2024 Instructors

The instructors invited to teach at the University of Innovative Distribution are renowned wholesale distribution thought leaders. They are university professors, industry experts, authors, and consultants. Although many of our instructors have been with UID since its inception, the program strives to recruit individuals who have the expertise and/or offer a unique perspective on problem-solving or addressing the latest industry topics. Find out more about our instructors below.

Albert D. Bates, Ph.D.

Albert D. Bates, Ph.D.

Al is Chairman and President as well as founder of the Profit Planning Group, a research and executive education firm headquartered in Boulder, Colorado. The firm works exclusively in the area of corporate financial planning.

Alex Chausovsky

Alex Chausovsky

In his investment banking advisory role as the Director of Analytics and Consulting for Bundy Group, Alex Chausovsky is a trusted resource and advisor for owners and executives of privately held firms and industry trade associations on analytical, economic, and business-oriented topics.

Alex Weber

Alex Weber

New to UID

Alex Weber is an International Keynote Speaker on Leadership and Peak Performance, a competitor on American Ninja Warrior, and an Award-Winning Entertainer for NBC, and more!

Bart Basi

Bart Basi

Dr. Basi has expertise in the areas of financial accounting, business succession, business valuation, mergers and acquisitions, retirement and estate planning, strategic planning, and tax aspects of business decisions for closely held and family businesses.

Claudia St. John, Ph.D.

Claudia St. John, Ph.D.

New to UID

A frequent public speaker who is quoted often in national and industry press, Claudia is a regular contributor to numerous print and electronic publications on the topic of human resources.

Colin Dees

Colin Dees

As a past executive in the distribution industry, Colin has worked with several distributors to help streamline their customer pricing and profitability, purchasing and replenishment, warehouse management, transportation, and installing business intelligence tools to measure everyday goals and objectives.

Colleen Stanley

Colleen Stanley

Colleen Stanley is president and founder of SalesLeadership, Inc., a sales development firm. She is the author of two books, Emotional Intelligence For Sales Success, now published in eight languages and Emotional Intelligence For Sales Leadership, now published in three languages.

Daniel McQuiston, Ph.D.

Daniel McQuiston, Ph.D.

Daniel is an Associate Professor Emeritus of Marketing from the Lacy School of Business at Butler University in Indianapolis. He has an MBA from Bowling Green State University and received his Ph.D. in Marketing from The Ohio State University.

Dirk Beveridge

Dirk Beveridge

Dirk is the leading advocate of change and innovation throughout wholesale distribution. He delivers a new voice, a new energy, and a new outlook. He founded UnleashWD in 2012 after he noticed the trend of innovation bypassing wholesalers and distributors.

Gail Lowney Alofsin

Gail Lowney Alofsin

Gail is a professional speaker, university professor, humanitarian and sales and marketing executive, Gail provides audiences with specific and practical tools to achieve leadership, time management, business and communication success.

J. Michael Marks

J. Michael Marks

Michael is a dynamic speaker, popular business author, and both a NAW Research Fellow and the Managing Partner of the Indian River Consulting Group. The boutique firm has worked with distributors of all sizes up to over $40 billion in revenue per year.

Jamie Turner

Jamie Turner

Jamie is an internationally recognized author, speaker, and network TV news contributor who has worked with The Coca-Cola Company, AT&T, Holiday Inn, and other global brands.

Jason Bader

Jason Bader

Jason is the managing partner of The Distribution Team. The Distribution Team specializes in providing excellence in inventory management training, business operations consulting, and technology utilization to the wholesale distribution industry. Jason brings over 30 years of experience working in the distribution field.

Jim Pancero, CSP, CPAE

Jim Pancero, CSP, CPAE

Jim is a Dallas-based business-to-business sales and sales leadership expert and Hall of Fame professional keynote speaker and trainer. Jim has the leading-edge solutions you need to increase your team’s competitive advantage. A leading go-to sales and sales leadership strategist for over three decades.

Joseph Ellers

Joseph Ellers

Joe began his sales career in 1978 and sales management responsibilities in 1984. In his career, he has worked with manufacturers, reps, and distribution. His company, Palmetto Associates, has worked with over 1700 customers throughout the world. He has worked with many of the major trade associations and is a long-time faculty member with UID.

Ken Novak

Ken Novak

Ken is 1/2 digital strategist, and 1/2 ops accelerator with 20+ years of helping organizations grow revenue and avoid costs with digital. He founded HATCH to help organizations digitally transform cost-efficiently by correlating digital investment to financial KPIs.

Kiki Ramsey, Ph.D.

Kiki Ramsey, Ph.D.

Dr. Kiki Ramsey is a Positive Psychologist, Executive Coach, and Author. As the CEO of The Positive Psychology Coaching and Diversity Institute (PPCaDI), a leadership development firm that specializes in leadership and diversity coaching and training.

Lisa Ryan, CSP

Lisa Ryan, CSP

Lisa Ryan, CSP, helps organizations develop employee engagement strategies that keep their top talent from becoming someone else’s. Lisa is a Certified Speaking Professional and best-selling author of ten books, including “Manufacturing Engagement: 98 Proven Strategies to Attract and Retain Your Industry’s Top Talent.”

Mary Kelly, Ph.D., Commander, USN, CSP, CPAE

Mary Kelly, Ph.D., Commander, USN, CSP, CPAE

Mary is an internationally renowned author and keynote speaker on leadership, productivity, and business growth. In 21 years as a Navy intelligence and logistics officer, Mary trained more than 40,000 military and civilian personnel.

Matt Schreibfeder

Matt Schreibfeder

Matt Schreibfeder is vice president of research and analytics for Effective Inventory Management, Inc. Before joining EIM several years ago, Matt was a project cost analyst for Exxon Mobil. He was also a submarine officer in the U.S. Navy.

Mike Foster

Mike Foster

Mike is an experienced cybersecurity professional who gives presentations in plain English. He's presented more than a thousand times across North America, Europe, South Africa, and Australia.  Participants say he has a gift for explaining the most complex topics in a way that is easy to understand for non-technical professionals and leaders.

Kathryne A. Newton, Ph.D.

Kathryne A. Newton, Ph.D.

Kathy is a Professor, Supply Chain and Sales Engineering Technology and Associate Dean for Graduate Programs and Faculty Success, Purdue Polytechnic Institute at Purdue University. She also serves as Advisor for the University of Innovative Distribution Executive Management Conference, appointed September, 2005.

Patty Leeper

Patty Leeper

Patty cut her teeth at NeXT Computer, a higher education start-up founded by Steve Jobs. She has ‎worked in career and leadership development ever since, in large companies like Apple, HP, and Cisco ‎as well as leading-edge, big-hearted non-profits.

Paul Reilly

Paul Reilly

Paul Reilly is a professional speaker, sales trainer, and author. He coauthored Value-Added Selling, fourth edition (McGraw-Hill, 2018), and authored Selling Through Tough Times (Fall 2021).

Randy Disharoon

Randy Disharoon

Randy has an extensive background in both distribution and manufacturing makes him uniquely qualified to address the issues that both types of organizations face in today’s market environment.

Roman Basi

Roman Basi

Roman Basi, raised in Southern Illinois, began his working career at a young age umpiring little league baseball games. He spent his teenage and college years working for his father’s varied business interests. These experiences helped develop his future interest in helping small business owners fulfill their business and succession plans.

Sam Ritchter

Sam Ritchter

Named one of the World’s Top 50 Sales Keynote Speakers and one of the 15 Highest Rated Speakers for Virtual Events, bestselling author and Hall of Fame speaker Sam Richter delivers his #1 rated, incredibly dynamic, highly entertaining, and extremely high-content keynote presentations and workshop sessions to audiences worldwide

Sean Glaze

Sean Glaze

Sean Glaze is an author and internationally recognized speaker and coach, who accelerates the growth and awareness of effective leaders. His engaging conference keynotes equip your people to improve team performance and build a more positive and profitable workplace culture.

Steve Deist

Steve Deist

Steve is the Chief Operating Officer for Ewing Irrigation and Landscape Supply, a distributor with over 220 branches nationwide. He is also a Partner with Indian River Consulting Group. He has over 25 years of experience in distribution strategy, marketing channels, sales, operations, and leadership.

Steve McClatchy

Steve McClatchy

Steve is a keynote speaker, workshop leader, and author of the New York Times Bestseller Decide: Work Smarter, Reduce Your Stress & Lead by Example.  Decide has enjoyed global success and has been translated into 10 languages including Chinese, Russian, Japanese, and Spanish.

Steve Yastrow

Steve Yastrow

Steve Yastrow spent the formative years of his career in the hospitality industry, developing and implementing creative marketing ideas that led to outstanding business results. Today Yastrow & Co.’s work centers on applying Steve’s breakthrough ideas to the needs of individual businesses.

Todd Cohen, CSP

Todd Cohen, CSP

A dynamic, engaging, and motivational keynote speaker, Todd’s message is relevant to any organization striving to increase revenue, strengthen relationships and improve client satisfaction. Using humor and real-life examples, Todd demonstrates how every conversation is a “selling moment” and how everyone can contribute to the growth and profitability of the organization.