On June 9, 2010 students from the UAA Global Logistics Association (a.k.a., the LOG Students’ Club) visited Whittier, Alaska to take a tour of the barge operation run by the Alaska Railroad Corporation. Hosting the students and Dr. Darren Prokop was Mr. Tim Williams (MS-GSCM 2005), Senior Account Manager. This barge travels by tugboat to Whittier from the Port of Seattle on a weekly basis and serves as the effective rail link to the Lower 48. We thank Mr. Williams for his valuable insights and fascinating walking tour through the Whittier rail terminal.

Post Date: 6-10-10

UAA hosted its campus-wide “I’m Going to College” program on May 6, 2010. Drs. Darren Prokop and Philip Price volunteered again this year to host a session on what makes logistics and supply chain management fun to learn about. A total of 109 students, along with their teachers and chaperones, attended four interactive LOG sessions over the morning. Dr. Prokop explained the strategic locale of Anchorage in international trade routes; discussed the seven “rights” of logistics; and showed the students how to measure great circle routes around the earth. Dr. Price asked the students where their shoes were made and how they might have traveled here; and where our tasty groceries--- including Hershey bars!--- came from. From measuring the globe with strings, tracking the days and seasons with a spot light, to learning how to read product labels with extra care, the students came away with a greater appreciation of what logistics and supply chain management are all about. We thank our visiting students, teachers and chaperones for spending some time with us.

Post Date: 5-7-10

Fourth Annual CBPP “Sophist Salmon” Debate took up the “Brain Drain"
On April 23, 2010 the CBPP Seminar Committee held the 4th Annual CBPP “Sophist Salmon” Debate. Dr. Darren Prokop, who chairs the committee, organized the debate and acted as this year’s moderator. "This house resolves that Alaska will always face a brain drain", was this year’s resolution. Arguing for the affirmative were Dr. Philip Price (Capt.) and Mr. Ken Sawyer. Arguing for the negative was last year’s winner, Dr. Frank Jeffries (Capt.) and his partner, Mr. Zachary Johnson. Messrs. Sawyer and Johnson, being UAA students, added a new dimension to the debate this year. Dr. Omer Carey (UAA Prof. Emeritus) served as the official coin tosser (deciding which position each team would take). This controversial resolution was argued with wit and wisdom; and the usual degree of passion. Many comments for and against the resolution were heard from the audience; including sharp comments BOTH for and against by two-time champion, Dr. Gunnar Knapp. After all the dust cleared, the audience “voted with the feet” for the team for the negative. Dr. Jeffries and Mr. Johnson were presented with the CBPP “Sophist Salmon” Debate plaque. They will defend their championship title at next year’s debate.

Post Date: 4-23-10

Dr. Darren Prokop was recognized for his work with CBPP students and the UAA Global Logistics Association with the award of 2010 CBPP Advisor of the Year. Along with the award, which was conferred at the CBPP Honors Program on April 16, 2010, was the passing of the “Dream Catcher”. Each faculty recipient attaches a memento to the Dream Catcher in order to symbolize the spirit of encouragement and advice which is given to all of our students.

Post Date: 4-17-10

Dr. Darren Prokop presented some of his latest research as part of the CBPP Seminar Series (February 26, 2010). “Regulation as Customer Service: A Cyclical View” (co-authored with Dr. Barry Prentice; University of Manitoba), examines various theories in the economics of regulation and couches them in terms of a trade off in two attributes of customer service: industry stability and industry efficiency. Issues related to deregulation and reregulation of the transportation and financial sectors were discussed in the open forum.

Post Date: 2-27-10

On February 25, 2010 Service High School in Anchorage held a career fair. Dr. Darren Prokop represented the Department of Logistics and provided a lecture covering the role of logistics and supply chain management in today’s business world as well as offering career and education advice to the high school students in attendance. Dr. Prokop’s usual bag of tricks--- the Alaska Logistics Map and globe--- were used to explain why Alaska is such an important center for logistics activity. We thank the organizers for inviting us to meet the next generation of college students.

Post Date: 2-26-10