The Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) 2014 Annual Global Conference featured more than 120 sessions organized into six disciplinary specialties called "Cornerstones."
More than 2,600 supply chain professionals packed the halls of the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas, USA in late September for the 2014 Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) Annual Global Conference.
Attendees could choose from more than 120 sessions in 20 tracks devoted to current and future hot topics for supply chain professionals. For the first time, the track sessions were organized into six disciplinary specialties called "Cornerstones": Talent and Career; Economic Forecasts, Benchmarks, and Surveys; Thought Leadership; Manufacturing, Planning, and Sourcing; Transportation, Distribution, and Warehousing; and The Customer.
CSCMP's conference offered inspiration as well as education. Keynote speaker Guy Kawasaki, a venture capitalist and former Apple software "evangelist" and special advisor at Google, outlined 11 ways companies and individuals can develop, produce, and market innovative products and services. Among them: Innovative companies understand the reason they and their products should exist. Apple, for example, wanted to "democratize" the use of computers, which the company considered to be its principal motivation, he said.
On Day Two, Daymond John, founder, chief executive officer, and president of the clothing company FUBU and star of ABC Television's reality business show, "Shark Tank," shared his honed-on-the-street ideas for business success in a straight-talking presentation about how he worked his way up from driving taxicabs to building a $4 billion fashion empire without any formal business training. And motivational speaker Judy Carter brought her unique mix of humor and encouragement to the closing session, where she kept her audience laughing while explaining how to take a more productive view of personal and professional challenges.
The conference included numerous special events, including the annual Educators Conference and Donald J. Bowersox Doctoral Symposium, the annual meeting of roundtable officers, the presentation of the annual Supply Chain Innovation Award to Flextronics and runner-up Sears Holdings Corporation, a "Women at Work" panel and reception, events for young professionals, and a student recruitment day. Additionally, the Supply Chain Exchange exhibition showcased cutting-edge technology, equipment, and services.
Following CSCMP's annual business meeting, the organization announced this year's elected officers. Theodore (Ted) P. Stank was elected to the office of chair. Heather L. Sheehan was named immediate past chair, and Kevin F. Smith was named board chair elect. Mary C. Long was elected to the office of board vice chair. Remko van Hoek was elected secretary and treasurer.
Mark your calendar now for the 2015 annual conference, to be held September 27-30 in sunny San Diego, California, USA. For more information, go to cscmp.org/annual-conference.
CSCMP recognizes the founder of TranzAct Technologies Inc. for his contributions to the logistics and supply chain management professions.
If you're at an industry conference and there's a burning question that must be asked, then it's a good bet Michael P. Regan will be the one to ask it. Regan, the founder and currently chief of relationship development at the consulting firm TranzAct Technologies Inc., has long been an energetic and indefatigable presence at logistics and supply chain educational events. In addition to offering thought-provoking questions and commentaries from the floor, he often can be found on the podium, giving motivational presentations on career development designed specifically for logistics and supply chain professionals. Additionally, his video commentaries and analyses of industry developments have a loyal following.
Regan's contributions were formally recognized when he received the 2014 Distinguished Service Award from the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) at its Annual Global Conference in San Antonio, Texas. The Distinguished Service Award is bestowed annually on an individual for outstanding, long-term contributions to the logistics and supply chain management professions.
Regan's supply chain career spans nearly four decades. He co-founded TranzAct in 1984 to help shippers plan and control transportation expenditures. By 2000, TranzAct had become the largest privately held freight-payment company in the United States.
In addition to being involved in CSCMP's educational efforts, Regan has served on the boards of such industry groups as the American Society of Transportation & Logistics, the National Industrial Transportation League (NITL), the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA), and NASSTRAC.
A certified public accountant (CPA), Regan earned his bachelor's degree in business administration at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
CSCMP recognizes the Cornell scholar's research on supply chain disruptions for excellence.
Dr. William Schmidt, assistant professor of operations in the Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University, was presented with the 2014 CSCMP Doctoral Dissertation Award for his research paper titled Supply Chain Disruptions and the Role of Information Asymmetry.
Schmidt's dissertation examined how the supply chain decisions that companies make influence and are influenced by "information asymmetry," or the uneven understanding of information between two parties involved in a transaction—in this case, organizations and their investors. His broader research investigated the relationships between a company's operational decisions and its value and risk. The paper's findings focused on the factors that moderated these relationships and identified strategies that companies could adopt to better manage them.
Schmidt received a doctorate from Harvard Business School, a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Florida, and a Bachelor of Science in aerospace engineering, also from the University of Florida.
A new program seeks to develop rewarding relationships between experienced supply chain professionals and those who are ne to the field.
Being involved in a mentoring relationship can have profound professional and personal benefits, and not just for the person being mentored. Through this relationship, both parties can improve their communication skills, gain new perspectives, and learn new skills and industry expertise.
The Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals' new mentoring program strives to create just these sorts of relationships by connecting people who share the goal of personal and professional development. All CSCMP Student and Young Professional members are eligible to sign up and request to be matched with a mentor.
To be considered as a potential mentor, you must be an experienced professional who is interested in helping to develop supply chain talent. The goal of this partnership is to help young people improve their skills and position themselves to advance their careers. Mentors strive to support and encourage their mentee by offering suggestions and sharing their knowledge as needed. Each partnership should be based on mutual trust and respect.
The one-year program requires mentors and mentees to meet for a minimum of one to two hours a month, either in person, over the telephone, or online.
CSCMP is now accepting applications for the 2015 program. For more information, visit cscmp.org/career/mentorship-program-young-professionals. To learn more about how to be an effective mentor, read "Mentoring: A big commitment, with big rewards" by Timothy Stratman, in the Q2/2014 issue of Supply Chain Quarterly.
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