Catch these speakers live at the USMA Annual Education Conference in Scottsdale
Duncan Wardle, Keynote Speaker, Former head of Disney Innovation & Creativity
As Head of Innovation and Creativity at Disney, Duncan and his team helped Imagineering, Lucasfilm, Marvel, Pixar, and Disney Parks to innovate, creating magical new storylines and experiences.
He now brings his extensive Disney expertise to audiences around the world using a unique approach to Design Thinking, helping people capture unlikely connections, leading to fresh thinking and disruptive ideas.
Delivering a series of keynotes, workshops and ideation forums, his unique Innovation toolkit helps companies embed a culture of innovation into everyone’s DNA.
Duncan is a multiple TED speaker and contributor to Fast Company, Forbes & the Harvard Business Review. He teaches innovation Master Classes at Yale, Harvard, and Edinburgh University.
Ted Geisler President of Arizona Public Service (APS)
Ted Geisler is President of Arizona Public Service Company (APS), which is Arizona’s largest electric company and serves approximately 1.4 million customers across the state. Geisler began his career at APS in 2001 in operations and has served in a variety of roles throughout the company, including as chief financial officer. A Phoenix native, Geisler values giving back to his hometown and is actively engaged in the community. He currently serves on the boards of Chicanos Por La Causa, the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC). Geisler earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Colorado State University and an MBA with an emphasis on strategy from Arizona State University.
John Sitilides, Global Supply Chain Threats, Advisor to the US State Department
John Sitilides is Principal at Trilogy Advisors LLC in Washington, D.C., specializing in U.S. government relations, geopolitical risk, and international affairs. Delivering exclusive geopolitical risk reports, webcasts, and related products and services to institutional capital market and retail clients, he is a professional speaker at corporate, investor, and industry conferences, and before government, military and intelligence community audiences, on geopolitical risk management and the business impacts of international security policies. He explores the complex geopolitical and geo-economic decisions that impact markets in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and worldwide, helping corporate executives, investment managers and civic audiences better understand, anticipate, and mitigate risk.
Under a U.S. government contract since 2006, Sitilides is the Southern Europe Regional Coordinator at the Foreign Service Institute, the State Department’s professional development and diplomacy academy for American foreign policy professionals. He was Board Chairman of the Woodrow Wilson Center Southeast Europe Project from 2005-2011, following seven years as Executive Director of the Western Policy Center, an international relations institute specializing in U.S., NATO and EU interests in southeastern Europe and the Middle East, until he negotiated its 2004 merger with the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.
He has testified before Congress and is a frequent national security commentator on U.S. and international media such as Bloomberg News, CNN, FOX News, CNN International, Newsmax and NewsNation, and has interviewed or cited in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post, Washington Times, Politico, National Public Radio, Euromoney, Asia Times, Institutional Investor, South China Morning Post and other leading print and digital media.
His domestic client portfolio includes industry leaders in real estate development, home construction and agribusiness, along with aviation and emerging technology companies, with a specialization in environmental regulatory reform and private property rights protection. He launched his career in the U.S. Senate and on a series of successful political campaigns.
Sitilides serves on the Executive Committee and Board of Trustees of Leadership 100, a national Orthodox Christian foundation, and is an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. He previously served on the Board of Directors of 3doo, Inc, a VR/AR media technology company; the Board of Directors of International Orthodox Christian Charities, a global humanitarian organization; the Board of Directors of Biovest, developing personalized cancer immunotherapies; and the Board of Governors of the Advanced Imaging Society, promoting the global motion picture industry’s arts and technologies.
He is a member of the Association of International Risk Intelligence Professionals, the Intelligence and National Security Alliance, the Columbia University Club of Washington, D.C., and the Association of Former Senate Aides. Sitilides holds a Master’s Degree in International and Public Affairs from Columbia University. His wife is an attorney and businesswoman, and they have four sons.
Alison Fragale, PhD, Closing speaker on
I empower women to get what they want, at work and in life.
My presentations are equal parts entertaining and educational. I speak and write about:
- Gaining status and power
- Mastering the art and science of negotiation
- Influencing without authority
- Navigating conversations about pay, promotion, and career advancement
- Leading from where you are
- Developing a powerhouse network
- Cultivating a strong, authentic personal brand
My speaking clients are high-performing organizations and industry groups who want to support their members’ growth and effectiveness by offering cutting-edge skills to live and work better. I customize each event based on the needs of the audience.
The Resume Stuff
- Professor at Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina (since 2004)
- Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior from Stanford University Graduate School of Business
- B.A. from Dartmouth College in Math and Economics
- Former management consultant for McKinsey & Company
- My research and commentary has appeared in news outlets such as Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, Fast Company, Inc. Magazine, and The Financial Times.
The Fun Stuff
- I live in Chicago with my husband and three children, who are all named after professional athletes.
- I love, in no particular order: cheap coffee, not-so-cheap wine, fabulous shoes, home organizing, sushi, the Pittsburgh Steelers, Peloton workouts, Hallmark movies, and The Golden Girls.
- My favorite celebrity moment was playing bingo with Al Michaels. Buy me a coffee or wine and I’ll tell you all about it!
Kate Kochenderfer, Sr. Director Supply Chain, Transportation & Flight Services, Salt River Project (SRP)
Kate Kochenderfer is the Senior Director of Supply Chain, Transportation and Flight Services at Salt River Project (SRP). SRP is a community-based not-for-profit water and energy company that provides reliable, affordable water and power to more than 2 million people living in central Arizona. Kate holds a Master of Science in Leadership from Grand Canyon University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Northern Arizona University. She is currently serving as the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Glendale Chamber of Commerce. Kate has a passion for helping others to find their strengths both professionally and personally.
On a personal note, Kate and her husband can be found sitting by a baseball field most weekends and evenings watching their son and daughter play ball. Kate also enjoys hiking, travelling, volunteering, and rescuing animals (currently has 4 dogs, 2 horses, 5 chickens and a turtle).
Juli West, VP Supply Chain, Arizona Public Service (APS)
Juli West is vice president, supply chain for Arizona Public Service (APS). Based in Phoenix, APS is Arizona’s largest energy provider and serves approximately 1.4 million customers across the state.
West is responsible for the company’s extensive supply chain, procurement, warehousing and logistics functions.
West has more than 30 years of supply chain and operation experience, including in the Aerospace and Automotive industry for StandardAero and Honeywell. During her career, she has managed billions of dollars in inventory, moved assembly line operations and facilities, served as a plant manager and brought expertise in strategic sourcing, contract negotiations, process improvements, logistics and distribution, inventory management, and the development of high-performing supply chain organizations at the corporate and plant level.
West earned her Bachelor of Science in production and operations management and MBA degrees from Bowling Green State University. She is a Six Sigma Black Belt. West enjoys volunteering in the community and serves on the Metro YMCA board of directors.
Margaret Morford, Author & HR Consultant
I empower women to get what they want, at work and in life.
My presentations are equal parts entertaining and educational. I speak and write about:
- Gaining status and power
- Mastering the art and science of negotiation
- Influencing without authority
- Navigating conversations about pay, promotion, and career advancement
- Leading from where you are
- Developing a powerhouse network
- Cultivating a strong, authentic personal brand
My speaking clients are high-performing organizations and industry groups who want to support their members’ growth and effectiveness by offering cutting-edge skills to live and work better. I customize each event based on the needs of the audience.
The Resume Stuff
- Professor at Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina (since 2004)
- Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior from Stanford University Graduate School of Business
- B.A. from Dartmouth College in Math and Economics
- Former management consultant for McKinsey & Company
- My research and commentary has appeared in news outlets such as Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, Fast Company, Inc. Magazine, and The Financial Times.
The Fun Stuff
- I live in Chicago with my husband and three children, who are all named after professional athletes.
- I love, in no particular order: cheap coffee, not-so-cheap wine, fabulous shoes, home organizing, sushi, the Pittsburgh Steelers, Peloton workouts, Hallmark movies, and The Golden Girls.
- My favorite celebrity moment was playing bingo with Al Michaels. Buy me a coffee or wine and I’ll tell you all about it!
Plus over 40 additional speakers!
Securing entry to the USMA conference has become the hottest commodity in the electric utility purchasing sector
Keep an eye on the website in late August 2024 for the launch of registration for the next event, May 18-21, 2025 J.W. Marriott, Nashville, TN, USA.
Find Us Next in Nashville
Registration begins late August
USMA continues its mission of providing sessions focused on delivering value you can take home and apply to keep your supply chain safe and reliable.
Sponsors
We are grateful for the support of our sponsors, whose contributions help us maintain a high program level and keep registration costs under control.
Premier Sponsor
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Charity Golf Tournament and 5K Sponsors
Barista Sponsor
