Kevin Smith, a highly respected supply chain executive and consultant, died on October 8 at the age of 71, leaving behind a legacy of strategic guidance and insight. Smith has been a tireless advocate for the supply chain profession and is deeply involved with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP), where he helped craft the industry association’s mission statement and strategic plan.
Mark Baxa, president and CEO of CSCMP, called Smith “a giant in the supply chain world.”
“Kevin has made it his mission to empower supply chain professionals to seek the best possible outcomes,” Baxa said. “He believed the CSCMP was the place to do this…coming together to solve today’s challenges and look to the future builds the best learning environment. As an accomplished and humble leader, he believed that the best possible outcomes came through others and not through himself.”
Smith’s career in supply chain spanned five decades, starting with a job unloading freight cars at a General Mills warehouse in Massachusetts. From there, he worked his way to executive positions at some of the most well-known companies in the world. He has held key positions such as Senior Vice President of Supply Chain & Logistics and Corporate Sustainability Officer for CVS Caremark, Vice President of Logistics and Customer Support for HJ Heinz, and Director of Network Design and Implementation for Kraft Foods. He then turned to consulting, launching his own company, Sustainable Supply Chain Consulting.
Smith has served in numerous volunteer leadership roles at CSCMP, including chairing the Board of Directors in 2016.
“Kevin’s unwavering dedication and generous spirit leave a lasting mark on the CSCMP and our profession,” said current President Donna Palumbo-Mele, who is also executive director of the Penn State Center for Supply Chain Research. “His quiet generosity and kindness enriched so many in countless ways.”
According to Baxa, Smith led several strategic partnerships that strengthened CSCMP’s suite of offerings and was committed to the organization’s Talent Center, which is focused on expanding the supply chain workforce.
“He was always the voice of reason, thought-provoking yet rational, and always cared about how CSCMP could add value to what we were developing,” said Rick Blasgen, who was president and CEO of CSCMP from 2005 to 2021.
In addition to his work through the CSCMP, Smith has spent significant time mentoring and advising numerous supply chain professionals at various stages of their careers.
“He never said no to anyone who asked for help or advice,” Blasgen said. “His long and successful career touched many areas of our supply chain world. I believe the greatest impact he had was on the people he worked with and who served during his volunteer contracts.”
Smith was also known for his sense of humor and finding a way to insert a well-told anecdote or joke into any situation. “It was good for the soul,” Baksa said.
Details of the service and obituary can be found here.
