Donald J. Bowersox (1932–2011) is the former University Professor and Dean Emeritus at Michigan State University. He received his Ph.D. at Michigan State and worked with industry throughout his career. He is the author of numerous articles in publications such as the Harvard Business Review, Journal of Marketing, Journal of Business Logistics, and Supply Chain Management Review. Bowersox was the co-author of what is widely recognized as the first Supply Chain academic text: Physical Distribution Management—Logistics Problems of The Firm, first published in 1961. He is the co-author of Start Pulling Your Chain: Leading Responsive Supply Chain Transformation, published in 2008. Throughout this career, Bowersox led a number of industry-supported research studies investigating the best practices of Logisticians in North America and around the world. Bowersox is recognized by many as the “Grandfather of Supply Chain” and was recognized by the Council of Supply Chain Management (CSCMP) receiving both the Distinguished Service Award (1966) and in 2011, after his death, with the renaming of the annual Doctoral Symposium in his honor as the Donald J. Bowersox Doctoral Symposium. Don’s memory and many accomplishments are cherished and live on in his family, friends, and industry peers. David J. Closs is the John H. McConnell Chair Emeritus of Business Administration and former Chairperson in the Department of Supply Chain Management at Michigan State University. He received his Ph.D. in marketing and logistics from Michigan State. Dr. Closs is the author and coauthor of many books and publications in journals, proceedings, and industry reports. He was also a principal researcher for World Class Logistics: The Challenge of Managing Continuous Change and 21st Century Logistics: Making Supply Chain Integration a Reality. Dr. Closs is a frequent speaker at industry and academic conferences and presenter at executive education programs throughout the world. Dr. Closs formerly served as the editor of the Journal of Business Logistics and was designated as a Distinguished Fellow by CSCMP. John C. Bowersox is the President and CEO of Wilco, a multi-faceted farmer owned cooperative based out of Mt. Angel, Oregon. Prior to joining Wilco, John has worked in various roles of increasing responsibility for Fleet Farm, True Value, and the Kohler Co., and has spent time in strategy and supply chain consulting as the sole proprietor of Last Bay Supply Chain Solutions. John is a proud graduate of Michigan State University where he started working for his father Don in the Supply Chain department at the age of 16. John is an active member of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) currently serving on the CSCMP executive committee as the Vice Chairman. The proud father of son Jackson and daughter Brynn, John and his wife Anycia reside in Portland, OR. Judith M. Whipple is the Bowersox-Thull Endowed Professor of Logistics and Supply Chain Management in the Department of Supply Chain Management and former Interim Dean at Michigan State University’s Eli Broad College of Business. She received her PhD in marketing and logistics at Michigan State. She is an award-winning scholar and teacher whose research on supply chain collaboration, risk management, and organizational design has been published in numerous supply chain and logistics journals. She is a frequent speaker at industry and academic conferences and has served on the Board of Directors at both the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals and the Institute for Supply Management. M. Bixby Cooper is an Associate Professor Emeritus in the Department of Supply Chain Management at Michigan State University. He is coauthor of three texts on distribution and logistics, including World Class Logistics: The Challenge of Managing Continuous Change and Strategic Marketing Channel Management. He is also coauthor of Managing Operations Across the Supply Chain published by McGraw Hill. He served for four years on the Executive Board of the International Customer Service Association as head of the Research and Education Committee.
