ISM Supply Chain Trailblazer Awards

The ISM Supply Chain Trailblazer Awards celebrate the organizational programs that set new standards, drive new possibilities, and exceed expectations. These are the organizations that set the bar. These are the organizations that help to advance the supply management profession.


2023 ISM Supply Chain Trailblazer Award Finalists Announced

Finalist organizations announced in eleven categories for this year's Trailblazer awards. Hear some of the organizations' trailblazing case studies first-hand at the ISM World 2024 annual conference and celebrate their success at the Awards Gala taking place on Tuesday, April 30, 2024. View the shortlist organizations below. 

View 2023 Finalists 

Winning Organizations Receive:

Speaking opportunity at ISM World 2024

One complimentary registration for ISM World 2024 for the speaker

On-stage recognition at the ISM Awards Gala 2024

One complimentary ticket to the ISM Awards Gala 2024

A write-up in our membership magazine, Inside Supply Management® as well as national press

Custom physical award

Categories

Honoring Organizations Making Trailblazing Impacts

Select from any or all of the 14 supply management categories. Your entries should be timely and relevant, having occurred and/or begun within the last 12 months . Entries are evaluated on initiative, process, outcomes, commitment, impact and achievements.  

 

Below are the details for each of the award categories:

 

 

Transformation

Tell your organization’s supply management/procurement transformation journey and the impact it has made. Include appropriate results and successes.

Innovation

Share the problem or opportunity your organization has recently resolved through innovative practices. Explain how it created accelerated revenue, reduced costs, added value, created a competitive advantage, or solved a pervasive issue in your company.

Risk and Crisis Management

Share a problem scenario your organization has recently resolved including risks involved, crisis or challenge that did or could have occurred, that was mitigated or managed by the organization.

 

Thought Leadership Game Changers

Describe how your company has advanced the profession with demonstrated thought leadership and provide specific examples that outlines the impact it’s already making.

Sustainability Commitment

Share your company's story and results around how you've committed to demonstrating some or all of the eleven principles of sustainability

Diversity Chamption

Share a recent project or program your organization has developed to advance diversity within the profession either within your talent and/or within your supply base.

 

 

NEW: Advanced Technology Digital Impact

Share the problem or opportunity your company has recently solved for leveraging advanced digital technology (ML, AI, RPA, IoT, blockchain, etc.) across the function or broader business enterprise. 

NEW: Category Management Excellence

Share the problem or opportunity your organization has recently solved for leveraging category management strategies and demonstrating excellence. 

NEW: Data & Analytics Initiative

Share the problem or opportunity your organization has recently solved for leveraging data and analytics across the function or broader business enterprise. 

 

NEW: Logistics Excellence

Share the logistics problem or opportunity your organization has recently solved for the business or enterprise. 

NEW: Procurement Solution Provider Impact

Share the problems or opportunities your solution solves for clients. Specific case studies will be required for review. 

NEW: Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) Initiative

Share your organizations specific supplier relationship projects or an overarching SRM strategy development project that demonstrates the processes and mechanisms that the procurement team and supplier(s) have put in place to work together on a successful project. 

 

NEW: Supply Chain Consultancy Project

Share the problem or opportunity your organization has recently solved for on behalf of or in partnership with a client. 

NEW: Talent Management Excellence

Share the problem or opportunity your organization has recently solved for within the talent of their respective team(s). 

 

2023-2024 Trailblazer Award Judges

Camille Batiste Headshot Women with a red jacket suite smiling

Camille Batiste

Senior Vice President, Global Supply Chain and Procurement

ADM

John Blascovich bright blue eyed man smiling at the camera

John Blascovich

Partner

Kearney

Kim Brown Headshot

Kim Brown

Vice President of Procurement for Facilities, Logistics, and Capital

GSK

Ralph Carlton Wearing a blue suite smiling at the camera

Ralph Carlton, CPSM

Vice President- Global Procurement, Strategic Sourcing, & Transformations

Velcro

Kimberly DeWitt Women with a purple blazer smiling at the camera

Kimberly DeWitt, CPSM

Vice President, Procurement and Material Control

CF Industries

John Foody Headshot

John Foody

Vice President & Chief Procurement Officer

United States Steel Corporation

Howard Levy Smiling at the camera with a dark grey suite

Howard Levy

Vice President Global Sourcing

Zimmer Biomet

Maria Lindenberg Smiling Selfie with sun on her face

Maria Lindenberg

Independent Consultant

 (Retired CPO, Chevron)

Tom Linton wearing glasses smiling at the camera with a grey back drop

Tom Linton

Advisory and Consulting

Linton Advisors

Lisa Martin smiling at the camera with her arms folded

Lisa Martin, CPSM, C.P.M.

Senior Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer

GSK

Lara Nichols Smiling at the camera

Lara Nichols, CPSM

Head of Global Procurement

Flatiron Health

Anthony Nieves Smiling at the camera while wearing a nice suite

Anthony Nieves, CPSM, C.P.M., CFPM

CEO

Five Star Home Health

Ann Oka women smiling at camera with a pink shirt on with grey hair

Ann Oka

Retired Senior Vice President, Supply Management

Sodexo, Inc.

Anthony Santiago Man Smling with a suite on at the camera grey background and black suite

Anthony Santiago

Owner/Principal

AES Consulting & Business Services LLC

Ronald Schnur Headshot Smiling

Ronald D. Schnur, CPSM

Senior Vice President & Head of Procurement

UTZ Brands, Inc.

Shelley Stewart wearing a blue suite smiling at the camera

Shelley Stewart Jr., CPSM

Managing Partner

Bottom Line Advisory LLC.

 

2023 ISM Supply Chain Trailblazer Award Shortlist

Award Category

Finalists

Advanced Technology Digital Impact

Wesco International

Las Vegas Valley Water District

Category Management Excellence

DuPont

Data & Analytics Initiative

Velcro Companies

Mercury Marine (division of Brunswick)

Diversity Champion

DuPont

Nova Southeastern University

Apache Corp

Innovation

Zimmer Biomet

Procurement Solution Provider Impact

Kloopify

Risk Management and Resilience

Cipla Ltd.

Alkermes

Supply Chain Consultancy Project

BDO USA

Sustainability Commitment

GSK

Zimmer Biomet

DuPont

Talent Management Excellence

Zimmer Biomet

IHG Hotels & Resorts

Transformation

Cipla Ltd.

DuPont

IHG Hotels & Resorts

 

2022 ISM Supply Chain Trailblazer Award Winners

Diversity Champion

 

 

Charter Communications

Stamford, Connecticut

In 2018, Charter Communications, which had launched a supplier diversity program a year earlier, established a goal to double the company’s initial diverse spend percentage within five years. Charter’s procurement team initiated a process to identify companywide opportunities for success and engaged stakeholders across the company to take action. . .

Full Winner Announcement 

 
 
 

Innovation

 

 
 
 
 
 
 

Risk and Crisis Management

 

 
 

 

Sustainability Commitment

 

 
 
 

Thought Leadership Game Changers

 

 

 

Transformation

 

 

 

 

 

Get Organizational Awards Updates

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FAQ

Q: What is the entry deadline?

A: October 13, 2023

Q: Can organizations enter for multiple categories?

A: Organizations are limited to one submission/entry per category. A complete online entry and fee are required to be considered.

Q: When is the awards celebration?

A: April 29, 2024 explore more Trailblazer Awards Gala details here.

Q: Are awards finalists announces, and if so, when?

A: Category winners will be formally announced at the 2024 ISM Awards Gala.

Q: What is the judging criteria?

A: Entries are evaluated on initiative, process, outcomes, commitment, impact and achievements. Click “About” section within entry site to review criteria for each category.

Q: Who are the judges and what is the review process?

A: A panel of subject matter experts with numerous years of supply management experience and expertise. Reviews take place between October and November 2023.

Q: What questions are required on the online entry form?

A: You’ll be asked submitter contact information, information about your company such as size, location and industry and a short description of your entry. And most importantly, a series of questions about your company’s accomplishments for your chosen category:

  • What is the problem your organization faced?
  • What was the plan and process the team took to address this problem?
  • How did it address the problem and what impact did it make to the organization?
  • What stakeholders and/or departments/teams were involved and impacted?
  • What were the specific results/KPI’s (financial cost savings, value-added, relationship supplier, stakeholder, team, etc.)?