Education Conference

Michelle Dilley joined AWESOME in mid-2020, becoming the organization’s first CEO. She most recently served as Chief Operating Officer of DSC Logistics, now CJ Logistics America. Michelle joined DSC Logistics in 2017 as Chief Supply Chain Transformation Officer, leading the vision for the DSC operating platform of the future and implementing strategic initiatives to deliver continuous improvement. Promoted to COO in 2019, Michelle continued to lead the transformation initiative and was directly responsible for leading DSC’s network of logistics centers and supply chain packaging operations throughout North America. Her prior experience spans the full spectrum of end-to-end supply chain, including strategic sourcing, operations, inventory management, logistics and transportation, technology and business/customer process harmonization for companies in multiple industries such LaSalle Bristol, Ascension Health, and Whirlpool Corporation. During her 16 years with Whirlpool, she served in a variety of roles, including General Manager, Global Indirect Goods & Services Sourcing, from 2005 to 2009. She received a bachelor’s degree in German studies and international business from the University of Michigan and also studied at Schiller International University in Heidelberg Germany.

Marguerite Ham, is the founder of Igniting Success and been a corporate trainer since 1989. She gives over 100 presentations a year, virtually and on-site, nationwide to organizations such as Lockheed Martin, American Family Insurance, Lucent Technologies, Bell Canada, Selected Independent Funeral Homes, NFDA, Associations and organizations worldwide. In addition, she works with many organizations in the public and private sector helping them create on-site customized Leadership Academy’s and programs for growth and development of their staff members.

Marguerite is a certified organizational coach for the last 20+ years, where she helps organizations implement the coaching culture through training and coaching staff members. She also works with corporate executives and their management teams, guiding them to be more effective and efficient while being in alignment with the organizational values and goals as well as their own. In addition, Marguerite is a certified Mindfulness Facilitator and Certified Yoga Teacher.

She is the author of: Total Recall (audio series), How to Remember Anything in 60 Minutes or Less, How to Remember “What’s His Name?” and she is currently writing her latest book, The Five Languages of Leadership.

Marguerite is known for her highly interactive, content rich presentations in the fields of leadership development, team effectiveness, communication and coaching.

Personally… Marguerite lives in Elizabeth, Colorado, with her husband, Gary. They have a menagerie of animals: Merlin & Maddie (dogs), Edgar & Baby B (cats), and Zeus & Izzie (horses). She loves to spend time with her family, read, ride her horses, and practice and teach yoga.

Marguerite is available for virtual and on-site programs. Here are a few of her most requested programs:

• 5 Languages of Leadership
• Connecting Through Coaching
• Navigating Critical Conversations
• Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace
• Mixing & Managing 5 Generations in the Workplace
• The 5 Behaviors of a Cohesive Team

Gerald Perritt has spent most of his career in the 3PL world successfully holding positions in Operations, Engineering, Business Development, and Executive level roles. During the last several years of his 3PL career, he was head of North and South American business units for two global third-party logistics providers, UTi Worldwide ( now DSV) and Kuehne+Nagel.

After over 30 years in the industry, he left the corporate life at the end of 2019 and founded The Perritt Group, a 3PL Advisory and Leadership Development consulting practice. In addition to working with a handful of 3PLs in an advisory capacity, Gerald and his team have partnered with several 3PLs to develop leaders ranging from supervisors to CEOs.

He is a past President of the Warehouse& Education Research Council National Board of Directors (2020 – 21 term), current Director on two company boards, and an advisor to a warehouse industry technology firm. Gerald and his wife are recent empty nesters and enjoy a peaceful life in their “forever home” in South Carolina.

Annette Danek-Akey has more than 25-years’ experience and is currently responsible for 2,500 employees within 4.5 million square feet of Operations Center space globally. Annette was an Adjunct Professor for Operations Management at Towson University. Most recently, Annette was elected to join the MHI Board of Governors, and she just received her MBA from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Annette serves on the executive boards of several industry associations and is a past president of WERC. She is an active member of AWESOME and has spoken at several AWESOME events in the past ten years. Annette has been featured in many different articles including being highlighted as one of 2022’s “Top 100 Women in Supply Chain” by Supply Chain Digital, a leading trade monthly. Annette was noted as one of the 7 Notable Women in Supply Chain & Logistics by Inbound Logistics in 2020, and was named one of DC Velocity’s 2019 Rainmakers, in recognition of her leadership in the supply-chain industry.

After starting his career in manufacturing with roles in engineering/operations, Jon has spent the last 18 years in logistics beginning as President of an engineered solutions group, then VP of a branded manufacturer before transitioning to Vice President roles in engineering, operations and sales with larger 3PLs including OHL (now Geodis), UTi Worldwide (now DSV), and Kuehne & Nagel.

Jon joined PFS (a global commerce services company) in 2020 and has spent the last two years as SVP of Global Fulfillment driving results on behalf of consumer brands and internet retailers.

Work passions include leadership development, innovation, and continuous improvement supporting business partners across the globe. Personally, he loves spending time with his wife on the farm, hanging with his three boys on the lake whenever possible and most importantly seeing his new granddaughter whenever he can.

Scott Hines is the Senior Vice President of Supply Chain at JD/ Finish Line. He joined the company in February 2016 as a consultant before serving as the Vice President of Distribution overseeing distribution and transportation operations and then as the SVP. He has past experience at other retailers including Sears, Lowe’s and Dollar Tree as well as experience with manufacturing and third party logistics companies. Hines is a graduate of Cornell University and also has an MBA from Roosevelt University.

Greg is responsible for all physical goods movement, information flows, and logistics procurement activities that contribute to Mattel's purpose of creating innovative products that inspire, entertain, and develop children through play.

He oversees the overall business management of Mattel’s logistics, distribution, transportation, and logistics procurement activities worldwide. This work includes the operation of Mattel’s global network of regional Distribution Centers, Asia Logistics operations, Consolidated Cross Dock Centers, and a Global Transportation network executing over 10 million customer deliveries across all channels and brands through 40 DCs totaling 10 million square feet.

Greg and his team work to ensure the global logistics network is dynamic and responsive to rapidly changing market conditions including bringing new products to market with competitive advantage.