ATHENS – The Tennessee Valley Chapter of Advancing Productivity, Innovation, and Competitive Success (APICS) has been recognized as a Bronze Award Winning Chapter by the organization’s national Chicago-based headquarters. The Tennessee Valley chapter Board of Directors president is Dr. Michael Essary, an Associate Professor of Management of Technology at Athens State University.
“This is the first time the Tennessee Valley Chapter has received this recognition,” states Essary. “It represents
Michael Essary
a significant achievement that few in the southeast, let alone Alabama, ever receive.”
Nationally, APICS is the leading professional association for supply chain and operations management and the premier provider of research, education and certification programs that elevate end-to-end supply chain excellence, innovation and resilience. The Tennessee Valley Chapter has been active for over 30 years.
The Athens State APICS student chapter holds its meetings jointly with the Tennessee Valley chapter. Students are well represented at the monthly professional development meetings which give them the opportunity to network with professionals in their field. Athens State students are encouraged to join the Tennessee Valley Board of Directors and graduates Tim Hobbs and Luana Waits joined the Board of Directors while they were students.
Athens State’s Acting Dean of the College of Education Thomas Pieplow remarks, “Our affiliation with APICS is a direct result of the good work done by Dr. Essary within both organizations. I have no doubt his leadership has played a part in this and the group’s other successes.”
Athens State offers the Operations Management Minor, which provides an opportunity for students to acquire the knowledge and specialized training to help prepare them to take the APICS certification exams desired by many employers. The Tennessee Valley Chapter provides APICS certified instructors to teach the Operations Management Minor classes.
For more information about the Tennessee Valley Chapter of APICS, visit their website www.apicstnvl.org.
