In this episode, Barry Render and Misty Blessley talk with Donna Schweibenz, former Senior Director of Purchasing at Temple University, who brings more than 26 years of experience in higher‑education procurement. Donna shares what it takes to manage a centralized purchasing operation responsible for everything from scientific equipment and IT to construction projects and even medical cadavers. She offers insights into purchasing alliances, vendor management, compliance challenges, and why even simple purchases can become surprisingly complex in a university environment. A great listen for anyone interested in procurement, operations, or the behind‑the‑scenes work that keeps universities running.

Barry Render and Misty Blessley talk with Dr. Anna Johnson, VP of Marketing and Commercial Strategy at U.S. Cold Storage, about the critical role of temperature-controlled logistics in the food supply chain. From sustainability initiatives to AI, robotics, and digital twins, this episode explores how technology and innovation are reshaping cold storage operations and creating new opportunities for the workforce.

In this episode, Barry Render and Misty Blessly sit down with Mike Rich, Vice President of Supply Chain at American Water, the largest regulated water and wastewater utility in the U.S. Mike shares insights from his career journey—from inventory management at Home Depot to strategic sourcing at APS—and dives into the challenges and opportunities of leading supply chain operations in a critical utility industry. The conversation explores talent acquisition, negotiation strategies, and how AI technologies like Agentic AI and generative tools are transforming procurement practices.

Barry Render interviews Canadian entrepreneurs Katie Wookey and Ari Davis, co-founders of Simpla Foods, a plant-based yogurt company. They discuss co-packing, supplier relationships, sustainable packaging, and their growth strategy across Canada and into the U.S.

In this podcast Barry Render and co-host Misty Blessly interview Jennifer Taylor, Director of Contracts at Universal Health Services. Jennifer shares her journey from the Philadelphia Housing Authority to UHS, offering insights into healthcare procurement, tariff challenges, and how her team manages product allocations. She also discusses UHS’s innovative internship program and its role in building a pipeline of supply chain talent.

In our latest episode, Barry Render sits down with David Rosenthal, a recent MBA graduate from the University of Texas at Austin, to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming business education and early career experiences.

David shares insights into AI in the classroom, AI as a central part of his internship, and his entrepreneurial journey using AI to build Fantasy Fusion Sports.

Barry Render interviews Dr. Subodha Kumar of Temple University on how AI is transforming operations—from sustainability and compliance to cybersecurity and blockchain. Subodha shares insights on greenwashing, supply chain visibility, and advice for students entering an AI-driven workforce.

In our August podcast, Barry Render interviews Dr. Tyson Browning, Professor of Operations at Texas Christian University and former co-editor-in-chief of the Journal of Operations Management. Barry and Tyson discuss Tyson’s editorial experience, the evolving role of AI in research, and the future direction of the operations management field.

In our July podcast, Barry Render interviews Darrell Edwards, professor of supply chain at University of Tennessee Knoxville, with decades of industry experience including at La-Z-Boy, a leading provider of home furniture.  In this podcast Barry and Darrell discuss vulnerabilities in global supply chains.

We're excited about our June podcast, wherein Barry Render interviews Bob O’Donnell, Vice President of Business Development of Life Sciences at East Coast Warehouse, who has extensive experience with life sciences supply chains.  Barry and Bob discuss Bob's experience and how life sciences supply chains operate.

A transcript can be downloaded here: https://operationsmanagementblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/HRM-Podcast-Life-Sciences-Transcript.docx