Who we are
PL Programs is a project delivery firm focused on warehouse and distribution center improvement. We embed directly with our clients' teams to plan and execute high-stakes projects: new site launches, automation implementations, network transformations, and large-scale operational transitions.
We are not a strategy consultancy. We don't produce decks and depart. We show up, build the project structure, coordinate the workstreams, manage the vendors, and stay through stabilization. Our measure of success is whether the client gets the planned value from the project, measured by going live on time, on budget, and operating as designed.
How we're different
We come from operations, not consulting. Our team has run distribution centers, managed frontline warehouse teams, implemented WMS systems, and commissioned automation firsthand. We've been on the floor at 2 AM when the sorter's PLC cabinet caught fire during a startup. That operational depth is what allows us to anticipate problems that pure project managers miss, and to earn the trust of the operators whose cooperation makes or breaks a project.
We apply PMI-standard project management methodology, but we adapt it to the actual needs of the team rather than imposing process for its own sake. We provide clarity on scope, schedule, cost, and risk. We build detailed plans and follow through on them. And we integrate the project into the ongoing business so that daily operations don't degrade while the future is being built.
Our approach is quantitative, grounded in Lean principles, and informed by 20+ years of hands-on experience in distribution center design and operations management.
The team
Paul Lukehart
Founder and Principal
Paul has managed warehouse operations and led complex implementations across a range of industries and scales, from 40,000 sq ft facilities to 1.1 million sq ft automated distribution centers, greenfields and brownfields, forklifts to robotics. His career includes roles at Target, Amazon, and XPO Logistics, along with consulting engagements for other well-known companies.
Paul holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He is an Army veteran. He is the author of Practical Floor Supervision and Practical Performance Management, and the creator of SimpleDim, a PowerPoint CAD-lite add-in for producing to-scale, unitized layouts.
Nick DiFlora
Supply Chain and Operations Leader
Nick brings over 25 years of supply chain experience with mid-sized and Fortune 500 organizations, with a focus on facility startups and implementations. His industry background spans sporting goods manufacturing, multi-channel retail, e-commerce, and third-party logistics. He has led multiple WMS implementations, taken sites from empty space through go-live and stabilization, and managed large automated facilities with accountability for quality, SLAs, and budgets. Nick holds a B.S. from Bowling Green State University.
Adam Murphy
Supply Chain Consultant
Adam joined PL Programs after operations roles at PepsiCo/Frito-Lay North America and Amazon, where he managed high-volume distribution facilities including the largest Frito-Lay distribution center in the Southeast. His focus areas include process improvement, productivity optimization, and efficiency metrics. Adam is PMP-certified and holds a B.A. in Business Administration from the University of Florida.