Home

Leading Supply Chain Management Professionals

Welcome to our ISM—Twin Cities website. It should be your first stop for registering for meetings and learning what we are up to!

In the Twin Cities chapter, we have around 500 sourcing professionals in our membership, and we strive to bring everyone significant value in their professional and personal development.

We offer a mix of events using both in-person and virtual approaches. Our virtual events are conducted on Zoom so you can access them from anywhere.

If you have not already done so, bookmark this site so it is handy for you when you are looking for information about ISM. Please reach out to us at info@ism-twincities.org org with any input or questions you have.

March

25 2025

MEMBER WEBINAR

Member Only

Implementing Generative AI – Strategies and Successes

Implementing generative AI involves integrating advanced algorithms to create content, enhance creativity, and automate tasks. Key strategies include leveraging robust data sets, ensuring ethical use, and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. Successes span diverse industries, from consulting to technology to nutrition, showcasing AI's transformative potential and innovative applications. Learn how industry leading companies are making the transformation.

Online

March

26 2025

Chapter Webinar

ISM-Twin Cities March Professional Development Meeting -Tariff Follow Up

Managing & Mitigating Tariffs in an Uncertain Environment

Presentation Overview:

The existing trade and tariff landscape is growing more complex by the week. In this presentation, C.H. Robinson will provide an overview of what tariffs are currently in place, what potential trade actions may follow, and best practices to navigate the current environment and explore tariff mitigation strategies.

Note: Zoom link will be sent to all registrants the day before the meeting.

Sponsor: 700 ISM—Twin Cities, Inc.

Online

Ben Bidwell, Brittney Lubinsky

March

27 2025

MEMBER WEBINAR

Member Only

Getting Started with Supply Chain Design

With FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt) embroiling global supply chains, leaders must be proactive and intentional in assessing their supply chains and designing them for the future. But how to start? Ralph Asher of Data Driven Supply Chain LLC will discuss how to get started in supply chain design and answer common questions. This talk will equip organizations to embark on their supply chain design journey, future-proof their supply chains, and build competitive moats.

This session will dive into addressing the following questions:

How does supply chain design differ from supply chain planning and optimization?
What are some of the strategic questions that we can answer with supply chain design?
What data do we need to get started in supply chain design? (Hint: much less than you may think!)
How do we measure ROI in supply chain design projects?
Should we build an internal team or use consultants for supply chain design projects?
Commercial software vs. open-source software: what are the pros and cons for supply chain design?

Online

View All Education

On behalf of myself and the board, thank you for visiting our website.

ISM—Twin Cities is a 100+ year old non-profit organization focused on advancing the practices of sourcing and supply chain professionals at all levels. With nearly 500 local members, we are the go-to network for sourcing professionals in the Twin Cities! We provide real connections, relevant education, and leadership opportunities that can help our members advance their careers within their organizations.

Our chapter has monthly professional development meetings where we discuss topics relevant topics for sourcing and supply chain professionals while allowing for great networking opportunities. We’d love to see you online or in person!

The ISM – Twin Cities Fall Conference is a two-day in-person summit packed with fantastic speakers that provide practical strategies and ideas that attendees can take back to their workplace and apply immediately. Held locally in Minneapolis in October of each year, it is a high value conference that is well worth the time and cost expended.

From a certification perspective, we support ISM Global’s deployment of certifications in Supply Management and Supplier Diversity. ISM—Twin Cities offers courses to assist participants to earn and retain CPSM® and CPSD certifications. These certifications are great development tools to support skill set development and career growth aspirations.

Not a member of ISM—Twin Cities yet? Please consider joining us… This a personal invitation from myself and the board to join us in our endeavors to advance supply management practices here in the Twin Cities as a member. Becoming a member offers many benefits at both the local and global levels of ISM.

If you would like more information, please e-mail info@ism-twincities.org or call 952.564.3045.

Best Regards,
Alan

Alan Harrah, CPSM, CSCP
President
ISM—Twin Cities, Inc.

March 11, 2025

Articles

In “the most challenging time” for the profession, the ISM World 2025 Annual Conference is designed to inspire and celebrate genius amid global challenges and an ever-changing supply chain canvas.

The DEI Debate

March 11, 2025

Articles

Member Only
Executive orders have aimed to curtail diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the public sector, and some private companies have followed suit — clouding the future of such policies in supply chain organizations.
- Member-Only
Forging the Future of Factories

March 11, 2025

Articles

Member Only
U.S. manufacturing is at a crossroads as the sector seeks to balance the tools, talent and technology to make up ground lost to China.
- Member-Only
- CAPS Research
How to ‘Start Changing the Narrative’

March 11, 2025

Articles

Member Only
The progress of women’s representation in the supply management profession has stalled, but numerous strategies, some as simple as being true to oneself, can help individuals — and organizations — move forward.
- Member-Only

Join ISM

Your membership in ISM will provide a powerful path to stay connected, engaged, and up-to-date with everything happening in supply management. Serious procurement and supply chain professionals are dedicated to staying in the know about their profession and staying at the top of their game. An ISM membership will provide you with that and more.

More than 100 years of experience speaks for itself – ISM can help you succeed. It's our mission.

Become A Member

I consider ISM to be an integral part of what keeps me current in today’s business world! I’ve been a member of ISM since earning my Certified Professional of Supply Management in 2014, and through that set of classes I’ve been able to broaden my understanding of supply chain issues, network with other professionals, advance my career and my earnings to a much greater extent than I could have without ISM and the CPSM credentials. The CPSM course is robust for the topics it covers and depth of coverage. Once I earned it, I became motivated to keep it with the 20-hours per year CEH requirement. With that incentive in place, I’ve learned even more to help accelerate career growth. It’s been the best professional move by far. Staying current and relevant in today’s business world takes effort of some sort, ISM makes that easy and rewarding with the ISM Twin Cities fall conference and monthly meetings. Lessons and insights learned in ISM training opportunities are immediately applicable in my job, continually providing credibility in my role.

- Cindy Jerome
Production Director
Lerner Publishing

ISM and the local chapters provide access to networking, professional development, conferences, leadership opportunities, best practice benchmarking and lifelong connections. This applies to supply management professionals who are at any stage of their career. It’s really a no-brainer for anyone who is serious about their career in supply management and would like to continue their education on a reoccurring basis.
I’ve had the opportunity to serve on the Board of Directors at ISM-Twin Cities for 5 years which has accelerated my leadership development and networking as a young professional. This active role in the organization has created excellent benchmarking opportunities which I can utilize at my existing employer and beyond. My network has drastically expanded in this short time and will continue to grow as I stay involved in ISM throughout my career.

- Corey Gustafson, CPSM
Commodity Manager
Entegris

Learn More

ISM World 2025 Registration Open

Join your peers in Orlando, Florida, June 1-3, 2025. The ISM World Annual Conference is a world-class event designed to inspire fresh thinking and provide an educational experience that unites thought leaders, supply chain and procurement professionals, and the innovative suppliers that support them.

You'll leave with new connections, fresh insights, and the inspiration to spark new ideas within your professional community. Register today for the best rates!

Join the Report On Business®  Survey Panel

ISM^®'s Manufacturing, Services, and Hospital Report On Business^® gather data monthly through surveys of supply management professionals participating in the Business Survey Committee.

Participation in the survey panel provides many benefits: