Speakers

John Connor joined Owens & Minor in January of 2020. As vice president of operations, he ensures that the company’s distribution centers across the United States run smoothly and efficiently. A proven leader with a range of industry experience, Connor began his career in finance. He held positions with Hewlett Packard and Unisys before spending 18 years in the pharmaceutical packaging and life sciences field, where he worked in various leadership roles for Gerresheimer AG.

Connor graduated summa cum laude from Pennsylvania Military College with degrees in accounting and economics. He has been actively involved in community development, including previously leading a youth football league for community youth in New Jersey.

Dan DeLay leads CommonSpirit Health’s supply chain operations. CommonSpirit was created in February 2019 by Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) and Dignity Health. With a team of approximately 150,000 employees and 25,000 physicians and advanced practice clinicians, CommonSpirit operates 140 hospitals and more than 1,000 care sites across 21 states.

Following military service, DeLay practiced healthcare and criminal law in Chicago. After leaving practice for business school, he joined Computer Sciences Corporation’s healthcare consulting practice, then Cap Gemini Ernst & Young. He built the Supply Chain Analytics Division at VHA (now Vizient). From there he joined Ascension Health, serving first in Baltimore-Washington D.C. as chief resource officer, then as area chief resource officer for the Midwest prior to joining CHI.

DeLay holds an MBA in finance and health services administration from Northwestern, a J.D. from Loyola University College of Law, and a B.A. in Public Policy from the University of Chicago.

Andrew Helm is a senior project manager with the Georgia Institute of Technology’s Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership (GaMEP) and an associate in the Strategy and Leadership Development group. In these roles, he helps manufacturing companies grow through strategy development, leadership training and innovation execution.

Helm has 26 years of business management experience. Prior to joining the GaMEP, he participated in the startup of various manufacturing companies. Helm has a B.S. in electrical engineering and an M.B.A. from the University of Central Florida.
In his spare time, he enjoys backpacking, “Jeep life” and football.

Vicky Lyle is the Vice President of Industry Associations at Owens & Minor, where she leads the Company’s involvement with industry and trade organizations worldwide. She currently serves on the executive board for Professional Women in Healthcare (PWH) as the Chair for the 2021 and 2022 term. She also serves on the board of Healthcare Supplier Diversity Alliance (HSDA) and serves on the Council of Supplier Diversity for Health Industry Distributors Association (HIDA). Vicky has been with Owens & Minor for 30 years, contributing business and technical expertise across all facets of the supply chain.

Most recently, she served as Operating Vice President, Service Line Strategy, where she was responsible for the development of the inventory solutions platform along with service line operations, implementation and support.

In her time with the Company, she has led several strategic cross-functional projects, including business acquisitions, distribution center strategy, and the creation of Owens & Minor’s Third-Party Logistics (3PL) service offering.

Vicky holds a B.A. in Business Administration from Averett University, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude

Attorney Richard Manson is the President of SourceMark, LLC, a premier provider of innovative products, services and solutions to the healthcare and retail pharmacy industries. He brings a wealth of experience with exacting strengths in creative strategy, organizational development, team-building and systems evaluation, focusing on growth, profitability and success.

Atty. Manson has extensive knowledge of markets and cultures throughout North America, Asia and Africa. His legal career spans over 40 years, managing a private law practice that includes multi-business collaborations, extensive work regionally, nationally and internationally with media conglomerates representing high profile clients.

He is active with numerous professional and community service organizations. He was recently appointed the Chairman of the Board of Citizens Savings Bank &Trust Co. In addition to his executive career, he serves on several advisory and executive boards. Over the past 25 years, he has established himself as a thoughtful leader in the fields of economic development, diversity and inclusion with emphasis on innovation, infrastructure development, vision and strategic direction.

He is an author, publisher, university professor, and a sought after speaker. Recently, he has appeared on workshops at The Owens & Minor Healthcare Annual Symposium in Virginia, and the TriState Minority Supplier Development Council (TSMSDC), in Tennessee, Kentucky and West Virginia.

Atty. Manson earned the Bachelor of Arts degree from Fisk University, and received the Thomas J. Watson Fellow to study on a world scale.

He holds a Juris Doctorate degree from the Vanderbilt University Law School. He is a graduate of executive management programs from the Amos Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth; the University of Wisconsin at Madison, and the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Janet McCain began working at HealthTrust in March 2012 as the Director of Business Diversity. She provides guidance to, promotes and supports Minority, Women and Veteran owned businesses in identifying, obtaining and retaining contracts with HealthTrust.
Prior to her position with HealthTrust, was a Clinical Resource Director with HCA. In this position she was responsible for establishing and leading the supply expense savings and standardization initiatives for clinical categories.
Janet holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Community Health, as well as Masters in Business Administration. She very recently completed her Masters in Management, Organizational Diversity and Inclusion Leadership. Janet is also a Society for Diversity, Certified Diversity Executive.
Janet represents HealthTrust on the Tennessee State University, College of Business, Supply Chain Board, the Tri-State Minority Supplier Diversity Council Certification Committee and HSDA.

Ed Pesicka was named President & Chief Executive Officer of Owens & Minor, effective March 7, 2019, and was appointed to the Board of Directors at the same time. Ed is a seasoned senior executive with more than 25 years of business and operational experience focused on distribution, manufacturing, and service for the healthcare, pharmaceutical, biotechnology and scientific research industries.

Before joining Owens & Minor, Ed served in various roles of increasing responsibility at Thermo Fisher Scientific, a $17 billion manufacturer and supplier of a range of products to the research, healthcare, industrial, and safety markets, including most recently as Chief Commercial Officer & Senior Vice President.
During his tenure at Thermo Fisher, Ed ran up to an $8 billion portfolio of global distribution, manufacturing and service businesses. He also served as Chief Financial Officer for multiple divisions.

Andrea Reubel-Walker attended Central Washington University. After receiving her BA, she began her career as a Multi-Program Manager. There she developed her skills in Marketing products and services, as well as developing and implementing programs and opportunities.
In September 2007, Andrea joined the family’s company at Kerma Medical Products. Kerma is a Veteran-Minority Owned Company located in Suffolk, VA with a division in Miramar, FL. Kerma manufactures, packages, and assembles a large variety of medical/surgical products as well as manages the delivery of small cap equipment and supplies.
As the Director of Marketing & Key National Accounts, Andrea spearheaded the development and successful incorporation of Kerma’s marketing department and has been responsible for growing Kerma’s marketing ability. She is also known for her organization and operational skills, strategic planning and implementation, business opportunity and customer development, and sales nationwide.
Andrea is on the Board of Directors for the Healthcare Supplier Diversity Alliance (HSDA), a graduate of the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth (Building a High-Performing Minority Business), Member of the HIDA Acute Care Advisory Council, Co-Chair of the HIDA Supplier Diversity Council, and volunteers in her community.

William “Joe” Reubel is the President and CEO of Kerma Medical Products, Inc. Kerma is a Veteran-Minority Owned Company (VOSB) located in Suffolk, Virginia (Corporate and Manufacturing location) with a division in Miramar, Florida (Direct Sales location). Joe is an Army veteran and a second generation, minority, small business entrepreneur. He launched his first business in 1984 providing helicopter service for oil exploration, reforestation and seismographic surveys. He later incorporated a telecommunications division, and a wholesale healthcare division.
Joe began working with Kerma at inception and in 2006, he purchased the company from his Aunt and Uncle, who founded the company in 1991. Over the past 26 years, Kerma has established itself in the healthcare industry as a company that manufactures, assembles, and packages medical products, along with the direct delivery of Small Cap Equipment and Supplies. Kerma is now one of the largest diversity manufacturer/supplier companies in the private sector.
Joe is an active Board Member with HIDA’s Executive Board, Montero Medical Missions (MMM), Hilton Publishing Company (HPC), and the Richmond Make a Wish Foundation.

Angie Thomas is the Vice President of Government Accounts Management and Enterprise Supplier Diversity for Cardinal Health. She is responsible for managing the contractual requirements and other strategic initiatives for some of the company’s largest government customers – Department of Defense and Veterans Administration. She is also responsible for the company’s supplier diversity program which fosters the promotion, growth and development of diverse businesses within the organizations supply chain.

She has held a number of positions of increasing responsibility during her 26-year career at Cardinal Health.

Angie has been engaged in various activities throughout her career to include: African American Employee Resource Group - BOLD for the last 20 years, the Racial Equity Cabinet, DE&I Council, Generation Rx, the National Sales Network (NSN) and the Executive Leadership Council (ELC). She currently holds a Board seat for the Columbus Chapter of NSN, Columbus Chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Columbus Chapter of United Negro College Fund (UNCF).

Angie has raised her 17 year old great niece, Serenity since the age of 5

Angela specializes in Business Growth Strategies. She delivers a solid return on her client's investments, increases market share and strategic market advantage. She is committed to and has a 25-year proven successful track record, advancing the development and substantial growth of MWBEs/ WOSBs and their ability to be included in Fortune 500 corporate supplier diversity strategies. Angela established herself and her company as a leader in developing and sustaining profitable relationships in the C-Suite. Moreover, Angela provides strategic vision, leadership, counsel and guidance on business development and supplier diversity matters throughout major corporations in the healthcare industry. To that extent, Angela also serves as an advisor and spokesperson for business development, MWBE / WOSB supplier business development and profitable business growth .

Accomplishments:
- Founded the Healthcare Supplier Diversity Alliance ( HSDA ) in 1995
- Initiated the healthcare industry’s first Healthcare Supplier Diversity Symposium in 2006
- Developed a comprehensive strategy and implementation plan to develop women and minority business growth working with local and national leaders and groups.
- Created nationally recognized healthcare industry model for diverse supplier development.
- Served as Small Business Liaison Officer (SBLO)
- Increased the overall percent of woman-owned business spend by a Fortune 500 corporation 195% from 2009 to 2012 by implementing a systematic approach of consulting, and including internal and external business leaders into an overall successful strategy of an inclusive workplace.

Deborah Williams, MSM joined the Premier healthcare alliance as the Senior Director of Supplier Diversity in 2008 and became responsible for the Premier Supplier Diversity Committee. Under her leadership, she launched and enhanced the program to include the Sourcing, Education and Enrichment for Diverse and Small Suppliers (SEEDS), a program aimed at increasing the number of small, diverse, and regional enterprises on the Premier contract portfolio. In 2018, her responsibilities were expanded to include Premier’s Sustainability (EPP) program.

Williams has more than 35 years in business development, strategic contract negotiations and supplier contract management in the healthcare industry. She came to Premier from Mills-Peninsula Health Services, a Sutter Health affiliate, in Burlingame, California, where she was the Director of Contracting and Value Analysis. Before that, she was a Medical Surgical Service Line Director for Broadlane Inc., assigned to the Kaiser Permanente account. Williams spent 23 years at Detroit Medical Center serving as a contract administrator, marketing support manager and a strategic sourcing manager responsible for the Detroit Medical Center’s Affiliate program.

Among Williams numerous accomplishments, she is the board chair of the Healthcare Supplier Diversity Alliance, founding member of the National Minority Supplier Development Council – Healthcare Industry Group and Field Operations Council and immediate past board chair of the Carolinas-Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council. A native of Brooklyn, Williams’ has a B.S. in business and M.S. in management from Walsh College and a M.B.A from Strayer University.