monthly newsletter institute for supply management ... · interview questions, it’s equally...

Message from the President Dear ISM-KC Members and Friends,

I am looking forward to another fruitful year with the Kansas City affiliate of

ISM. As usual, you have elected a great dynamic volunteer leadership

group which, I am proud to be a part of.

First, I want recognize Sandy Buescher, MBA, CPSM our Past President, for

her outstanding leadership along with the working board of directors which

provided our organization the resources for our continuing education

efforts in the field of Supply Chain Management.

Historically, our affiliate has obtained the Affiliate of Excellence Award in

2002 and 2007. It is time for this affiliate to shine again among our national

and international peers.

I have seen that during these recent challenging time periods, we had a

high level of participation from our membership. Yes, even with the ever

changing economy and business markets, this organization has been

resilient even with companies cutting back and operating on the leaner

side.

We will play a major part of the country’s economic recovery within the

upcoming years. We have found that networking and utilizing the

continuing education and certification programs through our organization

has provided employment opportunities for our membership and our

individual companies have benefited in the long run.

By this time you have had an opportunity to complete our membership

survey. This will allow us to provide the programs which will help us all.

We, your leadership team, are as good as your support. You will hear more

from us after our up coming strategic planning sessions.

Thank you for your support.

LaMar Wilson, Jr.

President, ISM-Kansas City Affiliate

Inside This Issue

1 Message from the President

2 CPSM Certification Study &

Review Sessions

2 Calendar

3 eSide Editorial

4 Dinner Meetings

5 Seminars/Job Postings

6-8 Top Interview Secret

9-12 Mid-America Leading

Economic Indicators

13 ISM-KC Board of Directors

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

Institute for Supply Management – Kansas City, Inc.

June 2011

ISM-KANSAS CITY NEWSLETTER

CPSM Certification

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CPSM Study & Review Sessions 2011

ISM~KC recently completed the 3 module CPSM Study Review Classes. We will schedule additional 3 module class session in early fall and we will continue to offer these classes in the early fall and early spring to avoid scheduling conflicts with your Holiday Season celebrations and Summer Vacations

Classes are taught by ISM certified instructors whom have earned their CPSM certifications: Joe Steve, CPSM, [email protected], (816) 806-0194 Jim Marinakis, CPSM, C.P.M., [email protected], (913) 226-4842 ISM-KC has done everything possible to keep the cost reasonable and have scheduled them so people can budget accordingly. A minimum attendee must be met. Cost for EACH TWO day class session will be: $199.00 for ISM-KC Members, $299.00 for Non ISM-KC Members Pre-pay only No refunds for no-shows Cost of the Study Guides are: $59.00 for ISM-KC Members + shipping charges $89.00 for Non ISM-KC Members + shipping charges Study Guides can be purchase from ISM at the link below: http://www.ism.ws/products/productdetail.cfm?ItemNumber=17934 When Fall Schedule coming soon


Mary Lewis – eSide Editorial Review Board Member

In the May ISM-KC Newsletter we mentioned that Mary Lewis of our

affiliate received an invitation from Terri Tracey, Editor-in-Chief of ISM’s

Inside Supply Management publication to be a member of the eSide

editorial review board. The invitation came about as a result of Mary’s

submission of an article outlining Sprint’s paper reduction strategy, which

was the subject of the executive project for her Rockhurst MBA.

Mary’s article was published in eSide and can be found online on ISM’s

website. Here is a cut-and-pasted URL:

http://www.ism.ws/pubs/eside/esidearticle.cfm?ItemNumber=21249

If you or someone you know wants to learn more about getting published

in eSide, please contact Mary Lewis at [email protected]


2011 Dinner/Lunch Meeting Events

Schedule is coming soon………Enjoy your summer!


Seminar Schedule coming soon

Job Posting

New Job Opportunities Posted on ISM-KC Web

Site, go to:

• http://www.ism-kansascity.org/default.asp

• Log In

• Select Members

• Select Job Postings

• Click on each job for details

Please view the job postings regularly as new jobs are posted throughout

the month.

Seminar


Top Interview Secret: Know the Right Questions To Ask

Most interview preparation books are filled with sample questions that you’ll have to

answer during an interview. While it’s certainly important to know how to answer tough

interview questions, it’s equally important to know how to ASK questions in an

interview. There are three good reasons to be prepared to ask great questions during

interviews.

To uncover the interviewer’s hiring motives.

To demonstrate your interest and intelligence.

To uncover any unspoken concerns or “red flags.”

Let’s look at each of these points:

1. To uncover the interviewer’s hiring motives.

A big mistake candidates make going into a job interview is to assume that they know the

hiring motives of the interviewer based solely on the job description. But the reality is

that each person within an organization will have a slightly different idea of the perfect

person for the job.

It’s up to you to find out the hiring motives of each person you interview within any one

organization. Ask a simple question and you’ll know what your interviewer is looking

for. Such as:

• What do you see as the most significant challenges for this position?

What qualities do you look for to fill this position?


Then just listen closely. He/She will tell you just what you need to know in order to tailor

your answers to his/her desires.

2. To demonstrate your interest and intelligence.

Nothing works better than a well thought out question to convince your interviewer of the

sincerity and interest. Additionally, a good question is the simplest, yet most effective

way of impressing them with your intelligence.

The main thing is that you want your question(s) to be specific to the organization you

are interviewing with. Avoid generic questions such as “Where do you see your company

going in five years?” The interviewer is going to realize you just asked the last five

companies that same question. A more targeted and specific question will win you points

in the interview, and may tip the scale in your favor when they’re discussing which

candidate to hire.

3. To uncover any unspoken concerns or “red flags.”

Before you walk out of your interview, find out any concerns that may eliminate you as a

candidate. This is your best chance to defend your candidacy. This is also your second

chance to undo an interview error, or provide vital information. Ask a question something

like:

“What concerns do you have that would prevent you from calling me back for the next

interview?”

Spoken concerns can be answered with new information on how you’ve overcome

challenges, learned new skills, or adjusted to new industries quickly. Remember, if you

don’t ask, they will not tell you, and you’ll always wonder why they didn’t call you back.


When it comes to interviews, there is no such thing as over preparation. A resume will

get your foot in the door, but the interview will seal the deal. Make sure you’re ready to

win the job by asking the right interview questions.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Deborah Walker, Certified Career Management Coach

Read more career tips and see sample resumes at:

www.AlphaAdvantage.com

email: [email protected]


Mid-America Leading Economic Indicator Slides

An interview with Professor Goss is available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIyM_tjLkCg

For More Information Contact:

Ernie Goss Ph.D., (402) 280-4757

[email protected]

Cindy Workman (402) 280-2969

[email protected]

Exports Push Mid-America Leading Indicator Higher:

Wholesale Inflation Still a Problem

May survey results at a glance:

· Leading economic indicator rises for first time since February.

· New export orders climbs sharply.

· Few companies reported expanding real estate space utilization.

· Even fewer companies expect to expand real estate space

utilization with new construction and/or leasing over the next six

months.

For Immediate Release: June 1, 2011

OMAHA, Neb. – For the first time since February of this year, the Business

Conditions Index, a leading economic indicator for the nine-state Mid-

America region, increased. The index from a monthly survey of supply

managers is pointing to positive growth for the next three to six months. As

in prior months, the May survey indicated soaring inflationary pressures at

the wholesale level.

Overall index: The index, a leading economic indicator that ranges

between 0 and 100, advanced to 60.2 from 57.7 in April. This is the 18th

consecutive month that the index has been above growth neutral 50.0.

The overall index, or Business Conditions Index, is a mathematical average

of indices for new orders, production or sales, employment, inventories

and delivery lead time. This is the same methodology used by the national

Institute for Supply Management

“While higher commodity prices have cooled regional growth a bit, our

survey points to a healthy expansion in the months ahead with exports

making a significant contribution to growth,” Creighton University

Economics Professor Ernie Goss said today.

Employment: For the 17th straight month, the regional employment index

remained above growth neutral as the May job reading expanded to 58.1


from April’s 54.0. “This month 14.1 percent of firms reported reductions in

employment. This compares to 16 percent of firms that indicated

pullbacks in our April survey. Job growth was especially strong for firms

more dependent on international sales and those with ties to agriculture,”

said Goss, director of Creighton’s Economic Forecasting Group and the

Jack A. MacAllister Chair in Regional Economics.

Wholesale Prices: The prices-paid index, which tracks the cost of raw

materials and supplies, slipped to a still inflationary 84.9 from April’s record

high 94.0. “Companies continue to report transportation surcharges for

their purchases with sellers resisting price negotiations. The higher

commodity prices, especially for energy products, is cutting into the profit

margins of businesses that we survey each month,” said Goss.

Record high inflationary pressures at the wholesale level have begun to

spill over into consumer prices. “For example, since December of last

year, the core consumer price index, which excludes energy and food,

has exceeded 3 percent on an annualized basis, even though the Federal

Reserve (Fed) indicated it would end its buying of long-term U.S. Treasury

bonds, quantitative easing 2 (QE2), this summer. I expect the Fed’s

record-low short-term interest rates to continue to weaken the dollar and

push inflation above the Fed’s comfort zone,” said Goss.

This month survey participants were asked how their firms have changed

their real estate utilization over the past six months and how their real

estate utilization will change for the next six months.

Approximately 17.8 percent indicated they had expanded real estate

utilization while 3 percent reported reducing real estate utilization over the

past six months. The remaining 79.2 percent indicated that their real

estate utilization had not changed in the past six months.

One supply manager reported, “We did not expand our company space.

However, we greatly expanded our capacity through significant

outsourcing, domestic and international.”

“For the next six month period, approximately 13.1 percent indicated they

expect their firm’s real estate space utilization to expand while 9.0

percent anticipate a reduction. The remaining 77.9 percent indicated

their real estate utilization would not change over the next six months,”

said Goss.

Confidence: Looking ahead six months, economic optimism, as captured

by the May business confidence index, grew to 60.4 from April’s 57.5.

“Recent pullbacks in energy prices had a positive impact on supply

manager’s economic outlook. Even so, supply mangers said they expect


elevated commodity prices to limit future economic expansion,” said

Goss.

Inventories: For the 15th time in the past 16 months, supply managers in

the nine-state region expanded inventory levels. The May reading

expanded to 58.9 from April’s 53.7. “The upturn in inventory levels of raw

materials and supplies for the month is another indication of the

expansion in economic optimism among supply managers,” said Goss.

Trade: An expanding global economy continues to boost regional trade

numbers. Aided by a cheap dollar making U.S. goods more competitively

priced abroad, May’s new export orders index advanced to 60.1 from

57.1 in April. The region’s import reading dipped to 53.3 from April’s 56.1.

“The cheap dollar and a global economic expansion combined to boost

sales and new orders from abroad,” said Goss.

Other components: Other components of the May Business Conditions

Index were new orders at 59.6, up slightly from 59.5 in April; production or

sales at 60.9, up from 59.5; and delivery lead time at 63.6, up from 62.0 in

April.

The Creighton Economic Forecasting Group has conducted the monthly

survey of supply managers in nine states since 1994 to produce leading

economic indicators of the Mid-America economy. States included in the

survey are Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North

Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

The Creighton Economic Forecasting Group uses the same methodology

as a national survey by the Institute for Supply Management, formerly the

Purchasing Management Association, which has formally surveyed its

membership since 1931 to gauge business conditions. The overall index,

referred to as the Business Conditions Index, ranges between 0 and 100.

An index greater than 50 indicates an expansionary economy over the

course of the next three to six months.

Kansas: The Business Conditions Index for Kansas rose to 59.2 from 58.4 in

April. It is the ninth time in the past 10 months that the leading economic

indicator for Kansas was above growth neutral. Components of the index

for May were new orders at 59.0, production or sales at 68.5, delivery lead

time at 67.8, employment at 60.2, and inventories at 63.5.“Except for

aircraft and aerospace parts producers, durable goods producers in

Kansas are experiencing very healthy growth especially for firms with ties

to international markets. Higher commodity prices continue to cut into

profits and economic activity for Kansas food processors,” said Goss.


Missouri: The Missouri Business Conditions Index climbed above growth

neutral to 57.4, up slightly from 57.2 in April. The index continues to point to

growth in the months ahead. Components of the Business Conditions

Index for May were new orders at 57.2, production or sales at 57.1,

delivery lead time at 62.5, inventories at 56.8, and employment at 53.3.

“Except for food processors and vehicle manufacturers, manufacturers in

Missouri reported healthy growth for the month. Higher commodity prices

are negatively affecting food manufacturers while supply chain delays

are having adverse impacts on Missouri vehicle manufacturers,” said

Goss.

Survey results for June will be released on July 1.

Follow Goss on twitter at http://twitter.com/erniegoss

For historical data and forecasts visit our website at:

http://www2.creighton.edu/business/economicoutlook/


ISM Kansas City Board of Directors

President Executive Administrator

LaMar Wilson VACANT

NAIC

[email protected]

1st Vice President

Membership, Marketing

& Communications

Kriss Pearson

Laird Plastics [email protected]

2nd Vice President

Programs, Education

& Diversity

Ron Feldman

[email protected]

Treasurer

Toni Mitobe-Shuster, C.P.M.

Harley Davidson

[email protected]

Secretary

JoAnn Harper, CPSM, C.P.M.

Sprint

[email protected]

Director - Diversity

Maggie Riley MidAmerica Minority Business Development Council – KC

[email protected]

Director – Marketing

Vacant Position

Director - Membership

David Bradshaw

Sprint

[email protected]

Co-Director – Programs Co-Director – Programs

Manuel Gutierrez, C.P.M. Denise McCleary

CenturyLink CenturyLink

[email protected] [email protected]

Director - Communications

Jim Marinakis, CPSM, C.P.M.

CenturyLink

[email protected]

Director – Education & Past President

Sandra Buescher, MBA, CPSM

Hallmark Cards

[email protected]

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