Robert E. Howell has been promoted to vice president, sourcing and supply chain services at the distributorship here. Howell served most recently as assistant vice president, category operations and will assume his new position effective July 1.
Howell, 35, joined the distributorship in 2004 as director, price management, and in 2005 he was promoted to his current position. For the five years prior to joining Sysco, Howell was a consultant and principal in the supply chain strategy and operations practice of a major computer consulting organization and specialized in supply chain strategies for Fortune 500 companies in the retail, wholesale and consumer packaged goods industries. From 1994 to 1999, he served as manager of distribution and logistics development for a local supermarket chain.
Howell was born in Marrero, LA, and raised in Houston, where he currently resides. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial distribution from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, in 1995 and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Houston in 2000.
Christopher J. Shepardson has been promoted to vice president, sourcing. He served most recently as assistant vice president, merchandising services and will assume his new position effective July 1.
Shepardson, 41, joined Sysco's operating company in Pocomoke City, MD, in 1990 as brand manager and moved to the Atlantic City operation as director of marketing in 1993. He transferred to the corporate office in 1996 as senior manager, supplies and equipment, and was promoted to director of merchandising, disposables in 2000. Two years later, Shepardson was named senior director, merchandising and in 2005 he was promoted to his current position. Prior to joining the distributorship he held various sales and operations positions for a paper and chemical distributor.
Born and raised in Canton, Ohio, Shepardson attended Salisbury State College in Salisbury, MD. He and his wife, Esther, have three children and live in Katy, Texas.
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