Delivering more than $10m in cost savings, spearheading a new global distribution model and driving a start-up's exponential growth are among the outstanding personal achievements of young professionals named winners in the ThomasNet and Institute for Supply Management 30 Under 30 Rising Supply Chain Stars Recognition Program.

At 29 years of age, Katy Conrad, site lead at Shell's Geismar Chemical Plant, is a terrific ambassador for her profession. She loves everything about supply management - working with smart engineering and business professionals, solving tough problems, and making a bottom-line impact. At Shell, she has delivered significant savings, built a regional B2B sourcing strategy, and held an overseas assignment.

Walmart has committed to investing $250bn in products that will support and create American jobs by 2023. Based on data from Boston Consulting Group, it is estimated that one million new U.S. jobs will be created through this initiative. Responding to feedback from its vendors that finding U.S. sources of supply was a challenge, Walmart plans to use ThomasNet's platform for product sourcing and supplier discovery.

Nominations are being accepted through July 31, 2015, to recognize 30 individuals 30 years old or younger who are bolstering the supply chain management profession.

ThomasNet and Institute for Supply Management have announced the winners of their first "30 Under 30 Rising Supply Chain Stars" Recognition Program, a jointly sponsored initiative to advance the future of the supply chain profession. The winners, aged 30 or younger, were recognized for making significant contributions to their organizations.

If you want to recognize a rising star in purchasing/supply chain management, now is the time to act, according to ThomasNet and the Institute for Supply Management, which note that the deadline for their "30 Under 30 Rising Supply Chain Stars" Recognition Program is just a month away. All nominations must be submitted online by July 31, 2014.

ThomasNet and the Institute for Supply Management are partnering to spotlight millennials whose initiative and leadership are strengthening procurement and supply chain management.

At a time when technological innovations offer new growth opportunities for the manufacturing sector, a lack of talent from "rising generations" threatens its future vitality, according to ThomasNet.com's Industry Market Barometer research.