Message from the Board Chair
Change is Always Exciting
Mike Whelan, SCMP
As I wrap up my time on the board of directors, I am going to take this moment to reflect on the significant changes we have experienced in the past years. I’ m also going to look forward to the many more changes we are preparing for as we develop an updated vision of who we strive to be as a member association. This vision will direct our strategic plans for the future. I joined the former PMAC board in 2007 as an NL Institute nominee, and proudly held the C. P. P. designation. Since
WE ARE HARD AT WORK CREATING THE NEW STRATEGIC PLAN WHICH WILL DELIVER THE ROAD MAP TO THE NEW VISION.
that time we have had many changes in who we are, and how we operate, to say the very least! Our education program transitioned from the former Principles program to the Strategic Supply Chain Leadership Development Program— a much more comprehensive program covering a broader scope of the supply chain. Our designation has also changed to the Supply Chain Management Professional to reflect our broader scope of expertise. Look for more value in our accreditation as time moves on! We were fortunate to merge with Supply Chain Logistics Canada a number of years back, creating the Supply Chain Management Association. More recently, we have changed our entire governance structure, creating the Federation Council to allow the Institute partners to work together to achieve success, more clearly defining the roles and responsibilities of the respective partners within our federation, and the reconstitution of the national board of directors to a smaller, competency-based board. Many of these governance changes will be evaluated in the near future to determine the successes and the opportunities for further improvement. Looking forward, we are aligning our vision to ensure we are serving supply chain management professionals, advancing our profession, and increasing supply chain knowledge to help create more effective supply chains, delivering value for membership in SCMA, and value for those organizations that employ us. As supply chain professionals we will lead the way in creating value. We are hard at work creating the new strategic plan which will deliver the road map to the new vision. This plan will lay out the broader market we need to represent fully in order to achieve the balanced membership which will encompass the full supply chain, including broader fields of practice and increased levels of responsibility. None of this work would be possible without the efforts of our many dedicated staff— past, present and future— in the National Secretariat, and the Institute partners. Great people have contributed significant talent to getting us where we are today. For this, I thank you. Our association origins come from volunteers and the SCMA continues to be led and supported by volunteers across this country. My deepest gratitude goes to every volunteer who has helped get this organization where it is. You know the value of volunteering, and I encourage all to take part in any way possible. This of course includes the“ collateral volunteers”— our employers and our families who support us in our efforts. We could not do it without you. For many years we have maintained our membership level as we have laid the foundation for growth. I feel we are at a critical point to grow our critical mass, and I look forward to continuing as a supportive member of this great organization. Thanks to all— it has been a great ride. Keep up the great work!
8 • SUPPLYCHAINCANADA. CA • SCMA