We’ve been hearing about the slow but unrelenting downfall of traditional media over the last couple years. By ‘traditional media’ I am refering to information providers that rely predominantly on print media, paid subscriptions and the related revenue from advertisers. Aside from the breakdown in traditional communication, this has never seriously bothered me until recently. Friday, April 16th, I found out that Reed Business Information is shutting down operations of two industry publications of interest to APICS members: Logistics Management and Supply Chain Management Review.

Ouch! I’ve been in the logistics and operations business for two years now, and both of these were sources of invaluable information for me… especially when I was first getting started. Each also maintained active websites with bloggers who worked in our industry giving timely commentary on the continually changing atmosphere we work in. To say that I am going to miss these resources is an understatement.

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In February my school held an event called ‘Internship Mania’ where eager college students put on their best suits and go into the event wielding a hopefully impressive resume as well as their persuasive/people skills. As we go and hand out a slew of resumes to hopefully have wooed a company into thinking we are good enough for at least a follow up email, getting the foot in the door.

Well, as luck would have it, APICS aided me greatly in securing an internship with a reputable company. They asked me about my involvement and what I had actually done as far as experience in the field where I was able to talked about the Case Competition and the tours. But I digress, actually, I was fortunate enough to lock down TWO for this summer, although destroying any chance of relaxing this three month break from classes, I am well aware that the experience I will receive from these is going to be absolutely priceless.

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I love the idea of bettering oneself through education. I have always supported the idea that the more equipped with knowledge you are, the better.  I am starting my first graduate level class next Wednesday. I chose to enroll in an MBA program with a focus on Global Context.  My company, as mentioned in previous posts, was acquired last year by an international utility conglomerate. We have headquarters in the US, Spain, and the UK. I have always been intrigued by other cultures and international business in general. During my four years at Syracuse University, I chose to study abroad in Florence, Italy for four months. Not only was I able to experience Italian culture, but I was also able to cultivate my knowledge of the international business scene. My business courses abroad, taught by international professors, provided me with new and enlightened experiences. I was able to learn by interacting with business professionals across Italy, even as far reaching as Sicily.

         My experience in Sicily was unlike any other experience I had while abroad in Italy. Syracuse University in Florence (SUF) held a contest for students to showcase, in any artistic form, their ideas about the North vs. South as it related to the US or Italy. Some students wrote essays, others put together pictorial displays, and still others used multimedia to showcase their thoughts. I was honored to be one of the twelve students chosen to win the trip to Corleone, Sicily.  See article here on page three. We were the first American students to join the Tuscan association ARCI, which sends volunteers to work on fields confiscated from the Mafia. Having an American presence in these fields formely owned by Mafiosi was a huge deal for the people of Corleone.  ARCI’s work has become a high profile, national symbol of public support in the country’s fight for legality.We worked the barren vineyard for eight hours one day. Our efforts will help to reap 40,000 bottles of wine to be sold legally each year. Below is a picture I took of the fields in Corleone. This post has gotten me excited to start my grad program with a focus on Global Context next week. Have any of you had an international experience similar to this?

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Two thousand and ten, or is it twenty ten? Also how old is Dick Clark now!? Anyway, 2010 brings on many exciting hopes for employment, losing ten pounds, or even potential economic turnaround.

The World economy is showing promising signs of an upturn. Although a few stations say that we are “double dipping” in the recession, meaning that we were in it, came out for a little while and now we are back into it. However, aside from those stations most agree that unemployment has slowed, and some even say it is being reversed. This potential is awesome for those of us in the job market, me included. Although most markets have seen a significant decline in sales and/or other related business operations, they are now showing growth and layoffs are slowing and many are hiring back. However, one place that sees a significant boost during this time of year is a gym.

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As the holiday time comes upon us, family “get togethers” run rampant and fill everybody with the spirit. This time of year truly brings out the best and worst in people, whether it is the warm feeling of gift giving and caroling, or the day after thanksgiving mayhem where people actually die to get a good deal. This is what brings me to the then and now scenarios, careful planning and astute observations have made the modest holiday into the commercialized monstrosity it is now.

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