News release Public Information Office   SLU 10880   Hammond, LA 70402   phone: 985-549-2341   fax: 985-549-2061 publicinfo@selu.edu     www.selu.edu/news Contact: Rene Abadie Date: 6/9/03   SOUTHEASTERN TO HOST TRANSPORTATION/LOGISTICS CONFERENCE      HAMMOND -- Southeastern Louisiana University and Louisiana Economic Development will co-sponsor a half-day conference Tuesday, June 17, on human resource challenges in the transportation/logistics industry.      The conference, entitled “Finding and Keeping Good Managers,” will be held from 9 a.m. through a noon lunch at the Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts in downtown Hammond. The program is designed for managers involved in the areas of transportation, logistics and supply management. Cost of the conference and lunch is $25, payable at the door. Southeastern students are invited to the conference at no charge.      Keynote speaker will be Chris Sultimeier, WalMart vice president of logistics for the southeast region. Sultimeier is based in the company headquarters in Bentonville, Ark. His 11 a.m. lecture will be held in the Student Union Theatre on the Southeastern campus in conjunction with a mini-career fair to allow student participation and the opportunity for students to meet industry leaders.      The program also will include a panel discussion involving industry leaders and a presentation by Toni Phillips, Southeastern professor of management, on “People Skills vs. Tech Skills: Finding Employees with Both.”      “Industry leaders are telling us the difficulties in finding well trained lower and mid-level managers in this general field,” said Mike Jones, associate professor of marketing and coordinator of the conference. “This is an emerging field which requires managers who possess strong computer skills in addition to management and leadership abilities.”      According to Louisiana Economic Development, more than 12 percent of the state’s workforce is involved in logistics, transportation and distribution activities.       Advance registration is encouraged by visiting the Louisiana Economic Development website (www.led.state.la.us/industry/logi stics/agenda.asp) or by calling Jones at 985-549-2394. Return to News Releases