THOUGH BEHIND THE SCENES , SCMA HAS MADE SOME TERRIFIC STRIDES FROM A GOVERNANCE PERSPECTIVE .
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Saying Farewell
Cheryl Farrow ( Paradowski ) President & CEO SCMA
By the time you receive this , I will already have moved on to my new opportunity as CEO of the Canadian Bar Association . So , I appreciate your indulgence as I reflect on my wonderful six years at the Supply Chain Management Association ( SCMA ). When I arrived in 2010 , it was still the Purchasing Management Association of Canada ; the new Supply Chain Management Professional ( SCMP ) designation program had just been launched ; and designation reciprocity was finalized shortly afterwards with the Institute for Supply Management ( ISM ) for the CPSM and the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply ( CIPS ) for the MCIPS .
Our SCMP program has grown stronger each year since , with an encouraging 280 candidates attending In-Residence Week in 2016 , even in the face of some tougher economic times in Western Canada . Other major highlights related to SCMA ’ s education programs have been the transition to an online program delivery option for both the SCMP and the SMT , as well as for the SCMP final examination . The last two years have also seen an extensive overhaul of the SCMP program content , in response to feedback from employers , candidates and instructors . Finally , the Memorandum of Understanding ( MOU ) with Athabasca that was launched in May 2016 , providing SCMPs with advanced standing recognition and fast-tracking through Athabasca ’ s Executive MBA program , was a crowning testament to the rigor and quality of the SCMP program .
Obviously , the amalgamation and the name change of the organization was a major initiative , kicked off in 2012 and made official on September 3 , 2013 . It was a great opportunity to align the organization and the designation , achieve consolidation in a fragmented market of supply chain associations and make SCMA ’ s voice stronger .
Employer outreach has been a key focus and has included : my personal campaign of meeting with over 130 employers across the country in 2011 ; our 2013 employer survey ; our targeted advertising campaigns over the years on the radio , TV and in partnership with The Globe and Mail ’ s Report on Business ; and our ongoing outreach to other professional associations , such as those in human resources and financial management . We also made forays into government relations , with positive responses from the Bank of Canada and Global Affairs Canada . We have developed three great white papers
THOUGH BEHIND THE SCENES , SCMA HAS MADE SOME TERRIFIC STRIDES FROM A GOVERNANCE PERSPECTIVE .
on the impact of supply chain management to the broader Canadian economy and we continue to generate awareness of those materials .
Finally , though behind the scenes , SCMA has made some terrific strides from a governance perspective . One of my first initiatives when I arrived was the creation of the Institute Advisory Council to bring all parts of the association together in a more coordinated fashion . This has evolved into the creation of the Federation Council and the signing of a new Federation agreement in 2015 . In 2016 , we saw the groundbreaking transition to a new competency-based governance model for the National Board , reducing the size from 17 to nine members . Based on my initial meetings with the new board , the skills and contribution that we were seeking are very much in evidence .
That brings me to my final thank yous : to your dedicated National Boards of Directors with whom I ’ ve had the great privilege to work , under the respective leadership of Keith Carruthers , Mike Whelan and Jerome Ferber ; to the staff team at the national office , who work so diligently to bring the board ’ s and federation ’ s vision to life ; and to all SCMA members . It has been an amazing time to be involved with the profession and you are all so justifiably passionate about the important roles that you play in your organizations . I wish all of you – and SCMA – ongoing success and growth , and advanced congratulations on the 100-year anniversary in 2019 !
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SUPPLY CHAIN CANADA • QUARTER 4 2016 • 3