CSCMP Launches Circle of Excellence Program at Annual Conference

December 7, 2015

The Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) unveiled an innovative new program called the Circle of Excellence at its annual conference in September in San Diego, California. The program was introduced to supply chain management students, young and mid-career professionals, educators, senior practitioners, and CSCMP’s Board of Directors at a reception aboard the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier.

The goal of the Circle of Excellence program is to complete the circle of CSCMP’s member lifecycle by sharing ideas and advice across the generations. CSCMP is creating a members-only online community designed to help them achieve their career goals at every stage of their careers. The community format and contents are being designed by a committee of seasoned professionals called the “Masters.”

The concept for the program came from 30-year CSCMP member and transportation professional, Gene Nusekabel. “It became apparent to me that today’s young professionals didn’t have a lot of access to mentoring from senior supply chain leaders,” he said. “Cross-generational connections are vitally important for career building and gaining high-level business expertise, and this new program will perfectly address this need. I also believe that it will assist CSCMP in recruiting young professionals by providing unique value throughout their careers that can’t be found anywhere else.”

CSCMP’s Circle of Excellence program will enable students to learn about mentorship and career opportunities they may not have been aware of as well as gain skills they may need to land their first supply chain jobs. Mid-career professionals will discover how to take the next steps to move into more challenging positions or other areas of supply chain. Senior leaders will have access to information about the education or consultancy areas to prepare for new opportunities as they contemplate career transitions.

“This initiative will tap into the insights and vast experiences of CSCMP members at all levels, and then disseminate the information to them in a variety of formats through an exclusive online community,” said Rick Blasgen, president and chief executive officer of CSCMP. “Every member will benefit from the program: students who are preparing for their supply chain career journeys and represent a new generation of professionals who will be leading our companies into the future; educators who have done more to influence the leaders of tomorrow than anyone; and mid- to senior-level executives who have profoundly shaped our discipline, pushing its boundaries into brave new frontiers and remaking it into a 21st century global superpower.”

The inaugural Circle of Excellence Committee members and program Masters include:

  • Greg Chalkley, Maxim Integrated
  • Martha Cooper, The Ohio State University
  • Bill Gates, Sunland Logistics, LLC
  • Dick Hitchcock, Mexpress Transportation
  • Cliff Lynch, C.F. Lynch & Associates
  • Mike Regan, TranzAct Technologies, Inc.
  • Robert Sabath, Sabath Supply Chain Consultants
  • Kevin Smith, Sustainable Supply Chain Consulting
  • James Stock, University of South Florida
  • Joel Sutherland, University of San Diego
  • Roger Woody, The University of Kansas

“The program was created to provide students, and young and mid-career professionals, unprecedented access to the bank of knowledge being shared by the ‘Masters’ and other seasoned professionals,” said Noreen Ryan, Circle of Excellence chair and vice president of First Logistics Management Services, LLC. “We are fostering a dialogue with supply chain students, young professionals, academics, and others to help us design a program that will best connect these groups in order to disseminate a lifetime of wisdom accumulated by our Masters.”

The Circle of Excellence committee members are developing the materials, tools, and resources for the program, such as webinars, Q&As, fact sheets, and blogs, tailored to each group’s specific career needs. The anticipated launch date of the community and career resources is during the first quarter of 2016.

About CSCMP
Since 1963, the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) has been the leading worldwide professional association dedicated to education, research, and the advancement of the supply chain management profession. With more than 9,000 members globally, representing business, government, and academia from 62 countries, CSCMP members are the leading practitioners and authorities in the fields of logistics and supply chain management. CSCMP on social media: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

For more information, please contact:
Amy Thomasson
Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals
333 East Butterfield Road, Suite 140
Lombard, Illinois  60148-5617 USA
[email protected]