Helping manufacturers make high-stakes tariff and supply-chain decisions when margins are on the line
Reginald Smith is a manufacturing operator and former Fortune 500 supply-chain leader who speaks from inside the decisions executives are making today.
WHO HE HELPS
Reggie works with manufacturing executives, supply-chain leaders, and boards navigating tariffs, sourcing risk, cost pressure, and geopolitical uncertainty — often with incomplete information and real P&L consequences.
- Decide when to absorb costs vs. pass them through
- Identify where tariff mitigation actually works (and where it doesn’t)
- Redesign supply chains without chasing the latest buzzword
- Make defensible decisions under pressure — and explain them clearly to boards and teams
He’s making these decisions in his own business — not just advising from theory.
SPEAKING TOPICS
Tariffs Aren’t Theoretical Anymore
How tariffs are hitting margins right now — and how executives should evaluate relief options, pricing decisions, and supply-chain changes without overcorrecting.
Audiences leave with:
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- A practical framework for tariff decision-making
- Clear tradeoffs between absorbing costs, passing them through, or restructuring
- Real-world examples from active manufacturing operations
Redesigning Supply Chains for a Volatile World
What actually works when companies rethink sourcing, nearshoring, and diversification — and what fails once reality sets in.
Audiences leave with:
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- A grounded view of China, nearshoring, and diversification tradeoffs
- Lessons from global supply chains across Asia and the Americas
- A clearer sense of when change is worth the cost
Leading Through Disruption Without Perfect Answers
How leaders align finance, operations, and procurement when decisions still have to be made — even when there’s no clear right answer.
Audiences leave with:
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- Better decision discipline under uncertainty
- Stronger cross-functional alignment on trade and sourcing strategy
- Clearer communication strategies for boards ands stakeholders
For keynote, panel, or executive briefing requests, please use the form below.
Speaking Inquiries
WHY REGGIE
What sets Reggie apart is simple: he brings an operator’s perspective to decisions most leaders only see from the outside.
- Founder of Supreme Vinegar — a U.S. manufacturing company navigating tariffs and sourcing decisions in real time
- Former supply-chain and procurement leader at ITT — a $3B global industrial manufacturer
- Author of The Basic Guide to U.S. Tariffs
- Hands-on experience across global supply chains in China, Brazil, and the Americas
- MIT MBA, conversant in Mandarin, with deep China expertise
His talks draw from more than 15 years leading supply chains at scale — and the daily reality of running manufacturing operations where tariff and sourcing decisions hit the P&L immediately.
ABOUT REGGIE
Reggie’s work sits at the intersection of strategy and operations. After leading global supply chains for Fortune 500 companies, he now runs his own manufacturing business — where the consequences of every decision show up fast.
His talks are practical, candid, and grounded in reality. No hype. No generic frameworks. Just clear thinking for leaders making hard choices under pressure.
BOOKING / CONTACT
Reggie speaks to:
- Manufacturing leadership teams
- Supply-chain and procurement audiences
- Industry conferences and executive forums
Formats include keynotes, panels, and executive briefings.
Request availability using the form above.