The federal Operation Warp Speed task force has been working with McKesson, AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and other companies to begin distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine. The distributors sat in on weekly and daily preparation meetings.

First Supply President Katie Poehling Seymour has set an example for many women about being themselves, being passionate and to "do more than what's expected," write Amy Souders and Myra Story. "The more women like Katie Poehling Seymour we see in these roles, the more we believe it is possible for us to get there, too," they add.

Tony Sarsam took over as CEO of SpartanNash in September and has spent the past several months visiting stores, gauging the grocer's response to the pandemic and looking toward future opportunities. In this Q&A, Sarsam discusses his observations so far -- which included high praise for a "marvelously dedicated team" -- and outlines some pressing goals for the grocer in 2021.

Businesses that want to digitize their supply chain operations may be better off acquiring the needed technology or expertise via a merger or acquisition than starting from scratch, write Ryan Gorsche and Adam Palmer. Successful deals require due diligence, customization to suit individual needs and an integration strategy, they write.

Marketing leaders share their thoughts on key digital trends for next year, including the prioritization of first-party data, a transformation in email marketing, the increased importance of multichannel strategies and storytelling for business-to-business marketers. "Customers are looking for a personal and emotional connection when making their purchasing decisions, and a story that resonates strongly with them will help organizations establish that initial connection," says Nintex's Eileen Tan.

Ty Heath of LinkedIn's The B2B Institute talks in this podcast about the think tank's research into "BETAs" -- digitally native business-to-business buyers between the ages of 21 and 41 who hold increasing influence over buying decisions. Heath explains key characteristics of BETAs and what they want from B2B brands.

Time is fleeting, but when we use it as motivation to cut out distractions and focus on long-term goals, time can be a competitive and comparative edge, writes Rishad Tobaccowala. Choose actions where "[e]ither you 1) earn a financial reward, 2) learn something new, 3) help someone else or the team get better or 4) experience in itself feels good," Tobaccowala writes.

This article lists six questions to ask before deciding if video or a voice call is needed, including who will be on the call and what example you'd like to set as a leader. "For every moment that video can frustrate, or feel like a burden, it can also make a huge positive difference for us and others," writes Kristin Hendrix.

Attend NAW's free webinar, "Value-Added Services as a Survival Strategy: Real Value Isn't Free," today at 2 p.m. Eastern with Ian Heller. Many distributors historically gave away services as part of selling products. Now that assortment and availability have been commoditized, they find that a strong service menu can differentiate them from their competitors. However, "free" services are usually poorly developed and managed and they include costs without clear revenues. There is a better alternative; join us to learn all about it. Sponsored by Unilog.

NAW's first Digital Summit, Jan. 27-28, will be an event like none other hosted in the history of NAW. As we turn the page on 2020 and enter 2021, our event will focus on "Leading in a Time of Transition." This highly interactive virtual event will capture your attention from start to finish. We're including some surprise content and speakers you'll only experience if you attend our event. All of these are reasons for you to bring more team members to this event. Register today!

Every executive wants to optimize efficiency, increase output and decrease costs. Join the discussion and learn from NAW Trusted Partner Creditsafe how automation and integration of data, financial insights, analysis and credit reporting provide a multi-tiered approach to achieving each of those goals while adding value to finance, accounting, credit, collections, sales and marketing departments.