Governors
State University
College
of Business Advisory Board for
the
Supply
Chain Innovation Center and Business Incubator
Mission: GovState’s
Supply Chain Innovation Center and Business Incubator (SCICBI), an Illinois
Innovation Network (IIN) hub, will promote innovation and contribute to the
economic and workforce development of Chicago metropolitan area, through
consulting, training and other professional services to businesses and startups
in supply chain/logistics and related sectors.
Board Mission--The
mission of the Advisory Board for GovState’s Supply Chain Innovation Center and
Business Incubator is to provide guidance, advice and support to the Director
and Associate Director, and to help the Center/Incubator achieve its mission.
It will also help the Center/Incubator to secure external funding to support
its operations. Comprised of selected business and professional leaders in
business, government, and not-for-profit organizations from the Greater Chicago
region, the SCICBI Advisory Board will work with the COB Dean, Director and
Associate Director of the SCICBI to ensure that SCICBI programs meet the needs
of businesses and startups it plans to serve in the region. Through the
collective wisdom and expertise of its members, the Board will provide advice,
ideas, and resources to the SCICBI Director, Associate Director, and faculty
participants on a variety of subjects including, but not limited to: strategic
planning, client recruitment, fundraising, and public relations.
Organization—The
SCICBI Advisory Board will be comprised of 7-9 individuals from diverse
backgrounds invited by the Dean of COB.
Board
Membership
Members will be invited
to join the Board because they possess needed skills and abilities. Ample opportunities are
therefore provided to members for contributing
their talents through general Board meetings and other services. Board Membership Members will be invited to join the Board because they
possess needed skills and
abilities. Ample opportunities are therefore provided to members
for contributing their talents
through general Board meetings and other services.
Responsibilities
of Members of the GovState SCICBI Advisory Board
Attendance
- Commitment
to attend at least two quarter meetings of the Board
Influence
- Assist in exploring potential partnerships
and alliances for the SCICBI
to advance its strategic vision.
- Extend
the business relationships of the SCICBI.
Service
- Provide
expert input toward advancing the mission and purpose of the SCICBI. This may take the form of offering advice on
programs, attending special events, and providing assistance to SCICBI
representatives in the identification and cultivation
of potential supporters.
- Provide
advice and assistance for curriculum evaluation
and improvement for the COB and career development for its students.
Benefits
to Members
GovState SCICBI Advisory Board members can expect several advantages to accrue from their
regular participation. This includes the opportunities for:
- Contribution to your community—offer advice to the Supply Chain Innovation
Center and Business Incubator that
will contribute to the economic
and workforce development of its service region
- Intellectual challenge—help guide a dynamic educational institution
through today’s changing
economy.
- Networking and Fellowship—get to know other dynamic leaders in a collaborative setting and grow your own
professional network
SCICBI Advisory Board Members:
- Dr. Tricia Kerns, LSSBB, Associate Director, SCICBI
- Rick Blasgen, CEO, Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals
- Hannah Fernandez, Founder and CEO of ROI Business Funding
- John Greuling, Founder, JEG 360 LLC (Board Co-Chair)
- Kimberly King, Director, Global Sourcing and Procurement, Elkay Manufacturing
- Philip Resendiz, VP, Midwest Region, XPO Logistics
- Dr. Olumide Ijose, Associate Provost and Associate Vice President of Academic Affair, SCICBI Director
- Cortney Sigilai, Co-Founder and Owner, Treluxe Hair Products
- Karen Williams Blackman, LSSGB Marketing Advisor, GovState
- Gloria Fuller, Business Liaison, GovState
Dr. Tricia Kerns, LSSBB, Associate Director, SCICBI
Dr. Tricia Kerns earned her Ed.D degree from Olivet Nazarene University with a concentration in Ethical Leadership. She has extensive management experience in various industries in operations, manufacturing, material management, distribution, warehousing, and transportation along with 20+ years in the Operations/Supply Chain Management field. Her research study explored Midwest small- and medium-sized manufacturing and their ability to compete in the global economy. Dr. Kerns earned her MBA from Governors State University with a specialization in Leadership and a BA from Governors State University with a concentration in Operations Management. She also holds a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt from Purdue University and is APICS – CPIM certified (The Operations Management Association) and APICS - CLTD certified and is also an APICS CPIM & CLTD Certified Trainer. Dr. Kerns also earned an SCPro certification from CSCMP (Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals) and mentors students today who elect to take this exam.
Dr. Kerns is an active member of the International Testing Committee at APICS Corporate located in Chicago. Her active term is 2017-2019 as she explores current industry material to develop and analyze examination material for the international testing that APICS utilizes globally. Dr. Kerns joined the GovState's College of Business in August 2014 as a University Lecturer. She teaches Operations Management, Quality Management, Project management, Lean Six Sigma, as well as Business Ethics at both undergraduate and graduate levels as well as Leadership at the graduate level. Dr. Kerns is the lead advisor for our GovState Supply Chain Student Club and provides consulting opportunities for GovState Continuing Education as well as the College of Business. She continues to work with various business leaders and professional Supply Chain organizations that provide students with real-life opportunities to help them advance in their career goals.
Rick Blasgen, CEO, Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals
Rick D. Blasgen was the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) in Lombard, Illinois, USA. Blasgen began his career with Nabisco, working in a regional customer service center in Chicago, Illinois. While at Nabisco, he held various logistics positions of increasing responsibility in inventory management, order processing, and transportation and distribution center operations management. Mr. Blasgen became vice-president, supply chain, at Nabisco in June 1998, then vice-president supply chain for Kraft in June 2002. He joined ConAgra Foods in August 2003 as senior vice-president integrated logistics.
Mr. Blasgen has devoted much of his time to furthering a number of company’s supply chain management programs and initiatives. This experience has given him a solid foundation for his roles at CSCMP where he has responsibility for the overall business operations and strategic plan of the organization. His efforts support CSCMP’s mission of leading the supply chain management profession through the development and dissemination of supply chain education and research.
Mr. Blasgen was recently designated by the US Department of Commerce to serve as the Chair of the Advisory Committee on Supply Chain Competitiveness (ACSCC) providing the administration advice and council on issues and concerns that affect the supply chain sector. He is a member of Northwestern University’s Transportation Center Business Advisory Committee and a past chair of the Grocery Manufacturers Association Logistics Committee, and a past president of the Warehousing Education and Research Council (WERC).
Mr. Blasgen holds a B.A. in finance from Governors State University.
Hannah Fernandez, Founder and CEO of ROI Business Funding
Hannah Fernandez is the Founder and CEO of ROI Business Funding. She is the first woman to become Chair of SCORE Chicago. A graduate of the University of Chicago, Hannah has over a decade experience in startups, sales, marketing, funding, and management leadership. Hannah advocates for small businesses who have limited access to capital and networks, andshe empowers women and minorities to be in positions of leadership and influence in business. Hannah is the host of SCORE Chicago TV’s “Let’s Talk Business” show. She is a featured expert columnist in Where Women Create WORK Magazine, the strategic business funding expert at Women’s Leadership LIVE, and the Financial Coach at Metropolitan Family Services. Hannah served on the City of Chicago Mayoral Business Council, and she was the Chair of the National Latino Education Institute (NLEI) Business Leadership Council for over 3 years. She was a member of the Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC), Board of Directors at Mega Partnering and a Community Board Member for Metropolitan Family Services. Hannah is a member of the Advisory Collective Council for the Illinois State Comptroller. Hannah moderated and produced the sold-out "Game Changers: Women's International Day" in collaboration with Women's Leadership LIVE, Where Women Create WORK Magazines, Chicago Business Affairs & Consumer Protection, the Chicago White Sox, and HispanicPro. She is a sought-after speaker and panelist at business events, including: “Unstoppable Confidence: Women in Leadership”; SCORE and the SBA's “Show Me the Money” workshop; WBDC’s Latina Entrepreneurial Accelerated Development Program (LEADHer); SCORE and The Latino Coalition "Power of Mentoring" to name a few. Hannah has appeared in WCIU-TV's You & Me This Morning, ABC 7, WTTW 11 and has been featured in USA Today, CBS, The Daily Herald, Yahoo! News, and other publications.
John Greuling, Founder, JEG 360 LLC (Board Co-Chair)
John E. Greuling has over 40 years of experience as a professional economic developer. He is currently the President and CEO of the Will County Center for Economic Development (CED) and Will County Economic Development Foundation—a position he has held since 2001. Among his priorities are business recruitment and retention/expansion, managing the development of the largest Inland Port in North America and the development of the Illiana Expressway and the South Suburban Airport.
Prior to joining the CED he was Chief Operating Officer and Vice President for Business & Economic Development for InterMountain/RKH, a corporate affairs firm based in Denver specializing in government relations, strategic communications and business and economic development. Prior to that, he served as Vice President of Economic Development for the Greensboro Area Chamber of Commerce in Greensboro, North Carolina; Executive Director for the Southeast Denver/Douglas County Economic Development Council; Director of the Colorado Office of Business Development; and Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development of the Bloomington-Normal Area.
Greuling, a native of Oak Park, Illinois is a graduate of Illinois State University, where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy in 1974, he received his Master of Science in City and Regional Planning from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville in 1976. In 2016 he was conferred a Doctor of Humanities Honorary Degree from Lewis University.
Kimberly King, Retired - Director, Global Sourcing and Procurement, Elkay Manufacturing
Kim King is Sr. Director of Global Sourcing and Procurement for Elkay Manufacturing Company located in Downers Grove, IL. She is responsible for the sourcing and procurement function, including building and maintaining supplier relationships, risk mitigation, cost savings, and overall procurement and sourcing strategy for Elkay’s Plumbing division. Kim brings over 20 years of sourcing/procurement experience between Elkay and Sears. Kim has an undergraduate BBA-Finance degree from University of Michigan, and an MBA from University of Chicago.
Kim holds a Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) certification from ISM organization and is an active member in both ISM and APICS supply chain organizations.Kim is a mentor to managers within Elkay, as well as outside of the company and has a passion for coaching others.
Kim lives in Flossmoor, IL with her husband and has a son and daughter in college.She enjoys watching and attending sporting events, especially football and basketball (Go Blue!).Kim also loves spending time in the New Buffalo, MI area and spending time on Lake Michigan and lounging on the beach.
Elkay is a US based, family owned company that produces, sources and delivers exceptional residential and commercial building products and services. Elkay Plumbing has been an innovative provider of stainless steel sinks for residential and commercial use for nearly 100 years. Elkay Plumbing products include sinks, faucets, food service products, water coolers, drinking fountains and rapid bottle filling stations from multiple regionally located manufacturing plants.
Philip Resendiz, VP, Midwest Region, XPO Logistics
Philip Resendiz is an accomplished logistics executive with over 25 years of leadership experience in transportation and supply chain management. As President & COO of Go2 Logistics, he drives national growth, operational excellence, and customer-focused innovation. His career includes senior roles at Roadtex Transportation, Hub Group, XPO Logistics, and FedEx Freight, where he led multi-billion-dollar operations and delivered transformational results. A U.S. Army veteran, Philip holds an MBA from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and advises organizations on strategic planning, logistics innovation, and workforce development.
Dr. Olumide Ijose, Associate Provost and Associate Vice President of Academic Affair, SCICBI Director
Dr. Olumide (Olu) Ijose serves as Associate Provost and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs at Governors State University. He earned his Ph.D. in Labor and Human Resources from The Ohio State University with concentrations in Industrial Relations, Labor Economics, and Human Resource Planning, and joined Governors State in 2010.
Dr. Ijose was the inaugural Director of the Supply Chain Innovation Center and Business Incubator (SCICBI) and previously served as Division Chair in the College of Business. Under his leadership, SCICBI has secured multiple competitive grants, including $579,000 from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (Build-to-Scale Program) to expand operations, $454,554 from the State of Illinois to redevelop Hantack House as its permanent home, and $50,000 from the South Suburban Economic Growth Initiative to strengthen workforce training programs.
He also played a key role in developing the proposal and implementing a $1 million preliminary NSF Engine Award,in partnership with the Illinois Innovation Network and the Office of the Provost, for the project Advancing Smart Logistics in Illinois. As Principal Investigator, Dr. Ijose leads the development of a Logistics Optimization Lab that integrates data analytics, simulation, and applied research to enhance regional competitiveness.
Dr. Ijose’s research focuses on global value chains, knowledge transfer, and economic growth, drawing on corporate experience with Accenture and Shell. His work has been published in leading journals including Competitiveness Review, Journal of Developing Areas, and Academy of Business Research Journal. He teaches Strategic Management and International Business, bridging theory and practice to prepare students for leadership in a global economy.
Cortney Sigilai, Co-Founder and Owner, Treluxe Hair Products
Cortney Sigilai is a people-focused leader with experience in communication, culture, and leadership development across local, global, and Fortune 300 organizations. Along the side of her husband, she now leads her own e-commerce business, guiding teams in HR, marketing, and product innovation to build strong cultures and great products.
Karen A. Blackman, M.P.A., LSSGB, Marketing Advisor, GovState
Karen A. Blackman brings a strategic, equity-centered approach to her role as Marketing Advisor. With a Master of Public Administration and a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification, she has established herself as a “Leadership Disruptor | Inclusive Strategist | Narrative Engineer | Branding with Purpose.”
In her professional practice, Karen specializes in helping organizations clarify their story, amplify under-represented voices, and design marketing and brand strategies that achieve tangible outcomes while remaining grounded in community values. Her work spans a range of sectors, including higher education, human resources, and business development.
As a member of the SCICBI Advisory Board, Karen will leverage her expertise to strengthen the Center’s marketing and outreach efforts—ensuring that the programs, services, and partnerships at SCICBI resonate with a diverse entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Chicago-Southland region. She is committed to building bridges between industry, startups, and academic resources so that innovation is both accessible and impactful.
Outside of her board activities, Karen is passionate about mentorship, elevating professional voices from under-represented communities, and staying ahead of emerging trends in brand strategy, inclusive marketing, and strategic storytelling.
Gloria Fuller, Business Liaison, GovState
Gloria Fuller is a dedicated and highly organized administrative professional with a proven track record of managing operations, supporting executives, and improving administrative efficiency across higher education, healthcare, and nonprofit organizations.
She currently serves as Office Manager in the College of Business at Governors State University, where she oversees daily operations for the Dean’s Office and the Supply Chain Innovation Center and Business Incubator (SCICBI). In this role, she coordinates meetings and events, manages communications and purchasing, and fosters partnerships with local businesses and community organizations.
Prior to joining Governors State University, Gloria served as Front Office Manager at Oak Lawn Respiratory & Rehabilitation Center and Office Coordinator for the Chicago Association for Retarded Citizens (CARC), where she supervised staff, managed payroll and vendor relations, and led key administrative initiatives.
Known for her reliability, resourcefulness, and professionalism, Gloria takes pride in creating organized, service-focused office environments that support both staff and leadership success.