Discover What's Ahead at Arkestro Optimal 
Explore the full agenda! From inspiring keynotes to hands-on breakout sessions, this is your roadmap to innovation, networking, and real-world strategies that drive procurement excellence.

8:00 AM – 10:00 AM

Workshop: Arkestro Advanced User Training (Customers Only*)

10:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Negotiation Class:
"Better Skills, Better Outcomes" with The Gap Partnership

10:30 AM – 12:30 PM

SIG Workshop: Speaking the CFO’s Language
Translating Sourcing into Financial Impact

12:00 PM – 1:30 PM

Optimal Registration & Lite Lunch in the Optimal
Partner Pavilion

1:30 PM – 1:40 PM

Welcome
Stuart Gold, SVP of Marketing, Arkestro

1:40 PM – 2:00 PM

Keynote: Arkestro Vision –
Rob DeSantis, CEO and Co-Founder, Arkestro

2:00 PM – 2:20 PM

Industry Keynote: Nissan -
Mark Kaczynski, CFO, Nissan Americas & SVP of Information Technology for Nissan Americas

2:20 PM – 2:40 PM

Industry Keynote: Koch Engineered Solutions (KES)
Michael Novello, VP of Global Supply Chain

2:40 PM – 3:10 PM

The Pulse of Global Leadership
Panelists:
- Chevron - Joshua Flowers, Senior Manager, SCM IT Category Management
- Arkestro - Bill Seagrave, SVP Product Solutions

3:10 PM – 3:35 PM

Break in the Optimal Partner Pavilion
 

3:45 PM – 4:15 PM

Future Forward Executive Visions Panel - Moderated by Stuart Gold 
Panelists:
- Solventum - Magnus Lundgren, CPO
- Trinity - Mike Shin, CSCO
- Arkestro - Greg Cruz, CCO
- JLL - Michael Raphael  

4:15 PM – 4:45 PM

The Global Financial Impact Panel
Panelists:
- Capgemini - Claire Gauthier, Global Energy & Utilities Leader, EVP
- Darcy Partners - Ron Sasaki, VP, Oil & Gas and Decarbonization
- Nissan - Mark Kaczynski, CFO, Nissan Americas & SVP of Information Technology for Nissan Americas
- Zurich - James Bracken, CFO
- Arkestro - Rob DeSantis, CEO & Co-Founder

4:45 PM – 5:05 PM

Keynote: Arkestro Strategy
Edmund Zagorin, CSO and Co-Founder

5:05 PM – 5:30 PM

Arkestro in Action
Ben Leiken, CTO, and Bob Van Leeuwen, VP Product Management

5:30 PM – 7:30 PM

Opening Reception in the Optimal Partner Pavilion

7:30 AM – 8:30 AM

Optimal Breakfast in the Optimal Partner Pavilion

8:30 AM - 8:45 AM 

Welcome Back – Stuart Gold

8:45 AM - 9:30 AM

Panel: Arkestro Across the Industries - Moderated by Greg Cruz 
Crown Holdings, Inc., - James Cuff
JLL - Nitin Krishnakumar
Next Decade - Matt Saunders

9:30 AM - 10:00 AM

"Fast Time To Value - Getting Started With Arkestro"
- Arkestro - Greg Cruz, Chief Customer Officer
- Arkestro - Bob Van Leeuwen, VP Product Management
- W. R. Grace & Co - Catherine Morejon-Garcia, MBA , Sr. Supplier Relationship Manager

10:30 AM - 11:15 AM

Optimal Breakouts Wave 1 (3 Tracks) 

11:30 AM - 12:15 AM

Optimal Breakouts Wave 2 (3 Tracks) 

12:15 PM - 1:30 PM 

Networking Lunch in the Optimal Partner Pavilion

1:30 PM - 2:15 PM

Optimal Breakouts Wave 3 (3 Tracks) 

2:15 PM - 3:00 PM

Dessert Break in the Optimal Partner Pavilion

3:00 PM - 3:45 PM

Thought Leadership Panel - Moderated by Edmund Zagorin
Panelists:
- The Gap Partnership - Scott Chepow, Partner
- The Hackett Group - Kate Denissova, Sr. Director Procurement & P2P Executive Advisor
- Plug and Play - Kevin Farjallah, Director
- Arizona State University (ASU) - Thomas Maher, Director of ASU's Supply Chain Executive Consortium (SCEC) + Former SVP, Dell

3:45 PM - 4:15 PM

The Future at Scale: Transforming Enterprise Growth in the Age of AI
- General Electric (GE) - Jeff Immelt, Venture Partner, NEA + Former Chairman & CEO
- Arkestro - Rob DeSantis, CEO & Co-Founder

4:15 PM - 4:30 PM

Closing Keynote - Rob DeSantis