Phil Godden

About Phil Godden

Most execution failures in fulfillment don’t come from bad technology choices. They come from poor integration, unclear ownership, and systems that don’t hold up under real operating pressure.As Senior Director, Integrated Solutions, I work where automation, robotics, material handling, and software either operate as a coherent system—or fail in isolation. My role is to ensure these elements come together in ways that improve flow, resilience, and financial performance in live fulfillment environments.I bring more than 30 years of supply chain leadership across network strategy, distribution operations, and large-scale capital programs. That experience includes greenfield and brownfield DC programs, WMS/WES/ERP deployments, RFID rollouts, and supplier performance management in complex, high-variability environments.Earlier in my career, I led transportation and import operations at Kohl’s during a period when the company ranked among the top 20 U.S. importers, overseeing more than TEU annually. That experience shaped how I think about scale, variability, and handoffs—where external timing constraints set the physics, and internal fulfillment systems must operate reliably within them.I’m particularly focused on integration over individual technologies. That perspective has included designing a fully robotic fulfillment operation without conveyors, modernizing legacy DCs without disrupting operations, and leading the design of a distribution center where all storage was implemented via AS/RS—later featured as a cover story in industry publications.I’ve partnered with companies including Nike, Apple, Levi’s, VF, Kohl’s, Cardinal Health, and Li & Fung; led initiatives across the U.S, Canada, and Europe; and spoken at NRF, ProMat, and Georgia Tech’s Material Handling Short Course.My approach is pragmatic and execution-driven: design what works, integrate what matters, and deliver solutions that still perform when conditions are imperfect and pressure is real.

Experience

1. Senior Director Integrated Solutions

   Lift, Inc

   Jan 2026 — Present · Carlisle, PA, US

   Leads the design and delivery of integrated fulfillment and distribution solutions spanning automation, robotics, material handling, and software. Owns solution architecture from concept through implementation, ensuring technologies operate as a coherent system rather than isolated components.Responsible for aligning operational strategy, engineering design, and execution realities to deliver scalable, ROI-driven outcomes in both greenfield and brownfield environments. Works closely with customers, internal teams, and technology partners to balance innovation with practicality, minimizing disruption while improving flow, resilience, and performance.Provides executive-level guidance on complex capital programs, system integration risks, and change management—helping organizations avoid common automation pitfalls and translate strategy into systems that perform reliably in live operations.In addition to solution leadership, provides strategic direction and enablement for the Warehouse Solutions Sales team, ensuring customer needs, commercial commitments, and system design remain tightly aligned.

Education

• The Ohio State University

  BS ISE, Industrial Engineering

Skills

• Leadership
• Pricing
• Sales
• Contract Negotiation
• Start-Ups
• Inventory Management
• Inventory Control
• Program Management
• Supply Chain Management
• Strategic Sourcing
• Negotiation
• Six Sigma
• Supplier Negotiation
• Freight
• Retail
• Supply Chain Optimization
• Microsoft Word
• Team Leadership
• P&L Management
• Purchasing
• Process Improvement
• Procurement
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership
• Income Statement
• Lean Manufacturing
• Supply Chain Operations
• Shipping
• Project Management
• Logistics Management
• Project Planning
• Supply Chain
• Business Process Improvement
• Manufacturing
• Warehousing
• Operations Management
• Logistics
• Continuous Improvement
• Demand Planning
• Distribution Center Operations
• Transportation