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Each month the ASCM Fox Valley Forum produces a newsletter with information about upcoming PDMs, educational offerings, seminars and other events of interest.
May 2024 The Beacon Newsletter
The Beacon Newsletter


Please enjoy the final newsletter of the season!
Let's connect!!
President's Report

Hello fellow ASCM Fox Valley Forum members!
Our 2023 – 2024 program year has come to a close. Our annual Top Management Night was held on April 24th. Gaylen Haas, CPIM, CIRM, CSCP, CLTD, CTSC, SCOR-P, AEFP, DDPP, DDLP, C.P.M., CPSM was our featured speaker for the evening. Gaylen gave a very informative and entertaining presentation on the ASCM Supply Chain Maturity Index and how it integrates the SCOR-DE (Supply Chain Operations Reference-Diagnostic and Evaluation) process to drive organizational excellence in supply chain management.
We then recognized the achievements made by our members over the past year. This part of Top Management Night is always one of my favorite activities. I enjoy recognizing those who worked so hard to earn their APICS certifications. Thinking of earning a certification? We can point you in the direction of an educational partner AND would love to recognize your achievements next year.
Coming up….
The Board of Directors will be working throughout the summer to set up plans for fall. Details will be communicated in the coming months so please keep an eye on our website, LinkedIn, and your inbox. Events will kick off in September.
WE NEED YOU!!
Our Board of Directors is always looking for volunteer leaders. This is a great opportunity to learn in a save environment and develop skills you may not be able to in your full-time job. I’ve been on the board for a number of years and have found the experience to be very rewarding. We work hard as a team but we also have a lot of fun. If you want to discuss opportunities, please send me an email!
THANK YOU!!
Thank you to all our members who participated in the recent elections for the Board of Directors. This is a very important part of running the ASCM Fox Valley Forum.
Thank you to the current ASCM Fox Valley Forum Board of Directors. This is such a great team. I feel so very lucky to have had the opportunity to serve with this group.
IMPORTANT!!
NOTE – You may have seen some emails from [email protected] . This IS a safe email to open. Updates to our website’s back office and our email system has occasionally been impacting the “sender” listed for emails. Please help to ensure that you are receiving all of our communications by adding this address to your safe sender list. We want to make sure you are fully informed.
Have a great summer! See you in September!
Jody
Jody Suess, CPIM, CIRM, CSCP
President 2023-2024
ASCM Fox Valley Forum
[email protected]
Thanks A Million
The ASCM Fox Valley Forum would like to show our sincere appreciation to the following individuals for their contributions to our operations
2023-2024 Nomination Committee

Calendar of Events
We are focused on ASCM member engagement, supporting our members and stakeholders (a community of supply chain and operations management professionals and businesses) in professional development, through our events, sharing of best practices, networking, and educational opportunities offered by our educational partners.
Please note that all events are dependent on current COVID-19 restrictions
Please also visit the Calendar of Events to sign up & for more information!
Have a suggestion for a speaker, tour, or topic? Email your suggestion to [email protected].
NOTICE

In late October of 2021, you should have received an e-mail from ASCM regarding membership costs and options. ASCM rolled out a new, streamlined membership model in February 2022. The goal is to suit member needs at every stage of a person’s career. The new dues start at $99 annually or $10 monthly, with the ability to add certification discounts (+$100) and Fox Valley Forum membership $50. New benefits include:
- A Certification Maintenance Center that automatically tracks the maintenance points you earn through ASCM activities.
- Short, specialized microlearnings cover relevant topics to make staying knowledgeable a breeze. Plus, they are eligible for certification maintenance points.
- Access to one free Principles On Demand module annually.
- Easier membership management (updating payment options, chapter/forum membership and more) within My Account
Read more about the changes here.
Having access to a community is essential for professional development. Your membership with ASCM and the Fox Valley Forum will benefit you for years to come. I have heard members comment, and I can attest to this personally, that the professional colleagues they met 10 and 20 years ago - when they first joined - are still friends today thanks to the local support and engagement opportunities they receive.
The last couple years have been challenging – both personally and professionally – and the challenges continue. The ASCM Fox Valley Forum is here to help you rise to meet those challenges. We encourage you to rely on and engage as an active member of the Fox Valley Forum community. The Forum leaders and Forum members are compassionate and experienced supply chain professionals who have demonstrated time and time again a willingness to support one another and advance supply chain. The pandemic has demonstrated the importance of a well-managed supply chain and the need for talented supply chain professionals. We are proud of our profession and the role we play. We look forward to your continued support and engagement.
When it’s time to renew, you will receive an email detailing the steps you need to take. Please be sure to ACTIVELY select the ASCM Fox Valley Forum as your Local Membership Partner so you can remain part of this great community.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Jody Suess, CPIM, CIRM, CSCP
President 2023-2024
ASCM Fox Valley Forum
Certification Discount Code
Are you starting a certification in the near future?
Are you interested in a discount on your certification?
Use the following link to gain an ASCM provided discount on APICS Certification products purchased through the ASCM online store: ASCMPARTNERSPROMO
CPIM UPDATES

Why Seek the CPIM Designation?
The pandemic caused a major shift in consumer demand and put a spotlight on supply chain vulnerabilities. Planning is now more important than ever, and the new Certified in Planning and Inventory Management (CPIM) reflects that.
With a CPIM certification, you will develop the competencies they need to successfully work across all functions of the supply chain. In addition, you'll have the knowledge to better respond to supply disruptions, demand variations, and manage supply chain risk.
Commit yourself to a higher level of education, boost your career prospects and help any organization stay competitive in today’s economy. Interested in seeing if the CPIM is a good fit for you? Test-drive the content, free for 30 days.
CSCP UPDATES

Why Seek the CSCP Designation?
To say that recent disruptions have a significant impact on global supply chains is putting it lightly. COVID-19, natural disasters, cybersecurity breaches, trade disputes and more are taking their toll ― which is why the 2022 Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) program has a greater emphasis on demand management, supply chain risk and modern supply chain technology trends.
Is the CSCP designation a good fit for you? Test-drive the content, free for 30 days.
CLTD UPDATES

Why Seek the CLTD Designation?
By earning the CLTD designation, you join a network of professionals in logistics, transportation and distribution who are dedicated to reducing their industry’s impact while providing new, innovative solutions.
With a CLTD designation, you’ll advance your ability to lead in this sector through best practices and the most up-to-date strategies and trends. Interested in seeing if the CLTD is a good fit for you? Test-drive the content, free for 30 days.
SCOR-P

Why SCOR-P?
By establishing a global standard of excellence for your organization through SCOR metrics, you can measure, manage and improve your global supply chain’s performance.
Accelerate your team’s supply chain transformation with help from our team of dedicated SCOR-P experts. Through the SCOR-P program your organization will:
- Establish benchmarks for evaluating supply chain effectiveness
- Provide real-world techniques for tackling strategic supply chain issues
- Provide a practical method for evaluating and managing a global supply chain
- Dramatically increase supply chain performance
Volunteers Needed

The ASCM Fox Valley Forum is always looking for colleagues interested in volunteering for the Board of Directors or on a committee.
Volunteers must be members of the forum, but do not need to be certified to be eligible to serve.
Board meetings are held monthly on the first Thursday of the month beginning at 5:45pm. We have multiple opportunities with varying amounts of time commitment.
We would be happy to have some new hands on deck!
If you are interested, please reach out to any of the board members. You can find their information here: https://foxvalleywi.ascm.org/Board_of_Directors
Message from the Board

There may come a time when unforeseen events force us to cancel an event.
Please read the following for details of our cancellation policy:
ASCM Fox Valley Forum Cancellation Policy
Procedure for Notification
If the ASCM Fox Valley Forum decides to cancel an event, notification will proceed as follows:
- Decision and notification will occur a minimum of 4 hours prior to the start of the event.
- VP Communication will send email notification of cancellation to all members registered to attend the event.
- VP Communication will post notification of cancellation on the home page of the chapter’s website at ASCM Fox Valley Forum - Home Page
Refund Policy
Every attempt will be made to reschedule an event that has been cancelled. When this happens, all monies paid will go toward attendance on the rescheduled date.
If the ASCM Fox Valley Forum is unable to reschedule the event, refunds will be given in full.










Please note that all events are dependent on current COVID-19 restrictions




ASCM is an unbiased partner, connecting companies around the world with industry experts, frameworks and global standards to transform supply chains.