GSCMI conference focuses on risk management

Corporate executives and experts from the Krannert School discussed a broad range of issues surrounding managing operational risks in the global supply chain as part of a February conference at Purdue.

William Kassling

The event was sponsored by the Global Supply Chain Management Initiative (GSCMI), a research and outreach center in Krannert. Additional sponsorship was provided by APICS, Purdue’s Center for International Business Education and Research, Eaton Corp., and OFS Brands, along with GSCMI partner companies American Axle and Manufacturing, Caterpillar, Cummins, Delphi Corp., Ford Motor Co., General Motors, and Saint Gobain Container.

“The conference offered an opportunity to hear about state-of-the-art practices from successful executives and provided real-world insights for our students and attending managers,” says Ananth Iyer, director of GSCMI and the Dauch Center for the Management of Manufacturing Enterprises.

Krannert alumnus William Kassling (BSIM ’67), chairman of Wabtec Corp., was the keynote speaker at the event, which also included final presentations of an MBA graduate case competition among student teams from across the nation.

For more information, visit www.gscmi.org or www.dcmme.org.

New software center to open in Purdue Research Park Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels joined executives from global technology giant EDS and officials from Purdue Research Park in February to announce the company’s plans to locate its national software solution center in West Lafayette, creating more than 200 business analyst and software engineer positions by 2010. “It’s another win for the Indiana economy and for one of our hottest growth engines, the region anchored by the Purdue campus,” said Daniels. “Jobs are waiting, and here come some more.” Currently employing more than 1,000 people in Indiana, EDS will develop technology solutions for its commercial and government healthcare clients around the world. The company is hiring professionals with degrees in computer science, business management, or management information systems to staff the new center. “We like doing business in Indiana,” said Andy McCann, EDS vice president. “We like the skills and high motivation of the employees we’ve been able to hire here. And we like the overall business climate.” EDS Vice President Andy McCann (left) and Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels announce the company’s plans to locate its national software solution center at the Purdue Research Park.

Purdue a top producer of Peace Corps volunteers

For the first time, Purdue University has been named to the annual list of the top 25 Peace Corps volunteer-producing colleges and universities.

Purdue, which is included in the large school category, entered the list at No. 23, according to rankings provided in January by Peace Corps headquarters in Washington, DC. Currently, 44 volunteers from Purdue are serving in the Corps, an increase from 39 volunteers last year. It is the highest new entry among large universities.

Purdue e-Archives features Krannert alumni magazines Krannert’s first alumni magazine, published in spring 1969. Purdue e-Archives now features a complete collection of Krannert’s alumni magazines, from the first publication in spring 1969 to the present. Created and maintained by Purdue University Libraries Archives and Special Collections, the digitized magazine archive provides an account of the school’s unique history and the ever-evolving issues of management education. Other digitized collections include the video library of industrial management pioneers Frank and Lillian Gilbreth, archival items of famed aviator Amelia Earhart, and Purdue history and athletics. Internet users can browse and search the collections at http://e-archives.lib.purdue.edu.

Stein to keynote 2008 Leadership Speakers Series

Ben Stein will be the featured speaker at the eighth annual Krannert Leadership Speakers Series on October 23, 2008.

Ben Stein

An authentic Renaissance man, Stein has one of the most recognizable faces and voices in America today. His role as the teacher in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off was recently ranked as one of the 50 most famous scenes in American film, and from 1997 to 2002, he was the host of the Emmy award-winning quiz show, Win Ben Stein’s Money.

A prolific author, Stein has written many novels and nonfiction books, and regularly contributes to a variety of national newspapers and magazines. Among the topics he addresses are finance, ethics, and the political and social content of mass culture.

For information on sponsorships and tickets for this year’s event, visit www.krannert.purdue.edu/events/LSS.

FAST Diagnostics wins life sciences competition

Indianapolis-based FAST Diagnostics took top honors in Purdue’s Life Sciences Business Plan Competition in February. Lilly Endowment was the lead sponsor for the event, which was coordinated by the Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship.

Now in its fifth year, the competition attracted 42 entrants. Judges advanced 21 of those to the business plan phase, where firms provided detailed roadmaps for moving products and technologies from concept and prototype stage to commercialization.

FAST Diagnostics is commercializing a kidney diagnostic test that will fill a need in the diagnosis and treatment of kidney injury and disease. FAST stands for Filtration Assessment and Surveillance Technology.

The $50,000 first prize was awarded in memory of Krannert alumnus Don Blewett (MBA ’02), former associate director of the Morgan Center, who died in 2007. In addition, FAST Diagnostics will receive $10,000 in legal and consulting services from sponsors B&D Consulting and Ernst & Young. BioCrossroads, an organization focused on growing Indiana’s life sciences industry, also awarded the company $10,000 for the best plan and presentation by an Indiana-based team.

The second-place finisher was MatrixBio of West Lafayette, which developed advanced “metabolite profiling” technology that provides highly accurate tests for early cancer diagnosis and for following the effects of drug therapy. MatrixBio received $35,000, plus $8,000 in legal and business services. Third prize went to SperoSense Technologies of Bloomington, Indiana, which received $25,000, plus $6,000 in legal and business services.

For a complete list of finalists or information on upcoming business plan competitions, visit www.purdue.edu/ discoverypark/Entrepreneurship.

Charity Ball raises funds, spirits The Krannert Graduate Student Association (KGSA) and Management Volunteer Program (MVP) raised more than $6,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Wabash Valley at the 13th annual Charity Ball and Auction in February. In addition to dinner and dancing at the Holiday Inn Select Grand Ballroom in downtown Lafayette, more than 160 Krannert faculty, staff, and master’s students submitted silent and live bids on gift certificates, Purdue apparel and memorabilia, and other items donated for auction by local businesses and individuals. As in past years, a cocktail party for 50 donated by Prof. Charlene Sullivan garnered the most interest, with first-year master’s students pooling their funds to submit the winning bid. Special guest Rhonda McKinnis, executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Wabash Valley, shared her gratitude with donors and reinforced the purpose of the event. “Her words made us realize the importance of the organization and its role in the lives of children in our community,” says KGSA President John Goodrich. Master’s students enjoy a night of dancing and goodwill at the Charity Ball and Auction in February. Proceeds from this year’s event will benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Wabash Valley.