How Exceptional Companies Grow with Sarah Ahern & Jonathon McKay
The Logistics of Logistics Podcast
Release Date: 09/15/2023
The Logistics of Logistics Podcast
and discuss global giants - ICAT moves the world's largest cargo. Chris is the Director of Operations at ICAT Logistics Detroit where they handle the shipments that other companies don't, can't, and won't. Summary: Global Giants: ICAT Moves the World's Largest Cargo In this podcast, Chris Cser, Director of Operations at ICAT Logistics, takes us on a journey through the complex world of global logistics. Founded in 1992 in Baltimore, ICAT Logistics has expanded across the United States and Europe, specializing in handling unusual, high-value, and oversized freight that often falls outside the...
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and discuss the people-first approach to the future of logistics. Michael is a Partner at Hyde Park Angels (HPA), a leading early-stage investor based in Chicago. About Michael Sachaj is a Partner at HPA and manages and supports HPA’s investment opportunities through their lifecycle. Michael has led investment in a number of HPA’s top performing investments including ShipBob, FourKites, Paccurate, and Digit. Prior to joining HPA in 2013, Michael attended Northwestern University and worked at strategy consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton supporting various government clients in the...
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and discuss tech-driven drayage: a PortPro perspective. Corey is the Chief Growth Officer and his team lead enterprise initiatives at PortPro, an innovative technology company that keeps the drayage industry moving efficiently with its operating platform built for drayage trucking companies, brokerages, and those that do both. About Corey Abbott , Chief Growth Officer and his team lead enterprise initiatives at PortPro, focusing on developing comprehensive products designed to enhance the customer experience, guided by their needs and feedback. Corey spent over a decade at STG Logistics, the...
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and discuss how carrier sales teams are being run the wrong way. Brent is the Co-founder of NextBoard, a carrier sales platform purpose-built for freight brokerages. About Brent Evens is the Co-founder of NextBoard, a freight tech startup helping brokers streamline carrier sales and build stronger, more efficient networks. He brings a diverse background in logistics, SaaS, and product strategy—including time at Delta Air Lines, where he worked on digital product initiatives that improved customer experience and operational performance. Before launching NextBoard, Brent also held...
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and discuss blind spots & bottlenecks: unmasking the hidden enemies of supply chain. Briana is the Vice President of Product Management for the 3PL market segment at SPS Commerce, the world’s leading retail network, connecting trading partners around the globe to optimize supply chain operations for all retail partners. About Briana Birkholz is the Vice President of Product Management for the 3PL market segment at SPS Commerce. With a passion for overcoming supply chain and logistics challenges, Briana is committed to addressing the distinct needs of customers through comprehensive,...
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and discuss the strategic COO: navigating disruption and driving change. Suketu is a partner and global chair for the Strategic Operations Practice at Kearney, a leading management consulting firm. About Suketu Ghandi is a partner and global chair for the Strategic Operations Practice at Kearney, a leading management consulting firm. Based in Chicago, his expertise covers a wide range of operations topics, with an emphasis on end-to-end supply chains and their redesign for four critical purposes, growth, cost, resilience, and sustainability. Noting that the key to maximizing their...
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and discuss unpacking cargo theft: trends and solutions. Danielle serves as Account Executive at Descartes MyCarrierPortal, the leading solution for carrier identity, onboarding, and monitoring in transportation. About Danielle Spinelli is an Account Executive at Descartes MyCarrierPortal. With a decade of experience in the logistics and transportation industry, Danielle brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in carrier sales and vetting. Having worked as a Carrier Sales Broker for 8 years, Danielle honed a deep understanding of the supply chain and transportation landscape, building...
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and discuss booking more loads using AI. Anthony is the CEO and co-founder of , the leading truckload capacity management platform for freight brokers. About Anthony Sutardja As CEO & co-founder of Parade, leads product vision and strategy to enable logistics service providers to work smarter and faster with modern tools. His background in artificial intelligence, big data processing, and freight brokerage enables companies partnering with Parade to accelerate digital transformation by innovating with the status quo. Prior to , Anthony worked on a small team at Uber...
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and discuss beyond the rails and roads: the state of intermodal. Anne is the President & CEO at the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA), North America's leading industry trade association representing the combined interests of the intermodal freight industry. About Anne Reinke became the Intermodal Association of North America’s third President & CEO in December of 2024. Immediately preceding her appointment at IANA, Anne was President & CEO of the Transportation Intermediaries Association for four years. Anne has a long career in transportation policy,...
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and discuss stop selling, start influencing: Tom Augenthaler's logistics marketing gameplan. Tom helps companies tell stories that make the customer the hero. Having customers and influencers talk positively about your company is one of the best ways to attract and win new business. About Tom Augenthaler is the Founder and CEO of . On the website, shares his ideas and knowledge of influencer marketing with others looking to learn about this powerful strategy. is a pioneer in the space and has been working with influencers since 2007 while with Hewlett Packard, and as a consultant...
info_outlineJonathon McKay, Sarah Ahern, and Joe Lynch discuss how exceptional companies grow. Jonathon and Sarah are partners in PATH, a supply chain market research and business management firm that helps businesses understand their customers, employees, and the market better to drive long-term growth.
About Jonathon McKay
Jonathon McKay is a highly experienced partner at PATH specializing in exceptional growth strategies for the supply chain industry. With over 15 years of expertise, Jonathon leverages customer insights, market trends, and employee engagement to drive success. Focused on logistics, manufacturing, and distribution channel strategies, Jonathon helps organizations make confident decisions for bold growth. Key areas of emphasis include customer loyalty, employee engagement, differentiation, and profitability. Jonathon is not only a strategist but also a dynamic facilitator, conducting nationwide workshops on employee engagement, customer loyalty, leadership development, and growth metrics. These workshops provide practical insights for organizational success. As a Net Promoter Score Associate and Certified Innovative Leadership Coach, Jonathon is committed to delivering exceptional customer experiences and guiding leaders on growth journeys. With a Bachelor's in Economics, he analyzes economic trends effectively.
About Sarah Ahern
Sarah Ahern is a trailblazing female leader and mentor in data and business management, a 4x entrepreneur with a social impact focus, and a builder in the woman-owned business community and beyond. Sarah is an Owner and Partner at PATH, a research and growth strategy with a four-decade history dedicated to supply chain organizations. Her unique approach to research and strategy is based on a decade-long career launching successful B2B and B2C programs and products across North America. She has helped major corporations, nonprofits, startups and more build human-focused experiences by using the power of research to transform the way businesses understand their customers and employees – and improve their bottom line and outperform the market. Her expertise is in new product/market strategies, customer and employee experience, and change management. Sarah is a 40 Under 40 recipient, a certified Innovative Leadership Coach, and an active board member in the Ohio community.
About PATH (People are the How)
PATH is a 40-year-old supply chain market research and business management firm that helps businesses understand their customers, employees, and the market better to drive long-term growth and customer loyalty. PATH uses data to turn down the noise and bring the voice of customers to life, so businesses can make confident decisions that will help them outperform the market. PATH is committed to helping businesses succeed in the ever-changing supply chain landscape. With their deep expertise and proven track record, PATH is the partner businesses can trust to help them make the right decisions for their future.
PATH offers a variety of services, including:
- Customer benchmarking: PATH helps businesses build the capability to understand their customers' needs, wants, and pain points better than anyone else can.
- New product and new market validation: PATH validates whether customers want a business's new products or services before they are launched, so businesses can be confident that their investments will drive growth.
- National voice of the customer programs: PATH collects feedback from thousands of customers across the country for large organizations, using those insights to ensure businesses maintain and grow their market share.
- Employee engagement, market research, strategic planning, and more.
Key Takeaways: How Exceptional Companies Grow
- PATH is a 40-year-old supply chain market research and business management firm.
- They help businesses understand their customers, employees, and the market better to drive long-term growth and customer loyalty.
- PATH uses data to turn down the noise and bring the voice of customers to life, so businesses can make confident decisions that will help them outperform the market.
- PATH offers a variety of services, including: customer benchmarking, new product and new market validation, voice of the customer programs, employee engagement, market research, and strategic planning
- How Exceptional Companies Grow:
- Focus on people first and foremost. Note: PATH stands for “People are the How.”
- Develop a competitive advantage mindset.
- Determine what game you’re playing in the market – price/commodity vs customer experience.
- Use data to know who their best customers are and what they want - exceptional companies don’t guess.
Learn More About How Exceptional Companies Grow
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