National Supply Chain Day 2026: Kristi Murray on Logistics Leadership, Resilience, and Global Impact at Kuraray America
Shipments rerouted. Materials repositioned. Vendors coordinated. Customer commitments met without interruption. When unexpected disruptions test the supply chain, Kristi (Runyon) Murray, MBA, Senior Manager of Supply Chain Logistics at Kuraray America, Inc. (KAI), and her team are ready.
In recognition of #NationalSupplyChainDay, we’re spotlighting Kristi’s nearly 17-year career at KAI and the way her journey reflects how supply chain has evolved.
Kristi started in customer service, where she gained visibility into every part of the business. That foundation made her transition into logistics a natural next step, allowing her to connect customer needs with the strategies and processes that keep operations moving.
The Evolution of Logistics at KAI
Over the years, Kristi has watched logistics at KAI grow from a support function into a strategic, global discipline. Today's corporate logistics team partners across every business unit, grounded in trade compliance, ethical decision-making, and values-aligned vendor relationships.
Kristi leads that team across a global network, setting priorities, guiding strategy, and ensuring finished goods move safely and reliably to customers worldwide. What began as reactive problem-solving has become a proactive playbook: alternate trade routes, bonded warehouses, rapid provider qualification, and staying attuned to emerging technologies and new service models.
“My role is to help the team stay focused, prioritize what matters most, and move quickly from problem identification to solutions,” she says.
People and Process, in Equal Measure
For Kristi, leadership comes down to preparation: building trust with partners who share KAI's values, giving the team room to move quickly, and keeping safety at the center of every decision.
Kristi believes that investing in people matters as much as investing in processes. That trust is what lets her team perform at a high level, every day.
Looking Ahead
For Kristi, the next chapter is about stewardship, continuity, and building systems that last, while developing team members who will grow and contribute across the organization for years to come.
“Resilient, value-driven supply chains, backed by global partnerships and data-driven decision making, will be one of the lasting stories of our next century,” she says.
As Kuraray America recognizes National Supply Chain Day and looks ahead to Kuraray’s Centennial in June 2026, Kristi’s leadership reflects the adaptability, safety, and trust that help keep our supply chain moving.