What does it take to keep a refinery running when the world won't stop throwing curveballs?

In this episode, Ted Stank and guest co-host Lance Saunders speak with Tom Johnson, VP of procurement at HF Sinclair, an independent petroleum refiner with operations throughout the mid-continent, southwestern and Rocky Mountain regions. Recorded live at the Supply Chain Forum, the conversation pulled back the curtain on one of the more essential and misunderstood industries in the global economy.

Among the topics discussed were why surety of supply—not cost—is the 3 a.m. concern keeping procurement leaders awake, and how the Strait of Hormuz closure and ongoing geopolitical volatility are rippling through petrochemical supply chains in ways consumers never see. Johnson also discussed the crude oil import-export paradox and how refinery infrastructure dictates crude "diets," the rise of data analytics as a seat at the operations table, how tariffs stress-tested supplier relationships and exposed the limits of sub-tier supply chain visibility, and what the skilled trades shortage means for heavy industrial operations.

Johnson is a UT Knoxville SCM alum who has spent his entire career in oil and gas, previously holding roles at Valero and Holly Frontier. He oversees a procurement organization of approximately 100 professionals managing roughly $2 billion in annual spend, including labor, plant inventory, and category management.

The episode was recorded live at the Supply Chain Forum on April 22, 2026.

Related links:

• Save the date for the Fall Supply Chain Forum, Nov. 10–12
• Download free white papers from UT experts
• Become a GSCI partner to learn, network, and recruit with the top supply chain education institution in North America
• Join the Advanced Supply Chain Collaborative to explore advanced concepts in SCM with top industry experts and scholars
• Follow GSCI on LinkedIn
• Subscribe to GSCI’s monthly newsletter
• Read the latest news and insights from GSCI

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Forecasting has been blamed for supply chain problems for decades. But what if the real issue isn’t the forecast itself?

In this episode, Tom Goldsby and Scott DeGroot speak with Mike Burnette, Lance Saunders, and Dan Pellathy about new research from the University of Tennessee’s Global Supply Chain Institute examining why forecast-driven planning continues to fall short and how leading companies are redesigning their planning processes to be more agile and responsive.

The conversation explored how many organizations still rely on one-size-fits-all planning models, why improving forecast accuracy alone rarely fixes service and inventory problems, and how leading-edge companies are segmenting demand, using different demand triggers, and building capability in the supply chain instead of buffering uncertainty with excess inventory.

The group also discussed planning agility, the limits of traditional ERP-based approaches, and the behavioral challenges that prevent companies from fully using advanced planning systems.

Burnette, Pellathy, and Saunders's research was conducted alongside GSCI participating in the Advanced Supply Chain Collaborative. Their work led to the forthcoming white paper Love to Hate the Forecast, which will be released at the Supply Chain Forum, April 21–23.

The episode was recorded virtually on March 10, 2026.

Related links:

• Read Mike Burnette's two-part blog series on the cultural roots of forecasting failures and shifting to a right-to-left planning model
• Download free white papers from UT experts
• Save the date for the Spring Supply Chain Forum, April 21–23
• Join the Advanced Supply Chain Collaborative to explore advanced concepts in SCM with top industry experts and scholars
• Become a GSCI partner
• Follow GSCI on LinkedIn
• Subscribe to GSCI’s monthly newsletter
• Read the latest news and insights from GSCI

Text the Tennessee on Supply Chain Management team!

For our latest episode, guest hosts Scott DeGroot and Lance Saunders spoke with Kevin O’Marah, co-founder of Zero100 and GSCI Distinguished Fellow, about structural shifts in global trade policy, the acceleration of agentic AI in supply chain workflows, and the widening performance gap between early movers and holdouts.

The conversation explored how industrial policy and tariff normalization are driving regionalized supply networks, why AI must be embedded in end-to-end workflows rather than siloed tasks, and how process discipline—not data alone—determines technology success.

O'Marah, who previously held leadership roles at Amazon, Gartner, and SCM World, argued that supply chains are entering a K-shaped era, where organizations that differentiate talent, rethink planning, and adopt AI with intent will accelerate sharply, while others risk stagnation. The discussion also touched on capital investment trends, trust-based supplier ecosystems, planning reform beyond traditional S&OP, and the continued importance of circularity and resource stewardship in a shifting geopolitical landscape.

The episode was recorded during the GSCI Advisory Board meeting at the Haslam College of Business on February 26, 2026.

Related links:

• Download free white papers from UT experts
• Save the date for the Spring Supply Chain Forum, April 21–23
• Join the Advanced Supply Chain Collaborative to explore advanced concepts in SCM with top industry experts and scholars
• Become a GSCI partner
• Follow GSCI on LinkedIn
• Subscribe to GSCI’s monthly newsletter
• Read the latest news and insights from GSCI

Text the Tennessee on Supply Chain Management team!