Kevin Smith, a well-respected supply chain executive and consultant, died on October 8 at the age of 71, leaving behind a legacy of mentorship and strategic insight. Smith was a tireless advocate for the supply chain profession and deeply involved with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP), where he helped to craft the industry association’s mission statement and strategic plan.
Mark Baxa, president and CEO of CSCMP, characterized Smith as “a giant in the world of supply chain.”
“Kevin made it his mission to enable supply chain professionals to seek the best possible outcomes,” said Baxa. “He believed that CSCMP was the very place to do just that… where coming together to solve today’s challenges and to look to the future built the best learning environment. A masterful, humble leader himself, he believed the best possible outcomes came through others and not himself.”
Smith’s supply chain career stretched over five decades and started with a job unloading freight cars at a General Mills warehouse in Massachusetts. From there, he worked his way up to executive-level positions at some of the world’s best-known companies. He held key positions such senior vice president supply chain & logistics and corporate sustainability officer for CVS Caremark, vice president of logistics and customer support for H.J. Heinz, and director of network design and implementation for Kraft Foods. He then pivoted to consulting, launching his own firm, Sustainable Supply Chain Consulting.
Smith held many volunteer leadership roles at CSCMP, including chair of the board of directors in 2016.
“Kevin’s unwavering dedication and gracious spirit leaves an enduring mark on CSCMP and our profession,” said the current chair Donna Palumbo-Miele, who is also the executive director of Penn State’s Center for Supply Chain Research. “His quiet generosity and kindness enriched many in countless ways.”
According to Baxa, Smith spearheaded several strategic partnerships that enhanced CSCMP’s portfolio 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, always caring about how whatever we were developing would bring value to CSCMP,” said Rick Blasgen, who was president and CEO of CSCMP from 2005 to 2021.
In additon to his work through CSCMP, Smith spent significant time mentoring and advising many supply chain professionals in various stages of their career.
“He never said no to another who asked for help or advice,” said Blasgen. “His long and successful career touched many areas of our supply chain world. The most impact I believe he had was on the people he worked with and those served during his volunteer decades.”
Smith was also well-known for his sense of humor and for finding a way to inject a well-told anecdote or joke into any situation. “He was good for the soul,” said Baxa.
Service details and obituary can be found here.
