Age: 22
Hometown: Bentonville
Degree(s): Bachelors of Science in Business Administration (minors in retail)

How did you get into the field?
Shaybrean: I took advantage of resources such as career fairs and workshops. The Center for Retailing Excellence, as well as Leadership Walton, provided faculty who performed mock interviews and résumé critiques to help me prepare for interviews.

Essence: Attending various networking events sponsored by the business college allowed me to gain exposure to influential businessmen and women whose “message of the future” pointed to areas encompassing supply chain management.

What was your training or schooling like?
E: Challenging courses such as Supply Chain Analysis required group work, organizational skills and computer skills; all of which I am required to use at my job. I also had the opportunity to intern for Walmart Stores, Inc. at Distribution Center 6069 in Missouri. This experience allowed me to learn an integral part of the supply chain in action.

S: Last summer, I was afforded the opportunity to intern at Walmart Distribution Center 6094 in Bentonville, where I gained invaluable experience and was able to see a major part of the supply chain. I took courses in WCOB such as Supply Chain Strategy and Retail Supply Chain Analysis, in which I was able to contribute to research concerning supply solutions.

Why should students choose this field?
S: It’s a field with endless possibilities!

What do you love most about your job?
E: I really enjoy seeing how a product gets from its raw state to the end consumer. I love how this field is always looking to find a new and improved way of operating.

S: I love walking into any store and knowing that the everyday items that we purchase don’t miraculously appear on the shelves.

What would surprise students the most about your field?
S: Supply chain doesn’t just encompass warehouses, plants and trucks! There are many functions in between how raw materials are transformed into finished products and then made available to the customer.
your advice to students aspiring to the same career:
E: Take advantage of all learning opportunities. Having different experiences inside and outside of the classroom are important.

Jobs in Supply Chain Management

Why it’s hot: If you haven’t noticed, Arkansas is full of Fortune 500 company headquarters. With Walmart in Bentonville, Dillard’s in Little Rock and Tyson Foods in Springdale (to name a few), there are ample opportunities to get involved with big-name retailers at just about any point in the process, from warehouses to beyond.

The Major: Supply Chain Management, Retail

The Job: Intermodal Manager, Inventory Coordinator, Logistician, Transportation/Distribution Manager

The Paycheck: Responsibilities—and therefore pay—vary widely in this field, but a supply chain management degree can get you on track for to achieve whatever goals you may set. The Arkansas Department of Workforce Services reports that logisticians in Arkansas made $64,160 on average in 2013, while transportation/storages/distribution managers brought in $95,820.