Volume XX- Issue I Spring 2020 UW-Superior Transportation & Logistics Club Always On The Move COVID-19 Edition

Spring 2020 Events Note: With the digital newsletter, we have added hyperlinks. Be Head of the Lakes Job sure to click headlines, photos, and logos to get more information! and Internship Fair January 7th-10th CSX Jacksonville On March 5th, the Corporate Office and 2020 CSX Jacksonville FL Trip university hosted nearly Terminal Tour A select group of six students from the University of Wisconsin-Superior’s 90 employers from the Transportation & Logistics and Supply Chain Management programs, February 13th Twin Ports and beyond. accompanied by Dr. Richard Stewart and Dr. Daniel Rust, traveled to Brian Zuck, Essentia Students got to meet, Health* Jacksonville, Florida, in early January to meet with CSX rail-based freight transportation’s President and CEO, network, and talk with employers looking for February 14th James Foote. Foote is a UW-Superior Supply Chain alumnus who rose through the ranks of the full time employment Undergraduate Case Chicago and North Western Railroad and and internship Competition the Canadian National Railroad before positions. joining CSX in 2017. He took time to February 19th converse with the students over breakfast Lowell Magnuson* in the CSX executive boardroom. The Formerly of Cirrus wide-ranging conversation gave the students the opportunity to learn from one March 3rd of UWS’ outstanding alumni and hear Steven Lallier & David about his career experiences and industry Blissett, J.B. Hunt* expertise. March 5th Students also had the opportunity to visit Head of the lakes Job and the Port of Jacksonville and learn about Internship Fair imports, exports, freight transportation and Spring & Summer Upcoming Events the cargo supply chain. Graduates 2020 September 12th-15th Students on the trip were Halle Daniel Anderson IANA Case Study Kusterman, Sarah Montrose, Ryan Bruno Birzitis Competition, Long Lovaas, Paul Sumption , Nick Moore, and Liam Blais Beach, CA Josh Laflamme. Jeanne Thompson, Vice Jacob Brenholt Chancellor of University Advancement, *IANA Leadership Speaker Mason Brinkworth and Jason Young, Development Officer, were also able to join the students for a Kristine Britton Fall 2020 Club Officers portion of their trip. Thy Bui Joseph Cummings President: Gustavo de Paola Barbieri Halle Kusterman Congratulations Chicago Spring Break Trip Andrew Durham to Carson Haase Cancelled due to Coronavirus Zachary Farmakes Vice President: for receiving a Pandemic Siyu Fu CSCMP Kayleigh Seagraves Joshua LaFlamme Scholarship! Transportation & Logistics Club Secretary: officers, Halle Kusterman and Harrison Leet Sarah Montrose The Twin Cities Kayleigh Seagraves, worked with Ryan Linsmayer Roundtable of the Dr. Stewart to arrange a spring Kaden Matteen Treasurer: Council of Supply break trip to Chicago, IL. The group Jerry Miettunen Nick Moore Chain Management of students had planned industry Colton Nelson Professionals (CSCMP) offers an tours with Burlington Northern Logan Olson Santa Fe Railroad, J.B. Hunt, Event Planner: annual competitive scholarship Zachary Remund Ryan Lovass program to students who are working Coyote Logistics, Canadian National Railroad, and Lineage Drake Schellbach towards a career in Supply Chain Austin Slaviero-sears Media Specialist: Management. Logistics. Our students were very Andrea Tuia excited for this opportunity, but Paul Sumption Have you received a scholarship unfortunately the difficult decision T&L Club Contact outside of the University was made to cancel due to the Congratulations! [email protected] scholarships? Please email Cassie at Coronavirus pandemic. [email protected]. Spring 2020 UW-Superior Transportation & Logistics Club

Our COVID-19 Story... Due to the Coronavirus Pandemic schools across the country switched to online distance learning. Hear our students’ stories of how they are coping during this time. In this together. Together we are superior!

Transitioning to online classes online has been very challenging. For the first few weeks, I was helping at my grandfather’s grocery store in rural Minnesota where I have been helping since a young age. Due to COVID-19, I needed to step up to keep the meat department moving because the main butcher is high-risk. It was stressful trying to keep up with my school schedule while working at the store so much. There were some programs that I needed for my coursework that I could not get on my computer as well as not having access to the internet made the experience that much harder. My work was being interrupted so I could run to the main office and log on to my classes to listen to lectures, using my phone as a hotspot. After working at the store all day, I would go back to my grandparent's house and do more homework until it was time to go to bed and do it again the next day. It was exhausting. With the added stress of getting sick or getting my grandparents sick while trying to do schoolwork and keep grades up, the uncertainty of my summer internship, I started to fall behind in classes. Professors were very understanding and were extremely helpful and flexible. At the end of April, I moved into my where I have better access to technology to finish the end of the semester strong, and my internship is still on for summer! I am thankful for my professors and classmates that have helped me during this unexpected semester! -Carson Haase, Senior

My initial thought when school was moved to distance learning was excitement for more time with my family back home. The two weeks of distance learning now turned into eight and the transition to online learning was more challenging than I had anticipated. While having more time to complete the work, I had to learn to adapt to this new learning environment. I had multiple group projects that my classmates and I needed to come together to get done. If there is one thing, I can take away from this quick change to online distance learning is how to adapt to change and make the most of it. In the business world, things are constantly going to be changing on the fly and it’s crucial that we as future leaders learn to adapt and keep moving forward. -Halle Kusterman, Junior

This has been a journey full of twists and turns that were not common with classes that were originally set up for online. Moving online was beneficial for me. It more readily fit my work schedule as a third shift railroad worker. I gained flexibility to be available to assist my family with technology issues. We have five family members trying to use the internet and learn new programs at the same time. Having assignment deadlines move to 2359 allowed me an extra evening to finish assignments after getting some much needed rest.

Challenges that I experienced was slow grading, lack of feedback on assignments, and many changes with due dates. While the due date changes were minimal, they created some difficulty that required working ahead. While trying to finish classwork, there has been constant interruptions with four boys with pent up energy. The lack of face-to-face communication with our instructors and other students further added to some confusion. It made it more difficult to get some things cleared up as it is not always the best way to resolve through email when you are used to being face-to-face.

Despite the challenges, I am graduating this spring. I would like to commend our outstanding professors and office staff in T&L for making the most out of this situation. Their dedication and devotion took a difficult situation and made it part of the courses. While I would rather have been in the classroom, the online adjustment still provided great value through teaching things that cannot be put into the classroom as easily. -Paul Sumption, Graduating Senior

I have had a different view on distance learning than most. As a senior, I only had two classes and an internship, so my year was pretty easy as it was. I was glad to move online. I was able to do my class work when I wanted which gave me more time to work. My professors had made the coursework easy to understand and made themselves accessible through email and zoom to answer questions, which really helped. -Kristine Britton, Graduating Senior Spring 2020 UW-Superior Transportation & Logistics Club

Our COVID-19 Story… (cont’d) Due to the Coronavirus Pandemic schools across the country switched to online distance learning. Hear our students’ stories of how they are coping during this time. In this together. Together we are superior!

When COVID came about and things started shutting down things became very difficult for me. I don't do well in an online class setting and learning from home was a challenge for me. On top of that I am a full- time employee that worked at an Essential business. So while learning to complete coursework online, I was also putting in more hours at work. The store I work at specializes in electronics and with everyone working from home, there were a lot of orders to fulfill through the mail. We would send out 300 plus packages a day of items such as computers, printers, ink, webcams etc. The work environment became more and more demanding as the time went on until we got to a point where we didn't have really any "affordable" equipment.

On top of that my fiance was having troubles maintaining her job and eventually was cut from her internship. This was difficult for us because we split our bills down the middle and with her not being able to cover her half, I needed to step up. She is still trying to file for unemployment but it is difficult because she was an intern and not an employee.

Because of the Cares Act initiative I was able to receive a grant that will help me cover up some of my costs. I'm ready for this all to be over, for classes to return back to normal, work and social life to return as well. It is disheartening to know that if I had lost my job while all this was going on, I could file for unemployment and be making more than I currently am while finishing off this semester. But I am still managing to work around 40 hours a week while completing my classes. -Anonymous

During my spring break, I planned to spend a week in Oklahoma visiting family. Due to COVID-19 and safety concerns, my one week turned into eight weeks. I have been able to adapt fairly well to my classes, despite my textbooks being 850 miles away. -Kayleigh Seagraves, Junior

Check out some of our program’s new videos!

Do you recognize these masked people? With so much time in isolation due to the COVID-19 stay-at-home order, the TLRC produced a music album of songs including “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad,” “Leaving on a Jet Plane,” “Six Days on the Road,” and everyone’s favorite, “Convoy.”

Only kidding! We may not be releasing a new album, but we have created a video clip.

Explore T&L and Internship Spotlight https://www.uwsuper.edu/acaddept/sbe/trans/index.cfm Connect with Meet our Students: (Ryan Lovaas, Halle Kusterman, and Kayleigh Seagraves) us on https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLb8pBqaeoHWVnBxCyXcuHeFh49ZmrxBGy LinkedIn! UW-Superior Transportation & Academic Programs: Logistics https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLb8pBqaeoHWV0LMF3EhpqENCVv-Ggnzl3 Research Center Spring 2020 UW-Superior Transportation & Logistics Club

A note to students... The Long Voyage We are coming to the end of what has been a most remarkable semester. I have been very impressed by everyone’s ability to change course to an online format when the pandemic reached our region. While not flawless, our CANVAS delivery system has enabled us to continue learning. COVID19’s impact has extended far beyond the classroom. Internships and employment opportunities have declined even in our essential sector. We are all balancing caring for loved ones, work, reduced income, confinement and perhaps most troubling, uncertainty. In some ways dealing with the pandemic is like a long slow voyage across an ocean without a fixed port of call. You see the same people every day, you are confined to the vessel, served monotonous food, and contact with the outside world is one dimensional. You can be tossed about by storms or robbed of inertia by the doldrums. You are always steaming ahead but filled with uncertainty about when and where you will come ashore. Like a long voyage this pandemic will end. We may be a bit battered but we will have triumphed over adversity.

We are making plans in the TLRC for the fall semester. According to IANA, the EXPO is still going on starting September 12-15. Depending on state budgets we will take up to 12 students. Thank you to all of the students who applied. Companies, such as Coyote Logistics, have contacted us and we will be going on trips to the Cities. Our advisory board meeting is scheduled for Friday October 9, the day after the Twin Ports career fair. Board member have already notified us that they will be there. The T&L club officers have lots of ideas for fall adventures and we will support them in every way possible. We welcome any ideas you may to expand our learning and have fun. Stay healthy and happy. -Dr. Stewart

While this semester unfolded differently from the way any of us imagined on the first day of class back in January, I have been impressed with how students (especially those who returned to home countries all around the world) showed outstanding resilience in the switch to online format. Together we are rising to meet the challenges of COVID-19. I really miss seeing each student’s face in class, and I look forward to seeing you all again after restrictions are lifted.

I urge you to take advantage of the scheduled activities this fall semester. Depending on COVID-19, Dr. Stewart and I will be taking a group of students to the IANA Expo in California. The Club will likely make trips for industry tours, and lunch with the T&L Advisory Board is planned for October.

I wish you health and peace in the midst of this stressful time of uncertainty. Congratulations to all the T&L and SCM graduates! -Dr. Rust

Congratulations Dr. Stewart on your awards!

This month Dr. Stewart received the UW-Superior’s Community Engagement Award for 2020. Community engagement involves faculty, staff, and/or students and one of more community partners collaborating on projects that have both a positive social impact and support opportunities to conduct research, or teach or encourage student learning. The recipient’s efforts will have made a significant impact on students and in meeting community identified needs. A well-deserved honor!

The UW System Board of Regents recently announced that it awarded to Dr. Richard Stewart a Teaching Excellence Award—the UW System’s highest recognition for faculty. Each recipient receives $7,500 for further program enhancements. Until this year, no faculty member from UW-Superior had ever received this prestigious honor. “After decades of work, it is very satisfying to receive this recognition from UW-System,” said Stewart. “This award is truly for our entire department and university, because there is no way I could have done this alone. I feel it is long overdue for someone from UW-Superior to receive this award, and I am hopeful this is just the first of more to come.”

“Richard has developed highly engaged teaching and learning methods that transform the student experience,” remarked Maria Cuzzo, Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs. “During Richard’s twenty-five years of service as an educator, his students consistently are inspired by him and his role modeling. The partnerships he has formed with regional industry leaders, in-field internships, and passionate mentoring to students distinguish him as an outstanding faculty member at UW-Superior. He richly deserves this honor and recognition from UW System.”

“Dr. Richard Stewart is the Vince Lombardi of transportation and logistics education.” —Craig Thompson, Secretary of Wisconsin’s Department of Transportation. Spring 2020 UW-Superior Transportation & Logistics Club

Congratulations Graduates!!

Congratulations Class of 2020 I first came to UW-Superior fifty years ago when I was a cadet at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. At that time UW-Superior had one of the leading public speaking programs in the U.S. and UWS was hosting a tourna- ment that I was competing in. Little did I realize as I walked this campus back in the spring of 1970 that I would be a professor, much less a professor at UW-Superior. In good faith we make lots of plans. Some of them work out as envisioned, others not so much. We need to keep making plans but be able to adapt when events beyond our control change our charted course. We have striven to present you with concepts, knowledge and ideas that enable you to keep your head and be nimble in adjusting to change. You have excelled and I believe that you will succeed in every path you take.

It has been my pleasure and honor to learn with you. We have had years filled with surprises, information, comradeship and mutual support. Please keep in touch and I wish you the very best in all that you undertake. Stay healthy and happy. -Dr. Richard Stewart

Congratulations to all the spring 20202 T&L and SCM graduates! I am so proud of each of you and your ac- complishments. I also look forward to the opportunity to offer my congratulations in person sometime in the fu- ture.

Please connect with me via LinkedIn—a great networking tool for you to stay in touch with your fellow graduates, T&L faculty, as well as people throughout industry who share ideas and seek to hire outstanding candidates like you.

I wish you all the best! -Dr. Daniel Rust

Congratulations, Graduates! This must be a very proud moment for you. All of the hard work you have put in has paid off. You are an achiever. You have made us all proud.

Now you’re on your way to dream new dreams. Chase your dreams. Never stop trying. Never stop learning. You are brilliant, able, and ambitious. You can achieve whatever you want in life. All you have to do is believe that you can. We believe in you. The sky is your limit.

A hearty congratulation on your graduation and wishing you good luck for the new beginning in life. -Dr. Mei Cao

Graduates, First of all, congratulations! You’ve made it! This year may have taken an unexpected turn in the road, but remember life has many paths and will take many unexpected turns. You are resilient and I don’t have any doubts that no matter where your path takes you, you will succeed. I wish you the very best for years to come! You may not end up where you intended to go, but you will end up where you need to be. -Cassie Roemhildt

‘Jacket GOLD: Grads Of the Last Decade ’Jacket GOLD is a network of recent UW-Superior alumni who want to stay connected and engaged with their classmates, faculty and staff and the University. GOLD Members (Graduates Of the Last Decade) will have the opportunity to attend events, volunteer and expand their career and personal network. While ’Jacket GOLD was created with recent alumni in mind, everyone is welcome to participate. We hope to see you at our next event! Spring 2020 UW-Superior Transportation & Logistics Club

Undergraduate Supply Chain Competition A group of University of Wisconsin-Superior Supply Chain Management students took second place in the 2020 CSCMP Wisconsin Supply Chain Student Case Competition at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The students competed against teams from UW-Eau Claire, UW- Madison, UW-Oshkosh, Marquette University and Milwaukee School of Engineering. The team of six students including Thy Bui, Peter Gosswiller, Carson Haase, and Hunter Wraspir were given a case study ten days prior to the competition to research and develop a proposed solution. The students were asked to identify operations issues of a hypothetical company, analyze alternatives, and present recommended solutions. Following a ten minute question-and- answer session, student teams had 20 minutes to present their recommendations to a panel of judges, who played the role of the company’s executive team. SBE Awards Banquet This year would've been the T&L Club Speakers The Transportation & Logistics student club has had three companies and four speakers 50th anniversary of the come talk with the club Spring Semester 2020. Brian Zuck, VP of Supply Chain at University of Wisconsin Essentia Health, visited on February 13th, to talk about the importance of supply chain Superior’s School of Business management in the medical field. Lowell Magnuson, former VP of Global Supply and Economics’ Awards Chain for Cirrus Aircraft, visited on February 21st, to speak about his job experience, strategic alliances and the overall importance of supply chain management. On March Banquet. Due to the coronavirus 3rd, students got to hear from Steve Lallier & David Blissett from J.B. Hunt, Inc. The pandemic, the school has moved two talked about their positions at J.B. Hunt and the world of intermodal transportation. the SBE awards ceremony to an online presentation to honor students achievements and academic success.

Congratulations students on all your accomplishments!!

Please check out UW- DSTA provides contribution to endowment Superior’s Virtual Banquet for for UWS student scholarships! “Since the inception of the transportation and logistics Spring 2020! management program at UW-Superior over two decades ago, the Duluth-Superior Transportation Association’s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p leaders and members have consistently supported the wy13Qipusk ) success and growth of the program,” said Richard Stewart, T&L professor, DSTA member and former president. “The endowed DSTA scholarship at UW-Superior is but one facet of the mutually beneficial relationship between the organization and the academic program.” Other aspects include T&L faculty serving as directors on the board of the DSTA, students and university employees volunteering in the annual DSTA food drive, and multiple networking opportunities resulting in local companies hiring program graduates. Thank you to everyone in the DSTA who contributed toward this scholarship fund for T&L students needing financial support.

Have you noticed T&L/SCM grad, Paul Sumption, has ATTENTION GRADUATING been featured on the University’s landing page? SENIORS!

www.uwsuper.edu For those of you graduating spring or summer 2020, please update us Photo credit to University Relations Staff on where your career takes you. We love keeping track of where our Thanks to these organizations for their financial support! graduates go and look forward to Newsletter Credits hear your success! Editor: Halle Kusterman Advisor: Dr. Richard Please email Cassie Roemhildt with Stewart any updates. [email protected]