UW-Superior Transportation & Logistics Club

Spring 2020

2020 CSX Jacksonville FL TripA select group of six students from the University of Wisconsin-Superior’s Transportation & Logistics and Supply Chain Management programs,

accompanied by Dr. Richard Stewart and Dr. Daniel Rust, traveled to Jacksonville, Florida, in early January to meet with CSX rail-based freight

transportation’s President and CEO,

James Foote. Foote is a UW-Superior alumnus who rose through the ranks of the

Chicago and North Western Railroad and the Canadian National Railroad before

joining CSX in 2017. He took time to converse with the students over breakfast in the CSX executive boardroom. The

wide-ranging conversation gave the students the opportunity to learn from one

of UWS’ outstanding alumni and hear about his career experiences and industry

expertise.

Students also had the opportunity to visit the Port of Jacksonville and learn about

imports, exports, freight transportation and the cargo supply chain.

Students on the trip were Halle

Kusterman, Sarah Montrose, Ryan Lovaas, Paul Sumption , Nick Moore, and Josh Laflamme. Jeanne Thompson, Vice

Chancellor of University Advancement, and Jason Young, Development Officer,

were also able to join the students for a portion of their trip.

Spring 2020 Events

January 7th-10th CSX Jacksonville

Corporate Office and Terminal Tour

February 13th Brian Zuck, Essentia

Health*

February 14th Supply Chain

Undergraduate Case Competition

February 19th Lowell Magnuson* Formerly of Cirrus

March 3rd Steven Lallier & David

Blissett, J.B. Hunt*

March 5th Head of the lakes Job and

Internship Fair

Upcoming Events

September 12th-15th IANA Case Study Competition, Long

Beach, CA

*IANA Leadership Speaker

Chicago Spring Break Trip Cancelled due to Coronavirus

Pandemic

Transportation & Logistics Club officers, Halle Kusterman and

Kayleigh Seagraves, worked with Dr. Stewart to arrange a spring

break trip to Chicago, IL. The group of students had planned industry tours with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, J.B. Hunt, Coyote Logistics, Canadian

National Railroad, and Lineage Logistics. Our students were very excited for this opportunity, but

unfortunately the difficult decision was made to cancel due to the

Coronavirus pandemic.

Fall 2020 Club Officers

President: Halle Kusterman

Vice President: Kayleigh Seagraves

Secretary: Sarah Montrose

Treasurer: Nick Moore

Event Planner: Ryan Lovass

Media Specialist: Andrea Tuia

T&L Club Contact trspclub@uwsuper.edu

Head of the Lakes Job and Internship Fair

On March 5th, the university hosted nearly 90 employers from the Twin Ports and beyond.

Students got to meet, network, and talk with employers looking for full time employment

and internship positions.

Always On The Move

Volume XX- Issue I

Spring & Summer Graduates 2020

Daniel Anderson Bruno Birzitis

Liam Blais Jacob Brenholt

Mason Brinkworth Kristine Britton

Thy Bui Joseph Cummings

Gustavo de Paola Barbieri Andrew Durham

Zachary Farmakes Siyu Fu

Joshua LaFlamme Harrison Leet

Ryan Linsmayer Kaden Matteen Jerry Miettunen Colton Nelson Logan Olson

Zachary Remund Drake Schellbach

Austin Slaviero-sears Paul Sumption

Congratulations!

COVID-19 Edition

Congratulations to Carson Haase for receiving a CSCMP Scholarship!

The Twin Cities Roundtable of the Council of Supply Chain Management

Professionals (CSCMP) offers an annual competitive scholarship program to students who are working towards a career in Supply Chain Management.

Have you received a scholarship outside of the University scholarships? Please email Cassie at croemhil@uwsuper.edu.

Note: With the digital newsletter, we have added hyperlinks. Be sure to click headlines, photos, and logos to get more information!

Due to the Coronavirus Pandemic schools across the country switched to online distance learning. Hear our students’ stories of how they are coping during this time. In this together. Together we are superior!

UW-Superior Transportation & Logistics Club

Spring 2020

My initial thought when school was moved to distance learning was excitement for more time with my family back home. The two weeks of distance learning now turned into eight and the transition to online learning was more challenging than I had anticipated. While having more time to complete the work, I had to learn to adapt to this new learning environment. I had multiple group projects that my classmates and I needed to come together to get done. If there is one thing, I can take away from this quick change to online distance learning is how to adapt to change and make the most of it. In the business world, things are constantly going to be changing on the fly and it’s crucial that we as future leaders learn to adapt and keep moving forward. -Halle Kusterman, Junior

Transitioning to online classes online has been very challenging. For the first few weeks, I was helping at my grandfather’s grocery store in rural Minnesota where I have been helping since a young age. Due to COVID-19, I needed to step up to keep the meat department moving because the main butcher is high-risk. It was stressful trying to keep up with my school schedule while working at the store so much. There were some programs that I needed for my coursework that I could not get on my computer as well as not having access to the internet made the experience that much harder. My work was being interrupted so I could run to the main office and log on to my classes to listen to lectures, using my phone as a hotspot. After working at the store all day, I would go back to my grandparent's house and do more homework until it was time to go to bed and do it again the next day. It was exhausting. With the added stress of getting sick or getting my grandparents sick while trying to do schoolwork and keep grades up, the uncertainty of my summer internship, I started to fall behind in classes. Professors were very understanding and were extremely helpful and flexible. At the end of April, I moved into my where I have better access to technology to finish the end of the semester strong, and my internship is still on for summer! I am thankful for my professors and classmates that have helped me during this unexpected semester! -Carson Haase, Senior

Our COVID-19 Story...

I have had a different view on distance learning than most. As a senior, I only had two classes and an internship, so my year was pretty easy as it was. I was glad to move online. I was able to do my class work when I wanted which gave me more time to work. My professors had made the coursework easy to understand and made themselves accessible through email

and zoom to answer questions, which really helped. -Kristine Britton, Graduating Senior

This has been a journey full of twists and turns that were not common with classes that were originally set up for online. Moving online was beneficial for me. It more readily fit my work schedule as a third shift railroad worker. I gained flexibility to be available to assist my family with technology issues. We have five family members trying to use the internet and learn new programs at the same time. Having assignment deadlines move to 2359 allowed me an extra evening to finish assignments after getting some much needed rest. Challenges that I experienced was slow grading, lack of feedback on assignments, and many changes with due dates. While the due date changes were minimal, they created some difficulty that required working ahead. While trying to finish classwork, there has been constant interruptions with four boys with pent up energy. The lack of face-to-face communication with our instructors and other students further added to some confusion. It made it more difficult to get some things cleared up as it is not always the best way to resolve through email when you are used to being face-to-face. Despite the challenges, I am graduating this spring. I would like to commend our outstanding professors and office staff in T&L for making the most out of this situation. Their dedication and devotion took a difficult situation and made it part of the courses. While I would rather have been in the classroom, the online adjustment still provided great value through teaching things that cannot be put into the classroom as easily. -Paul Sumption, Graduating Senior

Do you recognize these masked people? With so much time in isolation due to the COVID-19 stay-at-home order, the TLRC produced a music

album of songs including “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad,” “Leaving on a Jet Plane,” “Six Days on the Road,” and everyone’s favorite, “Convoy.”

Only kidding! We may not be releasing a new album, but we have created

a video clip.

During my spring break, I planned to spend a week in Oklahoma visiting family. Due to COVID-19 and safety concerns, my one week turned into eight weeks. I have been able to adapt fairly well to my classes, despite my textbooks being 850 miles away. -Kayleigh Seagraves, Junior

Due to the Coronavirus Pandemic schools across the country switched to online distance learning. Hear our students’ stories of how they are coping during this time. In this together. Together we are superior!

UW-Superior Transportation & Logistics Club

Spring 2020

Our COVID-19 Story… (cont’d)

When COVID came about and things started shutting down things became very difficult for me. I don't do well in an online class setting and learning from home was a challenge for me. On top of that I am a full-time employee that worked at an Essential business. So while learning to complete coursework online, I was also putting in more hours at work. The store I work at specializes in electronics and with everyone working from home, there were a lot of orders to fulfill through the mail. We would send out 300 plus packages a day of items such as computers, printers, ink, webcams etc. The work environment became more and more demanding as the time went on until we got to a point where we didn't have really any "affordable" equipment.

On top of that my fiance was having troubles maintaining her job and eventually was cut from her internship. This was difficult for us because we split our bills down the middle and with her not being able to cover her half, I needed to step up. She is still trying to file for unemployment but it is difficult because she was an intern and not an employee. Because of the Cares Act initiative I was able to receive a grant that will help me cover up some of my costs. I'm ready for this all to be over, for classes to return back to normal, work and social life to return as well. It is disheartening to know that if I had lost my job while all this was going on, I could file for unemployment and be making more than I currently am while finishing off this semester. But I am still managing to work around 40 hours a week while completing my classes. -Anonymous

Explore T&L and Internship Spotlight https://www.uwsuper.edu/acaddept/sbe/trans/index.cfm Meet our Students: (Ryan Lovaas, Halle Kusterman, and Kayleigh Seagraves) https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLb8pBqaeoHWVnBxCyXcuHeFh49ZmrxBGy Academic Programs: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLb8pBqaeoHWV0LMF3EhpqENCVv-Ggnzl3

Connect with us on

LinkedIn! UW-Superior

Transportation & Logistics

Research Center

Check out some of our program’s new videos!

UW-Superior Transportation & Logistics Club

Spring 2020

The Long Voyage We are coming to the end of what has been a most remarkable semester. I have been very impressed by everyone’s ability to change course to an online format when the pandemic reached our region. While not flawless, our CANVAS delivery system has enabled us to continue learning. COVID19’s impact has extended far beyond the classroom. Internships and employment opportunities have declined even in our essential sector. We are all balancing caring for loved ones, work, reduced income, confinement and perhaps most troubling, uncertainty. In some ways dealing with the pandemic is like a long slow voyage across an ocean without a fixed port of call. You see the same people every day, you are confined to the vessel, served monotonous food, and contact with the outside world is one dimensional. You can be tossed about by storms or robbed of inertia

by the doldrums. You are always steaming ahead but filled with uncertainty about when and where you will come ashore. Like a long voyage this pandemic will end. We may be a bit battered but we will have triumphed over adversity. We are making plans in the TLRC for the fall semester. According to IANA, the EXPO is still going on starting September 12-15. Depending on state budgets we will take up to 12 students. Thank you to all of the students who applied. Companies, such as Coyote Logistics, have contacted us and we will be going on trips to the Cities. Our advisory board meeting is scheduled for Friday October 9, the day after the Twin Ports career fair. Board member have already notified us that they will be there. The T&L club officers have lots of ideas for fall adventures and we will support them in every way possible. We welcome any ideas you may to expand our learning and have fun. Stay healthy and happy. -Dr. Stewart

A note to students...

While this semester unfolded differently from the way any of us imagined on the first day of class back in January, I have been impressed with how students (especially those who returned to home countries all around the world) showed outstanding resilience in the switch to online format. Together we are rising to meet the challenges of COVID-19. I really miss seeing each student’s face in class, and I look forward to seeing you all again after restrictions are lifted. I urge you to take advantage of the scheduled activities this fall semester. Depending on COVID-19, Dr. Stewart and I will be taking a group of students to the IANA Expo in California. The Club will likely make

trips for industry tours, and lunch with the T&L Advisory Board is planned for October. I wish you health and peace in the midst of this stressful time of uncertainty. Congratulations to all the T&L and SCM graduates! -Dr. Rust

Congratulations Dr. Stewart on your awards! This month Dr. Stewart received the UW-Superior’s Community Engagement Award for 2020. Community engagement involves faculty, staff, and/or students and one of more community partners collaborating on projects that have both a positive social impact and support opportunities to conduct research, or teach or encourage student learning. The recipient’s efforts will have made a significant impact on students and in meeting community identified needs. A well-deserved honor! The UW System Board of Regents recently announced that it awarded to Dr. Richard Stewart a Teaching Excellence Award—the UW System’s highest recognition for faculty. Each recipient receives $7,500 for further program enhancements. Until this year, no faculty member from UW-Superior had ever received this prestigious honor. “After decades of work, it is very satisfying to receive this recognition from UW-System,” said Stewart. “This award is truly for our entire department and university, because there is no way I could have done this alone. I feel it is long overdue for someone from UW-Superior to receive this award, and I am hopeful this is just the first of more to come.” “Richard has developed highly engaged teaching and learning methods that transform the student experience,” remarked Maria Cuzzo, Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs. “During Richard’s twenty-five years of service as an educator, his students consistently are inspired by him and his role modeling. The partnerships he has formed with regional industry leaders, in-field internships, and passionate mentoring to students distinguish him as an outstanding faculty member at UW-Superior. He richly deserves this honor and recognition from UW System.” “Dr. Richard Stewart is the Vince Lombardi of transportation and logistics education.” —Craig Thompson, Secretary of Wisconsin’s Department of Transportation.

UW-Superior Transportation & Logistics Club

Spring 2020

Congratulations Class of 2020 I first came to UW-Superior fifty years ago when I was a cadet at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. At that time UW-Superior had one of the leading public speaking programs in the U.S. and UWS was hosting a tourna-ment that I was competing in. Little did I realize as I walked this campus back in the spring of 1970 that I would be a professor, much less a professor at UW-Superior. In good faith we make lots of plans. Some of them work out as envisioned, others not so much. We need to keep making plans but be able to adapt when events beyond our control change our charted course. We have striven to present you with concepts, knowledge and ideas that enable you to keep your head and be nimble in adjusting to change. You have excelled and I believe that you will succeed in every path you take.

It has been my pleasure and honor to learn with you. We have had years filled with surprises, information, comradeship and mutual support. Please keep in touch and I wish you the very best in all that you undertake. Stay healthy and happy. -Dr. Richard Stewart

Congratulations Graduates!!

Congratulations to all the spring 20202 T&L and SCM graduates! I am so proud of each of you and your ac-complishments. I also look forward to the opportunity to offer my congratulations in person sometime in the fu-ture. Please connect with me via LinkedIn—a great networking tool for you to stay in touch with your fellow graduates, T&L faculty, as well as people throughout industry who share ideas and seek to hire outstanding candidates like you. I wish you all the best! -Dr. Daniel Rust

Congratulations, Graduates! This must be a very proud moment for you. All of the hard work you have put in has paid off. You are an achiever. You have made us all proud. Now you’re on your way to dream new dreams. Chase your dreams. Never stop trying. Never stop learning. You are brilliant, able, and ambitious. You can achieve whatever you want in life. All you have to do is believe that you can. We believe in you. The sky is your limit. A hearty congratulation on your graduation and wishing you good luck for the new beginning in life. -Dr. Mei Cao

Graduates, First of all, congratulations! You’ve made it! This year may have taken an unexpected turn in the road, but remember life has many paths and will take many unexpected turns. You are resilient and I don’t have any doubts that no matter where your path takes you, you will succeed. I wish you the very best for years to come! You may not end up where you intended to go, but you will end up where you need to be. -Cassie Roemhildt

‘Jacket GOLD: Grads Of the Last Decade ’Jacket GOLD is a network of recent UW-Superior alumni who want to stay

connected and engaged with their classmates, faculty and staff and the University.

GOLD Members (Graduates Of the Last Decade) will have the opportunity to attend

events, volunteer and expand their career and personal network. While ’Jacket

GOLD was created with recent alumni in mind, everyone is welcome to participate.

We hope to see you at our next event!

UW-Superior Transportation & Logistics Club

Spring 2020

T&L Club Speakers The Transportation & Logistics student club has had three companies and four speakers

come talk with the club Spring Semester 2020. Brian Zuck, VP of Supply Chain at Essentia Health, visited on February 13th, to talk about the importance of supply chain

management in the medical field. Lowell Magnuson, former VP of Global Supply Chain for Cirrus Aircraft, visited on February 21st, to speak about his job experience, strategic alliances and the overall importance of supply chain management. On March 3rd, students got to hear from Steve Lallier & David Blissett from J.B. Hunt, Inc. The

two talked about their positions at J.B. Hunt and the world of intermodal transportation.

Undergraduate Supply Chain Competition

A group of University of Wisconsin-Superior Supply Chain Management students took second place in the 2020 CSCMP Wisconsin Supply Chain Student Case Competition at the University

of Wisconsin-Madison. The students competed against teams from UW-Eau Claire, UW-Madison, UW-Oshkosh, Marquette University and Milwaukee School of Engineering.

The team of six students including Thy Bui, Peter Gosswiller, Carson Haase, and Hunter Wraspir were given a case study ten days prior to the competition to research and develop a proposed

solution. The students were asked to identify operations issues of a hypothetical company, analyze alternatives, and present recommended solutions. Following a ten minute question-and-

answer session, student teams had 20 minutes to present their recommendations to a panel of judges, who played the role of the company’s executive team.

Thanks to these organizations for their financial support! Newsletter Credits Editor: Halle Kusterman Advisor: Dr. Richard Stewart

SBE Awards Banquet

This year would've been the

50th anniversary of the

University of Wisconsin

Superior’s School of Business

and Economics’ Awards

Banquet. Due to the coronavirus

pandemic, the school has moved

the SBE awards ceremony to an

online presentation to honor

students achievements and

academic success.

Congratulations students on all

your accomplishments!!

Please check out UW-

Superior’s Virtual Banquet for

Spring 2020!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p

wy13Qipusk )

Have you noticed T&L/SCM grad, Paul Sumption, has been featured on the University’s landing page?

www.uwsuper.edu

Photo credit to University Relations Staff

DSTA provides contribution to endowment for UWS student scholarships!

“Since the inception of the transportation and logistics management program at UW-Superior over two decades ago, the Duluth-Superior Transportation Association’s leaders and members have consistently supported the success and growth of the program,” said Richard Stewart, T&L professor, DSTA member and former president. “The endowed DSTA scholarship at UW-Superior is but one facet of the mutually beneficial relationship between

the organization and the academic program.” Other aspects include T&L faculty serving as directors on the board of the DSTA, students and university employees volunteering in the annual DSTA food drive, and multiple networking opportunities resulting in local companies hiring program graduates. Thank you to everyone in the DSTA who contributed toward this scholarship fund for T&L students needing financial support.

ATTENTION GRADUATING SENIORS!

For those of you graduating spring or summer 2020, please update us

on where your career takes you. We love keeping track of where our

graduates go and look forward to hear your success!

Please email Cassie Roemhildt with

any updates. croemhil@uwsuper.edu