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IN THIS ISSUE

2-6 Spotlights 7-8 Faculty Research 9-11 The Impact of PROJECT Involvement 12 Mark Your (PSCM) Calendars..

The Benefits of Project

The Project and Supply Chain Management major concentrates on developing knowledge, skills, and abilities in , a dynamic and important discipline in modern . These project management skills include the development of new products and services, scheduling and coordinating resources, monitoring and controlling projects, and coordinating and project de- Message from the livery systems. PSCM Department Chair

The major also emphasizes the integration of manufacturing and ser- Ray Venkataraman vice operations, , , and that enable to develop value-creating supply chain networks. PSCM provides students with an opportunity to develop the quanti- “Graduates are uniquely well- tative and people skills necessary to design and operate today's com- prepared for careers in some of plex management systems. the highest in-demand profes- sions in the modern Students learn how to manage critical pro- and government environments, jects for the company’s success, develop an managing the supply chain and projects initiatives in world- understanding of critical components in or- class business firms, public sec- ganizational supply chains, and apply busi- tor organizations, construction, ness analytic methods for organizing and IT organizations, third-party fully integrating supply chain practices logistics providers, and throughout the . and services distribution opera- tions.”

The PSCM major first became active in Fall

2013 and this is the very first newsletter of the PSCM major.

Dr. Ray Venkataraman, PSCM Department Chair

Thinking across boundaries . Internship Spotlights

BLAKE MILLER What would you recommend to other PSCM Major, Minor in MIS. students looking for internships/ starting an internship? “Keep an open mind when applying. A lot of To students looking for an internship, I students, including my- would recommend keeping an open mind

when applying. A lot of students, includ- self, only look for spe- ing myself, only look for specific intern- cific internships. You ships, such as supply chain management. do not need to know You do not need to know everything everything about a job about a job in order to get hired and suc- in order to get hired

ceed. Employers expect to train you. Ap- and succeed.” ply for any internships that you qualify for What is your position and where? or that interest you. Find any way to relate to that job and be ready to learn – that is Sourcing co-op at GE Transportation in Erie what I have experienced. I am in a supply chain department now and I have a fellow

student that works with me who is an How did you obtain your internship? electrical engineer. Keep an open mind when looking for an internship. I obtained my internship through Ms. Car- tee you get hired, but they can give you ol Putman. I had her for Supply Chain To students starting an internship, I would more opportunities to get hired! Management (SCM 301). She emailed me recommend being yourself and don’t be about an opportunity at GE and suggested afraid to ask questions when you need to. I send my résumé to Dr. Ray Venkata- From my experience, your employer or What are some experiences that you raman, Department Chair of Marketing manager would rather you ask questions were able to take from the classroom and Project and Supply Chain Manage- than do the task without understanding and apply to your internship? ment and Professor of Management im- what you are doing or why you are doing What I use from my classes is the basic mediately if I was interested. I was then it. No matter how silly your questions understanding of the topics we covered contacted and interviewed by a GE em- may seem, if you genuinely cannot find and how they fit into different depart- ployee. the answer, then ask someone. In the long ments and business in general. Account- ing, supply chain management, , run, they want you to learn so you can , business communications, man- succeed and be a strong candidate for a agement, and are all are- What are some of your job duties? full time position. You are there to learn. as. I find myself using information from on a weekly basis. The basic understand- I run weekly financials for my department ing of concepts enables a much shorter like forecasts and deflation reports, moni- learning process when you start your in- tor costs for certain product lines, work What was the biggest takeaway from the experience? ternship, and it allows you to figure things with suppliers to ensure that requirements out on your own instead of constantly and deadlines are met, and keep the ERP My biggest takeaway from the experience asking questions. A lot of specific items system updated with parts and prices. was how a certain job can differ from and processes are done differently at my internship, so the formulas from class are company to company, and the number of not always important but the understand- different jobs within a supply chain. I also ing of them is key. learned how much networking can affect your opportunities and success. The peo- ple you know might not be able to guaran-

BEHREND.PSU.EDU/BUSINESS Spring 2015 Newsletter 2 Internship Spotlights

ASHLEY SHUTTLEWORTH you take that first step, you become more TARYN TESTA qualified for positions in the future and can then take all the necessary steps to get to where you eventually want to be in your career.

What are some experiences that you were able to take from the classroom and apply to your internship?

I used the information I learned in my

Introduction of Business Information Sys- What is your position and where? tems (MIS 204) class, working with Ex- intern at GE Transpor- cel, making Pivot Tables, and analyzing a tation in Erie large amount of data on a daily basis for What is your position and where? multiple projects. I would recommend How did you obtain your internship? Supply chain intern at GE Transportation taking that class to refresh your skills or I obtained my internship through one of in Erie even learn something new. my business instructor, Ms. Carol Putman. She forwarded me the opportunity and How did you obtain your internship? informed me that the position required My advisor, Mr. Frank DeWolf, \ reached For those who are interested, there is a immediate action. Although I already had out to me about the opportunity to apply website — lynda.com— that offers tutori- a job at the time, I knew that I could not for the internship. It surprises me how als for various Microsoft programs and is pass up the opportunity to work for such a many students never go to see their advi- free for Penn State students. Also, Supply prestigious company. I decided to submit sor. It is so important to have a good rela- Chain Management (SCM 301) was very my application and had an in-depth phone tionship with your advisor because it can relevant to my job position because I deal interview prior to being offered the posi- bring about great opportunities. with the lead time of materials and fore- tion. casting for upcoming quarters, which What were some of your job duties? were all topics that we covered in that What are some of your job duties? I work in sourcing, specifically in the class. I am currently conducting strategic negoti- electronics area. Some of my job duties ations with GE suppliers along with using consist of developing weekly financial Excel and company software to analyze reports for my department, uploading and The emphasis of group work in class was the information. I am also responsible for maintaining $5 million worth of projects, also very important in my internship. ensuring the implementation of negotiated providing suppliers with drawings of Working with other people on a project is prices while maintaining high rates of parts, contacting buyers to fix incorrect similar to working with fellow employees deflation. purchase order prices, and maintaining the in the workplace. I am constantly collabo- ERP system by updating parts and prices. rating with others to verify and collect What would you recommend to other additional information that is relevant to students looking for internships/ What would you recommend to other my project or will help me solve a prob- starting an internship? students looking for internships/ lem. I would recommend that students work starting an internship? closely with professors and network with My advice is to not be afraid to apply for other students. Professors are usually the internships during your sophomore year. best resources for obtaining internships, in Be confident and you will be surprised at my opinion, because of their connections what opportunities will arise. While in- with colleagues and local . Plus, “Work closely with pro- terning at an organization, you are there to they are always eager to help students fessors and network with learn and take in the experience. Ask succeed. questions about why you are doing what other students.” you are doing and why your role is benefi- What was the biggest takeaway from cial to the company. It will give your the experience? work meaning. Make sure you set goals. It It is important to take advantage of every will make your work worthwhile and give opportunity that you are presented with you something to work toward. Most im- because it allows you to enhance your portantly, take all the opportunities that professional skills and experience. Once come your way.

BEHREND.PSU.EDU/BUSINESS Spring 2015 Newsletter 3 Internship Spotlights

What was the biggest takeaway from ERIN SALUSKY department to process invoic- the experience? es. It is an eye-opener working in a profes- sional environment, especially one that is I also maintained the receiving of materi- very fast-paced. You begin to see the real- als coming in and out of the dock. I would world application of things learned in document when raw material was re- class. While working at GE Transporta- ceived for particular orders on our receiv- tion, I learned a lot but what I will take ing report and would also keep track of away most from the experience would be material that was outsourced to other ma- the aspect of working as a team to reach a chining shops. common goal. It was a rewarding experi- ence to have the opportunity to work for What is one thing you learned working GE, especially during an exciting time in there that you would not have known their business. from classes? In my courses, we discuss the importance

What is your position and where? of /supplier relationships. How- What are some experiences that you I am a materials manager and purchasing ever, implementing what we have learned were able to take from the classroom agent for Zeyon Incorporated in Erie in class in the business world can be quite and apply to your internship? complex. I handled a lot of supplier dis- How did you obtain your internship? crepancies, which must be approached in At GE, I work with Excel every day. The I found the position posted on the Nittany a professional and effective manner. I did classes I took in Excel, Introduction to Lion Career Network and emailed the not realize how costly and time consum- Business Information Systems (MIS 204), president of the company, Dianne Porter, ing it is to resolve these issues, so I and Introduction to Spreadsheets and Da- my cover letter and résumé. She contacted learned how important it is to be concise tabases (CMPSC 203) prepared me for the me for an interview and gave me an in- and clear in stating what the problem in- type of work I do at GE. I work with large ternship offer. I was not sure whether or volves, how it needs to be resolved, and Excel spreadsheets and I need to be able not the internship would extend into the by when. If our production gets slowed to dissect them into the important pieces following semester, but I was thrilled down by a supplier error, we can incur a of information I need. The classes I took when she asked me to stay part-time and cost whether it be in overtime to have our at Behrend taught me some key things I work around my course schedule. employees rush to meet a due date or ex- use in Excel at GE such as how to make pensive late fees if we exceed past our pivot tables and how to use the function What were some of your job duties? promised delivery date. I had to find a VLOOKUP. I do a lot of quoting potential orders to balance between being stern to resolve our . Zeyon, Inc. is a “job discrepancies but still maintaining a posi- shop.” That means every order has differ- tive relationship with these suppliers to ent materials, sizes, and quantities, which continue future business. I never would can be complex. I will get the Bill of Ma- have guessed how many relationships I terial from the engineering department would build with suppliers along the way! “Don’t be afraid to ap- and have to send out request for quotes to ply for internships dur- all the potential vendors for raw materials, What would you recommend to other any outsourced machining, and painting students looking for internships/ ing your sophomore among other fabrication products. Once I starting an internship? year. Be confident and return quotes, I go through and choose a The first thing I would recommend is to you will be surprised at supplier based on their quality of product, make sure you have revised your résumé price, and lead time and give a bid to the to fit with the position you are applying what opportunities customer on the order. for. Employers have limited time, so you arise.” want to clearly state what qualifies you Quite frequently during the spring semes- for the position at their company. During ter, I did a lot of purchasing after we my application process I got turned down would win a bid from our customer. I more times than not and it can be very would compose purchase orders to our discouraging. Just remember to not give suppliers based on their quotes and wait up if you receive declining responses. for their final confirmation to make sure You will find the right internship eventu- the order can proceed without error before ally. handing over all purchase orders to the

BEHREND.PSU.EDU/BUSINESS Spring 2015 Newsletter 4 Internship Spotlights

If you are having a difficult time finding of them have a different focus. Some we an internship on your own, you can always must focus on either keeping the budget or talk to your advisor or instructors. They meeting the deadline, but we always have “Make sure you have

are kept in the loop regarding open job to put our performance or quality above all revised your résumé to opportunities. Get the word out there that else. I also got to see how Microsoft Pro- fit with the position you you are looking for an internship and they ject was utilized to schedule manufactur- are applying for. Em- will be sure to remember you when they ing of a project to keep on track with its ployers have limited hear of new opportunities. deadline.

time, so you want to Lastly, whether you are looking for or just On the supply chain management side, one clearly state what quali- starting an internship, stay positive! Em- of the most beneficial things I learned was fies you for the position ployers are more willing to give you a being able to read and construct a bill of at their company.” chance if you come in ready to take on material. All of Zeyon’s projects were whatever is thrown at you. Good Luck! based on their bill of materials and that is how I would find what raw material need- What was the biggest take away from ed purchased and what machining needed the experience? to be outsourced. Also, going through all The biggest piece I took away from my of the legal implications with supplier bid- internship was a greater sense of profes- ding, making purchase orders, and the im- sionalism, which is a quality best learned portance of a receiving department to tion for a major ERP conversion. This through hands-on experience. The organi- check materials in order to match up in- would not have been possible if I had not zational skills I thought I possessed before voices were subjects learned in class that I asked for help from my professor, Frank the internship were nothing compared to used in my position. DeWolf. It also helped that I had experi- what I learned at Zeyon. The internship ence in the field in regard to my major. I taught me to be more thorough when com- I also used a great deal of the material believe this is why I obtained such a pres- pleting tasks so when I look back at my learned in my management information tigious position upon graduation work, I know exactly where it came from systems (MIS) courses. Every day I use and why I followed through with tasks the Access, Excel, Word, and company- What advice do you have for current way I did. I became very attentive to de- implemented software to efficiently com- students? tails once I started valuing the importance plete my job duties. Get an internship as soon as possible! of organization. Being able to partake in Picking a major is one of the hardest deci- management meetings and in communica- You are graduating in May. Can you sions you have to make in your college tion with suppliers and customers on a tell us about your job search career but once you know what you want regular basis also taught me how to be experience so far? to do, you need to get as much experience more professional in the way I conduct my I began my job search back in fall. I used as possible to make yourself attractive to conversation, whether it’s face-to-face or LinkedIn, Nittany Lion Career Network, future employers. I learned a lot through through email. and other job searching sites to help my my courses, but when I started applying application process move along. However, that knowledge in the business world, What are some experiences that you I found that speaking with my advisor and that’s when it all started to make sense. were able to take from the classroom professors about my job search worked the Work experiences is beneficial to your and apply to your internship? best. I will be working full-time for a con- education as well as the employer you will On the project management side, I got to sulting company called ParadigmIT here in be working for, so don’t wait until your see how the triangle of constraints is man- Erie. I’ll be working as an IT analyst and last year to get an internship! aged in the real world. We look at all of will assist with a project documenting ex- our customer orders as projects and each isting supply chain processes in prepara-

BEHREND.PSU.EDU/BUSINESS Spring 2015 Newsletter 5 Faculty Spotlight

DR. VARUN GUPTA What made you want to become a pro- based retailer to obtain data and insights Assistant Professor of Operations & Supply Chain fessor? into pricing of candy melts used for bak- Management My dream of being a professor began in ing purposes, with an emphasis on com- my childhood when I idolized my father, petitive pricing by estimating consumer who has been finance and accounting pro- willingness-to-pay and product prefer- fessor for more than thirty years. I view ences from their sales data. Managers can my job as a career with the highest re- implement this model in their ERP sys- sponsibility that aims at giving back to the tems to implement prices that will im- community through my best efforts, and prove the profitability of the firm and

transfer knowledge that shapes our pre- counter the competition. Overall, I find sent and the future of generations to research to be stimulating, relevant, and come. Right after graduating as an engi- rigorous enough to be exciting. neer, I worked as a of

consumer goods and retail at a MNC in

India. There was plenty to learn about Do you have any personal advice for business and operations of businesses in current students majoring in PSCM? particular. Afterwards, I decided to study What is your educational background? As an educator, I want the students to for a Ph.D., conduct relevant research in I earned my bachelor’s degree in Materi- learn how to make good decisions as all , and then transfer als Engineering at the Indian Institute of outcomes of life are the results of choices that knowledge to the students. Technology - Kanpur, a top public re- we make. I want them to have as much search college in India. From there, I went fun as possible with these interactions to the Jindal School of Management at the instead of focusing on the final perfor- University of Texas in Dallas to pursue a What do you like most about Behrend? mance. There is no absolutely correct an- doctorate in Operations Management. In What are you looking forward to? swer or perfect solution to a real world 2014, I successfully completed my Ph.D. I I like that the Behrend community con- problem, and supply chain problems are also received my MS in Supply Chain sists of tightknit community, which is due one of the most complex problems to Management and M.B.A. with the Scholar to friendly colleagues and a smaller facul- solve. As a PSCM student, one should of Distinction award from the Jindal ty-to-student ratio and close relationships really focus on learning as many tools as School of Management at the University with local industries. Whether it is joining possible, and gain relevant experience of Texas at Dallas. together in to help the local through internships. Soon you will realize schools and people with limited resources that real world problems are a complex

or partnering with industry giants like GE mixture of the concepts you will learn in How would you describe your teaching Transportation, I really enjoy the fact that the classes, and once you break the prob- style or method? everyone in this community cherishes lem down into known concepts the prob- Good teaching relies on a strong working together. I look forward to be- lem becomes much easier to solve. Final- knowledge of the subject, dedication, em- coming a valuable member of the commu- ly, learning is a life-long endeavor and the pathy and the ability to communicate well nity, and most importantly becoming a best way to learn is to share the with the students. This kind of teaching bridge that connects our students through knowledge with your peers. We are al- style is achieved by creating a mindset of knowledge to local industry. ways looking for alumni working in SCM continuous learning. I emphasize creativi- -related areas, willing to share their ty in the classroom that fosters curiosity in knowledge and experience with our cur- students throughout life instead of using a What is your favorite topic to research/ rent students. rhetoric of command-and- styled work on within PSCM? teaching practice. As educators, we want My research primarily focuses on supply our students to learn how to make good chain issues such as competitive revenue, decisions since all outcomes of life are the management, and competitive “Learning is a life-long results of choices. I believe that the class- sourcing. In particular, my interest is in endeavor and the best room is an interactive playground rather developing analytical models of consumer than a performance. I make a conscious way to learn is to share choice that can work on real-life data to the knowledge with effort to learn the names of the students aid retailers in their pricing of frequently and their backgrounds. This helps me con- bought products, like ketchup and can- your peers.” nect to my students and understand their dies, and experiential products, such as aptitudes, attitudes, and interests. digital movies and music. In one of the papers, we collaborated with a Dallas

BEHREND.PSU.EDU/BUSINESS Spring 2015 Newsletter 6 Faculty Research

DR. PEERASIT PATANAKUL those project managers, studied their com- I also conducted research using survey Associate Professor of Management petencies, examined what motivated and statistical analyses. I performed hy- them, and investigated factors contrib- pothesis testing using, for example, multi- uting to their effectiveness. ple regression analysis, analysis of vari- I also have conducted research on project ance, and analysis of covariance. This portfolio management with a research may bring many students back to some of grant from Project Management Institute the statistics classes you took (e.g., SCM

(PMI). I studied what effectiveness in 200). project portfolio management is and what factors contribute to such an effective- I also developed an optimization-based ness. If you take MGMT 415 Project Port- model, though that was quite a while ago. folio Management and Organizations, you It was a model for assigning projects to will hear many examples I draw from my project managers. I used information from research as a basis for class discussions. a high-tech company to validate the mod- el. Another research topic that I have worked What prepared you for doing research on is management of government pro- at Penn State Behrend? jects, which also received a research grant If students are interested in doing any from PMI. In this research, my colleagues undergraduate research, what advice In addition to having interesting research and I investigated the unique characteris- would you have for them? topics that either can expand the theory or tics of government projects, examined have significant implications to practice, problems and challenges in managing Start off with an interesting research top- having solid foundation regarding the lit- government projects, and identified some ic. This is very important. Think about the erature and research methodologies is lessons learned. topic of your interest. You may get ideas significant. There are many methodolo- for your research topic from class discus- gies that we can use when conducting Together with Dr. Jeff Pinto, Andrew sions, textbooks or books you read, or research. Case study research, survey and Morrow and Elizabeth Lee Black Chair in merely a conversation with your class- statistical analyses, model development, Management Technology and Professor mates. Creativity is the key here. and simulation, for example, are valid of Management and Dr. Mary Beth Pinto, Once you have a topic, discuss it with methodologies. The more I use these Professor of Marketing, I conducted a your professor. Start with a professor who methodologies after learning about them, study on the impact of gender in project has an expertise in your topic area. Start the more I realize what I do not know management. We investigated whether or the conversion. Your professor may en- about them. not there is any gender bias in hiring pro- courage or discourage you. That is fine. It ject managers. I believe this is an im- The same kind of thinking applies to the portant research topic as there are more is part of the process. Fine tuning! literature. I, then, need to learn more. This and more females pursuing project man- You may not have sufficient expertise on is one of the reasons why I think, at this agement career and we have quite a few research methodology. It’s no big deal. point, doing research is preparing me for female PSCM students here at school. Your professor is there to help! doing research. I do not want to bombard you with the What methodologies do you use in your rest. There are many challenges associat- research? ed with conducting research, just concen- Tell us about your research: trate on getting the right start and the rest I have used many methodologies in my My research area is project management. research, depending on research ques- will follow. Although I have done research on project tions. For example, in my research on I once overheard Dr. Jeff Pinto mention management tools and techniques in the effectiveness in project portfolio manage- many years back: if there were a Nobel past, my current focus is typically on or- ment, I used case study research as a Prize in project management, research on ganizational project management. Here methodology. This means that I conduct- project should be recog- are a few examples: ed research with companies, interviewed nized. Not sure if this would be true…but their employees, reviewed their docu- hey, who knows, you may be the next In the past years, I have looked into the ment, and sometimes observed how they Nobel Laureate. aspect of multiple-project management, do things. Case study research gives me focusing on project managers who lead an opportunity to acquire in-depth infor- multiple, simultaneous projects. I devel- mation as it was conducted in real-life oped a technique to help assign projects to settings.

BEHREND.PSU.EDU/BUSINESS Spring 2015 Newsletter 7 Faculty Research

DR. OZGUN C. DEMIRAG sign, analysis, and management of opera- systems with self-interested parties with Associate Professor of Operations & Supply Chain tions systems, supply chains, and logistics misaligned goals, it arises as an appropri- Management systems. I do research in two major areas: ate tool to study those problems. I have supply chain management and operations/ also used tools such as regression and marketing interface and logistics and in- simulation in my other research projects. ventory management.

Many of my projects have focused on What advice do you have for students improving or optimizing the performance interested in doing any undergraduate of various systems. For example, in the research? supply chain management area, I looked into mechanisms such as supplier con- First of all, I would congratulate them for tracts to improve the performance of the their interest! I strongly believe that an entire channel. These complex systems undergraduate research project is of tre- often suffer from conflicts between the mendous value to complement one’s stud- partners, therefore schemes that can align ies, reinforcing skills such as analytical What prepared you for doing research the objectives of the different parties are thinking and problem solving. These are at Penn State Behrend? useful. In the logistics and inventory man- desirable qualities in the work place. We The initial preparation for my research agement area, I designed inventory con- are all fortunate that low student-to- happened during my Ph.D. studies at trol and vehicle routing policies that are faculty ratios at Behrend facilitate these Georgia Tech. The coursework in the pro- effective in reducing the operational costs. research projects. At the interface of operations and market- gram gave me the foundation for conduct- I think the first step would be to spend ing, I focused on the design of promotion- ing academically-sound research. Most of some time and think about the research al programs such as customer rebates my preparation, however, took place out- topic that interests you. You can approach while also considering the firms’ invento- side the classroom when I was trying to several faculty members to discuss your ry ordering decisions. In one undergradu- decide and make progress on my disserta- ideas and get some feedback. While you ate research project that I supervised, we tion topic. I had a hard time determining a may naturally gravitate towards the pro- developed a tool that was used to schedule research topic that was interesting to me fessors in your major, keep in mind that the games for a summer basketball tour- and at the same time had the potential to you can have a broader perspective and nament at Behrend. make a significant contribution to the ex- investigate opportunities at other disci- isting body of academic knowledge. To plines as well. Once you decide on a top- tell the truth, some of my earlier attempts ic, it is time to “own” the project. There is What tools do you use in your re- at identifying a suitable research project no doubt that the faculty will be closely search? failed, and I had to start over after invest- supervising your project, but it should be ing a few months’ worth of work! Look- Often, I am motivated by a specific re- primarily the student’s responsibility to ing back, I am glad that I took the time search problem, and the problem itself ensure some progress, for example, by and pursued a research area that kept my leads me to a certain tool. I generally fol- asking for weekly meetings with the fac- interest not only during the years in the low a quantitative approach and use meth- ulty and checking relevant academic re- Ph.D. program, but also many years after odologies such as optimization and game sources. After completion, I recommend graduation. I feel that I learned a lot dur- theory. that you present your work at the Under- ing the process. Based on this experience, graduate Research and Creative Accom- Optimization helps decision makers iden- one message that I would like to send to plishment Conference at Behrend. Also, tify the best set of action towards achiev- our students is that they should not be consider including some information ing a certain objective. For example, you afraid of potential mistakes or failures. about your research project in your résu- can tackle questions such as how to route These are great opportunities for learning mé. Potential employers will be interested a fleet of vehicles to serve a number of and understanding your strengths and in hearing about your experience, and customers so that the total distribution weaknesses. The key is to take advantage they will be impressed by it because com- costs are minimized, or what is the best of these experiences and improve your pleting such a project implies that you value of a customer rebate that the compa- professional development and qualifica- were able to ask questions, find answers, ny can offer to obtain the highest expected tions. identify/solve problems, take initiatives, profits when demand is uncertain. and demonstrate independent work, all of Game theory is a tool that focuses on stra- which are highly desirable qualities from Tell us about your research: tegic decision making under conflict and a successful job candidate. My research studies are motivated from cooperation between rational decision practical problems encountered in the de- makers. Since supply chains represent

BEHREND.PSU.EDU/BUSINESS Spring 2015 Newsletter 8 IMPACT

PSCM CLUB: THE MAIN SPRING SEMESTER EVENT The PSCM Club was very excited to host their main spring event. On January 27, three GE Transportation em- ployees visited campus and shared their career experiences with students. They talked about their daily activities and their careers. Vern Mueller utilized an example of a pizza parlor and the typical problems associated with the business during the presentation to teach the audience the benefits of the LEAN approach. The presentation was very interactive, and audience members left with a clear understanding of the approach, which focuses on decreas- ing or eliminating any tangible or intangible waste throughout a manufacturing process.

Students who attended also got a chance to ask Emily Dolski questions and receive further information on possible internships at GE during upcoming semesters.

Overall, the presentation was very engaging and beneficial for those in attendance. Along with the presentations, audience members enjoyed refreshments. The presentation was very productive and the club hopes that it gives its members future opportunities to learn from and interact with professionals who are in the PSCM field. GE is a very successful company, especially in project and supply chain management and management information sys- tems, so students benefit greatly from these kinds of events.

ERIE AND GE TRANSPORTATION REPRESENTATIVES SHARE EXPERIENCE AT PSCM CLUB PRESENTATIONS

Rick Mueller, Kim Kaercher, and Melissa Gustafson, Pro- The second presentation held on January 27 featured ject Management Professionals from Erie Insurance, visit- speakers Vern Mueller, Emily Doski, and Brooke Schupp ed Behrend on November 3, 2014. The group spoke about of GE Transportation. All three shared their experiences in Operations Management and Lean Activities at GE. their work in the field from a business perspective and an IT perspective.

BEHREND.PSU.EDU/BUSINESS Spring 2015 Newsletter 9 IMPACT

MEET THE PSCM CLUB OFFICERS

Klaus Ondrizek, vice president of the PSCM Club Hi, my name is Klaus Ondrizek and I am a junior majoring in Project and Supply Chain Management and minoring in MIS. During my sophomore year, Dr. Ray Venkataraman contacted me and said that he would like to develop a PCSM Club. I was ecstatic to hear that and capitalized on the chance to be a part of it. Taking on the vice president position was a tad intimidating because I had never participated in a club before, nor was I the social type to join one. However, I was surprised to find out how much I enjoyed volun- teering for open houses, fundraising, and working with my fellow students to further Behrend’s appeal. Being academically involved provided me with many new opportuni- ties. Something as simple being on a first name basis with the professors and school director can lead to letters of recommendation that help with competitive job placement after graduation. I would highly recommend that students break out of their comfort zone by getting involved in clubs, sports teams, or Greek life. All of these activities can help you to broaden your networking power and spice up your résumé.

Brock Breidigan, secretary of PSCM Club

Hello, my name is Brock Breidigan and I am a junior here at Penn State Beh- rend. When I first came to Behrend as an engineering major, I never imagined myself taking part in any extracurricular activities except the occasional intra- mural sport. After changing my major to Project and Supply Chain Manage- ment, I instantly knew it was the field of work I truly wanted to be in. I also realized that not that many students entering college knew what the major was about. That is one of the reasons I wanted to become the first secretary of the club when it started in the fall of 2014. Knowing that I could impact someone’s college experience by speaking about the major at an open house or on club day makes me happy. The students who visit may not have considered PSCM be- fore, so speaking with students about the major can greatly improve someone’s college career. My biggest piece of advice to incoming freshman would be to experience new things and reach out to those who can help your future. I’ve done things I never would have before by joining the club and have made a lot of great memories.. For example, I participated in Cardboard City this year. The event is focused on students living in shelters built from cardboard boxes for 24 hours as a way of collecting donations and raising money for charity. What I thought would be a boring time ended up being one of the best nights I’ve had at Behrend. It allowed me to meet a lot of different business majors who were also in our box house. Do not be afraid to get involved. It is a great place to meet new people and get experiences and opportunities you may have never had. I hope to see you in the club next year!

BEHREND.PSU.EDU/BUSINESS Spring 2015 Newsletter 10 IMPACT

PSCM CLUB PARTICIPATES IN CARDBOARD CITY

Members of the Project and Supply Chain Management Club weathered the elements last fall to raise awareness for homelessness. Appro- priately named “Cardboard City,” student organizations were asked to build and stay in cardboard structures on campus for 24 hours to serve as a physical reminder of the reality many Americans face. Another goal of the Cardboard City event was to collect donations for the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwestern Pennsylvania. Other business clubs involved with the project included the Society of Under- graduate Economists, the Association, and the Accounting Club.

Featured below is a photo the PSCM Club fortress outside of Smith Chapel, where members gained a different perspective on poverty and an appreciation for their regular living conditions.

BEHREND.PSU.EDU/BUSINESS Spring 2015 Newsletter 11 MARK YOUR CALENDARS..

April 20, PSCM Club Meeting, 4:15 p.m., Burke 203

Message from the PSCM Club President, Madeline Tushak

The Project and Supply Chain Management Club put itself on the map dur- ing the fall of 2014. As a newly established club, we strive to show students the excitement and interest within the supply chain profession. We also in- corporate aspects of project management into the club activities to create a well-rounded experience for students within the major. Our purpose is to pro- vide an environment where students within the Project and Supply Chain Management major have the opportunity to engage with other students with similar interests, network with potential employers, participate in discussions with experienced professionals, and enjoy activities specific to the field. We look forward to growing and expanding the club in the years to come!

GET INVOLVED

Students: Attending just one (or 10) club event(s) per semester can change your course and perceptions for a lifetime. Previous event attendees have used the knowledge they gained from one conversation to earn their first interview, get their first job, change their concept of a specific job, or open their eyes to a world of possibili- ties. Take a deep breath, and walk through the door. You are welcome here.

Alumni and Friends: Your time, experiences, insights, and perspectives are valuable—perhaps more valua- ble that you know. We want to know what impacted your career, your perspectives, and your life. Tell us through the Black School of Business Facebook page, the newly-created (and growing) Black School of Business LinkedIn group, or by emailing Ariana Gloeckner, newsletter coordinator, at [email protected]

Penn State Erie, The Behrend College Black School of Business Jack Burke Research and Center 4701 College Drive Erie, PA 16563 Phone: 814-898-6107