Global supply chain management program continues run of excellence

The global supply chain management program in the College of Business Administration has always had much to boast about. Ranked among the nation's Top 25 by the global research firm Gartner, the program offers students the chance to learn and succeed in and outside of the classroom. This month, a group of four undergraduate students bested graduate teams from Rutgers, Syracuse, Fairleigh Dickinson, Lehigh and the University of Pittsburgh to take home first place in the Supply Chain Management Case Competition at Rutgers Business School, held April 11 in Piscataway, N.J. 

Seniors Emmanuel Bossy, Peter DeFranzo, Kevin Tallaksen and Jana Wolf competed in the event, with prior coaching assistance from Bob Murray, adjunct GSC professor and chairman of REM Associates. 

"Our approach, combined with our presentations skills, were the key to our success," says Murray. "Both our presentation and our performance during the Q&A session received great marks from the judges." 

The teams were evaluated by a panel of industry executives. 

This is the first time a team from Rider won this competition, which is hosted by Rutgers' Center for Supply Chain Management. As the winner, the team came home with a $750 check and a trophy. "We are very proud of our students," Murray says. "They worked extremely hard to prepare and their commitment paid off."  

The week prior to that win, supply chain professionals, managers and academics were invited to attend an all-day symposium, 2014 And Beyond: Supply Chain Management. Organized by faculty and staff from the global supply chain management program, the event featured speakers from Accenture, Becton Dickinson, Bloomberg, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Church & Dwight, L’Oreal, Novartis, REM Associates and Vanguard Direct. Attendees also included faculty experts in disciplines ranging from business analytics to information systems to marketing. 

This conference brought together a wide array of leaders in the supply chain profession to offer their expertise on the future of global supply chain management as well as ways to create financial leverage within the supply chain. The symposium also included specific case studies on individual firms that operate large scale supply chain networks and organizations.  

“This symposium provided an opportunity for supply chain practitioners to learn more about key current trends and initiatives in the field and how other firms are approaching common supply chain issues and challenges," says Tan Miller, director of the global supply chain management program. "It offered an interactive environment where practitioners were able to network with each other, as well as mingle with Rider faculty and students.”  

He adds, “Both the supply chain case competition and the industry symposium serve to enhance the overall Rider student experience as well as the general industry awareness of the Rider global supply chain management program.” 

For more information about the global supply chain management program, visit www.rider.edu/gscm.