ASHEVILLE, NC, UNITED STATES, August 27, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — The Capstone Forum brings together Capstone Members and Suppliers, business partners, and industry experts to discuss emerging trends, share best practices, and foster collaborative partnerships within the healthcare supply chain sector.
Over the course of three days, attendees participated in engaging sessions, interactive panel discussions, educational presentations, a Supplier showcase, and numerous networking opportunities. This event focuses on topics such as cost optimization strategies, supply chain management advancements, value-based care initiatives, and trending solutions to address the evolving challenges the healthcare industry faces.
Capstone Health Alliance is dedicated to fostering leadership development and promoting innovation within the healthcare sector. By crafting a space for cultivation exclusively between our Members and Suppliers, Capstone reinforces its commitment to continually drive excellence and positive impact in healthcare delivery, all the while hosting a truly enjoyable event for all attendees.
This year’s Forum ran August 3 – 6, 2026, in Myrtle Beach, SC, opening Day 1 with a full slate of Pharmacy, Member, and Supplier education sessions before the general sessions and evening events took center stage.
Following Tuesday ‘s morning’s sessions, Dave Edwards, National Healthcare Executive, offered the attendees a lunchtime glimpse into “The Liminal State of Healthcare: The Promise & Peril of AI,” examining how artificial intelligence is reshaping care delivery and the supply chain that supports it. Tim Bugg, Owner & CEO, and Yolandi Myers, President & CAO of Capstone, welcomed attendees to open the general session with remarks on partnerships, collaboration, and innovations that will foster the path forward for Capstone.
“As Capstone enters an exciting new chapter, our focus remains exactly where it has been for the past 26 years: serving our Members with integrity, trust, collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to reducing healthcare costs” offered CEO & Owner, Tim Bugg. “While partnerships may evolve over time, our commitment to our Members and Supplier partners remains constant. Capstone will continue delivering the services, value, and support our Members rely on today, while pursuing new opportunities that strengthen our organization for the future. This year’s Forum was a powerful reminder of the relationships we have built over more than two decades. Seeing and hearing the tremendous support from both our Members and Supplier partners reinforced the strength of the Capstone community and the confidence they have in our path forward. We are energized by what lies ahead, grateful for the trust placed in us, and confident that good things are on the horizon for Capstone and those we serve.”
Paul Epstein, former NFL and NBA Chief Sales Officer and two-time bestselling author, took the stage with his keynote “WIN MONDAY,” bringing his high-performance sports background to bear on lessons in resilience, culture, and winning habits that translate directly into the healthcare supply chain.
The energy carried into a robust State of Supply Chain Town Hall, moderated by Tim Bugg, featuring Angie Boliver, President & CEO of HSCA; Teresa Dail, President of the Vanderbilt Health Purchasing Collaborative; Kathryn DiBitetto, Vice President of Government Affairs at HIDA; and Lisa Hohman, CEO of Concordance Healthcare Solutions. The panel offered attendees a candid look at policy shifts, market pressures, and the road ahead.
Attendees closed out Tuesday with the Member Connection Social Event, followed by the Welcome & Awards Dinner. The evening recognized the Capstone Leadership Institute Class of 2026 graduates for completing a rigorous leadership curriculum, and celebrated the ELEVATE and Innovative Supplier Partner Award winners for their outstanding contributions to the Capstone community.
2026 ELEVATE Award Winners
Julianna Lopez- Echavarria Adventist HealthCare
Anthony Carpenter Bayhealth
Aaron Davis Cape Fear Valley Health
Trina Epperly Carilion Clinic
Ayoni Roberts-Bradshaw Mercy Health Services
Mercy Urgent Care Team Mercy Urgent Care
Katherine Tucker Monroe County Hospital
Jodie Butler Mount Nittany Health
Jan Elder WellLink Group Purchasing
Trina Epperly Carilion Clinic
2026 Innovative Supplier Partner Award Winners
Capstone Diverse Supplier Award Palm Harbor Medical
Capstone Loyal Partner Award Professional Disposables International, Inc.
Capstone Collaborative Partner Award Cato Supply
Capstone Innovative PPI Partner Award: Corza Medical
Capstone Innovative Pharmacy Partner Award OurPharma
Wednesday’s general sessions were a highlight of the Forum. Ken Schmidt, former Communications Director for Harley-Davidson and author of Make Some Noise: The Unconventional Road to Dominance, delivered “Building Tattoo-Worthy Loyalty in a Fiercely Competitive Market,” sharing hard-won lessons on brand loyalty and culture that had the room rethinking what it means to earn trust in a crowded market.
Immediately after, Jocelyn Herrington, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and National Spokesperson for Advisory Board, took the stage for “2026 State of the Industry: Unraveling Assumptions About the Control of Care Delivery,” challenging attendees to question long-held assumptions about who really controls the future of care delivery and what that means for supply chain strategy going forward.
The afternoon belonged to the Circus de Carnivale Supplier Showcase, filling the Myrtle Beach Convention Center with Supplier exhibits, demonstrations, and plenty of showmanship to match the theme Laura Flesher took home the $2,000 grand prize for completing the Capstone Challenge by visiting and supporting Supplier booths. GoPath Diagnostics was voted Best Booth by the Membership for their fully immersive medieval showcase, complete with costumes, crowns, and swords.
The night rounded out with The Capstone Masquerade: Dinner & Dance Party, where attendees traded name badges for masks and costumes for an evening of dinner, live music, and dancing courtesy of SC’s #1 party band, Julio & the Saltines.
Thursday morning closed the Forum with a Member & Supplier combined session, “The Continued Path of the Price Activation Process: From Manufacturer to Market,” with representatives from Medline and Henry Schein, and moderated by Tabitha Calloway, Capstone’s VP of Contracting.
Join us next year for the 2027 Capstone Forum.
The Capstone Forum is uniquely crafted to connect supply chain expertise and healthcare delivery through meaningful interactions between Members and Suppliers. It remains a platform for sharing best practices, exploring emerging trends, introducing innovations, and celebrating leadership. Mark your calendar for the 2027 Capstone Forum, once again held at the Sheraton Myrtle Beach, August 3 – 5, 2027.
Tracey Johnston-Crum
Capstone Health Alliance
+1 828-418-5050
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