University of South Florida Muma College of Business   February 2021
FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S DESK 
Elaine Singleton
To our wonderful supply chain business partners:

Happy New Year 2021! 
 
Now that January is a memory, we start the year with a few SAVE THE DATES - events you will not want to miss:

Thursday, Feb. 25, Our supply chain student and business partner bi-annual virtual network event takes place from 5-6:30 p.m. Look for the announcement to save your spot. 
 
Tuesday, March 9, the 2021 Florida Supply Chain Summit takes place from 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. It's a free virtual event featuring:
  • Walmart reps talking about "Walmart & Florida: A Supply Chain Story"
  • Miami World Trade Center folks discussing "What Does Florida Have to Offer?"
  • Port Tampa Bay execs presenting  "Florida Distribution & Logistics Differentiators"
  • FDOT & USF researchers looking at "Florida First Supply Chain Infrastructure"
  • Datex and USF researchers presenting "State of Supply Chain Technology"
  • Executives from Walmart, FedEx, Amgen and Walgreens discussing "The Pharma Supply Chain Lifecycle -- COVID-19 Vaccine -- Final Inch"
Wednesday, Feb. 10, we start taking registrations for the 2021 Florida Supply Chain Summit.

And, as always, our students are flourishing due to dedicated faculty and our vibrant, generous business partner community. And we do appreciate every penny for student scholarships and assistance as they prepare to launch their supply chain careers. To find out more about where donations go, click here.

Be safe and stay healthy,
 
Elaine Singleton
Executive Director
Monica Wooden Center for Supply Chain Management and Sustainability
PHILANTHROPIC DONATIONS FUEL SUPPLY CHAIN EDUCATION

The Monica Wooden Center for Supply Chain Management and Sustainability provides student scholarships -- more than $5,000 this year alone (covering tuition and textbooks) -- that went to our diverse student enrollment. We hope to increase this to $50,000 over the next three-to-five years. We provide innovative learning, teaching and technology tools for the interactive classroom, preparing students for immediate immersion into jobs upon graduation.

Our students graduate with demonstratable skills in ERP (SAP), WMS (Datex), TMS (MercuryGate), Supply/Business Analytics (Tableau), AI (Packback), and Lean Six Sigma (Green Belt/MS Supply Chain program) to name a few.

This does not happen in a vacuum. We must have the support of our faithful business and industry partners to ensure success for our students. This past year, our program supported five students with scholarships though the generosity of our business partners and the amazing gift from Monica Wooden.

The cost of high-tech innovative education is exorbitant and this may stand in the way of some financially challenged students who find it difficult to meet tuition expectations. Our students are diverse, and this is important to our business partners, many of whom offer internships or work experiential opportunities for students through the year. This contributes to the 92 percent who graduate within four years, with an average GPA of 3.4.

Philanthropic donations shoulder the burden of the good work we do here. All the money received from donations go directly to student scholarships, student/faculty research, industry-partner engagement and innovative education. Please help us help our students. To donate, click here.
FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER TABLE OF CONTENTS  
  1. From the Executive Director's Desk
  2. Important Dates
  3. Faculty Spotlight: Dr. James Stock
  4. Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Donna Davis
  5. Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Seckin Ozkul
  6. Virtual Coffee Meeting
  7. USF CSCMP, What is SCM? 
  8. USF CSCMP, Meet the Executive Board
  9. USF CSCMP, Guest Speakers Queue
10. Alumni Spotlight: Macy Baker
11. Student Spotlight: Trenton Waldron
12. Intern Spotlight: Clark Mulligan 
 
* Feb. 10, 5 p.m., Virtual Coffee Meeting. To attend, contact esmeraldag@usf.edu.

* Feb. 10, registration for the 2021 Florida Supply Chain Summit begins. Watch for details.

 

* Feb. 18, 5 p.m., USF CSCMP Guest Speaker: Rooms To Go. To RSVP, contact dtracey@usf.edu.


* Feb. 25, 5 p.m., Meet the Employer Event. Contact elaines@usf.edu for involvement opportunities.

* March 4, 5 p.m., USF CSCMP Guest Speaker: Citi.To RSVP, contact 

* March 9, all day, 2021 Virtual Florida Supply Chain Summit.

The event is being professionally planned as a fully virtual experience. Watch for registration details.


* March 11, 5 p.m., USF CSCMP Guest Speaker: BlueGrace Logistics.

To RSVP, contact dtracey@usf.edu.

 

* Monica Wooden Center for Supply Chain Management & Sustainability Grand Opening, to be in the Muma College of Business. Watch for times and details.

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT: DR. JAMES STOCK
James Stock
James R. Stock, co-director of the Monica Wooden Center for Supply Chain Management and Sustainability, a Distinguished University Professor and Frank Harvey Endowed Professor of Marketing, was recently appointed the first holder of the Monica Wooden Professorship in Supply Chain Management. The professorship supports "a distinguished faculty member dedicated to education, business engagement and research in the discipline of supply chain management."
 
The endowment is part of the $5 million naming gift Monica Wooden, founder of MercuryGate, gave to the Muma College of Business in 2019. Per that agreement, $1 million was earmarked as an endowment for the professorship.
 
A professor in the School of Marketing and Innovation, Stock was elected an AAAS Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2017 and was the Fulbright-Hanken Distinguished Chair of Business & Economics at the Hanken School of Economics in Helsinki, Finland, on a flex Fulbright Award in 2016 and 2017.
FACULTY SPOTLIGHT: DR. DONNA DAVIS
Donna Davis

Donna Davis is a professor of supply chain management and sustainability at the Monica Wooden Center and former faculty chair of the Marketing Department.

She engineered an engaging hybrid-learning environment with the help of Innovative Education, IT, facilities and the Muma College of Business.

Click the link below to experience these modern interactive classrooms:

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT: DR. SECKIN OZKUL
Seckin Ozkul
Seckin Ozkul, associate faculty member with the Monica Wooden Center for Supply Chain Management and Sustainability, co-authored an article regarding connected and automated vehicles. The article was published in the European Transport Research Review Journal, a Q1 and peer-reviewed journal in the automotive engineering/transportation field.
 
This study determined connected vehicle applications of speed advice for all vehicles, and especially connected and automated commercial trucks used for logistics. The research found that such applications could reduce carbon dioxide levels by 13 percent at intersections and approximately 3 percent on a network level without increasing travel times. 
 
APA citation: Evangelos, M., Vlahogianni, E. I., Evangelos, M., & Seckin, O. (2021) Enhanced speed advice for connected vehicles in the proximity of signalized intersections. European Transport Research Review, 13(1).

VIRTUAL COFFEE MEETING 
SAVE THE DATE: Wednesday, Feb. 10, 5-6 p.m. 
Join us to learn about the bachelor's degree in supply chain management.

Learn why you should partner with USF Monica Wooden Center for Supply Chain Management and Sustainability for a bachelor's degree in supply chain management.
  • Chat with our supply chain professors or just listen to the Q&A session regarding the program, industry and careers.
  • Virtual Coffee Meeting is offered through Microsoft Teams.
  • Open to students from all USF campuses who are interested in earning a bachelor's degree in supply chain management.
Microsoft Teams meeting, contact esmeraldag@usf.edu for meeting info

COUNCIL OF SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONALS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
Virtual sessions on Thursday, from 5-6:15 p.m.
Want to join? Contact our membership chair, Denzel Tracey, dtracey@usf.edu

INTRODUCING THE EXECUTIVE BOARD USF CSCMP

Victoria Yang
Meet the President
Victoria Yang
Major
Supply chain management
Why she joined CSCMP
To develop leadership skills and learn more about the supply chain industry
Why she joined E-Board
I enjoyed my experience being secretary for CSCMP in the fall of 2020. I believed that I was ready for the position of president and wanted to give back to this organization before graduation. I have picked up many valuable skills from the advice given by guest speakers at events.

Denzel Tracey
Meet the Membership Chair
Denzel Tracey
Major
Supply chain management
Why he joined CSCMP
To gain professional experience and network with other professionals in the field.
What he is anticipating for the spring semester
The outlook for the spring semester is great! As students slowly begin to move back to normalcy, more and more hiring opportunities will become available to CSCMP members.
Why he joined E-Board
Every student I have met in the supply chain program has the ability to significantly impact major corporations and the supply chain management field as a whole. My hope is that i can do anything I can to assist these students as they continue their development into movers and shakers within the business.

Trenton Waldron
Meet the Secretary
Trenton Waldron
Major
Supply chain management, marketing minor
Why he joined CSCMP
To meet like-minded people and learn about the companies that come as guest speakers.
What he is anticipating for the spring semester
To learn more about the breadth and depth of jobs involved in the supply chain field.
Why he joined CSCMP E-Board
To help run an organization that is beneficial to supply chain majors and USF students.

Meet the Marketing Chair
Mackenzie Bickel
Major
Supply chain management
Why she joined CSCMP
To make new connections in the field of supply chain management and to learn more about the various opportunities.
What she is anticipating for the spring semester
Increase participation and attendance at CSCMP meetings and teach more students about the emerging field. Also, to gain more knowledge and connections within the professional world of supply chain management.
Why she is on E-Board
To show other students the amazing opportunities within the field of supply chain management, especially for young professionals. I hope to provide the same support and information to other students that I received from this organization that completely transformed my career path and future career goals for the better and that showed my true passion.

TTaimur Abid
Meet the Treasurer
Taimur Abid
Major
Management
Why he joined CSCMP
To expand his knowledge and opportunities in the field of supply chain and to network with great people.
What he is anticipating for the spring semester
A lot of exciting stuff with CSCMP, including speakers, workshops, internships and much more.
Why he is on E-Board
I joined the CSCMP E-Board more than a year ago because I wanted to be part of a globally recognized organization and take a special initiative towards my career and future. I highly recommend joining the CSCMP and taking advantage of the opportunities it provides

USF CSCMP UPCOMING GUEST SPEAKERS


Upcoming speakers for the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals at the University of South Florida are movers and shakers in the industry. They are Jesse Kreinbrink from Rooms to Go and Chris Stakelum from Citi. To RSVP, contact dtracey@usf.edu
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: MACY BAKER
Macy Baker

Name: Macy Baker
USF Degree & Year: Bachelor's degree in supply chain management, 2020 graduate
Connect with Macy on LinkedIn
Employer: Refresco Beverages
Job Title: Materials Planner
Key Responsibilities: I am responsible for ordering all raw materials to be delivered to Refresco's Beverage Production and Co-Packing Plant in San Antonio, Texas. As their materials planner, I must also assure these ingredients are scheduled to arrive on time for daily production requirements by coordinating deliveries through a transportation management system.
 
Q. While at USF, what were some of the key takeaways that helped you prepare for your role with Refresco Beverages?
A. Attending USF helped me create and build professional connections that, ultimately led me to my current position. The outstanding professors in our supply chain program have also provided me an extensive amount of exposure to real world projects and software that allowed for a smooth transition into the workplace (I use SAP everyday - thank you Dr. Davis!)
 
Q. What were some key transition hurdles and how did you overcome these challenges?
A. One large hurdle I had to overcome post-graduation was deciding in which area of the supply chain world I wanted to work. Talking my professors' ears off, reading more than 1,000 job descriptions on LinkedIn and networking with professionals in all realms genuinely helped guide me into my current career fit.
 
Q. What advice do you have for current USF supply chain students?
A. For current and future supply chain students, I always preach: Be a sponge! Soak up every minute of coursework, software exposure and networking opportunities. Also, please get to know your professors and let them get to know you. These incredibly knowledgeable mentors are truly here to help you find your niche and create a happy, successful life.

Q. Describe your key contributions/successes since joining Refresco Beverages.
A. As a recently hired materials planner, I aspire to maximize my ordering, forecasting and logistics skills to provide the most efficient, streamlined supply chain practices for Refresco Beverages.


STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: Trenton Waldron

Trenton Waldron

Name: Trenton Waldron
USF Degree & Year: Bachelor's degree in supply chain management with a marketing minor, senior
Connect with Trenton on LinkedIn 

Q. What brought you to the University of South Florida? 
A. I knew that I wanted to study logistics before I started attending the State College of Florida. There was a USF adviser posted at the state college and she showed me what USF had to offer. Back then, supply chain was a concentration under the marketing major. When I saw the supply chain concentration, I decided to work with the adviser to get into USF.
 
Q. Why did you choose to study supply chain management at USF?
A. I started college late because I did not know what I wanted to do after high school. I was always interested in history, military history in particular. I always thought about how complex the logistics of running an army and keeping the supply chain working was. This sparked an interest in supply chain and logistics that brought me to USF. Luckily, my first year at USF is when the supply chain management major started.
 
Q. What did you achieve through the program?
A. I just started my senior year and became an officer of CSCMP, the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. Between my classes and the CSCMP meetings, I have found that my interest in supply chain and logistics has become a passion. I will have something to contribute to society once I graduate. Instead of mowing lawns for a place to stay, I feel like I have a future now.

Q. What is your future career goal after graduation?
A. From the start, my intentions were to graduate and join the Army; however, I am open to other opportunities. I am interested in transportation, warehousing and sourcing for potential internships. If one of those internships takes me somewhere I like, I will continue down that path.

INTERN SPOTLIGHT: Clark Mulligan
Clark Mulligan

Name: Clark Mulligan
USF Degree & Year: Bachelor's degree in supply chain management, junior
Connect with Clark on LinkedIn
Employer: Rooms To Go Corporate

Q. What were the challenges you faced when obtaining an internship?
A. Even though I am a seasonal employee at Rooms To Go (RTG), I was hesitant to inquire if they offered internship programs. However, after speaking to management, they responded that offering an internship would be a great opportunity and that they would be happy to sponsor my internship.
 
Q. How are you going to prepare for your internship?
A. To prepare for this internship, I enrolled in multiple business classes at USF. This helped me with the general knowledge of how supply chain correlates with the business world. In addition, it helped that I worked at RTG in multiple departments, including Logistics and International Customs & Traffic (where I currently work). This allowed me the opportunity to become acquainted with their staff and technology as well as provided me with a general idea of the work I will be assisting them with when I start my internship.

Q. What do you want to achieve during your internship?
A. During my internship with RTG, I hope to further my knowledge of the operations of supply chain. This internship will allow me to gain hands-on, real-world experience.
University of South Florida Muma College of Business
(813) 974-4281