Networking next week at CSCMP

In less than a week from now, many of us will be at the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) Annual Conference. This year’s locale is sunny San Diego.

Personally speaking, I cannot wait for this event. If it is like past years, there will be lots of value from an editorial perspective, what with 20 session tracks there is clearly something for everybody.

For me, it helps me prioritize what is happening on both a granular and topical level. And given the myriad things occurring across the supply chain, logistics, and freight transportation sectors, that is not to be underestimated.

While I have printed out the voluminous CSCMP conference booklet and picked the sessions I want to attend, I have yet to get to the part of CSCMP I actually like the best. That part is the networking aspect.

In the last five years, I have met several people across all areas of our industry: shippers, carriers, 3PLs, academics, analysts, lobbyists, consultants and some of my friends in the PR community as well. Perhaps I met you there at one of them.

In any event, there is very little that can replace the value of face-to-face networking. And that is what events like CSCMP—and others—bring to the table in spades. Are the sessions and speakers important to attend and listen to? Absolutely. But face time with old friends and making new ones is equally key as well.

That said, the countdown is on for one of the biggest industry conferences and networking events of the year. Hope to see you there.