Tech-Chain Conference 2026
Friday, Oct. 30, 2026 · Saint Louis University
TECH-CHAIN 2026 is a one-day conference on where AI is actually working in the supply chain — and where it isn't. Presented by the Center for Supply Chain Excellence at the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business, the day brings together 15 senior practitioners from Amazon, Apple, Caterpillar, ConverSight, Lowe's, McKinsey, Medline, Staples, Takeda, UiPath, Wayfair and World Wide Technology for four morning keynotes, three afternoon panel discussions, and a closing networking reception.
Registration
Standard registration is $175. Student discounts are also available.
- EARLYBIRD-TC26 — save $50
- GOV-TC26 — save $75
The Day at a Glance
- 7:15 a.m. — Breakfast and registration
- 8:30 a.m. — Morning keynotes begin
- 12:15 p.m. — Lunch and networking
- 1:30 p.m. — Afternoon panel discussions
- 4:15 p.m. — Networking reception
- 5:30 p.m. — Close
Morning Keynotes
Four Forces Reshaping Supply Chains: An Integrated Perspective
8:30 – 9:15 a.m.
Amber Salley, founder and managing director, Salley Advisory
25 years across the ecosystem — from IBM practitioner to 12-year Gartner analyst.
Low-Hanging Fruit — Where to Start with AI
9:30 – 10:15 a.m.
Paul Lewis, chief technology officer, Pythian
30+ years in data and cloud. Former Global CTO at Hitachi Vantara.
The Real-Time, Agent-Native Supply Chain: Lessons from project44 to LSP44
10:30 – 11:15 a.m.
Jett McCandless, founder and CEO, project44 and LSP44
Built the logistics data graph now used by 1,300+ brands across 190+ countries.
Generative AI — Proven Use Cases & ROI Today
11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Caleb Carr, senior director, data science and engineering, Schnuck Markets
20+ years leading data at a regional grocery chain — a real-world lab for AI-in-retail.
Afternoon Panel Discussions
Lessons Learned — Scaling AI from Pilot to Production
1:30 p.m.
- The stories your board actually needs to hear.
- Where AI is quietly failing — and how to tell before you invest.
- The playbook for moving from proof-of-concept to production.
AI for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
2:30 p.m.
- Why did your last pilot fail (or succeed)?
- Data and integration realities on a real-world budget.
- Change management and planner adoption.
- How to measure ROI honestly.
The Next Frontier — Agentic AI, Workforce and Talent
3:30 p.m.
- What does the autonomous supply chain mean for jobs?
- The skills the 2028 planner will need.
- How universities and employers should retool.
- Two-year predictions from the frontier.
Networking Reception
4:15 – 5:30 p.m.
Close the day with the speakers, panelists, faculty and fellow practitioners who make this the highest-signal supply chain gathering in the region. Bring cards. Bring questions. Leave with the relationships that outlast the program.
What's included:
- Hors d'oeuvres and an open-hour cocktail reception.
- Direct time with the day's speakers and panelists.
- Small-group conversation and curated seating.
Questions
Contact Vineet Sharma at vineet.sharma@slu.edu.