On February 16-18, over 45 members of the Michigan State Supply Chain Management Association (SCMA) attended the annual Leadership Academy hosted at the Ralph A. MacMullan Conference Center in Roscommon, MI. Leadership Academy has been an annual occurrence for over the last decade. Attendees included the current SCMA executive board as well as many other involved members. This event is geared toward students who want to develop as leaders in the supply chain profession.
Representatives from Ingersoll Rand present to students
Thursday night started off with a presentation and simulation by representatives from Ingersoll Rand that delved into the challenges encountered by materials analysts. The rest of the evening consisted of ice breaker activities and social night for the students to get to know each other.
On Friday morning, the SCMA executive board members gave presentations about their positions for prospective applicants. Then, Lou-Grech Cumbo, Executive VP of Operations at Great Lakes Wine and Spirits, presented on some important lessons he learned while working in management roles. Early afternoon welcomed previous SCMA President Kevin Cronin, who shared his experience shifting from college to a full-time career. The rest of the afternoon and evening were dedicated to a supply chain-related case competition. Dr. Brian Jacobs launched it off with some advice and tips, and the senior executive board members judged the presentations and provided feedback.
Before departing back to Michigan State on Saturday morning, Dr. Jacobs ran a team building exercise that tested the students’ critical thinking skills. As this three-day retreat came to a close, the students were grateful to have gained a better understanding of their field and to have had this opportunity to bond with other young supply chain professionals.
