MDM’s 2025 SHIFT Conference is set for May 13-15 in Denver, and our marquee in-person change management conference features more than 20 different speakers who bring a range of expertise and perspectives to deliver across the event’s 2.5 days.

This group is a collection of distribution executives, consultants who advise distributors day-to-day and strategic solution providers who specialize in tools that distribution leaders are infusing into their business strategies.

Over the next few weeks, we’re rolling out spotlight profiles on these speakers to preview them and their SHIFT session.

Next up: Allie Copeland

Copeland is an experienced distribution executive, having held numerous leadership roles throughout her career. Before joining ADI Global Distribution — part of Resideo — she served as the vice president of operations at Standard Supply and Distributing Company, where she earned the 2015 AD PHCP MVP award. With a robust background in global supply chain and industrial distribution, she’s been instrumental in driving operational excellence and integrating technology to enhance business performance throughout her career.

She was also one of MDM’s 2021 Women in Distribution honorees. Stay tuned for the release of our 2025 feature on that front.

Currently, she is the Chief Transformation Officer at ADI, having previously held key positions as the company’s chief operations officer, VP of global operations and VP of operations for North America.

Copeland’s holistic approach to digital transformation stems from her diverse experience in the distribution industry. Before joining ADI, she began as an operations manager at Alarm Express, moved into sales and business development at Rexel, then advanced to Sales & Marketing Manager at Johnstone Supply; and later served as VP of Operations at Standard Supply. This multifaceted background — spanning operations, sales, marketing, and leadership — gives Copeland a unique ability to bridge the gap between strategy and execution, ensuring digital transformation initiatives are both practical and impactful for distributors.

In her current role, Copeland has led significant digital transformations, focusing on integrating complex technology stacks and improving operational agility. Her ability to align technology with business objectives has helped ADI and its partners stay competitive in an evolving market. She is also an NAW Institute board member, contributing her time and expertise to research, education initiatives focused on innovation and driving our industry towards distribution excellence. By fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration, she continues to shape the future of distribution, proving that successful digital transformation is as much about leadership and vision as it is about technology.

At SHIFT, Copeland will lead a Digital Cohort session, “A Distributor’s Digital Transformation Journey”, which will delve into the strategies behind successful digital migrations, offering insights into integrating tech stacks and enhancing operational agility.

Copeland was one of the attendees interviewed at NAW’s Executive Summit in late January for our resulting podcast from the event here.

Check out the video of that interview with her below with MDM Executive Editor Mike Hockett:

Here’s a snapshot of Copeland’s background and what she plans to showcase at SHIFT.

Name: Allie Copeland

Company: ADI Global

Title: Senior Vice President, Chief Transformation Officer

Bio: With an extensive career in fast-paced, high-performing industrial distribution verticals, Allie brings a strategic vision and a results-driven approach to the table. Allie has a proven track record in transforming supply chain operations, focusing on maximizing ROI through innovative solutions and efficient processes. Allie’s experience in business development, sales, marketing, and operations across various B2B channels enables her to drive growth and operational excellence. She excels at balancing competing priorities and the speed required to thrive in modern organizational dynamics and is passionate about uniting cross-functional teams to achieve outstanding performance and deliver value to stakeholders.

SHIFT Session Title: DIGITAL: A Distributor’s Digital Transformation Journey

SHIFT Session Description: Dive into case studies of successful digital migrations, integrating tech stacks and improving operational agility.

Why this SHIFT session matters: “I’m looking forward to presenting ‘A Distributor’s Digital Transformation Journey’ at MDM SHIFT this May. In my session, I’ll draw from experience across business development, sales, marketing and operations in various B2B channels to show you how digital transformation can revolutionize your distribution operations. I understand the challenges of balancing competing priorities and the need for speed in today’s business landscape and want to equip you with actionable insights on how to navigate these complexities with confidence and create a clear path forward. Whether you’re just beginning your digital transformation journey, or looking to accelerate existing initiatives, this session will provide strategic approaches and practical tools to drive growth and operational excellence in your organization. ” — Copeland

Other SHIFT Speaker Spotlights (more to come)

• John Gunderson