Supply Chain Management
Contact Information
- Hometown: Knoxville, TN
- E-mail: tander64@vols.utk.edu
- LinkedIn Profile
Biography
Since coming to the University of Tennessee, I have focused my energy on taking every opportunity for growth that has come my way. I knew coming into college that this was my chance to better myself, and I have been persistent in doing this. I am a hard-working team player, but I think one of my most important qualities is my willingness to learn. I truly believe that lifelong learning is essential, and I’ll never have it all figured out. Allowing myself to be humbled and constantly learn has made me a more effective team member, leader, and student. I bring passion to what I do and invest myself fully in creating the best outcome I can possibly have.
I heard about the Heath Integrated Business and Engineering Program my freshman year and immediately knew it was something I wanted to be a part of. In today’s fast-moving workplace, versatility and interdisciplinary knowledge are invaluable skills. From a business perspective, being able to understand the technical consequences of business decisions is essential in making decisions that are beneficial on an organizational level. Part of the curriculum in IBEP that has changed the way I think and work is the idea of “Systems Thinking”, and how different elements of an organization work in their respective areas, driven by a common function. When you look at things from this perspective, it opens up new opportunities and allows you to create the ideal system from the ground up, rather than utilizing point solutions to slowly correct small issues.
Professionally, I’m interested in the manufacturing, healthcare management, and nuclear industries, but my curious nature makes me open to many different opportunities. I am always willing to try something new. In my career I want to be in a position to set the bar higher every single day and be a leader that creates a positive impact on my organization. I am a huge believer in organizational culture and its ability to change much more than just the attitudes of employees. I believe that good people are the fundamental requirement of success in business, and that hiring people that have a positive attitude and a passion for succeeding as a team is the first step in having a business that does more than just make money.
