Articles
Education & Careers
Getting a Seat at the Leadership Table
Supply chain management’s evolution from a purely tactical to a critical strategic function has earned logistics executives a seat at the leadership table. What attributes do you need to earn that chair — and keep it? According to Korn/Ferry International studies of best-in-class executives, success is about 50 percent attributable to leadership characteristics, 40 percent […]
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Randall Plost: Plugged Into the Pipeline
NAME: Randall Plost TITLE: Houston distribution manager COMPANY: Victaulic, since 1981 PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE: Travel agent; inside sales representative, Orbit Valve; customer care and distribution manager, Victaulic EDUCATION: University of Texas, Austin, BBA in marketing, 1978 Randall Plost didn’t worry much about his warehouse when he managed inside sales in Houston for Victaulic, a global […]
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Trends—August 2010
Shipping Maintains Traction Despite Gulf Slick The considerable environmental impacts from British Petroleum’s (BP) Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico have cast a pall over the region, endangering delicate ecosystems and tourism industries alike. But to date, the oil crisis has had little negative impact on shipping in the heavily trafficked corridor. Gulf […]
Read MoreKevin Miles: Supermarket Superstar
NAME: Kevin Miles TITLE: Manager, inbound logistics, since 2007 COMPANY: Ahold USA PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE: Industrial engineer, UPS; senior process engineer, Ahold USA EDUCATION: University of Connecticut, BS, manufacturing engineering, 2000; University of New Haven, MBA, management technology, 2003; APICS, Certified Supply Chain Professional, 2007 When a water main serving the Boston area burst on Saturday, […]
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Blended Learning: An Educational Hybrid
Statistics show earning a graduate degree increases the potential for higher earnings during your working life. Not surprisingly, an increasing number of applicants who already hold one or more graduate degrees are enrolling in executive and professional graduate degree programs. “You can never stop learning if you want to succeed, and if you want to […]
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How to Run a Logistics Job Fair
A stressed economy and tight financial market have forced downsizing and job cuts in nearly every industry. In the logistics sector, jobs have been disappearing at two ends of the spectrum. At one end, highly paid positions have been displaced in an effort to cut costs; roughly one executive position equals 10 operating jobs. At […]
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Mentoring’s Long Reach
A mentor’s advice and attention can make a world of difference to professionals trying to rise to the top of the logistics field. Here’s how three companies in the industry help their employees scale new heights.
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Gregory Cross: Keeping the Wheels Turning
NAME: Gregory Cross TITLE: Director of Logistics and Operations COMPANY: USA Cycling, Colorade Springs, Colorado PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE: Freelance graphic designer and photographer; mechanic, NYC Velo; mechanic for Team Lipton, Velocity Sports Management; service course mechanic for Team Lipton and Navigators Insurance Pro Cycling Team, EDJ Sports. EDUCATION: Virginia Commonwealth University, BFA in communications arts and design, 2000 To […]
Read MoreAdvance Your Career Through Online Learning
Traditional classroom education is a viable option for some logistics professionals seeking new skills. But for many, online learning presents a better alternative for acquiring additional training, degrees, or certifications. Irvin Varkonyi, adjunct professor and marketing manager of transportation and logistics management at American Public University, provides tips for advancing your career through online learning. […]
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From the Service to the Supply Chain
Can you really model best practices from the military? After all, they invented the acronym SNAFU. But companies are finding veterans’ experience and skills help promote ship-shape supply chains.
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Alison Dennis: Local and Loving It
NAME: Alison Dennis TITLE: Director of sustainability programs, since 2010 COMPANY: Burgerville, Vancouver, Wash. PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE INCLUDES: Administrator, Portland Art Museum; ballroom dance teacher; various temp jobs; buyer, then purchasing manager, Oregon Health and Science University; director of supply chain, Burgerville. EDUCATION: Bennington College, B.A. liberal arts, 1994 Alison Dennis got her supply chain […]
Read MoreNation Building at Home
After generations of change, one transition is still difficult—how we integrate military veterans into the private-sector workforce.
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Jason Ballard: Distributing Ammo and Hot Chow
NAME: Jason Ballard TITLE: Major, student in the Command and General Staff School, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, since 2010 COMPANY: U.S. Army PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE: U.S. Army Reserve: field artilery. U.S. Marine Corps: ammunition technician. U.S. Army: second lieutenant (recruiter, later cargo transfer company platoon leader); first lieutenant (assistant battalion operations officer); captain (battalion logistics officer, later assistant division […]
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William Cossey Jr.: Happy in the Middle of the Action
NAME: William Cossey Jr. TITLE: Executive director of supply chain integration, since 2009 COMPANY: Cox Communications PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE: Transportation and logistics sergeant, U.S. Army National Guard; staff accountant, PricewatershouseCoopers; assistant senior auditor, senior auditor, Cox Enterprises; business manager, Gulf Coast Market, Cox Communications; director of business operations, Middle Georgia Market, Cox Communications; state director of […]
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Want a Promotion? Get an Education
Success in any career is often measured by advancement, and logistics and supply chain management is no exception. Advancing to a C-suite job will likely require an MBA or a specialized master’s degree. To earn a degree, you don’t have to quit your job, sacrifice your life, and go away to school. If you have […]
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America’s Got Supply Chain Talent
Every state says it wants to attract logistics business that can keep its workforce employed. Florida is actually doing something about it. The state has gotten behind the Talent Supply Chain, an association of state, local, education, and business organizations whose goal is to boost Florida’s economy by encouraging and expanding workforce development, training, and […]
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Logistics Education: More Is Better
Evolving to meet changing industry needs, logistics and supply chain education helps students hone their skills, gain a broader perspective, and bring bottom-line benefits to employers.
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Kathy Zepaltas: Doing Fine, Moving Wine
NAME: Kathy Zepaltas TITLE: Director of logistics, since 2001 COMPANY: Jackson Family Wines, Santa Rosa, Calif. PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE: Inventory control coordinator, Apperson Business Forms; accounting assistant, BIW Connector Systems; recruiting specialist, S.L. Drown Associates Professional Placements; operations manager, Regal Wine Company; director of distribution, Jackson Family Wines EDUCATION: BA, business management, Sonoma State University of […]
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Scott Kingsley: The Personal Connection
NAME: Scott Kingsley TITLE: Logistics manager COMPANY: The Food Source International, Frazer, Penn., since 2009 PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE: Philadelphia Flyers archives intern, Comcast-Spectacor; account services representative, production planner, Transcontinental Direct; logistics planner/international freight management, Penske Logistics EDUCATION: B.S., business management and marketing, Pennsylvania State University, 2002 Scott Kingsley is as tech-savvy as any young logistics professional. […]
Read MoreGen Z Shifts Operations Into Hyperdrive
The transition to an autonomous supply chain is underway as Gen Z enters the workforce. Leaders should look to hire Gen Zers and consider these steps when digitizing, says a Gartner report: Automation: Identify and automate all repetitive, non-value-added tasks, like procure-to-pay and customer claim management. Robotic process automation is the primary technology for this. […]
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