Whether it’s ensuring a critical medical product arrives in time, navigating the ever-evolving landscape of global trade or running a distribution center that supports hospitals across multiple states, Cardinal Health’s success hinges on its frontline leaders.
Team members Guy Antoine, Kacie Coker and Mary Ann Tindall represent the diverse expertise and commitment that power Cardinal Health’s Global Medical Products and Distribution (GMPD) supply chain and operational excellence. From coast-to-coast transportation, to international trade compliance, to hands-on distribution leadership, each plays a unique role in making sure essential products get where they’re needed, when they’re needed.
Guy Antoine: Logistics that save lives
As senior director of U.S. transportation at Cardinal Health, Antoine facilitates the reliable and efficient movement of products across Cardinal Health’s medical products supply chain. This domestic network supports more than 50 medical manufacturing plants and distribution centers, with more than 8 million deliveries annually to hospitals, distribution centers and non-acute care locations.
Across a large team like this one, Antoine said success shows up in many forms. “Ultimately, it is delivering on our service commitments no matter what the week throws at us.”
That can be incredibly challenging, especially when facing events like hurricanes.
“Typically, when a storm is approaching, we track its path closely and take proactive steps to mitigate risk. If one of our distribution centers is in the storm’s path, we reposition our fleet, develop alternate fulfillment plans, secure fuel trucks and even arrange hotel accommodations for our drivers and their families,” Antoine said. “All of this ensures that the moment our customers are ready to receive shipments again, we’re there and ready to deliver. In this field, logistics isn’t just about moving boxes – it’s about being there when it matters most.”
Kacie Coker: Managing the nuances of global trade
For Kacie Coker, no day is ever the same. As director of global trade strategy & productivity, Coker serves as a subject matter expert on existing and new global trade regulations and guides the business on strategic projects to navigate those regulations, helping the organization stay both compliant and cost competitive.
Coker collaborates with Cardinal Health’s medical products sourcing and manufacturing teams to provide guidance and understanding of duty savings programs, like Free Trade Agreements, to help enhance GMPD’s supply chain efficiency. She also works closely with our government relations team to look for opportunities to advocate for trade legislation that will improve Cardinal Health’s ability to deliver medical products to customers on time and at a reasonable cost.
Spending her entire career in global trade, Coker said she has been fortunate to develop an amazing network of fellow trade compliance “nerds” who are highly knowledgeable and passionate about this line of work.
“As regulations evolve, it is mutually beneficial to stay connected with my network to discuss the implications of these changes and brainstorm ideas on how to manage them,” she said.
Mary Ann Tindall: Operational excellence in Detroit
At the helm of Cardinal Health’s Detroit, Michigan, medical products distribution center, Mary Ann Tindall, director of operations, is a driving force behind one of the company’s most innovative and high-performing facilities serving customers in Michigan, Northern Ohio and Northern Indiana. Her role encompasses far more than logistics. She oversees daily operations with a sharp focus on operational efficiency, employee engagement, regulatory compliance and strategic growth.
At the core of the center’s success is its people. Tindall proudly describes her team as highly engaged and inclusive, with a strong culture of accountability and ownership. Her leadership has helped foster a mindset across the workforce where employees are encouraged to challenge the status quo, explore new ideas, and learn from both successes and setbacks.
“We embrace a growth mindset – persistently tackling challenges, learning from our mistakes and continuously seeking ways to improve our processes,” she said.
A standout example of this engagement is the facility’s 100% associate-led safety program, which emphasizes weekly safety tasks completed by employees themselves. This initiative strengthens the safety culture by making each team member a stakeholder in the workplace environment.
Editor’s note: This piece is excerpted from a story previously published in Repertoire Magazine. Read the full story here.