FXBG Neighbors Podcast
Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast
FXBG Neighbors Podcast
EP #163 Supply Chain Scholarships That Change Lives
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Supply chain shows up in your life every day, yet most people still think it’s just trucks and warehouses. We’re changing that perspective with Phoebe Kenney, founder and board president of KENCO Technical Assistance and Training Solutions (KENCO TATS), a Stafford, Virginia nonprofit serving the DC metro area with a mission to educate, empower, and encourage the next generation of supply chain management professionals. If you’ve ever wondered how products, services, and public health programs actually get delivered, this conversation makes the career paths and the impact feel real.
We talk about the talent gap forming as experienced professionals retire and why representation matters when decisions are made. Phoebe shares what she’s seen across 20 years in supply chain and global work, including why women, minorities, and veterans are often underrepresented in leadership even when they are present in the workforce. We also unpack the surprising truth that veterans already do logistics and operations at a high level, but many don’t realize supply chain management is a strong civilian transition with long-term growth.
Along the way, we debunk the “boring” myth and map out how broad the field really is: subcontracts, contracts, negotiation, relationship management, training, capacity development, warehouse operations, and today’s push toward digital transformation. Phoebe explains how responsible AI and better forecasting help teams mitigate risk and build resilient supply chains, and why transferable skills matter more than a perfect resume.
If you want to support KENCO TATS, learn about scholarships, or show up to local networking in the Fredericksburg and Stafford area, this is a great starting point. Subscribe, share this with someone considering a career pivot, and leave a review so more neighbors can find the show.
Phoebe Kenney
KENCO Technical Assistance and Training Solutions
Show Welcome And Setupenco
Speaker 1This is the Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Dori Stewart.
SpeakerWelcome back to another episode of the FXBG Neighbors Podcast, where we share the stories of our favorite local brands. I have a special guest joining me today. We've got Phoebe Kenney. She is the founder and board president of KENCO Technical Assistance and Training Solutions. Phoebe, welcome to the podcast.
Speaker 2Thank you.
SpeakerI'm excited to dive in and learn more about you and about your business.
What KENCO TATS Does
SpeakerSo tell us all about KENCO Technical Assistance and Training Solutions.
Speaker 2Great. So KENCO TATS, as I we call it for short, is actually a nonprofit located in Stafford, Virginia, serving the DC metro area. And we are specifically focused on educating, empowering, and encouraging the next generation of supply chain management professionals, as well as providing scholarship opportunities for the next generation, as well as current supply chain management professionals who are looking to get professional certifications or further their educations with master's certificates and so on. And we focus on women, minorities, and veterans specifically.
SpeakerOh wow. Amazing. So I love this so much. It's um probably uh kind of a niche thing, but clearly there's a big need for it.
Speaker 2Yeah.
SpeakerYeah, tell tell me about
Why Diversity Gaps Matter
Speakerthat.
Speaker 2So it is very niche. Um we started in 2021. I myself have 20 years experience in supply chain. And um the reality is that when I started to get into more of um corporate America with supply chain, um I started to notice that there was um, you know, not many women at the table, not many veterans, and their voices weren't heard at the table. Um and so I started to wonder what I can do with my network because I do have a pretty global network because my career has allowed me to travel to Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, multiple cities throughout the United States. And what I found out when you know, during COVID, we had a lot of time to do research. So what I found out was that um, you know, for example, with veterans, there are less than 5% veterans who realize a career in supply chain management. But when you think about it, veterans are doing logistics in the military all the time, and this would be a wonderful transition for them, but they just don't know what opportunities are there. Um when it comes to women, um, there are some voices at the table, around 40% with the latest data. Um, and but of that 40%, less than 30 are um management and less than that are in the C-suite. And minorities is a little bit larger. There are there is almost 50% in the field, but still only 7%, for example, are black women, and um and less than that that are in management. So um I just wanted to say that there's a lot of people retiring soon, and who are gonna fill that gap? So we're looking to again um find those uh next generation supply chain management professionals, um provide them with networking opportunities locally, and then of course, where they need educational help, provide them with scholarships. So those are the things that we're doing in the community.
SpeakerAmazing. So, how are you finding people or how are people finding you?
How The Nonprofit Spreads Word
SpeakerWhat's working for you getting the word out?
Speaker 2Yeah, so um well, actually, um podcast like this. So thank you so much for having me on. Um, but also um, you know, again, I do have a 20-year career in supply chain, and luckily I have a pretty big network that I'm able to tap into via social media, but also doing my own networking. So um going to other supply chain events or um other public health events um because my career did start in global health with programs that were funded by USAID, for example. So um I have you know a lot of uh community within the USAID um network space, um a lot of you know public health uh space. So I've been pretty blessed with the network that I have, and they've been super supportive. Um we are only five years old, but in that five years, we've been able to have a pretty, you know, a nice following on social media, but also we've been able to provide um scholarships within the first three years, and we're doing our second year of scholarships this year, so um it's been such a blessing to have that support from um from the community.
SpeakerAmazing, amazing. So, do you find that there are any myths or misconceptions about either the industry or about what you're doing?
Debunking Supply Chain Myths
Speaker 2Yes, I think the biggest myth is that it's boring. It's that it's day-to-day, it's that there's nothing exciting about supply chain or that it's all logistics. So thinking about trucking or um transportation, but there's so much more that um a career uh in supply chain management can provide. Um, for example, I started off in subcontracts or you know, contracts for services, but I've also been able to do logistics. I've also been able to do capacity development and training. Um, my background, for example, is in education. I thought I was going to be a teacher, but I've been able to transfer those soft skills to do training and capacity development, and not only in the US, but also globally. Um, so I've been able to, you know, um travel the world. So it's not just me sitting in an office in the DC metro area. Um I'm able to see the world, meet people, um I'm able to work with manufacturers, um, other suppliers, um, provide capacity development for them. Um, also some warehouse management. And what's most relevant now is looking at digital transformation. So looking at how we can responsibly use things like AI to predict things, to uh mitigate risk. So it's very exciting. You know, someone who's into computers can also get into supply chain management. Um, I have a friend who started her career in hospitality, who's now in a flourishing career in subcontracts management. So um you there you never understand where, or it's hard to understand sometimes, you know, where you can use your soft skills in supply chain management. But if you're able to manage relationships with people, do negotiations, um, read contracts, this is the field for you.
SpeakerAmazing. So someone doesn't necessarily have to have direct experience, they could have a related, you know, transferable experience and still do well in a career like this.
Speaker 2Absolutely. You know, um today, you know, C-suites are prioritizing supply chain. And the main reason they're prioritizing it is because when you have a well-functioning, efficient supply chain department, your organization is profitable. So they hit that, they hit that profit, you know, in a huge way. So again, if you're able to um manage contracts, if you're able to um look at how we can mitigate risk in organizations, if you're able to um work with people, um, then there's a career here for you. Again, I thought I was gonna be a teacher. So here I am 20 years later, um, with a very wonderful career in supply chain management.
SpeakerAmazing. Amazing.
Life Between Virginia And Uganda
SpeakerSo you're clearly very busy. So my question is more on the personal side. When you're not busy at work, what are you doing for fun?
Speaker 2So um, well, when I'm in the United States, so my husband actually lives and works in Uganda. So I actually spend six months of my time in Uganda, um, which is nice um because I have a community there in supply chain. So I'm able to work and um network while I'm there. Um and when I'm in the United States, I spend a lot of my time with family. Um, we're from Virginia. Um, so it's very nice to go out to restaurants, for example, in downtown Fredericksburg. Um, when the weather's nice, walk downtown Fredericksburg, stop in, have lunch, um, do some shopping, some window shopping. Um, and I also, when I'm not with family, I love to dance. So um dancing is something that brings me much joy. Um so, you know, mostly like salsa, bachata, merengue, things like that. So yeah, those are the things that I and I I do prioritize logging off. It's hard, but I do prioritize it because you know you can get busy and the days can slip away very quickly. And before you know it, you've just, you know, you've lost that personal time. So I think it's important to take that time for yourself.
SpeakerGreat lesson, absolutely.
Donating Networking And Scholarships
SpeakerSo if listeners, since you know you're a nonprofit, if if listeners want to support the mission, what are some ways that people can get involved?
Speaker 2Um, one, I would encourage everyone to visit our website, which is www.kencotats, kenco.org to understand our mission. And if it's in alignment, then you know, come visit us. You know, um, we hold networking um sessions throughout um Fredericksburg and Stafford area. Um, we sometimes venture to Arlington, but we're trying to build our network here in the Fredericksburg uh area. Um but also you know, their the website um has information on how you can donate, of course, because we are a nonprofit. And finally, um, if you know any students out there, um, again, undergrad, graduate, um, continuing education professionals, um, there is information about our scholarships on that website. So we're always looking for applications to receive applications. Um, we're we're awarding one now, but we will be rolling again into the fall scholarship application process. So um I'm excited to to read those those essays and be able to provide those opportunities for for future generations of supply chain management professionals.
SpeakerAmazing. Well, I absolutely love what you're doing. And Phoebe, I appreciate you being my guest today and sharing KENCO TATS with us.
Speaker 2Thank you so much. I appreciate for you, I appreciate you having me on, sorry. And um I hope you have a wonderful rest of your day.
Speaker 1Thank you.
SpeakerMe too.
Wrap Up And Nominate A Business
Speaker 1Thank you for listening to the Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to FXBG NeighborsPodcast.com.