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Keynote Speakers:
Elizabeth Potts
VP Global Supply Chain, Ashland Inc.
 Ms. Potts currently serves as vice president of Purchasing for Ashland Inc., with responsibility for purchasing and payables across Ashland. In addition, she serves as process owner for Ashland’s Supply Chain Source-to-Pay process.
She joined Ashland in 1996 as quality director. In 1997 she joined the Electronic Chemicals Division as manufacturing director and later was named business director for the division's process chemicals business. She was promoted to vice president of Business Development in 2001. In 2002 she was named vice president of Ashland Specialty Chemical and general manager of the Specialty Polymers & Adhesives business group. She was named to her current position in April 2005.
Prior to joining Ashland, Ms. Potts worked in various management positions for companies such as ABS Quality Evaluations, Inc., Caterpillar Tractor, Babcock and Wilcox and American Gas Association Laboratories.
A native of Elmhurst, Ill., she holds a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from the University of Illinois and a master's degree in business administration from Ashland University.
Jason Busch
Managing Director, Azul Partners
& Editor, Spend Matters
 Jason Busch is Founder and Managing Director of Azul Partners, a boutique advisory firm. He is also Editor of the highly trafficked sourcing and supply chain blog www.spendmatters.com and is co-founder of the procurement and supply chain research hub: Spend Matters Navigator. Jason is regarded as one of the leading pundits and thought leaders in the procurement and operations worlds and has worked with hundreds of practitioners and providers to help define and sell next generation products and solutions.
His current research and interest areas include the future of global sourcing, supply risk management, supplier performance management, and the growth of communities of interest and online social networking within the procurement and operations worlds. Previously, he spent five years at FreeMarkets leading a variety of corporate development, marketing, product strategy and sourcing initiatives. He started his career in consulting and finance and holds a graduate degree in history from the University of Pennsylvania.
Panelists:
H. Roderick “Rod” Robinson
Co-founder & Executive Vice President, Accel Advisors
Co-founder & Member, PNR Investments
 Rod Robinson is co-founder and Executive Vice President of Accel Advisors, a diverse sourcing and segment marketing company. Accel Advisors uses advanced sourcing methodologies and technologies, combined with extensive knowledge of the minority business market, to help Fortune 1000 companies increase profitability while meeting their diversity objectives.
Founded in 2004, PNR Development Partners (“PNR”) has been engaged in increasing diversity within the real estate development market. Since its founding, PNR has been engaged in the acquisition, development and construction of residential and commercial real estate in greater Cincinnati and Florida. The firm is currently completing an 18 unit residential development on the west side of Cincinnati.
Prior to founding Accel, Mr. Robinson held various finance and operations leadership roles at Cincinnati Bell including Chief Purchasing Officer. Prior to joining Cincinnati Bell, Mr. Robinson was a management consultant with AT Kearney, Accenture and DiamondCluster International where he was a supply chain practice leader and sourcing subject matter expert. As a management consultant, he focused on helping clients reduce costs and enhance revenues through process design, operational improvement and organizational change across industries including telecommunications, utilities, consumer goods, manufacturing, transportation, and food & beverage. He earned his CPA credentials as an auditor with Deloitte & Touché.
Mr. Robinson holds an MBA degree in finance from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a BS degree in accounting from West Virginia University Institute of Technology.
He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, the Wharton and Penn Alumni clubs, Maketewah Country Club, Metropolitan Club. Mr. Robinson resides in Mason, Ohio with his wife and three kids. He enjoys golfing, martial arts, reading, family vacations and coaching his kid’s sports teams.
Current and past board/committee memberships include Cincinnati Fine Arts Fund, Cincinnati Bell Pioneers, Minorities in Mathematics & Science, Wharton African American MBA Association, Deloitte & Touché Minority Recruiting & Retention Task Force (DR2), National Association of Black Accountants, National Black MBA Association, Sarasota County Educational Assistance Program (SCEAP) and Kappa Alpha Psi East Central Province.
James Madison Essex, Jr.
Assistant Vice President and Director, Corporate Procurement Services
Western & Southern Financial Group
 James “Jim” Essex is the assistant vice president and director of corporate procurement services at Western & Southern Financial Group®. In this position he implements purchasing policies; acquisition strategies and cost savings/avoidance tactics. Jim manages vendor relations, supply chain management, contract administration/management and the company’s procurement staff.
Jim received his bachelor degree in business management and administration from Wilmington College of Ohio and his masters in management from Indiana Wesleyan University. Also, Jim has earned the designations of certified professional contract manager (CPCM) National Contact Management Association; certified purchasing professional (CPP) American Purchasing Society; certified purchasing manager (C.P.M); and accredited purchasing practitioner (A.P.P.) Institute for Supply Management.
Jim was honored with the YMCA Black Achievers Award in 1995 and 2007. He is a graduating member of Class VII from the Greater Cincinnati Urban League African-American Leadership Development Program, for which he was recognized by former Ohio State Governor Bob Taft.
Jim is the husband of Beverly Essex and they have a daughter, Ashlee Essex.
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