Mike O’Donnell, MAGNET’s COO of Consulting, led a panel discussion with supply chain experts from across Northeast Ohio:
Ted Bunton, President, Troy Chemical
Dave Sluka, Director of Strategy, Marketing, and Sales, MAGNET
Maria Arraiza-Monteux, Supply Chain Operational Excellence Leader, MAGNET
Each panelist brought a unique lens to the conversation - spanning chemicals, consulting, and regional infrastructure. Ted Bunton shared how Troy Chemical has embraced local vendor relationships and internal cross-training to reduce risk and improve responsiveness. Dave Sluka discussed MAGNET’s broader strategy to support manufacturers through advisory services, while Maria highlighted key efforts to build a stronger supply chain infrastructure across Northeast Ohio, including tools to assess vulnerabilities and support operational excellence.
Throughout the conversation, panelists noted that when growing a company by making new products, they will likely have to add new suppliers. It is important to qualify these suppliers before contracting with them and make sure they can produce a scorecard to show they can monitor their own performance in terms of delivery and cost. In addition, be clear about the requirements of the product you are purchasing from a new supplier to be sure they have the specifications of what you need. With the volatility in today's demanding supply chain, there is a good advantage to sourcing the materials as locally as possible.
A consistent message emerged: true resilience comes from visibility, adaptability, and investing in long-term supplier and workforce relationships. The session closed with an interactive Q&A, where attendees raised challenges and shared ideas, reinforcing the power of community-driven problem-solving.
As Mike O’Donnell noted, “Resilient supply chains don’t happen by accident. They’re the result of proactive planning, shared knowledge, and strong regional partnerships.”
For more resources and upcoming programming, visit Geauga Growth Partnership or MAGNET.