On December 6, the School of Business and Hospitality hosted the 2017 Supply Chain Reunion at Conestoga’s Doon campus. The event was the first reunion of supply chain graduates and welcomed more than 200 guests that included industry partners from across southern Ontario.
Graduates, students and industry partners attended Conestoga's Supply Chain Management reunion on December 6 at the Doon campus.
Gerald Ford, a Conestoga Program Advisory Committee member and president of Cambridge Solutions Inc., organized the event to help old friends connect and provide younger graduates with a networking opportunity. Students currently enrolled in supply chain management programs at Conestoga were also invited to attend.
“We set up a networking activity to help current students reach potential employers,” explained Ford. “This is a great time to be in supply chain. There are two job openings for every graduate and the demand will only increase in the future.”
The supply chain sector employs more than 870,000 Canadians responsible for planning, coordinating and moving more than $1 trillion worth of goods each year. The Canadian Supply Chain Sector Council predicts more than 10,000 supply chain positions will need to be filled each year over the next five years as the result of new job creation, retirements and turnover.
Second-year Business Administration - Supply Chain and Operations Management student Peter Magolan attended the reunion and said he was pleased to see so many students connecting with employers. Magolan’s interest in supply chain management developed while working locally at Toyota where he had the opportunity to learn more about inventory issues. He enrolled at Conestoga to complete the advanced diploma program in supply chain management.
“I don’t think many people are aware of the opportunities available in the supply chain industry,” said Magolan. “When I graduate I’ll have choices; I’ll be able to pick a career opportunity that meets my interests.”
During the evening, Conestoga's Brian Watson shared details about the launch of the Magna Centre for Supply Chain Excellence which was recently established at the college through an $800,000 leadership gift provided by Magna International. Watson serves as director of the Centre and said it will work in collaboration with government, business and industry partners to address Canada’s critical shortage of skilled supply chain specialists, develop innovative and practical solutions for real-world challenges, and leverage innovation and resources across a global network of partners and associated groups.
Visit Conestoga’s website for more information about the Magna Centre for Supply Chain Excellence and the supply chain management programs delivered at the college.