About Arkestro

Keith Krach, Chairman of the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue and Co-Chair of the Global Tech Security Commission, is a distinguished American businessman, Silicon Valley innovator, and public servant. As Under Secretary of State, Krach was instrumental in developing the U.S. Global Economic Security Strategy, establishing the Clean Network Alliance, and spearheading the largest onshoring of semiconductor manufacturing in U.S. history. His initiatives, including the CHIPS and Science Act and the Lee Economic Prosperity Partnership with Taiwan, earned him a Nobel Peace Prize nomination for countering techno-authoritarianism and strengthening global economic security.

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.

Marc Carlson serves on the Board of Directors of the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue as well as several corporate and philanthropic boards. As a Senior Advisor with the US State Department, he worked on issues relating to trusted technology and 5G deployment. As a businessperson he spent 35 years helping to build important technology companies focused on Robotics, Mechanical Design, Business Systems Automation, Digital Transformation Management, Multi-Asset Process Automation and Data Flow Automation. Marc holds Mechanical Engineering and Business (BSME and MSM) degrees from Purdue University.

“Arkestro’s Predictive Procurement Orchestration 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

“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.

“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 Director and Executive Vice President for Crossover Solutions 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. Trustee Turfe holds a Bachelor of Science degree and an MBA from the University of Michigan.

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.

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.

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.