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University of South Florida Muma College of Business March 2020
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FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S DESK
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Elaine Singleton |
Springtime in Tampa is in full swing, combining the excitement of MLB spring training (Go Phillies) and the agony of oak pollen! Likewise, the pace here at the Monica Wooden Center for Supply Chain Management & Sustainability is picking up.
We are beginning plans to establish our own space in the Muma College of Business and are already working on more innovative ways to enhance our partnerships with the outside business community. Our students are interning, our faculty is researching and our alumni are engaging.
Below, you can see how all this is taking shape. Professor Rob Hooker hosted a research forum last week that focused on sustainability across several industries and former Marketing Department Chair Donna Davis was all over the media recently -- including a radio interview that aired in Washington, D.C. -- discussing the impact coronavirus is having on the supply chain management of goods, services and pharmaceuticals.
We have a difficult time picking students and alumni to feature because they all are so dynamic and personable. I promise we will get to each and every one eventually.
So, please, read on, soak in the good work we are doing here and pay no attention to the pollen in the air as you take in an afternoon ball game!
Elaine Singleton
Executive Director
Monica Wooden Center for Supply Chain Management & Sustainability
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* April 2, 5:30-7:30 p.m.,
Employer Networking Event,
Marketing/Sales & Supply Chain. Muma College of Business atrium.
* April 30, 7:30 a.m. until 1 p.m., Monica Wooden Center Business Partners Meeting, BSN 225.
* Sept. 20-23, CSCMP EDGE Supply Chain Conference & Exhibition,
Orlando. To register, click here.
* Fall 2020 Grand Opening of the Monica Wooden Center for Supply Chain Management & Sustainability,
located in Muma College of Business. Times and details to be announced.
* Feb. 2021,
Bi-Annual Florida Supply Chain Summit
, location, times and details to be announced.
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DR. DAVIS TALKS CORONAVIRUS' IMPACT ON GLOBAL COMMERCE
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| Donna Davis talks to WTSP's Phil Buck about coronavirus and supply chain |
While the major concern about coronavirus remains the spread of the disease and the health of those impacted, there is a considerable impact on global commerce as well. Donna Davis, a marketing professor and expert in supply chain management, held court with several local news organizations last week to discuss how the disease, which had its origins in China, is impacting and will impact the transportation of goods, services and even medicines. A radio station interview also was aired in the Washington, D.C. market. To watch WTSP's report,
click here. To read the
Tampa Bay Times story,
click here.
BIZ PARTNERS ENGAGE WITH USF SUPPLY CHAIN STUDENTS
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Travis Raitt, VP of Preferred Materials, engages students |
Each month, business partners are invited to meet and engage with Muma College of Business supply chain management students. These meetings are designed to present an opportunity for students to experience live accounts, lessons learned and practical advice directly from supply chain industry professionals. February featured a VP from Preferred Materials.
RESEARCH FORUM ON CARINATA SUSTAINABILITY HELD HERE
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Nearly 60 attended the SPARC summit in last week
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A day-long forum focusing on the renewable potential of carinata, a plant that resembles collards, was held in the USF Patel College of Global Sustainability and the Muma College of Business last week. The summit, sponsored by the Southeastern Partnership for Advanced Renewables from Carinata, a collaboration of regional land grant universities and industry partners, was staged by marketing professors Rob Hooker and Seckin Ozkul.
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FACULTY RESEARCH, ACCOLADES AND RECOGNITION
Congrats to Seckin Ozkul, Recipient of the Transportation Research Board's Urban Freight Transportation Committee Award
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Seckin Ozkul
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Seckin Ozkul
is not only an operations and supply chain management faculty member in the Marketing Department and a faculty member of the Monica Wooden Center for Supply Chain Management & Sustainability; he also is an affiliated faculty member for the USF Center for Urban Transportation Research.
Ozkul is a member of the Transportation Research Board's Urban Freight Transportation Committee which recently received a 2020 Blue Ribbon Award in the Research Category "for demonstrating leadership and forging successful partnerships to identify, develop and disseminate urban research to advance TRB's 'Critical Issues in Transportation 2019 (Goods Movement).'"
The award was presented at the 2020 TRB annual meeting in Washington, D.C.
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| Seckin Ozkul, third from left, accepts award |
Hankassi Coulibaly, Undergraduate Class of 2021, named the Monica Wooden Center's Inaugural Scholarship Recipient
Hankassi Coulibaly turned her passion and experience in global supply chain into her pursuit of studies in supply chain management at University of South Florida's Monica Wooden Center for Supply Chain Management & Sustainability. Just recently, Coulibaly was awarded the first Monica Wooden Center scholarship.
"It is with excitement that I recently learned about the supply chain major offered by USF," she said. "This major is in perfect alignment with my previous global experience and will provide me with the tools to contribute to the organization I currently work in."
Originally from the Ivory Coast in West Africa, Hankassi earned her associate degree in marketing management in her home country. She has extensive global working experience in the supply chain/procurement field in Africa (Chad, Sudan, Madagascar, Mauritania), Middle East and Asia (Afghanistan, the United Arab Emirates) and the United States. Also, she worked as a procurement coordinator for the United Nations in Chad.
The Monica Wooden Center Scholarship Program is intended to promote and support the development of college students, both undergraduate and graduate degree candidates, to encourage careers in the supply chain industry.
Students interested in applying for scholarships through the program should contact
Elaine Singleton
,
executive director of the center.
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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: NICHOLAS SAWCHUCK, CLASS OF 2022
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Nicholas Sawchuck |
What brought you to the University of South Florida?
During my senior year of high school, I had considered several universities. The University of South Florida and more specifically the Muma College of Business was among my top choices. As I narrowed my focus to supply chain management, a discipline made familiar to me by my father, it became very clear to me that USF was where I needed to be.
Why did you choose to study Supply Chain Management at the Monica Wooden Center?
My interest in supply chain management started over a casual dinner with my father who specializes in the field. He knew I was struggling to select an area of focus for my degree and began to illustrate the concept of a supply chain on the back of a napkin. It was then that I began to understand the role of a supply chain and how essential it is to our daily lives (e.g., eCommerce). This was the catalyst for my growing interest in supply chain and ultimately, my decision to study at the Monica Wooden Center at USF. It is a great opportunity to pursue a degree with a very promising future.
What do you want to achieve through the program?
Overall, I am looking forward to being exposed not only to all of the various dimensions of a supply chain, but also to internship opportunities to gain real world experience while in college. Ultimately, my goal is to successfully graduate from the USF Muma College of Business with my major in supply chain management and to land an opportunity at an exciting company that allows me to apply what I have learned, but more importantly, to allow me to continue to learn.
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INTERN SPOTLIGHT: MACY BAKER, BLUEGRACE LOGISTICS
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Macy Baker, Class of '20, Supply Chain Management |
What are the biggest challenges of this position?
I believe the biggest challenge for students entering internships in any professional field is finding which performance structure(s) best optimize their daily tasks. Once this is established, challenges shift to best problem-solving methods. To overcome these encounters, I'm learning to practice effective time-management and team-building skills along with proficient analytic techniques.
What do you want to achieve through this internship?
Through my operations internship with BlueGrace Logistics, I am asking questions and accumulating as much on the job knowledge as possible. I aspire to interact with an abundance of new and existing clients and fellow industry professionals on a daily basis. This connection will consistently increase my familiarity with supply chain, operational and logistical matters, discoveries and technologies. Additionally, I look forward to the BlueGrace community engagement opportunities, which are invaluable to character building and community connection.
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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: KAYLEE BOTTS, AMAZON OPERATIONS CHIEF
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Kaylee Botts, Class of '17, marketing |
While at USF, what helped you prepare for your role with Amazon?
During my time at USF I was able to spend a lot of time working on projects with my peers, which prepared me to transition to an environment that is both technical and relational. I was able to develop skills that helped me quickly earn the trust of both my peers and supervisors, which resulted in more productive working relationships. USF also provided me the opportunity to continue developing my leadership skills, which prepared me well for my role as a manager, and now, a leader of leaders.
What were some key transition hurdles and how did you overcome these challenges?
Transitioning to an environment where I was responsible for teams of up to 150 people, had a learning curve. I was able to modify the skills I learned how to relate well to people, get their buy-in and manage the process.
What are your key contributions/successes since joining Amazon?
In my first year with the company, I developed a building-wide recognition program for our associates and was able to roll out standardize staffing optimization across all shifts for our department. I trained an entire new team of leadership, then led that team to be the top-performing shift throughout all of holiday peak season.
What advice do you have for current USF supply chain students?
Take advantage of all of the opportunities provided by the university and the supply chain program. You can get a lot of really great experience in the workforce through internships. The professors are a great resource to utilize as well, when it comes to translating experience and knowledge outside the classroom to transition into a successful supply chain career.
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