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Supply Chain Management Provides Competitive Edge

“That’s Logistics” was an advertisement campaign that UPS featured a few years ago that caught the attention of Melissa Dragoo, sophomore at the College of Business Administration from Scottsdale, Ariz. It featured packages being delivered to exotic locations all over the world and also helped inspire Dragoo to become one of the first business students at CBA to enroll in the new supply chain management courses.

“UPS used the song ‘That’s Amore’ but their commercial changed the words to That’s Logistics,” Dragoo said. “I didn’t know what it was all about, but I asked my parents and they told me that’s how companies get items from one place to another. That sounded really interesting. I wanted to know how they could get a box of Kleenex from the manufacturer to your desk. I wanted to see how efficient supply chain management could give companies a competitive advantage.”
Dragoo originally heard about the new major in a meeting of Delta Sigma Pi, a business fraternity at the college.

“They were talking about the new major and I got super excited about supply chain management because I knew I wanted to do something along the lines of logistics,” Dragoo said. “I was the first one to jump on the bus. I ran up to Dr. David Olson’s office to see if I was on track for the major.”

Olson is the James and H.K. Stuart Chancellors Distinguished Chair and is leading the charge behind the new supply chain management major.

Melissa Dragoo at Lincoln Industries visit

Melissa Dragoo at Lincoln Industries visit

“The new supply chain program has attracted a highly interested core of students,” Olson said. “They appear to be highly motivated and competent, with great promise to contribute to the work force. Industry leaders have told us the need and opportunities in the field of solving logistics problems of moving products and materials around the emerging global economy. That’s why this major is so important to the college.”

Dragoo, who came to Nebraska after being recruited to compete on the track and field team, is excited about her future, even in the midst of a busy academic schedule. In the weight room at 6:00 a.m. and class by 7:30 a.m., she has track practice in the afternoon and studies much of the evening. Competing in the outdoor heptathlon and the indoor pentathlon, she hopes to be part of the women’s track and field teams continuing success after winning the Big Ten title last year.

 “I plan on going wherever the job market takes me. The idea of getting a thousand pounds of noodles from Chicago to Afghanistan interests me. How do you do that?” Dragoo said.
Published: January 23, 2013