NetImpact's MBAidealist conference this morning. It was supposed to be a very engaging panel discussion series about Katrina and (for me) next-generation supply chain sustainability issues. Instead it got a little SNRE-ey for me; too much discussion of what could be done and not about what is being done or how to accomplish that which could be done. The importance of moderators is vastly overlooked in panel discussions... one sat in on each panel and literally just sat there. The supply chain forum had execs from Weyerhaeuser, Ford, and American Apparrel and they each presented a lot of good initiatives for improving the sustainability of their upstream supply chains. However, rather than following up with the logical questions about the downstream chain, some challenges, and where the logistics industry is headed in terms of footprint and impact we spent 35 minutes talking about why 'people' don't consider the sustainability of Ford compared to Toyota when they are car shopping. I've been in this discussion with one of the people in the room and it was incredibly one-sided so I thought it was a bit hypocritical - and not why I rolled out of bed.

Then the final round of TMI presentations. Healthcare manufacturing just doesn't push my buttons for whatever reason. Once a transportation guy always a transportation guy, they tell me. Anyway the fruit was awesome again and it was actually a little bit nice to sit and zone out for an hour.