 When it comes to expertise in logistics and overall leadership in management of very complex projects and organizations, few people are better qualified than Gus Pagonis, a retired three-star U.S. Army General. Lieutenant General Pagonis is widely recognized for his logistical achievements particularly during Desert Shield/Storm. After successfully masterminding logistics for the Gulf War and winning high praise from General Norman Schwarzkopf, Pagonis left the Army in 1993 and was elected Executive Vice President of Logistics for Sears Roebuck & Co. As head of the Sears Logistics Group, he functions as the single point of contact for all Sears' logistics and is responsible for Vendor Relations, Distribution, Transportation, Home Deliveries, Outlet Stores, International Logistics, and the integration of Information Systems to cement it all together. Sears, dismissed as a dinosaur only a few years ago with its earnings and customer base dwindling, has suddenly become a star of the retailing universe. Pagonis has been one of the key players in the turnaround of Sears. He explains, "The secret of logistics is never to lose sight of who the customer is." Pagonis has proven himself as a leader within the United States Army as the chief logistician during the Gulf War, and today, in the corporate world, he continues to set new standards for leadership. As he says, "I think Corporate America is waking up to logistics as the last frontier. It's the place where people can really maneuver to get a competitive edge." Leadership is nothing more than the art of influencing others to achieve desired results. Yet, this simple procedure of influencing seems to be a dying art. The country is always searching for leaders in government and the corporate world to take organizations and individuals to new heights. Pagonis will discuss this leadership shortfall and will offer leadership practices and management techniques he has employed in his careers that achieved desired results for organizations he has led.
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