DC Velocity - May 2013

inbound

Good deeds
The young and the
professional

PHOTO COURTESY OF FEDEX

Here’s our monthly roundup of charitable works by companies in the logistics and material handling industries:

▪ To commemorate its 40th anniversary, FedEx observed a Global Month of Service in April, with employees volunteering for projects around the world. In addition, more than 600 U.S.-based team members worked on urban environmental sustainability projects in 15 cities through FedEx’s annual EarthSmart Outreach program with the national Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

▪ Employees of Seegrid Corp., a developer of robotic material handling equipment, volunteered at a FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) robotics competition for high school students in Pittsburgh. Seegrid principal engineer Ray Delissio also mentored and coached the Frobotics team from Franklin Regional High School.

▪ ModusLink is providing supply chain management services for the Silverline project, which will distribute refurbished smart-phones at no charge to senior citizens. Project organizer Newton Circus, a Singapore-based nonprofit, chose ModusLink for its expertise in electronics repair and recovery. ;

If you want to be at the top of your professional game, you need to get out and hear what the experts have to say about the latest industry trends. Here are three events where you can do just that:

▪ The International Furniture Transportation and Logistics Council’s (IFTLC) annual conference, May 15–17 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., will bring together furniture retailers, manufacturers, and transportation companies to share ideas and information about furniture shipping and delivery. Topics will include Internet vs. store delivery, furniture imports, and more. ( www.iftlc.org)

▪ Executives from more than 50 organizations, including The Coca-Cola Co., Kellogg, Target, and Tyson Foods, will speak at GS1 Connect 2013, the annual educational conference sponsored by the technical standards organization GS1. Experts will share best practices for leveraging GS1 standards and will address topics such as item-level RFID, Global Location Numbers, and Global Trade Identification Numbers, to name just a few. GS1 Connect 2013 will be held from June 10–13 in San Antonio, Texas. ( www.GS1connect.org)

▪ The theme of the American Association of Exporters and Importers’ (AAEI) 92nd Annual Conference & Expo is Globalization: Policy and Practice. The conference, slated for June 16–18 in Washington, D.C., will feature presentations on global trade compliance by experts at major importers and exporters as well as international trade consultants and attorneys. ( www.aaei.org) ;

Check out these can’t-miss conferences

With the current generation of logistics, supply chain, and material handling executives starting to retire, developing the next generation of innovators has become a priority. But how to attract them to these fields and keep them involved? Some industry associations think “young professionals” groups will help to keep up-and-comers engaged and excited about their chosen profession.

These groups, usually formed and managed by young association members, tend to target members age 30 and under, although some have an age limit of 40. They typically function as a forum for discussing topics of mutual interest, such as career paths and personal development, meeting peers on a social basis, and performing community service. They have their own LinkedIn and Facebook groups, and run events and educational programs.

Several organizations have launched young professionals groups that may be of interest to DC VELOCITY readers. Among those we’re aware of:

▪ The Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals’ (CSCMP) Young Professionals Committee focuses in large part on career and personal development. CSCMP offers reduced membership rates for those age 30 and younger, and will present its first “Emerging Leader” Award for young professionals later this year. ( cscmp.org)

▪ The Coalition of New England Companies for Trade (CONECT) Young Professionals Group for young people in international trade and transportation pub-lishes a newsletter, organizes trips and service projects, and sponsors social events. ( www.conect.org)

▪ The MHI Young Professionals Network offers networking opportunities and resources for people under the age of 40 in the material handling and related professions. ( www.mhi.org/ypn)