USD’s Supply Chain Management Institute Hosts 13th Annual Spring Symposium

On April 24 the Supply Chain Management Institute held their 13th annual Spring Symposium. Hosted at the Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice, the industry conference was attended by 150 individuals from more than 30 organizations, including supply chain professionals, industry leaders, educators and USD students.

The theme this year, Unlocking Excellence: The Power of Supplier Diversity encouraged professionals, alumni and students to stay ahead of supply chain industry trends. 

Furthering the theme, the event covered topics such as economic development in marginalized communities and supplier segmentation while featuring an opening keynote session presented by Ronald Garnett, President and CEO, Council for Supplier Diversity, followed by multiple panel discussions, workshops and a networking luncheon. 

For Hector Reyes ’24, a double major in supply chain management and business administration, the biggest takeaway from the event was getting to network with working professionals and ask the questions. “It’s easy to sit in class and learn the theoreticals but it’s different getting the chance to actually ask how they apply the concepts or if they do it the way our textbook says.”

Ronald Garnett started the conference off strong, giving the opening keynote presentation: Supplier Diversity - An Engine for Economic Development in Marginalized Communities. The presentation focused on the ways in which supplier diversity can be an effective mechanism for creating sustainable resources and economic growth that will benefit both the diverse populations and the entire community in which we live and work. He explored some of the circumstances that drove advocacy for the discipline of supplier diversity and shared a framework for driving the economic fuel created by these programs into marginalized communities. 

Following the keynote, Cheryl Brown, Rex Roedger and Eric Wilson held an enlightening panel discussion on Balancing Social Good and Good Business, focusing on the delicate equilibrium between social responsibility and business success in the realm of supply chain management. 

The closing session panel, Understanding the Regulatory Landscape's Influence on Supplier Relationships, featured Claudia Abarca, Warren Ruis and Rhonda Thornton-Crawford. They discussed how organizations approach establishing and achieving socioeconomic requirements while balancing business needs, shareholder voices, and customer expectations in a highly regulated environment.

“This was a full circle moment for me,” said USD alumna Holly Lozzi ’23, who attended the symposium as a student last year and now returned as a professional.This year, Holly is eager to “help students build connections and feel comfortable talking to people within the industry.”

In addition to the presentations, all attendees had the opportunity to attend one of two interactive workshop sessions. Participants were able to work together in groups to deepen their understanding of a particular topic of their choice. One workshop focused on gaining a better understanding of supplier segmentation and the strategic importance behind it. The other workshop offered was dedicated to broadening attendees' knowledge of how approaches such as equity in contracting, supplier diversity and inclusive supplier sourcing programs are not just tools, but gateways to innovative approaches in an increasingly dynamic marketplace.

Megan Soong, a junior at USD double majoring in supply chain management and international business and upcoming president of the Supply Chain Management Association student club, was delighted to be in attendance. “The Supply Chain Spring Symposium is a great way to network and better understand what possible career opportunities you might have in the future.”