Professional News

Gatton College Hosts Supply Chain Forum

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 18, 2011) — A basic definition of supply chain management (SCM) is the management of a network of interconnected businesses involved in the ultimate provision of product and service packages required by end customers.

What this really translates to is one of the indispensable elements involved in running any successful business enterprise.

The University of Kentucky's Gatton College of Business and Economics
will host a half-day forum focused on supply chain management on Friday, Feb. 25 in the Center Theatre of the UK Student Center. 

"Our college is fortunate to have a number of alumni who are practicing experts in the field of supply chain management," said Tom Goldsby, associate professor of supply chain management at Gatton. "This is a chance for us to bring several of them back to campus to share their perspectives with our students and the public."

Samuel J. Mitchell, Jr., vice president of Ashland, Inc., and president, Ashland Consumer Markets will kick off the program at 8:30 a.m. with keynote remarks.

Other confirmed speakers at the forum to date, all Gatton College graduates, include: Jake Barr, director of Supply Network Operations, Procter & Gamble; James E. Dockter, founder, PBD Worldwide Fulfillment Services; Tom Jones, senior vice president, Ryder System, Inc.; and John Singleton, senior vice president of Supply Chain, Abercrombie & Fitch.

"This is another way we are providing our students with a closeup, real-world look at supply chain management," Goldsby 
said. "It also gives us a chance to share our education and research initiatives with these executives and get their feedback, which is invaluable in helping us to keep our program right on target as we prepare the next generation of business leaders." 

Panel sessions and opportunities for networking will be part of the conference which concludes at 12:15 p.m.

The Feb. 25 Supply Chain Forum at UK is free and open to the public. Those who plan to attend are asked to pre-register at Gatton's Executive Education Center website at www.gatton.uky.edu/EEC. Day of registration, along with coffee, will be available at the Center Theatre from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.

MEDIA CONTACT: 
Carl Nathe, (859) 257-1754, ext. 238; carl.nathe@uky.edu; or Michele Sparks, (859) 257-0040; michele.sparks@uky.edu