ASCM Lincoln Land Chapter

The ASCM Lincoln Land Chapter is pleased to announce our new Board of Directors for the 2026 to 2027 term. During this term, the board will focus on advancing supply chain education, supporting professional development, and serving our members and the broader supply chain community. The chapter remains committed to delivering relevant learning opportunities, strengthening industry connections, and supporting students and professionals across the region. Board President Joe Mikesell Vice President and Director of Finance Wes Warren Director of Education Michael Burress Director of Student Chapters Benjamin Johnson Director of Information Technology Dr. Jeremy Roberts Director of Administration Alex Mueller Director of East Operations Mark Gittings Director of Member Services Brent Nauman

This week, the ASCM Lincoln Land chapter, along with students from our Bradley University student chapter, had the opportunity to hear Annette Danek-Akey, Chief Supply Chain Officer of Barnes and Noble, Inc., share her history in Supply Chain Management and discuss how she has helped shape the supply chains at companies such as Barnes and Noble and Penguin Random House. Thank you to Annette Danek-Akey for taking the time to speak with our group, and thank you to Dr. John Jung-Woon Yoo for helping to set this up.

In January the ASCM Lincoln Land Chapter had the opportunity to visit EPꞮC in Peoria. EPꞮC has been enriching the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities for 75 years. Their work spans 15 counties in Illinois and focuses on helping individuals reach their goals and live their life to the fullest. Our group learned how their programs support education, residential living, employment, mental health and daily life skills in a way that builds confidence and independence. During our visit, we saw how EPꞮC designs its services to support people at different stages of their life and development. Their residential programs give individuals the chance to live in their own communities through group homes, supportive living and host homes. Their job placement and workforce development programs help match people with meaningful work while giving local companies dependable talent. We also learned about their PAES Lab, art classes, horticulture activities, therapy partnerships and mental health support. Each service is designed to build skills, strengthen abilities and provide opportunities for personal growth. The PAES Lab gives individuals a way to test aptitude and discover strengths across real job tasks. It helps people learn what they enjoy and where they can succeed, then pairs that insight with coaching and training. EPꞮC’s job placement team connects individuals with roles that fit their interests and abilities and supports them on the job. That includes partnerships with local employers such as Caterpillar where participants support packaging, boxing, assembly and labeling work. The EPICasso Art Studio and Gallery has more than 205 artists with 325 pieces displayed and sold in the community. Classes cover painting, glassware, and ceramics. Their horticulture program builds skills through gardening and landscaping. Residential programs offer 24/7 group homes, supportive living, and host homes so people can live in their neighborhoods and be part of the community. Clinical and behavioral health services are available with onsite physical, occupational, and speech therapy through local partners. We ended the tour with a deeper appreciation for the impact EPꞮC has on individuals and on the community. We are grateful for the chance to learn from their team and see the difference they make every day.

Welcome to 2026! As we begin the new year, we want to take a moment to reflect on an incredible 2025 for the ASCM Lincoln Land Chapter. This past year gave us many opportunities to connect, learn, and grow together. We hosted 10 networking events at locations including Caterpillar facilities SS and KK, Peoria International Airport, Morton Industries, Alto Ingredients, and Peoria Production Solutions. At the ASCM CHAINge Conference in Columbus, Ohio, we joined students from Bradley University and UIUC to hear from thought leaders representing companies such as Caterpillar, Hamilton Beach, Johnson and Johnson, DHL, IKEA, and Oracle. While in Columbus, we toured Maurice’s Distribution Center and saw their impressive auto store system in action. We also attended ProMat in Chicago with students from Bradley University, Western Illinois University, and UIUC. It was inspiring to hear from keynote speaker Deion Sanders and explore advancements in AI and automation from companies like Agility Robotics and Boston Dynamics. Thank you to all the members, guests, and businesses who made these events possible. Looking ahead, we are excited to start 2026 with a tour of Epic in Peoria, Illinois this January. If you are interested in joining our chapter, learning more about certification opportunities, or hosting one of our networking events, please reach out to ASCM Lincoln Land Chapter Director of Programs and Media, Wes Warren, CSCP, CLTD, CPIM Here is to another year of growth, collaboration, and innovation in supply chain Management!

The ASCM Lincoln Land Chapter recently visited Caterpillar facility KK for a guided tour of their U.S. Drivetrain operations, including machining, assembly, and heat treatment. We would like to thank the Corporate Tours team, as well as Mark Soviar, Tim Young, and Renee Lane for helping to arrange the visit. I also want to thank everyone who joined us for the tour. Your continued support of the chapter is greatly appreciated.

Last month, the ASCM Lincoln Land Chapter had the opportunity to visit Alto Ingredients in Pekin, Illinois. Founded in 2003, Alto Ingredients is a global producer of high quality, bio-based alcohol. Their products serve a wide range of industries, including home, health and beauty, food and beverage, agriculture, and renewable fuels. At the Pekin campus, Alto operates three distilleries and a specialty yeast production facility. The site includes Alto ICP, LLC (Illinois Corn Processing), which supplies ingredients for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, beverage, industrial, chemical, and animal nutrition applications. It also includes Alto Pekin LLC, which houses a dry mill fuel ethanol plant, a wet mill, and a distillery. This facility also produces, markets, and distributes Alto Yeast. Alto Ingredients also has additional facilities in Oregon, Idaho, and Missouri. We would like to thank Jackie Zeman, Stacy Swanson, and the entire Alto Ingredients team for welcoming us and giving us the opportunity to tour your facility and learn more about your operations.

What an incredible time we had at this year’s ASCM CHAINge Conference in Columbus, Ohio! The ASCM Lincoln Land Chapter, along with students from the Bradley University and UIUC chapters, had the opportunity to hear from thought leaders representing companies such as Caterpillar, Hamilton Beach, Johnson & Johnson, DHL, IKEA, and Oracle. It was a great experience for building connections and growing in the field of supply chain management. We look forward to learning and connecting again at the 2026 ASCM Conference in Long Beach, California. 

It was a pleasure spending time with the students from UIUC. We look forward to seeing you again at the ASCM Conference in Columbus, Ohio later this month.

Last week, the ASCM Lincoln Land Chapter had the opportunity to tour Caterpillar SS in East Peoria, Illinois. During the tour, we got a firsthand look at the assembly processes used to build medium and large track-type tractors, including models like the Caterpillar D6 through D11. We would like to thank Caterpillar Corporate Tours for hosting the tour. We also extend our thanks to Sally Hanley, Kathleen Brown, Richard Peplow, Dorsey Hill and Cynthia Oliveros, M.S. at the Greater Peoria Economic Development Council, Michael Burress at Career Link, and Joel Steger, Pekin High School Career and Community Liaison, for their ongoing involvement and commitment to our professional development events. Invitations for our upcoming events will be sent out soon. If you are not a member of our chapter but would like to participate in our events, please contact Wes Warren, CSCP, CLTD, CPIM, Director of Programs and Media.

The ASCM Lincoln Land Chapter proudly congratulates Joel Lancaster on successfully passing the Certified in Transformation for Supply Chain (CTSC) certification exam. With this achievement, Joel now holds certifications in CPIM, CSCP, SCOR-P, and CTSC. This remarkable accomplishment is shared by only a select few professionals. We commend Joel for his unwavering dedication to continuous learning and excellence in supply chain management. If you are interested in pursuing your CTSC certification, please contact us directly for more information on upcoming classes.