MONTHLY NEWSLETTER Institute for Supply Management – Kansas City, Inc. August 2013 Message from the President Inside This Issue 1 Message from the President 2-3 Monthly Meetings Schedule/2013-2014 Promotion 4 Message from Director, Communications 5-7 Job Openings 8 Diversity Corner 9-10 Mid-America Leading Economic Indicators 11 Article: “Five Ways To Keep Your Job Search Moving Forward In Summer” by Deborah Walker 12-13 ISM-KC Board of Directors Dear Affiliate Members and Associates, Here we go! Our summer hiatus is over and this month we resume an exciting schedule of meetings and events for you! On August 20, Dr. Glen Harrison of the Transportation Research Institute – University of Kansas, will speak to us on the segment of our supply chain that involves something most all of us utilize and that is freight transportation. He will provide an overview of highway, rail, waterways, and air modes, and address what we can expect in the future. Perhaps you have met Dr. Harrison? He is a member of our affiliate and regularly attends our meetings. On July 20, the Board spent the day in a workshop drawing up plans and strategies for this year’s activities. A big hand goes out to Roxanna Swaney, First Vice-President, and Manny Gutierrez, C.P.M., Second VicePresident, for planning and presiding over the event. Special recognition goes to Susi Butler for her time and assistance with the event. It was a huge success! One of our goals is to qualify for the 2013 Affiliate of Excellence Award from ISM. There is a lot involved, but we are going for it. Your participation in affiliate events will help us reach that goal. As your president, nothing would make me prouder than to receive and present this award to our Board and membership! We will be participating in the MAMSDC Business Opportunity Exchange, August 28-29, at the Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center. Stop by our booth and say hello! Join us on September 17 for a tour of Tension Corporation. It’s been awhile since we have had a plant tour, so everyone come on out for this event! Looking forward to seeing you soon! Kriss Pearson, President ISM-Kansas City PAGE 2 ISM-KANSAS CITY NEWSLETTER August 2013 Monthly Dinner Meeting Freight Transportation in the United States Tue, Aug 20, 2013 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM Holiday Inn & Suites - OP West 8787 Reeder Road - (I35 and 87th Street) Overland Park. KS, Kansas 66214 Registration closes Mon, Aug 19, 2013 at 1:00 PM REGISTER FOR THIS MEETING Registration Fees: Member Status Points CEU $25.00 Jul 23 - Aug 18, 2013 All registrants 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 Late Registration Fee $30.00 Aug 19 - 20, 2013 All registrants 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 NonMember $25.00 Jul 28 - Aug 19, 2013 All registrants 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 NonMember Late Registration $30.00 Aug 19 - 20, 2013 All registrants 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 Title Fee Registration Valid Dates Hours Description: Topic: Freight Transportation in the United States Everything we use in our business and personal life came to us through a supply chain over the transportation system. Each day, an average of 44 million tons of freight worth $40 billion moves over the US transportation system. This daily fright movement is projected to increase to 74 million tons worth $108 billion by 2040. The driving force for the increase in freight transportation is the increase in the US population, increasing urbanization, the growth in business, and the increase in US imports and exports. This talk will provide an overview of the movement of freight by the highway, rail, waterway, and air modes. Some of the major issues facing each mode will be discussed. The talk will conclude with a look at future trends in freight movement. Speaker: Glen Harrison, PhD, / Transportation Research Institute - University of Kansas ISM-KANSAS CITY NEWSLETTER PAGE 3 ISM-KC 2013/2014 Monthly Educational Meetings How many meetings do you attend? Would you like to be rewarded for your attendance? If you attend 7 ISM-KC monthly educational meetings between August 2013 and May 2014, you will automatically qualify for a chance to win a Kindle Fire HD. You can increase your chances and attend 8 meetings for another entry to win. The icing on the cake is to attend 9 meetings for yet a third chance to win the Kindle Fire HD. We look forward to seeing you in attendance at the monthly educational meetings. Visit us at https://www.ism-kansascity.org/ for more information. Do you have suggestions for upcoming meetings? If so, please forward to: Director – Programs Esmeralda Phillips, C.P.M. Esmeralda.phillips@sprint.com PAGE 4 ISM-KANSAS CITY NEWSLETTER Message from Director, Communications Dear Members, Your ISM-KC Board of Directors and committees are ready to roll this year with plenty of good ideas. I have been associated with ISM-KC since 1997 and have attended all the annual new board planning meetings and this year, I was very impressed by the commitment of the new members and the new ideas that came out of the meeting. The first step towards a successful ISM-KC year is listening to the membership. To do that, we have sent out a survey request on July 28th that will close on August 20th. Please take a few minutes to respond to the survey and give the new board some direction as we move forward to find meeting locations, speaker topics and training opportunities. You can either use the link on the e-mail you received or you can go to our web page at https://www.ism-kansascity.org and select Survey in the middle of the page. Here are some of the new ideas coming your way this year: To increase attendance at the Monthly Meetings, Esmeralda Phillips and her programs committee will give you the opportunity to win a Kindle Fire HD. See Page 3 of this newsletter for more details. The Education and Communications Committees have teamed up with Johnson County Community College, Metropolitan Community College and Kansas City Kansas Community college to offer the CPSM Study and Review Sessions through them beginning this spring. Join ISM-KC on LinkedIn and easily stay connected with events and opportunities at ISMKC. Click on the link and join now. http://www.linkedin.com/groups?home=&gid=2338557&trk=anet_ug_hm Thanks for your continued support and look forward to seeing you at the August Dinner Meeting. Jim Marinakis, CPSM, C.P.M. Director Communications ISM-KC, Inc. ISM-KANSAS CITY NEWSLETTER PAGE 5 Job Posting New Job Opportunities Posted on ISM-KC Web Site, go to: http://www.ism-kansascity.org/default.asp Log In Select Members Select Job Postings Click on each job for details Purchasing Agent Posted August 5, 2013 Employer: Kawasaki Manufacturing Summary: Kawasaki is seeking a full-time Purchasing Agent to join our manufacturing facility in Maryville Missouri. Critical power comes from quality, committed people. Are you ready to be a critical component?? Join a team oriented and quality focused company with proven longevity and commitment to employees. We are a large company in Northwest Missouri with a generous benefit package, including Pension & 401k. Summary: Perform a variety of procurement functions to obtain the highest quality goods and services in order to achieve the optimum value for our customers. This is accomplished through research, negotiation, supplier selection and management. A few specific duties include: • Select new suppliers and manage existing supplier performance through research, audits, and the evaluation of price, quality, service support, availability, reliability, production and distribution capabilities, reputation and history. • Facilitate to resolve issues related to the procurement process through meeting management and effective communications with staff, users, and suppliers. • Correspond with internal customers and outside supplier to ensure requirements are met. • Manage the part development process to include implementing the quotation process, working with Research and Development to develop prototype and production parts, coordinate tool development, confirm final product approval, and approve payment of cost(s) related to part development process. • Review requisitions to verify accuracy, terminology and specifications and initiate the ordering process. • Negotiate and administer contracts with suppliers and other representatives. • Assist with, and participate in, analyzing inventory trends and proposing PAGE 6 ISM-KANSAS CITY NEWSLETTER process improvements. • Establish strong and lasting partnerships with business contacts; proactively seek ways of increasing business opportunities with contacts; influence and negotiate with partners to create opportunities that increase the competitive position of both parties. Qualifications: • Critical Thinking and Problem Solving • Decision Making • Negotiation Skills and Experience • Strong people skills • Strong business ethics • Cost and risk management awareness Education/Experience: Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or Business. OR Equivalent combination of education and experience in an engineering or business related field. Work environment considerations: Majority of tasks will be conducted in an open office environment. May work in other areas of the facility as needed. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourage applicants of all ages, experiences, and backgrounds to apply for open positions. We do not discriminate on the basis an applicant's age, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, or status with regard to public assistance. Compensation: Competitive wages based on education and experience Submit Resume and Cover Letter to: hresumes@mvl.kmmfg.com Closing Date: August 20, 2013 Contact: Donell R. Anderson 28147 Business Hwy. 71 Maryville, MO 64468 hresumes@mvl.kmmfg.com Sr. Buyer Posted July 29, 2013 Employer: Dairy Farmers of America Summary: Senior Buyer Location: Kansas City, MO Reports To: Manager, Purchasing & Capital Equipment ISM-KANSAS CITY NEWSLETTER To Apply: www.dfamilk.com/careers Dairy Farmers of America is seeking a Senior Buyer to assist in the development of national procurement programs for the largest dairy cooperative in the United States with $12 billion dollars annual revenue and 30 plus facilities geographically dispersed in all regions of the country. Goals are to drive operational excellence and implement best practices to reduce costs and improve performance. This position will also focus on capital procurement and assist with the management/bidding of capital projects. Duties and Responsibilities: - Sources, negotiates, and manages spend in categories such as capital, operating supplies, and special projects to meet the enterprises needs in the most cost efficient manner - Leverage the spend at DFA facilities to lower procurement costs - Identify and coordinate best practices across business units - Actively and effectively communicate and support DFA’s purchasing policies and procedures - Work closely with operations and engineering supporting capital project bids and contract negotiation. - Participate in quarterly business reviews with key suppliers to monitor and manage procurement programs - Develop, standardize and streamline electronic procurement practices - Drive continuous process improvement through the DFA Supply Chain Requirements: - Bachelor’s Degree Required and Master’s Degree desired in Business, Economics, Engineering, or Supply Chain Management - 5+ years progressive experience in Supply Chain/Procurement Field - MRO and/or Capital sourcing and procurement experience desired - Certifications are a plus - Skilled in Negotiation, Market Analysis, and Contract Formulation - Experience in Project Management - Strong Organizational and Problem Solving Skills - Working knowledge of MRP and ERP systems - Unquestionable Ethics - Thorough understanding of capital acquisition process - Working knowledge of dairy/agricultural plant operations Closing Date: August 25, 2013 Contact: Manager, Purchasing & Capital Equipment 10220 N Ambassador Dr , #1000 Kansas City, MO 64153 PAGE 7 PAGE 8 ISM-KANSAS CITY NEWSLETTER MID AMERICA MINORITY SUPPLIER DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL (MAMSDC) www.mambdc.org DIVERSITY CORNER MAMSDC can help you and your company take advantage of the products and services offered by diverse businesses. Let MAMSDC help you to: Develop a Diversity Program for your company Locate diverse companies in the local area to meet your product and service needs Locate diverse companies outside the area as well In a time where most large companies only offer cookie cutter products and services, diverse businesses can offer custom solutions to meet your needs. Upcoming Events: ISM-KANSAS CITY NEWSLETTER PAGE 9 Mid-American States Mid-America Leading Indicator Softens for June: Impact of Spending Sequestration Growing YouTube interview with Professor Goss can be seen here. July survey results at a glance: Regional index declines for fourth straight month, but remains above growth neutral. The impact of the federal spending sequestration is rising, but remains modest. Inflationary pressures at the wholesale level decline for the fifth straight month. Nondurable goods manufacturers report pullbacks for the month. Export orders index moves lower for July. For Immediate Release: August 1, 2013 OMAHA, Neb. – The monthly Mid-America Business Conditions Index, a leading economic indicator for a nine-state region, declined for a fourth straight month. The index continues to point to positive, but slower economic growth for the region in the next three to six months. Overall index: The Business Conditions Index, which ranges between 0 and 100, declined in July to a still solid 53.5 from June’s 55.6. “Our regional gauge, much like national measures, indicates that the economy will likely continue to expand and add jobs, but at a slow pace. Companies with ties to the U.S. farm economy and to international markets are reporting much softer business conditions. This will show up in the broader regional economy in the next three to six months,” said Ernie Goss, Ph.D., director of Creighton University’s Economic Forecasting Group and the Jack A. MacAllister Chair in Regional Economics. Employment: After moving below growth neutral for January, the region’s employment gauge has remained above 50.0 for the past six months. The July reading climbed to 55.3 from 53.7 in June. “Nondurable goods manufacturers, especially those tied to agriculture and international markets are cutting employment in the region. On the other hand, durable goods producers and value-added nonmanufacturing firms continue to expand employment. Job growth for the second half of 2013 will be down from the same period for 2012, when it was a solid, annualized 1.7 percent,” said Goss. This month supply managers were asked to report the starting salary for new supply manager hires with a college degree and no experience. On average a starting salary of $46,000 was reported. The same new hire with 5 years of experience would receive a starting salary of $60,000 according to the supply managers. Wholesale Prices: The prices-paid index, which tracks the cost of purchased raw materials and supplies, sank for a fifth straight month to 58.0 from 58.4 in June. “Wholesale inflationary pressures for the region have moved consistently lower. Weakness in the global economy and the upturn in the value of the dollar have restrained inflationary pressures at the wholesale level. This trend provides the Federal Reserve (Fed) with flexibility in terms of when they begin tapering its bond-buying program (QE3). Even so, I expect the Fed to begin reducing its $85 billion per month bond-buying program at its Sept. 17-18 meetings,” said Goss. PAGE 10 ISM-KANSAS CITY NEWSLETTER Confidence: Looking ahead six months, economic optimism, as captured by the July business confidence index, advanced to 56.9 from June’s 51.1. “The rapidly improving housing sector and the U.S. equity (stock) market boosted supply managers’ economic outlook for the month,” said Goss. The federal spending sequestration is having very little impact on the outlook. “The last five months, we have asked supply managers how the federal spending sequestration was affecting their company. In the July survey, approximately 67.7 percent of supply managers indicated that the cuts have had no impact on their company to date. This is down from 70.8 percent for June. Approximately 31.3 percent in July reported only modest impacts from sequestration. Only 1 percent of businesses reported significant impacts. Thus, impacts are rising but are still modest,” said Goss. Inventories: Regional inventories continue to grow but at a slow pace as the July inventory index rose to 52.7 from 51.6 in June. “In anticipation of slight positive sales growth, companies in our survey have now increased inventory levels for eight straight months. This inventory accumulation will contribute to regional growth in the months ahead. But declining readings are another indicator of positive, but slowing economic growth for the region,” said Goss. Trade: New export orders reading is trending downward. The new export orders index dipped to 50.0 from 52.9 in June which was well down from May’s 55.9. The import index expanded to 53.6 from June’s 52.9. “Economic pullbacks and slowdowns in Asia and Europe along with increases in the value of the U.S. dollar are having clear negative impacts on sales abroad. At the same time, continued slow but positive growth for regional firms boosted imports slightly for the month,” said Goss. Other components: Other components of the July Business Conditions Index were new orders at 52.2, down from 57.0 in June; production or sales at 54.2, down from last month’s 60.3; and delivery lead time at 53.3, down from 55.4 in June. Survey results for July will be released on the first business day of the month Sept. 3. Follow Goss on twitter at http://twitter.com/erniegoss For historical data and forecasts visit our website at: http://www2.creighton.edu/business/economicoutlook/ ISM-KANSAS CITY NEWSLETTER PAGE 11 Five Ways To Keep Your Job Search Moving Forward In Summer Published July 22, 2013 | By Deborah Summer is typically a slow time for job seekers. Interviews and hiring decisions get delayed while recruiters and hiring managers are on vacations. Here are five ways you can keep your job-search momentum going during July and August. 1. Check in with recruiters once a week just to let them know you are still interested. 2. Take former coworkers to lunch or coffee to uncover potential job leads with their employer. 3. Attend your professional association Summer events, especially picnics or fundraisers. 4. Fine tune your resume to make sure it’s in line with current trends and key words. 5. Don’t get discouraged by the season’s slow process. Just keep plugging away. Remember, much of your competition has decided to take the Summer off from their job search. Make good use of this time to stay productive in your job search. When that hiring manager gets back from vacation you’ll be ready to convince him/her that you’re the best person for the job. ALPHA ADVANTAGE Serving Job Seekers Nationwide Deborah Walker, CCMC 360-260-4965 Deb@AlphaAdvantage.com PAGE 12 ISM-KANSAS CITY NEWSLETTER ISM Kansas City Board of Directors President Kriss Pearson Laird Plastics, Inc. kpearson@lairdplastics.com Past President Mark VanSickle Bayer mark.vansickle@bayer.com 1st Vice President Roxanna Swaney CenturyLink roxanna.r.swaney@centurylink.com 2nd Vice President Manny Gutierrez, C.P.M. Waddell & Reed mgutierrez@waddell.com Treasurer Joel Johnson, CPSM Blue Scope Buildings, N.A joel.johnson10@gmail.com Secretary JoAnn Harper, CPSM, C.P.M. Sprint Nextel JoAnn.S.Harper@sprint.com Director - Diversity Asya Evans MidAmerica Minority Business Development Council asya.evans@mambdc.org Director – Marketing JennyLyn Jensen Helzberg Diamond JLJensen@helzberg.com Co-Director – Marketing Michelle Burdine, C.P.M. Burlington Northern Santa Fe michelle.burdine@bnsf.com Director – Programs Esmeralda Phillips, C.P.M. Sprint esmeralda.phillips@sprint.com Director - Membership Penelope Wilson Kansas City Power & Light penelope.wilson@kcpl.com ISM-KANSAS CITY NEWSLETTER Director – Education Joe Steve, CPSM, C.P.M. Kansas City Power & Light joe.steve@kcpl.com Co-Director – Education Doug Gwin Tnemec Company, Inc. gwin@tnemec.com Director - Communications Jim Marinakis, CPSM, C.P.M. Waddell & Reed jmarinakis@waddell.com Co-Director - Communications Sue Madrid Honeywell FMT smadrid@kcp.com PAGE 13