A Note from the Director–The Chain Newsletter, Fall 2019 The Sweet Sixteen on Study Abroad

If you’re lucky, you keep getting older and with each year you meet more people. And, again if you’re lucky, a good percentage of those people you meet will be interesting, smart and helpful. We upped our percentage tremendously the last few weeks during the inaugural Follow the Supply Chain Study Abroad program to Wenatchee, […]

A Note From The Director- The Chain Newsletter, Spring 2019 – Let’s Follow The Supply Chain During A Study Abroad Program To Vietnam!

It’s economy is strong, it’s bigger than you think, more diverse than you realize and has become an important cog in the global supply chain. Which country am I describing? Vietnam, and we’ll be there in a few weeks advancing this fall’s Follow the Supply Chain Study Abroad program. Vietnam has the 15th largest population […]

A Note From The Director- The Chain Newsletter, Winter 2018 – Follow Supply Chain Study Abroad Program

What if students could have both a theoretical and practical understanding of supply chains? Whatever device you are reading this newsletter on, it didn’t drop into your lap magically from an elf’s shop. It was delivered to you through a long, complicated supply chain. Your tablet, computer or phone’s many parts were manufactured in a […]

Serving as a Backbone to Washington’s Economy: The Global Trade and Supply Chain Management Sector

The global trade and supply chain management sector is a mainstay of Washington state’s economy. Now thanks to an economic analysis conducted for the Center of Excellence by Community Attributes, we know just how large it is, the average wage in various subsectors and where the jobs are congregated. Washington state is one of the […]

Highline’s Airport-Based Program Earns Thanks from Port Jobs

Some college students come to campus for classes, while others attend at the … airport? For those flying in and out of Sea-Tac Airport, the innovative program likely flies under the radar. But for many airport workers, it is the ticket to new opportunities. Airport workers can be students, too, thanks to Port Jobs’ Airport […]

Driver Shortage: The Challenges

In October of 2015, a landmark report entitled “Truck Driver Analysis 2015” written by the American Trucking Associations (ATA) highlighted the critical problem of driver shortages throughout the United States. According to the ATA’s report, there was a shortage of 48,000 truck drivers in 2015 that could grow to 175,000 by 2024. The reasons for […]

A Note From The Director- The Chain Newsletter, Fall 2018

I was at the barber recently. I frequent a traditional, old fashioned, neighborhood barbershop, the kind of a place where conversations veer all over the place and the barbers dispense advice on all sorts of life matters. On this particular morning, a young male customer was there after having earned just enough money from a […]

Export 101: Payments, Pricing, and Financing

A seller is most concerned about being paid on time and in full. There are several components to structuring the sales contract that must be considered including the payment method and sales term. The payment method reflects the seller/buyer relationship and cash flow impact to both parties; and the sales term affects the pricing. A […]

Export 101: Choosing Your Export Market

“The World is Flat” is not just the title of a book by Thomas Friedman, but it is a concept in conducting business in the 21st century. Given today’s ease of sharing information worldwide, it has become easier than ever to export to markets on the same continent or land thousands of miles away. However, […]

How to determine if you are ready to export

Are you receiving inquiries from international customers interested in buying your product or service? Or maybe you’re hoping to diversify your revenue stream, or just want to expand your income opportunities by looking towards international customers? But are you export ready? Are you willing to make a commitment to exporting? This doesn’t necessarily mean spending […]