A Message from SPLC's CEO: The Power of Community
SPLC’s origins go back to early leaders in procurement who saw the tremendous opportunity to influence and change markets through the power of procurement and supply chain innovation. For over a decade we have built a strong community of leaders who navigate the challenging yet critical intersection of sustainability and procurement. And good thing, because whether it’s Scope 3 or conflict minerals, this work can’t succeed without collaboration, best practice sharing, and sometimes a bit of shared commiseration (I mean peer support!).
When I joined SPLC last year, I saw the tremendous power and passion of our community and the opportunity to ensure strong infrastructure to support connection virtually, online, and in-person. I’m thrilled to share the progress we’ve made:
Virtual:
For the past few years our Peer Learning Circles (PLCs) have been a cornerstone of SPLC membership—a trusted space where members connect, share real-world challenges, and learn from each other. Building on the power of this community, we've implemented key structural and logistical updates behind the scenes. These updates enhance the circles’ existing value, keeping conversations engaging, practical, and timely while welcoming both new and returning members. The PLCs will continue to evolve alongside our member needs and we are actively exploring what topics or specific audiences we can create PLCs for.
Online:
In September we soft launched the new online SPLC Membership Community and have welcomed a number of folks into the new platform. The new platform is highly intuitive, has a social media like interface, and is purposefully built to help members find and connect with each other! It’s also the place to go to find all SPLC resources such as category guidance, past webinars, and case studies. In the coming months all of our on-demand learning and live webinars will migrate to this new platform as well, vastly simplifying the membership experience. We're opening parts of the Community to non-members soon and we encourage you to explore this valuable space.
In-person:
Many in our community considered the SPLC Summits (held from 2013-2019 and again in 2023) a cornerstone of their experience. While a full Summit comeback isn't yet planned, we are bringing back high-value, in-person connection through Regional Connects in Boston and Santa Clara, with both happening in the coming weeks! These events are purposefully planned and sized to allow for strong community connection while navigating the reality of constrained travel budgets and high conference operational costs. We're busy preparing for our launch events, but we're already looking ahead to 2026 and want to expand this effort. Where should SPLC’s 2026 Regional Connects be? Tell us in this brief survey.
We know this work is hard and that you all are the most principled and passionate champions we could ever dream of to be leading this work. Our purpose is to support you and to help you support each other. Together we can go faster and to greater success!
In community,
Marc Heisterkamp (he/him)
Chief Executive Officer
SPLC