During the Fall 2023 semester, dozens of Supply Chain Operations Management students and graduates, as well as other professionals in the field, gathered at York College of Pennsylvania for a day of networking and exploration of career opportunities.
Years before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted supply chains around the world and few knew that supply chain operations management existed as a career option, York College of Pennsylvania student Joe Whitmarsh was examining the intricacies of planning, sourcing, and managing materials. The Supply Chain Operations Management (SCOM) major was intrigued by the field.
While a part-time student, Whitmarsh worked full-time on the assembly line at McCormick & Company. He had studied accounting at another institution, and his York College major brought both academic pursuits together for him.
For Whitmarsh ’16, who is a production control manager at Johnson Controls Navy Systems in York, sharing his experiences in higher education and on the job is important. So, when he was asked to join an alumni panel at the College’s Supply Chain Operations Management Professional Day, he jumped at the opportunity.
Giving Back to Future Professionals
The SCOM Professional Day brought together alumni and fellow industry experts to share insights, mentorship, and experiences with students.
“I was more than excited to do it,” Whitmarsh says. “My job is right across the street from York College, and I love giving back to future students.”
At the Professional Day, Whitmarsh related his experiences at Johnson Controls, including scheduling and planning for air-conditioning control systems for the U.S. Navy. It’s a job in which the supply chain is crucial. Each project can take a year and a half to four years to complete, and Whitmarsh is responsible for ensuring that each part that goes into a system is delivered on time and on budget. His role revolves around meticulous planning and scheduling, skill sets that he stressed to the students are invaluable.
Throughout the day, he and other alumni reviewed résumés, helped students prepare for employment interviews, and suggested how to carry themselves on the first day at a new job.
“Supply chain management is the future,” Whitmarsh says. “If you enjoy number-crunching, manufacturing, and processes, you would enjoy the program.”
Navigating Strategic Terrain
Nick Hopwood ’18 also took part in the Professional Day. Hopwood, who earned a bachelor’s degree in SCOM and a Master of Business Administration degree at York College, began his Supply Chain studies with a sense of curiosity and a desire for dynamic career opportunities.
“I chose Supply Chain kind of as a shot in the dark,” he says. “At the time, my dad worked in procurement, which seemed interesting. I knew I wanted to do something within business, like finance or accounting, but Supply Chain looked to have great opportunities in the next decade, so I elected it as my major.”
Hopwood’s York College education was enriched by hands-on experiences, including two internships at global electronics manufacturer TE Connectivity, in procurement and global logistics. The opportunities solidified his passion for the field and put him on a trajectory for career success right out of college. He serves as a strategic sourcing manager at Penn State Health.
Hopwood often finds himself handling detailed equipment contracts for the healthcare provider, which requires making informed financial and purchasing decisions. His SCOM undergraduate studies and his MBA helped prepare him to handle the fiscal aspects of his job. Combining the knowledge and experiences from his two degrees opened doors to working across sectors and moving into other jobs in the field.
His participation in the Professional Day offered Hopwood an opportunity to give back to his alma mater and engage with students eager to explore the field. Hopwood networked with students and helped them tweak their résumés. He found the experience rewarding as he witnessed the growth of the program at York College, which had fewer than a dozen students when he graduated. Half a decade later, the major has greatly expanded.
“Any time I can give back to the college that set me up with the life I have, I want to be part of that,” he says.
Embracing Innovation and Collaboration
Sam Schiffman ’20, a purchasing supervisor for Universal Health Services who took part in the Professional Day, was drawn to studying SCOM by a keen interest in understanding the intricacies of global logistics and business operations.
“I was always a big-picture type of guy and thought it was important and was an up-and-coming major,” he says. “I always thought about logistics and transportation and how things got from where they start to where they need to go.”
The disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic during his final semester at York College also gave Schiffman a rocky start in the workforce. After finding a job, he grappled with the challenges of fully remote work and supply chain convulsions.
At Universal Health Services, Schiffman ensures the seamless flow of supplies to hospitals. With the pandemic still raging when he began his job, he had to ensure that items were getting to healthcare institutions amid global supply shortages and an insatiable demand for medical equipment.
“It was a pretty eye-opening experience,” he says. “It was scary, but at the same time I learned a lot and grew from it. It helped me further my career and have perspective on that time in history.”
The Professional Day allowed Schiffman to share his insights and experiences with students and help them better prepare for the unknowns inherent in this field. In conversations with students, he stressed the importance of effective communication, problem-solving, and adaptability. Outside-the-box thinking is a daily exercise in his job.
Whitmarsh, Hopwood, and Schiffman look forward to additional opportunities to support SCOM students, whether through Professional Days or classroom visits at the College or by developing internships at their companies. Through sharing their experiences and insights, they hope to help those future professionals develop a mindset of resilience, adaptability, and creative thinking.
“I’m always willing to give back. York College gave me so much in my education,” says Schiffman. “I think the Supply Chain program at York College has really prepared me for the rest of my life.”
