Darrell Edwards currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Practice in the Supply Chain Management Department at the University of Tennessee. Prior to joining the UT faculty, he was Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at La-Z-Boy Incorporated, the nation’s largest producer of reclining chairs and one of the nation’s largest providers of home furnishings. Edwards has over three decades of deep global operations and supply chain experience, delivering significant value within consumer product industries. His interests are focused in business coaching, team building, process innovation, and strategy.
While at La-Z-Boy, Edwards was a named Executive Officer (NEO) that led the global operations and supply chain for La-Z-Boy Incorporated’s Branded Business totaling in excess of 9,000 employees. Additionally, he currently serves on the Board of Directors for Dovetail Brands in Grabill, IN. Edwards has been recognized as an award-winning leader, and led numerous business units to achieve national and global recognition for operational excellence. He is a frequent guest speaker at various national forums, and authored articles in several business trade publications.
Edwards holds a Doctor of Business Administration degree from the Fox School of Business at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, and a master’s degree in global management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management in Glendale, Arizona.