2026 Speakers

Ian entered the distribution industry as a truck unloader at a Grainger branch while in college. He eventually became Vice President of Marketing there and has since held senior executive roles at GE Capital, Corporate Express, Newark Electronics and HD Supply. Ian most recently served as President and COO for Modern Distribution Management, a specialized information and analytics firm serving the wholesale distribution industry.

Ian earned a BA in History from Roosevelt University and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, where he was elected commencement speaker by his classmates and won the Dean’s Distinguished Service Award.

Before Distribution Strategy Group, Bein has successfully led and been part of executive management for software product and services companies in information technology, healthcare and communications. Bein has been CEO of several companies including:

• SkyeTek — grew revenues and valuation four-fold of RFID manufacturer in seven months.
• IGS, Inc. — delivered software solutions for companies such as AT&T, Comcast, Verizon, and Lucent.
• Bolder Heuristics, Inc. — achieved Inc 500 ranking with software services for telecommunications, healthcare, and IT.

As CTO at Informed Access, a provider of phone-based healthcare triage, he drove development of core products and services and the company was subsequently sold for $300 million. At Martin Marietta, he applied artificial intelligence to perform automatic real-time fault handling of spacecraft hardware.

Bein earned his Ph.D. in Computer Science at the University of Colorado with a focus in Artificial Intelligence and a BA in Computer Science at Indiana University.

With more than 13 years at Parts Town, Snow has grown alongside the business, taking on increasingly impactful leadership roles. Most recently, as Vice President of Operations & Logistics, she played a pivotal role in scaling the company’s fulfillment network, helping develop five fulfillment centers totaling nearly 1.4 million square feet. She also spearheaded the launch of the company’s largest automated fulfillment center in Phoenix, building and leading a 130-person team from the ground up.

Throughout her career, Snow has been recognized for blending operational excellence with a people-first mindset. She has led cross-functional teams through large-scale transformations, building new capabilities, and elevating how teams work together to deliver results.

Snow was recognized as a Rising Star by Supply & Demand Chain Executive in its Pros to Know Awards, honoring professionals under 40 whose achievements are shaping the future of the supply chain industry.

Notably, at W.W. Grainger (2002-2011), Brian significantly enhanced call center operations, and deployed the Grainger strategy by leading an operational staff of 7 direct reports and more than 800 employees in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Iowa Call Centers. His tenure as District Branch Operations Manager and Branch Manager demonstrated his proficiency in managing large-scale operations, overseeing 18 branches with $200 million in revenue, and effectively running a $25 million branch operation. 

Subsequent roles include driving operational and customer service transformation at HD Supply Power Solutions (2011-2015), leading customer experience innovations at Hisco (2015-2020), and enhancing multi-site customer service strategies at Redi Carpet (2020-2022) and AZP Multifamily (2022-2023). 

Brian Hopkins’ career is a reflection of his unwavering dedication to customer service excellence and operational efficiency in industrial distribution. His tenure, especially at W.W. Grainger, has had a lasting impact, showcasing his capacity to innovate and lead in complex, multi-site operational environments. His academic background, including an MBA and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management, complements his extensive practical experience. 

 Brian has consistently demonstrated his ability to lead, innovate, and drive sustainable growth across various operational landscapes.