About Arkestro

“As a proud member of Arkestro, I believe that predictive procurement is revolutionizing decision-making. By leveraging data-driven insights, we’re achieving substantial cost savings and operational excellence.”

Alan Turfe’s distinguished career spans multiple industries, including automotive, e-commerce, metals, medical devices, biotechnology, life sciences, and pharmacy. He began as a financial analyst at General Motors and has held leadership roles in finance, operations, procurement, supply chain, and sales. As the former Chairman, President, and CEO of J M Smith Corporation, he led the fourth-largest pharmaceutical distribution and technology company in the U.S., with $3.0 billion in revenue.

Alan also held executive positions with P&L responsibilities at Thermo Fisher Scientific, IDEX Corporation, General Motors Corporation, and Fresenius Medical Care. Currently, he is the Managing Partner and Chief Finance Officer at Zoom Home Lending and serves on various boards, including Perigon Health, Arkestro, Detroit Medical Center Rehabilitation Institute, Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy, and the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine. Alan Turfe holds a Bachelor of Science degree and an MBA from the University of Michigan.

“Arkestro’s Predictive Procurement platform turns data into foresight, transforming supply chains from reactive to proactive.”

Charlotte de Brabandt is a world-renowned Technology and Negotiation Keynote Speaker & Host with ample global industry experience in the field of automotive, timepieces, technology, pharma, consumer goods and medical devices.

She’s a published author, TEDX speaker, ISM 30 under 30 Megawatt Winner and a key member of the (ISM®) Thought Leadership Council. www.charlottedebrabandt.com

“Why not get over 18% savings on every $1m spend? Why not go live in 5 days vs months? Arkestro is delivering results via predictive procurement when others are just imagining what AI might or could do for them at an enterprise level. As a former CIO in high tech and biotech, we all imagined a day when we could deliver these types of impactful and fast results to executive leadership and the board, and now Arkestro will help you do it.”

Cindy Elkins is a healthcare and technology leader known for transforming patient experiences and building high-performing cultures. She was the EVP of Cell Therapy Patient Experience at Juno Therapeutics (acquired by Celgene, then Bristol Myers Squibb), and previously served as CIO at Juno and VP of Pharma Informatics at Genentech (member of the Roche Group).

Earlier in her career, Cindy was VP and GM of Supplier Solutions at Ariba, where she created the largest transacting eCommerce-enabled supplier community in the industry. She grew the Ariba Supplier Network from zero to over 100,000 suppliers in 18 months, launched annual subscription programs like Ariba Ready™ and Supplier Advantage, and turned the business unit profitable within a year. She also led strategic partnerships with Microsoft, IBM, and Cisco.

Cindy served on the boards of Weight Watchers from (2014-2019), Chimeric Therapeutics (2021-2023), and currently serves as a Trustee and Chair Finance-Investment Committee of Vitalant, Director and Treasurer of Foundation for the Advancement of Clinical TMS (FACTMS), and is Board Co-Chair of the Foundation for Art and Healing. She holds a BS in Applied Mathematics from UCLA and an MBA from Santa Clara University.

“Arkestro leverages AI, machine learning and negotiation/behavior theory enabling company procurement to manage more addressable spend and achieve 15-20% in total cost reduction across most spend categories!”

Global procurement leader delivering breakthrough supply chain results as Buyer up to Purchasing Director at Ford Motor Company and Global Purchasing Director at TI Fluid Systems and ZF Group. Founded DS Group Advisors (www.dsgroupadvisors.com), consulting with manufacturers for company procurement / part commodity / and sourcing strategies for outstanding SCM performance. Active on Wayne State University’s SCM Advisory Board and Arkestro’s Executive Advisory Council.

Edwin has four decades of experience in governance and operational leadership. He skillfully navigated EY’s $15+ billion Americas business through economic challenges and played pivotal roles on EY’s Boards. Known for transforming EY’s Consulting arm into a global leader and advancing IT Risk and Security Services, Edwin is also a dedicated diversity advocate. Renowned for earning trust through investment in people and processes, he consistently drives outstanding business results.

“Arkestro redefines procurement by making it predictive, proactive, and results-driven.”

Jack Miles is a seasoned business strategy and operations leader with over 30 years of experience in transforming corporate services, administration, and sourcing organizations across top North American firms and government entities. Appointed by Florida Governor Rick Scott, Jack served as the Secretary of the Department of Management Services (DMS), managing a large state agency with an annual direct operating budget of $2.5 billion and a functional budget exceeding $9.5 billion, representing approximately 14% of Florida’s $70 billion annual budget.

Before his tenure at DMS, Jack held C-Suite shared services and Chief Procurement Officer roles at renowned firms such as CIGNA, CIBC, AIG, Computer Associates, Travelers, Ames Department Stores, and Prentice-Hall. Known for advocating the adoption of tools and technology, Jack was instrumental in early eProcurement initiatives at CIBC, enhancing spend visibility and the ‘procure to pay’ cycle. His leadership drove significant transformation projects at AIG and CA, and he developed a strategy to modernize Florida’s decade-old eProcurement technology, showcasing his vision and expertise in procurement and technology adoption.

Krach’s business acumen is evident from his tenure as DocuSign’s Chairman & CEO, where he expanded the Global Trust Network to one billion users. He co-founded Ariba, creating the largest B2B e-commerce network, and served as co-founder/COO of Rasna Corporation, a leader in mechanical design software. His early career saw him as the youngest Vice President at General Motors. Additionally, Krach has been recognized as Ernst & Young’s National Entrepreneur of the Year and Harvard Business School’s Leader of the Year. He holds a B.S. Degree and an Honorary Doctorate in Engineering from Purdue, along with an MBA from Harvard Business School.

“Arkestro is tomorrow’s ‘Force Multiplier’ value driver, ready for today’s complex sourcing environment.”

Leonardo (Len) DeCandia is a globally recognized supply chain and procurement expert with over 40 years of experience, including 25 years in C-suite roles at Fortune 100 companies like Johnson & Johnson, Estée Lauder, AmerisourceBergen, and Roche. Known for driving transformative change and delivering significant P&L impact, Len specializes in digital transformation, sourcing strategy, acquisition integration, inventory optimization, and organizational governance.

As Global Chief Procurement Officer at Johnson & Johnson (2014–2022), Len helped lead a 200% share growth. At Estée Lauder, his leadership contributed to 400% growth. He is also the Founding Chair of the Center for Supply Chain Management at Rutgers University, where he continues to teach and advise.

Len was named Global CPO of the Year in 2021 and received the Global Procurement Leaders Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022. He currently serves as an Executive Board Advisor to Arkestro, Strategic Board Member at Transparent Energy, and sits on the Board of Trustees for Saint Peter’s Health System.

Mike Shin serves as the Chief Supply Chain Officer at Trinity Rail Industries, Inc., bringing over 25 years of senior executive experience in global supply chain and procurement leadership across major American corporations including FLIR Systems, GE, Stanley Black & Decker, Remington Arms, and Gibson Guitars. He has international experience living in China, Mexico, France, and South Korea, holds a distinguished degree from Missouri University of Science and Technology, and was inducted into its Academy of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in 2023.

“Organizations are eager to drive value and resilience, and Arkestro’s platform is doing exactly that—reshaping procurement into a proactive, strategic lever. I look forward to supporting this mission and working with the leadership team.”

Paul Wellener is a nationally recognized leader in the global manufacturing industry with over 35 years of experience as an executive, consultant, and board member. At Deloitte, he served as Vice Chair and led the US Industrial practice to nearly double in size, becoming one of the firm’s top growth sectors. He also managed the Northeast Ohio practice, where his collaborative leadership helped nearly quadruple its growth. Paul has worked with a wide range of global manufacturing clients—advising C-suite leaders on large-scale transformations, strategic planning, and talent development. His influence extended beyond consulting, as he played pivotal roles on boards and leadership teams of several Cleveland-area nonprofits undergoing significant change.

Known for his energy, mentorship, and commitment to diversity, Paul co-founded Deloitte’s Board Ready Women program in Cleveland, which has helped nearly 100 women prepare for board service. His board experience spans both for-profit and nonprofit organizations, including the Deloitte Foundation, United Way of Greater Cleveland, and the National Association of Manufacturers. Recognized for his service and leadership, Paul received the Norman Cohn Hope Award from the MS Society and the Alumni Service Award from Carnegie Mellon University, his graduate alma mater. He holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree from Carnegie Mellon University.

Randy Haines is the former Chief Procurement Officer and Senior Vice President of Supply Chain at Smithfield Foods, where he has led enterprise-wide supply chain transformation since September 2021. With approximately 20 years of experience in procurement and operations leadership, Randy brings deep expertise in digital enablement, strategic sourcing, transportation, warehousing and cost-optimization across complex manufacturing environments.

Earlier in his career, he co-founded and led a consulting firm that delivered procurement savings for Fortune 500 manufacturers through data-driven strategies and supplier collaboration before returning to Smithfield Foods.

Robert B. (Rob) Carter is a technology and business executive who dedicated his 45-year career to advancing business through the use of cutting-edge technology. Carter received his bachelor’s degree in computer and information sciences from the University of Florida in 1981.

He began his technology career in telecommunications and then joined Federal Express in 1993. He recently retired from FedEx after spending more than 25 years as the corporation’s global CTO and CIO. Carter was a member of the 6-person executive committee and served as Co-President & Co-CEO of FedEx Services, the shared service entity responsible for Sales, Marketing, Information Technology and Customer Service.

Carter was honored as a distinguished alumni from the University of Florida as well as from the University of South Florida where he received his MBA in 1990. He has received many industry accolades, including, Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business, Fortune Magazine’s Executive Dream Team, Forbes Magazine CIO Innovation Award, Information Week’s Chief of the Year Award, and is a charter inductee of CIO Magazine’s CIO Hall of Fame. 

Carter also serves on the boards of New York Life, Quest Diagnostics, and the University of Memphis.

Robert C. Turnham, Jr. was a founding partner, President, and Director of Goodrich Petroleum Corporation, a public E&P company focused on exploration, exploitation and development of unconventional onshore oil and natural gas reserves in Texas and Louisiana.  The company was founded in 1995 and traded on the New York Stock Exchange, until it was sold in 2021. 
 
Prior to 1995, Mr. Turnham was President of Liberty Production Company, a privately held oil and gas exploration and production company, and Turnham Interests, Inc., an oil and gas investment company. He started his career with Pennzoil Company in 1981. Mr. Turnham has been a guest commentator on CNBC, Fox Business and Bloomberg, a guest speaker at numerous conferences over the years, and has served on various private company and non-profit boards.