Gemini said A group of students and professionals stand and talk in a modern lounge area featuring circular overhead lights and small round tables. A television screen on the left wall displays an announcement for an "Indiana Connection Lounge Visit" featuring the Penske and Indianapolis Motor Speedway logos.Partnering for Excellence: Industry and Alumni Engagement

The Kent C. "Oz" Nelson Logistics and Supply Chain Management Center for Excellence serves as a bridge between academic excellence and industry leadership. By integrating your organization into our academic ecosystem, you gain a direct link to the next generation of logistics leaders while improving your operational performance.

Opportunities for Industry Partnership

Gemini said In a bright classroom setting, a man in a navy blazer and glasses and a woman with curly blonde hair sit at the front of a room, both laughing during a presentation or discussion. The shot is taken from behind an audience, with the blurred figures of other attendees in the foreground.

Our Industry Partnership Program is designed to solve the talent crisis by allowing organizations to audit student performance in real time. Partners can move beyond traditional recruiting to engage deeply with our program through various initiatives:

  • Classroom Engagement: Share your expertise as a guest speaker to build brand awareness and connect directly with students.

  • Technical Projects: Identify a bottleneck or process improvement goal within your organization that students can analyze.

  • Mentorship and Networking: Attend exclusive mixers and networking events to mentor future leaders and influence their professional development.

  • Strategic Advisory: Industry leaders can participate in governance and leadership roles to help shape the future of the center.

 

Click Here to Explore Our Industry Partnership Program

 

Benefits to Your Organization

Partnering with the center provides measurable operational gains and a more efficient talent pipeline:

  • Technical Risk Reduction: Instead of relying solely on resumes, you can evaluate how a candidate handles complex inventory optimizations or warehouse bottlenecks during real-world projects.

  • Consulting Cost Avoidance: High-level partnerships provide access to senior capstone projects that act as professional consultancies, delivering measurable results in areas such as waste reduction and distribution studies.

  • Improved Retention: Engaging with students before they graduate ensures a better cultural fit, helping your company avoid the high costs associated with turnover and wasted training.

  • Operational Value: Projects often result in significant savings through inventory optimization and junior analyst labor provided by student teams.

How Students Benefit

Gemini said Two men sit at a wooden table in an industrial-style room, focusing on a black laptop screen. One man, wearing a grey jacket, points at the screen while the other man, in a black hoodie, watches closely. A grey concrete block wall and a chalkboard with white writing are visible in the background.

Your partnership directly impacts the student experience by providing a foundation for a fulfilling career and a meaningful life:

  • Real-World Application: Students apply classroom theory to actual industry challenges, gaining the technical proficiency and operational mindset required for success.

  • Professional Visibility: Through classroom interactions and technical projects, students showcase their innovation and skills directly to potential employers.

  • High-Impact Learning: Engagement with industry experts creates a unique learning environment that goes beyond typical classroom exercises to provide professional-grade consulting experience.

  • Career Readiness: Early exposure to corporate brands and mentorship from active professionals helps students navigate their transition into the workforce with confidence.

 

Get Involved

To learn more about how your organization can participate in the Strategic Partnership Program, please contact the center.

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