Smeal College of Business

Smeal professor to lead communications session for women at upcoming conference

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Duane “Andy” Gustafson, assistant professor of business administration in the Penn State Smeal College of Business, will lead a session on business communication for women at the annual Global Conference for Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP). The conference will be held Sept. 21-24 in San Antonio, Texas.Sponsored by Penn State Executive Programs, the "Women at Work: The Power of Communication in Driving Business Results" session will focus on how women can leverage their existing communication strengths to gain influence in their organizations.The session and a reception to follow are scheduled for 2:30-5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21.

The session is slated to include a roundtable discussion with senior supply chain leaders and an active learning exercise, and will help participants better understand how to leave a lasting, effective message using verbal and visual methods and considering audience needs.“As professionals move up through the executive ranks, communication skills become as important — if not more so — than technical skills,” said Gustafson. “It’s clear that women have many of the communications competencies necessary for the C-suite, but this session will provide some tips for leveraging those existing competencies to deliver a more effective message and contribute to their personal brand.”

Supply chain executives set to contribute to the roundtable discussion include:

  • Gemma Fillmore
, director, Global Transportation and Logistics, Urban Outfitters, Inc.
  • Brian Hancock
, senior vice president, Supply Chain, Family Dollar
  • Debbie Lentz, 
chief supply chain officer, Toys R Us
  • Mary Long, 
vice president, Logistics and Network Planning, Domino’s Pizza
  • Lisa Mancini
, senior vice president, Human Resources and Labor Relations, CSX Corporation
  • Michelle Meyer, 
president, Mcubed, Inc.
  • Nancy Nix, 
principle, Nix Associates
  • Kevin O’Meara
, senior vice president, Interline Brands, Inc.
  • Susan B. Purdum, 
administrative director and instructor of supply chain and information systems, Penn State Smeal College of Business
  • Rebecca Wlazlo
, director, Supply Chain Logistics, Ulta Inc.

For more information on the CSCMP conference, visit http://cscmp.org/annual-conferences/annual-global.

About Penn State Executive Programs


As part of the Smeal College of Business, Penn State Executive Programs builds leadership and organizational capabilities to address pressing business challenges. Open-enrollment programs for executives are offered in areas such as strategy and leadership, supply chain management, and finance. Penn State Executive Programs also partners with major multinational organizations to deliver customized learning solutions. Learn more at www.smeal.psu.edu/psep.

About Supply Chain at Penn State


Smeal’s No. 1 supply chain program offers a comprehensive suite of supply chain education, beginning at the undergraduate level with a bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain and Information Systems. The Penn State Smeal MBA Program offers a concentration in supply chain management, and the college also offers a Ph.D. in supply chain. Smeal’s Center for Supply Chain Research and Penn State Executive Programs offer certificate programs in supply chain management and supply chain leadership.

Last Updated September 15, 2014

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