A conversation with Chris Whisenant, manager of logistical systems and forecasting at Shaw Industries, Dalton, Ga.

A conversation with Gregg Mitchell, vice president of supply chain and logistics at Glazer's Wholesale Drug Co., Dallas.

A conversation with Gerald McNerney, senior director of transportation, distribution and logistics solutions at Symbol Technologies, Holtsville, N.Y.

A discussion with Hamish Brewer, CEO of JDA Software Group and Lori Mitchell-Keller, a former Manugistics executive and new senior vice president of JDA. JDA Software Group, Scottsdale, Ariz., completed its $213m acquisition of Manugistics Group, Rockville, Md., on July 6. On that day, Hamish Brewer and Lori Mitchell-Keller shared their vision for how the combined software company will join the strengths of each to create a vertically-focused optimization solution for the global supply and demand chain market. With the Manugistics acquisition, JDA Software serves more than 5,500 customers and has annual revenue of around $375m.