FIN
Crescendo Pilot Cohort 2026  ·  Chicago  ·  May 7

THE FINALE

Eighteen prototypes. One stage. Today is the day.
PERFORM.
18 · pitches
4 · chunks
10 minutes each
The room scores live
Generating today's agenda… Ready
The Agenda  ·  The Lineup

HOW TODAY FLOWS.

CRESCENDO FINALE
MAY 7, 2026  ·  CHICAGO
9:00 — 9:15 AM
Coffee, Bagels, Find Your Place
9:15 — 9:30 AM
Frank & Erin · Opening Act
9:30 — 12:00 PM  ·  MORNING PITCHES
Chunk 1
01Brian Morrow
02Roberto Mendoza
03Leslie Gallagher
04Vijay Ganti
05Danny Ko · video
CHUNK 2
06Andy Kung
07Jacob Hartley
08Tim Knox
09Tommy Foley
10Patricia Burgess
12:00 — 1:30 PM
Lunch
Eat. Reset. Don't talk about your pitch.
1:30 — 1:45 PM
Afternoon Warmup
1:45 — 3:45 PM  ·  AFTERNOON PITCHES
Chunk 3
11Yan Gao
12Paul McCrory
13Ross Caldwell
14Yeswanth Kumar
CHUNK 4
15Jake Speiser
16Teresa Viola
17Bachar Sbeiti
18Kevin Shull
3:45 — 4:00 PM
Break · Stretch · Reset
4:00 — 4:30 PM  ·  THE WRAP
Empower · Certificates · Best Storyteller
A look at what's next. Then we hand out the certificates. Then we crown the Best Storyteller.
F&E
9:15 — 9:30 AM  ·  The Opening Act
Frank
&
Erin

FRANK & ERIN.

OPENING ACT
Three weeks of work. Eighteen prototypes. Today is the day.
Let's hype this room.
STAGE  ·  LIVE

PERFORMANCE
IN PROGRESS.

What's Next · Empower Chicago
YOU'RE NOT DONE. YOU'RE WARMED UP.
August 11–13, West Loop. The Decision Era. Three days with the people building the future of supply chain decisions — including, we hope, you.
300+
Supply Chain Leaders
100+
Companies Attending
3 days
Filled with Learnings & Activities
EmpowerCHICAGO
West Loop  |  Aug 11–13
The
Decision Era
Make better supply chain decisions — faster, smarter, and with confidence.
"
Empower changed the way I think about how decisions should be supported across the supply chain.
— 2025 Empower Attendee
3
Pre-Event Training Courses
1:1
Networking & Matchmaking
Crescendo Pilot · Your Invitation
SEE YOU IN AUGUST.
→ empower.lyric.tech  ·  Save the date. Bring your team.
Brian Morrow
Pitch 01 / 18 · Morning
Brian Morrow
Sr. Manager, Product Supply Sourcing
Coca-Cola Consolidated
CRED · CP-2026-13UF8B
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Roberto Mendoza
Pitch 02 / 18 · Morning
Roberto Mendoza
Sr. Manager, SC Network Optimization
Suntory Global Spirits
CRED · CP-2026-0LOHJE
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Leslie Gallagher
Pitch 03 / 18 · Morning
Leslie Gallagher
Director of Planning
Beyond Better Foods
CRED · CP-2026-0SD14U
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Vijay Ganti
Pitch 04 / 18 · Morning
Vijay Ganti
Director, Supply Chain Analytics
ACCO Brands
CRED · CP-2026-0JAOES
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Danny Ko
▶  Pitch 05 / 18 · Morning · By Video
Danny Ko
SC Planning Analyst II
Niagara Bottling
CRED · CP-2026-0TDOKG
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Andy Kung
Pitch 06 / 18 · Morning
Andy Kung
VP Operations
Beyond Better Foods
CRED · CP-2026-1WMDDR
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Jacob Hartley
Pitch 07 / 18 · Morning
Jacob Hartley
Innovation Lifecycle Planner II
Coca-Cola Consolidated
CRED · CP-2026-1GZN6N
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Timothy Knox
Pitch 08 / 18 · Morning
Timothy Knox
Data Scientist
Krispy Kreme
CRED · CP-2026-05WSOA
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Tommy Foley
Pitch 09 / 18 · Morning
Tommy Foley
SC Transformation & Analytics Mgr
Bob Evans Foods
CRED · CP-2026-1ROZI4
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Yan Gao
Pitch 11 / 18 · Afternoon
Yan Gao
SC Planning Manager, S&OP
Niagara Bottling
CRED · CP-2026-08O345
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Paul McCrory
Pitch 12 / 18 · Afternoon
Paul McCrory
Director, SC Design & Optimization
The Coca-Cola Company
CRED · CP-2026-1RXV1D
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Ross Caldwell
Pitch 13 / 18 · Afternoon
Ross Caldwell
Sourcing Planner
Coca-Cola Consolidated
CRED · CP-2026-1HJ35H
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Jake Speiser
Pitch 15 / 18 · Afternoon
Jake Speiser
Solutions Analyst
Red Classic Trucking
CRED · CP-2026-1LCH0Z
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Teresa Viola
Pitch 16 / 18 · Afternoon
Teresa Viola
Sr. Manager, Network Design & SC Analytics
Exol
CRED · CP-2026-00FQA3
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Bachar Sbeiti
Pitch 17 / 18 · Afternoon
Bachar Sbeiti
Sr. Manager, Supply Chain Data Scientist
ELF Beauty
CRED · CP-2026-1XMR8B
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Kevin Shull
Pitch 18 / 18 · Afternoon
Kevin Shull
BI Technical Analyst
Bob Evans Foods
CRED · CP-2026-076UKM
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★
The Final Award · Crescendo Pilot Cohort 2026
🏆

BEST STORYTELLER.

Eighteen pitches. One person made the room lean in, laugh, and remember. The room voted. We tallied. And the winner is…
………
→ Drumroll, please.  ·  Reveal live on stage.
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