Conference Summary

The Distribution Business Management Association is in its 16^th year of providing an outstanding executive educational conference for professionals in logistics, distribution and supply chain management. The Supply Chain Leaders in Action Program offers classroom sessions delivered by various speakers from academia as well as prominent industry leaders. Over 60 universities participate in and support the Supply Chain Leaders in Action Program and the Association.

The Supply Chain Leaders in Action Program offers attendees a unique and intensive learning experience. Super Session courses are taught by academics from the leading supply chain universities on Wednesday and Friday and are intensive mini courses that run for the majority of the day. These courses take you step-by-step through the fundamentals of the subject, on to an industry issues panel, then to a case study      working interactive lunch and then a debrief and discussion. To wrap up the program it is followed by an interactive industry lab session. The Super Session subjects for 2008 are:

• Extended Supply Chain & Global Complexity lead by: Dr. George Haley, University of New Haven, and Ms. Marie Lacertosa, SVP & Director of Supply Chain, JCPenney

• Talent Acquisition & Development lead by: Dr. Rhonda Lummus, Iowa State University and Mr. Kevin Smith, SVP of Supply Chain & Logistics, CVS Caremark

• Driving Profits/Financial Value in the Supply Chain lead by: Dr. David Menachof, City University, London, Dr. Terry Pohlen, University of North Texas and Mr. Bob Hurley, Controller US Logistics, Bayer Healthcare

• Demand Driven Supply Network lead by: Dr. Richard Dawe, Golden Gate University, Dr. Jezdimir Knezevic, MIRCE Akademy, UK, Mr. Donald Walker, SVP Distribution Operations, McKesson and Mr. John Coyle, Director - Customer Supply Chain Strategy & Development, Kimberly-Clark

• Sustainability in the Supply Chain lead by: Dr. Omar Keith Helferich, Central Michigan University, Dr. Steven Dunn, University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh and Mr. Donald Ralph, SVP of Logistics, Staples, Inc.

Thursday's schedule features five cutting edge tracks consisting of panel discussions, breakout sessions and keynotes from leading academics and Fortune 1000 supply chain thought leaders.

Each student who attends the conference in 2008 will receive a Certificate of Advanced Education from the University of Florida. Certificates have been awarded by:

• 2007 University of Kentucky

• 2006 Penn State University

• 2005 City University, London, England

• 2004 Golden State University, USA

• 2003 Ohio State University, USA

• 2002 Auburn University, USA

• 2001 Iowa State University, USA

• 2000 Nan Yang University, Singapore

• 1999 University of Exeter, UK

• 1998 The Pennsylvania State University, USA

• 1997 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA

Over the past 16 years, DBM and its participating universities have
developed a Specialist Diploma in Distribution Business Management .  Once an individual has attended the conference for four consecutive years, s/he has the opportunity to write a paper about their experiences and how they have implemented knowledge learned at the Supply Chain Leaders in Action Conference. Upon submission and review of his/her manuscript the student is eligible to be awarded the Specialist Diploma in Distribution Business Management.

*View video clip of past DBM Events.*