by Janice Marquardt | Jun 2, 2026 | Conferences, Creative Solutions
Welcome to part two of my notes from the Utility Supply Management Alliance (USMA) conference in Florida. If you missed the notes on a team’s success and on creativity, check them out here! Note they are NOT utility-specific or even supply chain-specific, and neither...
by Janice Marquardt | May 26, 2026 | Conferences, Creative Solutions
For a utility conference, the keynotes were shockingly (refreshingly?) non-utility. I just got back from the Utility Supply Management Alliance (USMA) conference in Florida, and what an interesting conference! I got done typing my notes from the four (!) keynotes at...
by Janice Marquardt | May 5, 2026 | Conferences
Conference season is in full swing! Do you have any good ones on your itinerary? When I was in charge of a team, I used to task team members who went to conferences with coming back and presenting what they learned to the group. We didn’t go to many conferences at the...
by Janice Marquardt | Apr 21, 2026 | Creative Solutions, Supply Chain Career
I love the Iowa State Voorhees Supply Chain Conference, and not just because I’m an alumni. People who attend this one-day conference are there to learn, not just to rub elbows and eat good food (although the catering is very good). When I was primarily in corporate...
by Janice Marquardt | Dec 30, 2025 | Supply Chain Career
The most common question, especially at conferences and networking events, is “What do you do?” In casual settings, my answer is “I solve supply chain problems.” At networking and professional events it’s often, “I bring negotiation back to procurement” or “I elevate...
