Shipper’s Logistics Advisory Council
International Logistics-Freight Forwarding Certification
Logistics Job for a Day- Mentor Program
Practicum Study
Internships

Shipper’s Logistics Advisory Council
(Formerly U.S.P.P.I Advisory Council)

This project is in a conceptual stage and based on feedback from participants we can adapt our plan accordingly.

Purpose:

• - to have Roundtable discussions to identify current challenges and problems of the Shipper. (Including both their Export and Import issues).
• - to Discuss issues with peers International Logistics Managers for analysis of potential solutions
• - to Define a speaker / expert panel to address these challenges and define any necessary action plan, day seminars, task force, advocacy project etc. to support the solution to the challenges that have been identified.

Benefits:

• - to the Shipper, attention to current or potential problem areas in day to day logistics with peer group support with potential solutions and insight
• - to ITMA, education on current logistics issues, actively participating in market solutions that can improve exporting conditions
• - to ITMA, extend the current membership to include even more shippers to the lunch and learn meetings and membership

Framework:

• - Shipper Roundtable discussions, meeting bi-monthly.
• - Attendees are limited to Shippers and the ITMA Board and past Presidents.
• - Day meeting to be held at the Greater Houston Partnership Downtown Houston.
• - Shipper Moderator
• - Agenda items collected from all Shipper attendees, and the Agenda set and advised in advance
• - Rules for engagement to be created that specify distinct anti-trust language.
• - Identify issues, brainstorm, Set Action Items
• - After the discussion on a particular topic has been deemed closed. The
  topic can then be the basis for a lunch and learn meeting that will be open to the entire ITMA Membership.
• - If you have any questions on this special project, or are a Shipper and want to join the Roundtable Discussions, please contact hospitality@itmahouston.org.

SUBMIT YOUR ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION TOPIC to hospitality@itmahouston.org

International Logistics-Freight Forwarding Certification

We are currently working with The University of Houston in developing an International Logistics-Freight Forwarding Certification program in conjunction with ITMA. This is under way and we will be looking for volunteers to work on the curriculum, classroom materials, and also Class Instructors. Your real world experiences will be a valuable tool for these students.

Should you wish to participate, contact Bill Blair or hospitality@itmahouston.org for further information.

Logistics Job for a Day – Mentor Program

We want to keep our scholarship recipients close under our wing and help them as much as possible in their pursuit
of a career in logistics.

Scholarship applicants when applying for the ITMA Scholarship- commit  to our second tier criteria. One of these criteria is the mentor program known as ‘Logistics Job for a Day’.

If the next year they apply again, to be eligible, they have to have met their commitment to the second tier
criteria for the year before.

The Logistics Job for a Day mentoring program is structured as follows:

• - ITMA will maintain a list of Volunteer companies (from our membership) that are directly involved in logistics
• - The student picks 3 on the list. (They do not see company names, only ‘type’ of company categories.)
• - We notify the company selected and give the company the contact info of the student and vice versa
• - Student and company set their own schedule to pick the day they will attend.
• - During each visit, the volunteer logistics company explains their functions, takes them through each department, possibly extends the visit to an offsite location (such as a trip to a vessel they are loading, or a special job they want to share). The company will give them an understanding of what their place is within the logistics chain. This is to give the student an insight as to this particular field so they may consider or reconsider their career focus.
• - After the full work day is accomplished, the volunteer company sends us a notification saying it was done (to
  verify our criteria was met)
• - It is not paid. It is basically a day internship.
• - The student sends us a feedback sheet after the three jobs are completed in order to share their experience
  with us.

If you are interested in reaching out to be a mentor and can open your door to a day internship opportunity to one of our ITMA Scholarship Recipients, please contact the lead for this special project: Steve McVille.

See Current Volunteer Companies.

Practicum Study

To serve our local Educational Community, we are supporting The University of Houston in their Practicum Study. Directed by Dan Cassler, Logistics Technology Program Manager, Supply Chain and Logistics Technology, College of Technology the purpose is to allow college students to earn credits through real life problem solving projects. Senior Logistics Technology practicum class is offered each spring. In this class, each team of 3-4 students must find a company that has a logistics project that could use some help. The team works with the volunteer company to identify the elements of the project and presents their findings to resolve the problem.

If you or anyone in your organization has a idea or project that the manpower has not been available to resolve, this is a perfect opportunity. Students need a project that takes a minimum of 9 hours per week (not on site) and can be completed by April 19th. Start date would be approximately February 1. There in no cost to the company except for your cost of personnel to work with the student team to provide them with guidance and information needed for a successful project.

The normal project flow is for the students to meet with the company and discuss the pending project. The students then develop a letter of scope for all to sign so that everyone knows what is to be expected. After the initial visit, the students move forward with the project. The students gather the information, and then work at school to develop the project goals. On-site visits are done on an as-needed schedule.

Lou Descioli is leading this special project for ITMA. Contact him for further information.

True Sample Projects that have been handled are:

Internships