General Gustave F. Perna

U.S. Army

Lieutenant General (Ret.) Gus Perna is a distinguished U.S. Army veteran with over 38 years of service, renowned for his expertise in global logistics and supply chain management. As former Commanding General of the U.S. Army Materiel Command (AMC), he led a $60 billion enterprise supporting 190,000 personnel across 167 countries, ensuring materiel readiness and sustainment worldwide. A 1985 West Point graduate (B.S. in General Engineering), Gen. Perna earned an M.S. in Resource Management from the Dwight D. Eisenhower School and completed Harvard’s Advanced Management Program.

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RONALD E. JOLLY, SR.

Brigadier General, USAF (retired)

Ret. Brigadier General USAF, Ronald. E. Jolly, SR’s distinguished military career includes years of experience across prestigious Government projects and diverse high-profile, hands-on industry domains. He was commissioned through ROTC at Oklahoma State University in December 1990, and he began his career as a Gold Bar recruiter with the Air Force ROTC program at the University of North Texas in August 1991. He graduated from the Aircraft Maintenance and Munitions Officer Course in January 1993 as an aircraft maintenance and munitions officer at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. General Jolly is a fully qualified aircraft maintenance officer and logistician having served tours as Training Wing Commander, Air Logistics Complex Deputy Commander for Maintenance, Chief of Staff for Headquarters, U.S. Central Command Directorate of Logistics and Engineering, Maintenance Group commander, Military Assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force, Staff Officer at the Headquarters Air Force level and numerous wing level maintenance and logistics positions.

Bert Nelson – US Navy

Naval Aviator U.S. Navy

Bert Nelson is a retired senior officer of the United States Navy, with a distinguished career spanning operational leadership, strategic planning, and naval innovation. His service included key roles in fleet management and defense operations, contributing to mission-critical advancements in maritime capabilities. Bert’s expertise in naval logistics and command has made him a valued advisor on throughput optimization in complex, high-reliability systems.

Takao Sakai

Lean Expert

Takao Sakai is the award-winning and globally-recognized Lean Expert & Author of “The Secret Behind the Success of Toyota” and “The Age of Talent”. Takao is from the family of Kotaro Honda, famous for helping the Toyoda Family create Toyota Motor Company & Inventor of Just-in-Time & Kaizen, and developing the first Japanese Computer-Aided Design software for automotive. His clients include influential global industrial leaders and cutting edge manufacturing companies. Takao is a highly sought-out keynote speaker, headlining the most influential Lean, Agile, and Six Sigma global conferences.

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Dr. Hagen Hultzsch

Ex-CIO & Executive Director of Volkswagen AG

Dr. Hagen Hultzsch was Member of the Executive Board of Deutsche Telekom AG, the CIO & Executive Director of Volkswagen AG, and member of the Board of ICANN. Hagen conceived and led the creation of T-Systems as well as T-Venture. He was inspired by multi-billion dollar Industrial Enterprise Data projects at IBM Research Labs & Volkswagen. Hagen was mentored by the late Electronic Data Systems founder Ross Perot. Among others Hagen currently advises ThroughPut on how to navigate the German technology market. Hagen is the author of Informationsmanagement als Führungsaufgabe at Hanser & Prozessdatenverarbeitung at Teubner.

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Steve Robinson

CEO, The Supply Chain Project

Walmart & Starbucks

Steve Robinson is a global supply chain leader with over 30 years of experience, having served as Vice President of Global Supply Chain at Walmart, overseeing logistics for one of the world’s largest retailers, and as Vice President of the Starbucks Center of Supply Chain Excellence, driving hyper-growth and operational efficiencies. As CEO and founder of The Supply Chain Project, a nonprofit focused on eradicating hunger through innovative strategies, Steve advises on resilient, scalable supply networks that enhance throughput and sustainability.

Eli Schragenheim – The Goal Pioneer

CEO of Elyakim Management Systems (1992) Ltd

Eli Schragenheim is a renowned expert in the Theory of Constraints (TOC), having collaborated closely with Dr. Eli Goldratt, TOC’s founder, for seven years. As a pioneering author and educator, he has authored influential works like Management Dilemmas: The Theory of Constraints Approach to Problem Identification and Solutions, which uses real-world scenarios to teach TOC principles for resolving complex operational challenges. Eli’s innovative thinking continues to guide global leaders in enhancing throughput and efficiency.

Aaron Handke

Goldman Sachs

Aaron Handke is a distinguished investment professional whose career began as an analyst at Goldman Sachs, where he honed his skills in financial analysis and deal structuring. Now Managing Partner at Heartland Opportunity Capital Partners and Partner at Five Elms Capital, Aaron has founded and scaled ventures like OTR Leasing and Applied Abstraction Technologies. A Brandeis University alumnus, he brings over two decades of experience in private equity, venture capital, and entrepreneurial growth to advise on high-impact investments.

Rocky Snawerdt

Harris Corporation

Rocky Snawerdt is a seasoned executive with deep expertise in defense and aerospace, having held senior leadership roles at Harris Corporation (now L3Harris Technologies), a leading provider of mission-critical communications and electronics solutions. Throughout his tenure, he drove advancements in tactical radios, electronic systems, and secure networks, supporting national security and global operations. Rocky’s strategic vision has been instrumental in scaling innovative technologies for high-stakes environments.