Education & Careers

Todd Stewart: All Wired Up

NAME: Todd Stewart TITLE: Vice president supply chain, since 2008 COMPANY: WireCo WorldGroup, Kansas City, Mo. PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE: Merchandise manager, JC Penney; product manager, then manager of distribution and customer service, then VP of distribution, transportation and customer service, WireCo WorldGroup EDUCATION: Missouri Western State University, BSBA in marketing and management, 1992; Benedictine College, Executive […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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. […]

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