The
exploding field of logistics and its importance to the Jacksonville economy
makes acquiring the latest software for student instruction imperative for
UNF’s Transportation and Logistics Flagship Program.
A
number of companies have stepped forward recently to donate software to be used
in UNF’s logistics lab. These donations have made it possible to offer
real-world experience for students, making the UNF program one of the best in
the country.
The
most recent donation of 115 licenses for Magaya Supply Chain Solution software from
the Miami-based Magaya Corp. follows a donation of 50 user licenses of CAST
Software for Supply Chain Modeling by Barloworld Supply Chain Software of
Naperville, Ill.
Last
year, Manhattan Associates, Inc., an Atlanta-based software development
business, made a similar gift to the logistics lab of 50 user licenses for
Warehouse Management Systems software.
Dr.
Robert Frankel, chair of Transportation and Logistics, said these gifts are an
outstanding resource for students because they provide students an opportunity
to learn the technical skills and applications of many of the supply-chain
concepts covered within the Transportation and Logistics Flagship curriculum.
“We
are continuously working with supply-chain software vendors to identify more
opportunities where we can match software attributes to the Transporatation and
Logistics program need and knowledge-base emphasis,” he said.
These
software donations are proving to be beneficial for UNF graduates in the field,
as well.
Shauna
Tekula, of Jacksonville’s Southeast Transportation Systems Inc., earned both a
bachelor’s degree in Transportation and Logistics and an M.B.A. with a concentration
in Logistics and Management Applications from UNF.
Tekula
is involved in the transportation of more than 100,000 vehicles a year to
Southeast Toyota dealers from the company’s Jacksonville processing center. She
is a log auditor — she works with drivers to maintain their logs while
crosschecking them with global positioning satellites and fuel records. She is
also on the lookout for ways in which the operation can become more efficient.
“My
UNF education is very important because it definitely prepared me for future
opportunities,” she said. “Although we do not use the particular software
programs that have been donated recently here, the training in the logistics
lab gave me valuable insight into how these programs can be applied to research
and analysis of everyday problems.”
Tekula
said the expertise she learned at UNF will help further her career in the
transportation industry — whether that’s in trucking, railroad or maritime
industries.
Another
alum of the UNF Transportation and Logistics Flagship Program is Oana Kelsay, a
global logistics planner with Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Inc. Kelsay is
responsible for monitoring production plans of numerous vision care products
for different global regions and making sure the plans meet forecast models for
demand. Her position makes extensive use of software to keep track of
inventory, orders, shipments and forecasts.
Kelsay
said the hands-on training with software gives UNF graduates a competitive
advantage in a limited job market.
“I
personally will definitely be able to use the software experience I gained
during my logistics concentration to further my career,” she said. “The fact
that the Coggin College of Business seeks out these software gifts exemplifies
the commitment that UNF has to the success of their graduates.”
Kelsay
also received two degrees from UNF — a bachelor’s degree in Transportation and
Logistics and an M.B.A. with a dual concentration in Management Applications
and Logistics. She said she was especially grateful for real-world experience
in the Transportation and Logistics Program.
“UNF
students are ready to solve issues and save hiring companies money by using the
newest tools available through today’s technology.”
