The Bears Advancing Supply Chain and Operations Management (BASCOM) club had a meeting and went on a Westrock tour. The club’s meeting featured a presentation by VP of Inside Sales, Blake Marchese and Josh from Priority1, a third-party logistics company. They provided an overview of their services, technology, and career opportunities. They explained their non-asset-based business model and discussed the range of transportation services they support, including LTL, truckload, expedited, and international shipping.
They also introduced their proprietary platform, Cabo, which allows customers to manage shipping needs through a single system. The presenters highlighted the company鈥檚 impressive growth鈥攆rom $350 million to $1.6 billion over six years鈥攁nd shared insights into their sales training process, emphasizing the importance of relationship-building in logistics.
The club also in March 
featured a discussion with Steven Bauer, Co-Founder of DBI Sales, at our meeting in March. Steven has almost 30 years of experience in Sales and Business Management working with companies like Cadbury, Jack Link’s Jerky, Kraft, Sweet Baby Rays, and HARIBO. Steven shared insights about retail operations and supply chain management. Steven explained his current role as a broker, helping small- to medium-sized manufacturers get their products into major retailers like Walmart and Sam’s Club, detailing the process from initial qualification through execution. The conversation covered various aspects of retail, including seasonal challenges, product placement strategies, and the importance of building trust with retailers. Students asked questions about getting started in the industry, handling international supply chains, and navigating the complexities of working with large retailers like Walmart. Steven emphasized the value of gaining corporate experience early in one’s career and stressed the importance of relationships and trust in the retail business.