Distribution Management Association Recognizes TOM Students

The proposed World Logistic Center project is expected to provide more than 40 million square feet of buildings in Moreno Valley, Calif. filled with the latest in logistics technology, according to commercial real estate developer Highland Fairview.

Iddo Benzeevi, the president and CEO of Highland Fairview and the man in charge of the project was the keynote speaker at a recent Distribution Management Association of Southern California dinner. Along with the Inland Empire’s top logistics and supply chain professionals, a group of eight Cal Poly Pomona TOM students was also in the audience.

“It was very information and I thought he was brilliant,” TOM student Lorena Andreas said. “I’m super excited about how logistics is the new manufacturing – I really believe that now.”

The DMA of Southern California has been a longtime partner with Cal Poly Pomona’s College of Business Administration TOM department, providing annual scholarships to qualifying students. Recently, the relationship between the TOM department and DMA of Southern California has expanded to include invitations to events like the Sept. 17 dinner. 

“At my past colleges, I never had a chance to come to a conference like tonight’s,” TOM student Alex Leon said. “My expectation is to learn more about the trade and what they want from prospective employees.”

It was no secret who the eight new faces in the DMA of Southern California’s dinner belonged to; in a hall packed with the area’s top names in logistics, sustainability managers, CEOs and the sorts, the students were recognized in front of the entire association.

Accessibility to seasoned logistics and sustainability experts was only part of the upside to one of the first events of the new academic year.

“I came to network with people. I heard with this type of conference you can meet a lot of people, especially in this field,” Leon said. “Not only that, since it’s my first quarter, I haven’t really had a chance to meet my fellow students so this was a good way.”

When Andreas was asked what the highlight of her night was following the dinner, she also realized the importance of being able to spend face time with such a variety of professionals.

“Networking is probably the best thing you can do as a student, especially at events like this,” she said.