September 2011

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SCMA Annual Intro to Supply Chain Luncheon

September 15, 2011 in Uncategorized by Supply Chain Association | Permalink

The Supply Chain Management Association held our first official event of the 2011/2012 academic year, our Annual Intro to Supply Chain Luncheon.  On Tuesday, September 13th, 2011 approximately 40 first and second year students gathered together to learn more about what Supply Chain is and about potential career paths in SC.  We had a chance to listen to professors and students speak about courses and internships while eating delicious pizza.  Professors Terry Harrison, Doug Thomas and Frank Chelko each spoke about their respective courses and what to expect from the program in general.  We had great discussions regarding differences in the MBA courses compared to the undergrad courses, the Six Sigma offerings, and preparation for the internship/job search. 

Next, Nick Mullett and Biko Taylor, both 2nd year students, gave thorough overviews of their own summer internship experiences.  Nick talked extensively about his procurement project with Smuckers which took him from Ohio all the way to Miami, Florida.  He gave insights into how he got his internship as well as some successes and difficulties that he had over his 10 week program.  Biko walked us through his time at Hess in Houston, Texas by reviewing what he learned about “strategic sourcing.”  Just like Nick, Biko provided some advice on getting his internship and gave some tips on how to prepare for interviews, especially in the oil/energy industry.   Both gentlemen answered students and professors’ questions which allowed for some additional discussions regarding future careers in Supply Chain.  Finally, Katie Pierce was able to come and give a brief background on her summer internship at Chevron, also in Huston. 

 Overall, the first SCMA event of the year was a huge success!  The officers are excited to work with the new membership over the coming year.  We have many more events planned in the coming months and we look forward to enhancing our members’ Supply Chain experience at Smeal.

-Rachel Jones, rnj5025@psu.edu.

Rachel is the VP of Student Affairs for the SCMA.  Prior to coming to Smeal, she worked as a Project Manager at HealthAmerica in Harrisburg, PA   She is currently studying Strategic Leadership and plans to pursue a career in Human Resources.


Greetings from the Real World! – Experiences from a Recent Graduate

September 7, 2011 in Career by MBA Program | Permalink

Greetings from the “real world”!  I have just completed my first rotation in the Carlisle Management Development Program (MDP) and I wanted to write a quick note to impress upon you the uniqueness and value of this opportunity.  While Carlisle is now seeking just its second class of the MDP, the commitment from all levels of management I’ve witnessed has been astonishing.  For example, the first day of orientation, the CEO, Dave Roberts took two hours out of his day to personally sit down with us and explain the business and his goals.  My main point of contact has been the President of our Food Services division and my assigned mentor is the President of the Construction Materials division (a $1 Billion business in its own right).  To be sure, the company is deeply invested in this program and expects you to succeed and become a leader quickly.

As for my experience so far, I have been staying in Carlisle, PA working in Sales and Marketing for the largest business unit, Carlisle Construction Management.  After conducting market analysis, writing business plans for new products, going on the road with regional managers, and participating in Kaizen process improvement events, I have learned more about the manufacturing industry than I could have ever imagined.  I look forward to experiencing similar challenges and growth in other business units working in finance, supply chain, and technology in Cleveland, Nashville, Oklahoma City, and Shanghai.

Obviously, living in a hotel/executive housing for a year can be tough at times, but I am confident I made a great decision coming to Carlisle Companies; and I encourage you to at least attend the information session to get a better understanding of the opportunities available.

-Bob Sanders
Class of 2011 Smeal MBA Graduate
Carlisle Companies web site:  http://www.carlisle.com/