Sourcing and procurement expert to present Heffern Lecture on Nov. 20

Published on Oct. 17, 2023

College of Business and Economics

ASHLAND, Ohio – Bruce McQuillen, a partner in Cross Country’s Coupa practice, will be the featured speaker at Ashland University’s Gordon E. Heffern Lecture on Christian Ethics in Business on Monday, Nov. 20, at the John C. Myers Convocation Center (638 Jefferson St.). Doors open at 11:30 a.m. for the event, with the program staring at 12:05 p.m. It is open to the public, but those interested in attending should RSVP here by Monday, Nov. 6, or email Samantha Coon at scoon@ashland.edu.

McQuillen has 20 years of sourcing and procurement experience, having successfully executed large-scale global transformation projects for Fortune 500 companies. As a partner with Coupa, he is responsible for setting the strategy and enabling his team to help clients capture value with the usage of digital technologies, artificial intelligence, robotics and analytics.

“We are very excited to have Bruce McQuillen on campus speaking at the Heffern Lecture,” stated Dan Fox, dean of the Dauch College of Business and Economics. “With his many professional and leadership accomplishments, this will provide an exceptional educational opportunity for students and leaders in the community.”

Prior to joining CrossCountry, McQuillen led the digital procurement practice at Deloitte where he was a founding member of the SAP Ariba and Coupa practices. He fostered the growth of the practice through proactive collaboration with software companies, forging alliances and promoting co-development initiatives. He has in-depth functional and technical experience in understanding all aspects of the sourcing and procurement lifecycle, from budget to pay, across multiple industries and sectors.

The annual Gordon E. Heffern Lecture on Christian Ethics in Business is an event in which guest speakers share their experiences in applying Christian ethics in the business world. Friends and family of Heffern have created an endowment at AU, which supports the ongoing lecture series, in partnership with the In His Steps Foundation.

Heffern was a former chairman of the board of the Society Corporation (Key Bank) and president/CEO of The Timken Company, as well as a leader in the philanthropic and civic communities.

Ashland University is a mid-sized, private university conveniently located a short distance from Akron, Cleveland, and Columbus, Ohio. Ashland University (www.ashland.edu) values the individual student and offers a unique educational experience that combines the challenge of strong applied academic programs with a faculty and staff who build nurturing relationships with their students.