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Speh receives Supply Chain Council's highest honor

10/26/2007

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Thomas Speh

Internationally recognized logistics expert and Miami University professor Thomas Speh has been named the 2007 recipient of the Distinguished Service Award by the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP). Speh, James Evans Rees Distinguished Professor of Distribution at Miami's Farmer School of Business, received the award at the CSCMP conference in Philadelphia Oct. 22.

The Distinguished Service Award - the CSCMP's highest honor - is given annually to an individual who has made significant, career-long contributions to the supply chain management and logistics professions.

"Perhaps no other academician has contributed as much to what is now CSCMP for as long a period of time as Tom," said Elijah Ray of UTi Integrated Logistics, in nominating Speh for the award. "He has a long history of serving the profession through his efforts at CSCMP, WERC (Warehousing Education and Research Council), Miami University, and as an industry professional."

Speh's leadership of both CSCMP and WERC spurred practical research and led to the globalization of CSCMP's activities. His colleagues cite the innovative spirit he has brought to the science and practice of warehousing and logistics. He is the only American on the Advisory & Communications Board for the European Union's "BestLog" project, creating best practices for logistics. He also serves on McDonald's Supply Chain Academic Advisory Board.

"Throughout his academic career Tom has been on the forefront of research in the fields of warehousing, logistics and supply chain management," said Roger Jenkins, dean of the Farmer School. "His work has had a tremendous impact on the industry and represents the very best of what makes Miami University the great institution it is.
"Tom remains an impressive role model in this profession, largely because he does everything at the highest level of excellence and yet retains a level of humility and caring that is truly inspirational."

Speh spends the last session of each course he teaches discussing life lessons with his students. "It's about life: how you live it, how you behave," he explained. "College is more than just cramming knowledge into students; we need to share wisdom."

"We all know about the awards that have been bestowed upon Dr. Speh, the books he helped write, and the prestigious positions he holds with industry organizations," said former student Jeff Bornino. "But to me, Dr. Speh is the man who happily sat down with me weekly to help me understand the most basic of supply chain principles. He is the man who worked tirelessly to help me find a job that best suited my skills and interests. His classes were energetic, thought-provoking and dynamic."

Speh earned a bachelor's degree and an M.B.A. from Miami and a doctorate from Michigan State University. He has been on the faculty at Miami since 1976. Within the Farmer School he has served as an associate dean and as a department chair, and helped lead efforts to create a supply chain major and minor.