by Fronetics | Jan 30, 2017 | Blog, Content Marketing, Logistics, Marketing, Supply Chain, Transportation & Trucking
Our readers voted Morai Logistics, Women in Trucking, and the Oracle Supply Chain Management Blog as the top 3 logistics and supply chain blogs of 2017.
Every year we ask our readers to vote for the best industry blogs. The results are always interesting — there’s really a lot of great supply chain and logistics content out there, plus it’s great to see where our readers are finding value.
This year was no different. The best logistics and supply chain blogs, as named by our readers, are all new to our best blogs list. They probably couldn’t be more different, either. But all three offer consistent, high-quality content, which is key to running a successful blog.
Here are the top 3 logistics and supply chain blogs of 2017.
1) Morai Logistics
Morai Logistics Inc. is a Toronto-based third-party logistics provider representing Mode Transportation. Morai’s blog covers the most pressing issues facing the logistics industry, as well as trends to watch out for, professional tips, and career advice. The almost-weekly posts have a lot to offer, in terms of information and thought leadership, and they often include valuable (and, might we add, beautiful) visual elements like infographics.
P.S. Check out our interview with Morai Logistics’ President Kelli Saunders.
2) Women in Trucking
The Women In Trucking Association is a non-profit organization focused on encouraging the employment of women in the trucking industry, promoting their accomplishments, and minimizing obstacles. Just one vote shy of the top spot, the Women in Trucking blog — or, should we say blogs — bring to light many issues of concern to both women and men working in the trucking industry. President/CEO Ellen Voie’s blog offers thought-provoking, insight on topics from the driver shortage to recruiting women drivers. The driver’s blog — with content mostly from longtime driver and writer Sandy Long — tackles pressing day-to-day issues facing drivers, such as parking in dangerous locations, family problems stemming from job-related realities, and assimilating to trucking culture.
3) Oracle Supply Chain Management
The Oracle Supply Chain Management blog looks at how Oracle helps organizations transform their supply chains into more holistic and integrated value chains that cover the three key operational pillars: Demand, Supply, and Product. Weekly content from a number of contributors cover topics including supply chain management, events, product lifecycle management, logistics, technology, and more.
Honorable mention
These blogs received quite a few votes as well.
What blogs do you read on a regular basis? Which have the most valuable content?
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by Fronetics | Dec 21, 2016 | Blog, Diversity, Leadership, Logistics, Manufacturing & Distribution, Strategy, Supply Chain, Talent
Women hold just 15% of all executive officer positions within Fortune 500 companies, yet research consistently shows that when women are in positions of leadership, companies perform better. In the supply chain industry, just 5% of top-level supply chain positions within Fortune 500 companies are held by women.
As a woman working within the supply chain industry, I believe that it is important to discuss the lack of gender diversity and point to research highlighting why the industry needs to increase the number of women in all positions, including the C-suite. It is just as important to highlight the incredible women who already are working within the industry.
In 2015 I interviewed Cathy Morris, senior vice president and chief strategy officer at Arrow Electronics, and Mickey North Rizza, vice president of strategic services at BravoSolution. Morris was twice named one of the “Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Technology,” and North Rizza was named a “Top Female Supply Chain Executive.” Both Morris and North Rizza shared how they got started in the industry, and the steps they have taken to get to where they are today.
In 2016 I interviewed Kendrea Durr-Smith, director of global trade compliance at Arrow Electronics, Kelli Saunders, President of Morai Logistics, Hailey McKeefry, editor and chief at EBN, and Barbara Jorgensen, co-founder and managing editor, EPS News. I also invited Tania Seary, founder of Procurious, to share what is happening at her company, and Jennifer Cortez, director of marketing and communications at Transplace, to discuss the role of quality content within the industry.
Here are the most-read women in the supply chain posts of 2016.
It was a “fluke” that Kelli Saunders found the supply chain industry. More than 30 years later, Saunders is president of Morai Logistics Inc., an Authorized Agent of Mode Transportation. Read more.
When Arrow Electronics came across Kendrea Durr-Smith, senior leader of export control audits, training, and communications at Honeywell Aerospace, on LinkedIn, the company was impressed with what she had accomplished in her nine years there. Now Arrow’s Director of Global Trade Compliance for the last four years, Durr-Smith has led a group that is both unique and diverse, and has helped to shepherd in significant changes. Read more.
Data shows that gender equality has improved in recent decades, such as the 15% increase of women working full time in the workforce since 1979. But there is still much progress to be made. As a recent UN Working Group mission to the US to explore discrimination against women found: “In the US, women fall behind international standards as regards [to] their public and political representation, their economic and social rights, and their health and safety protections.” Read more.
Women within the supply chain industry are doing incredible things. Here are some of their stories. Read more.
While there remains a gender gap in the supply chain industry, progress has been made. McKeefry is a clear example of progress. Her internship at EBN in 1990 was a “minority internship,” and today, 26 years later, she holds a leadership position within the company. Read more.
Barbara Jorgensen has more than 20 years’ experience as a journalist, working for leading electronics industry publications such as Electronic Business, Electronic Buyers’ News, and EDN. She is the co-founder and managing editor of EPS News. Read more.
This is a guest post written by Tania Seary, founder of Procurious, the world’s first online social network for supply chain and procurement professionals. Seary shares how she has built Procurious. Read more.
This is a guest post by Jennifer Cortez, Director, Marketing Communications, Transplace. Cortez discusses how Transplace, a North American non-asset-based provider offering manufacturers, retailers, chemical and consumer packaged goods companies the optimal blend of logistics technology and transportation management services, has used content marketing and she offers up 3 tips for creating valuable and compelling content. Read more.
by Fronetics | Jul 28, 2016 | Blog, Diversity, Leadership, Logistics, Strategy, Supply Chain
In an interview with Kate Lee, Saunders discusses her career in the logistics industry and key issues within the supply chain.
Kelli Saunders is president of Morai Logistics.
The percentage of female CEOs in the Fortune 500 declined from 4.8% in 2015 to 4.2% in 2016. Canada, too, has realized a decline: 8% of the highest-paid executive positions are held by women, down from 8.5%. Research conducted by Gartner in April 2016 finds that for the supply chain industry, “the percentage of women in leadership positions decreases as the corporate ladder rises.”
It was a “fluke” that Kelli Saunders found the supply chain industry. More than 30 years later, Saunders is president of Morai Logistics Inc., an Authorized Agent of Mode Transportation. I sat down and talked with Saunders about her career and her perspective on women within the supply chain industry.
How did you find the supply chain industry?
It was a fluke. I was just out of college and needed a job. I found an ad in our local paper for a telemarketer, and I applied. I was hired as a telemarketing supervisor for a Canadian intermodal marketing company (IMC).
The man who owned the company focused on his employees. He taught us how to read a balance sheet and an income statement. He taught us the difference between added value and value added. And he taught us the industry. He had us climbing into trucks and railroad yards so that we could truly understand the industry.
When his wife sadly passed away, he decided to sell the company. He allowed six of us to become majority shareholders.
Fast forward sixteen years. The company has been bought and sold many times. I’ve stayed with the company through this process. Each time the company changed hands, my role changed, exposing me to different aspects of the business. Six years ago I bought the company back and now serve as president.
Your first boss sounds like he was a pretty incredible person.
He was. And now it is my turn. It’s my turn to give back.
I am a big believer in millennials. Their energy is contagious. I strive to be a mentor to them, and to let them know that they can dream big.
You’ve been in the industry for more than 30 years. What changes have you seen?
The industry is becoming more diverse, and more women are entering the industry. That being said, there is a still a long way to go. A big challenge is getting women and minorities to recognize that the supply chain industry is an option.
Tell me more about this.
Women don’t seem to recognize that there are incredible opportunities in the supply chain industry. The industry needs to do a better job at sharing what is happening — what the industry is all about. People think it is dull and boring; it’s not.
The supply chain industry is not just about getting things from point A to point B. The industry is an entire sophistication of infrastructure. There are so many aspects that we take for granted. Streamlining the chaos within the industry is incredibly rewarding.
How can this problem be addressed?
We need to get out and talk to more people. We need to go into the schools; we need to make connections and have conversations. Companies need to share their stories more widely. It is all about getting the word out there.
What advice do you have for people who do enter the industry?
Surround yourself with the best of the best. This is true when it comes to your colleagues, your employees, your vendors, your clients — everyone. This not only makes life more enjoyable, it has an impact on the bottom line.
Interestingly, 75% of the staff at Morai Logistics are women. This is not by design. By seeking out the best of the best, it just happened.
As a mentor, what advice do you give?
Dress for the job you want, not for the job you have. But I am not talking just about clothes. I am talking about your mental state, your body language, the quality of the work you produce. Visualize the job you want and portray that in all you do.
I also tell people to always be honest, respectful, and ethical. These characteristics are essential.
Getting the right product to the right place at just the right time is a complicated business. Kelli Saunders, CEO of Morai Logistics, understands the complexities and nuances involved in long term sustainability in the logistics industry. This is why the company she leads is the successful multimillion dollar, multinational business that it is today.
Kelli’s experience in the supply chain and logistics field is extensive. During her 30 years in the industry, she has been recognized for her strategic selling, relationship development, and management throughout North America. She started from her humble beginnings as a telemarketing supervisor for a Canadian 3PL provider to creating Morai Logistics Inc.
Since then Kelli has received numerous awards for her expertise in strategic sales. She has shown consistent impact in the industry by being awarded Salesperson of the Year numerous times, and was the former president of the Toronto Transportation Club. As a certified diversity supplier, her company has received WeConnect Canada’s Doing Business International Award and WBE Canada’s Doing Business Award as a woman-owned business.
Aside from assisting her clients with services including warehousing, management consulting and technology services through Morai Logistics, Kelli’s drive also shines through in her other passions.
She is an active member of the Women Presidents Organization, WeConnect International, and WBE Canada. Kelli strives to inspire women by telling her story and sharing her lessons at talks to support fellow female entrepreneurs. She also takes time to enjoy spinning, running, golf, and travelling. Her motivation and drive shows in her company’s performance and inspires her team to succeed.
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