS with highest honors in industrial pharmacy from Long Island University and a BS in pharmacy from Mumbai University.
Jagadish Turimella
Chief Operating Officer & Co-Founder
As Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of GEP, Jagadish "JT" Turimella leads the consulting practice and oversees the company's operations. Under his leadership, the company has grown into a leading procurement and supply chain consulting, outsourcing and technology firm that has won many industry accolades for growth and great client work.
JT was named a Global Leader in Consulting by Consulting Magazine for his leadership within GEP, impact on clients and influence in the consulting profession. He was also named as one of the "Pros to Know," a list of top industry professionals, by Supply & Demand Chain Executive.
Prior to joining GEP, JT held various leadership positions at A.T. Kearney, Option Clearing Corporation and Intergraph Corporation. At Intergraph, he was responsible for new product development and go-to-market strategies.
JT received his MBA with high honors from the University of Chicago — Booth School of Business. He also holds an M.S. in Computer Science from Clemson University and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Osmania University.
Nicky Gray
Senior Director, GBS Global Process Owner – Source to Pay at Kellanova
Nicky Gray is the Senior Director, GBS Global Process Owner – Source to Pay at Kellanova, a global leader in the food and beverage industry, with a diverse portfolio of iconic brands and numerous operations around the world.
Prior to her current role, she was Director of Indirect Procurement, Europe at Kellanova, where she was responsible for overseeing the strategic sourcing, management and optimization of materials and services, including contract negotiation and process improvement.
With expertise in cross-functional team leadership, supply chain management and change management, Nicky drives innovative procurement strategies to enhance operational efficiency and deliver value across Kellanova.
Santosh Nair
Chief Product Officer
Santosh is responsible for GEP's customer growth strategy across procurement and supply chain platforms. Previously, he led GEP's professional services organization, deploying GEP's platforms to clients globally and enabling value from ongoing customer success.
He has 20 years of experience in driving digital transformation for global organizations, shaping strategy, and driving execution across cloud ecosystems, best-practice S2P processes, data management, platform deployment, change management, and ongoing digital innovation.
Santosh holds an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering.
Pamela Heminger
Senior Vice President, Caterpillar Inc.
Pam Heminger is a senior vice president of Caterpillar Inc. with responsibility for the Strategic Procurement & Planning Division. In this position, she leads a team responsible for designing, developing, and connecting world-class capabilities to create value across the entire ecosystem – from the supply base through our manufacturing process – to connect with our dealers and customers.
Prior to joining Caterpillar in 2020, Pam held a series of roles with increasing responsibilities in procurement and business operations during her 24-year career at Honda of America including vice president of Honda North America Purchasing. Before joining Honda of America, she held various supply chain and materials management roles with Lennox International.
Pam is a board member of the Center for Advanced Procurement Strategies and the National Minority Supplier Development Council. In 2023, Pam was honored as a Power50 award recipient by the National Diversity Council for contributions to initiatives that serve to address the gender gap in executive management. In 2015, Automotive News selected Pam as one of “100 Leading Women in the North American Auto Industry,” a recognition awarded every 5 years. She also serves as executive sponsor for Caterpillar’s Abled and Disabled Employees Partnering Together (ADEPT) employee resource group which supports employees with disabilities and those impacted by disabilities and works to enhance business results and Caterpillar's recognition as a supportive and developed workplace.
Pam graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Procurement & Materials Management and Production & Operations Management. She received her MBA from Capital University in 1994. In addition, Pam is an active member of World50, an organization for leaders of the world’s most respected companies to collaborate and learn from one another.
Venue
GEP INNOVATE 2024
NEW YORK HILTON MIDTOWN
Boasting sweeping city views, in the middle of all the action, the New York Hilton Midtown has easy access to some of New York’s most well-known landmarks: the Museum of Modern Art is right across the street, Rockefeller Center and Radio City Music Hall are two blocks away, and a short walk takes you to Central Park and Fifth Avenue. You’ll have easy access to subway and bus lines, and the hotel is conveniently located within a mile of Grand Central Station, Broadway and Times Square. You’ll be well connected to the city when you join us this year at GEP INNOVATE 2024.