Christopher Norek

Senior Partner, Chain Connectors, Inc.

Dr. Christopher D. Norek is Senior Partner and founding member of Chain Connectors, Inc., a supply chain consulting and software implementation firm. He has over 20 years of supply chain experience with a unique combination of consulting, industry and academic perspectives. Clients include Lowe’s, SAP, Malt-O-Meal Companies, Chatsworth Products, Office Depot, Cingular Wireless, Party City, La Petite Academy, Elkay Products, LifeCell Corporation, Medicis Corporation, Elkay Products, Tremco, Rainbow Apparel, Majestic Steel and Accenture. Engagements include the following areas of expertise: demand planning (forecasting and inventory control) strategy, transportation strategy and rate negotiations, distribution network strategy, distribution process and facility design, SKU and supplier rationalization, returns management.

Dr. Norek has made over 50 speaking engagements in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. Since 2009, he is a recurring invited instructor to U.S. and Chinese students at Pratt & Whitney’s Leadership Development Courses in Hartford, Connecticut. From 2002 to 2008, he was a recurring invited speaker for The Logistics Institute at Georgia Tech’s Logistics Short Course, “Enterprise Returns Management.” In addition, he has taught in executive development programs at Georgia Tech, University of North Florida, University of Tennessee, and University of Louisville.

He also has published numerous articles and professional papers in leading journals, including Supply Chain Management Review, CSCMP’s Supply Chain Quarterly, Supply & Demand Chain Executive, Achieving Supply Chain Excellence through Technology (ASCET), DC Velocity, LQ Magazine, International Journal of Logistics Management, and Journal of Business Logistics. In addition, he is the creator and recurring columnist for the “Technology Toolbox” appearing in LQ. Dr. Norek is also a past reviewer for Journal of Business Logistics, and a past expert contributor to the online publication, Supply Chain Digest.

Active in a number of professional and academic organizations, Dr. Norek has served on the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP). He is the Education Chair, Member of the Executive Committee, and currently the Vice President for NASSTRAC, National Strategic Shipper Transportation Council. Dr. Norek received the 2011 NASSTRAC Member of the Year Award. He is also member and serves on the Advisory Board for Auburn University’s Supply Chain Program, LQ Magazine, and DC Velocity.

Christopher Norek holds a Bachelor of Science degree with Distinction in Business Logistics from The Pennsylvania State University. He received an M.B.A from The University of Tennessee, and a M.A. in Business Administration from The Ohio State University, both with a concentration in Logistics and Transportation. He earned his Ph.D. in Business Administration, also from The Ohio State University.