Masters Students Invited to Tour Merchants Foodservices

At the invitation of Merchants Foodservices, students in The University of Southern Mississippi's online/executive Master of Science in Logistics, Trade and Transportation (MSLTT) visited and toured the Merchants Foodservices plant.

Dr. Mohammad Rahman, assistant professor in the School of Construction and faculty associate of The Center for Logistics, Trade and Transportation (CLTT) traveled with students on a one-day visit to Merchants Foodservices Corporate Office in Hattiesburg and Regional Distribution Center in Jackson, Miss.

The tour was arranged by Don Suver, former president and CEO of the Merchants Foodservice, who accompanied the students. The tour began with an overview of the company presented by Andrew B. Mercier, president and Chief Executive Officer of Merchants Foodservices. The students saw presentations from the Hattiesburg office and Jackson regional distribution center and were given facility tour at the regional distribution center.

Tulio Sulbaran, Director of the Center for Logistics, Trade and Transportation (CLTT) noted that this was a “great experience” for students. “Merchants Foodservices activities directly relates to the learning and teachings of the LTT master degree program,” said Sulbaran.

Further, Sulbaran said Merchants Foodservices agreed to offer an annual visit to the plant and offered to provide an intern position for the MSLTT program.

The students heard from professionals in various areas included software and operation, order placement by vendors (including restaurant and retail), regional distribution, shipping and receiving, labor management, expansion of warehouse facilities, transportation and tracking management, fleet management, and cold storage management. 

“This visit is another example of the CLTT and the Industry working together to provide excellent learning experiences to our students in the on-line MSLTT,” said Tulbaran.

The MSLTT can be pursued either full time or part-time (while working). Ten courses are required to complete the MSLTT and can be taken online, in-person, or in executive/hybrid formats. The MSLTT can be customized to meet individual career progression needs and can be completed in one year.

Sulbaran says the MSLTT offers students the opportunity to study abroad, meet industry leaders, network, gain hands-on experience, and ultimately prepare students for high quality jobs due to the “tremendous growth and demand in the logistics, trade, and transportation field worldwide.”

For more information about the Southern Miss' Online Master of Science for Logistics, Trade and Transportation, visit www.usm.edu/logistics-trade-transportation/online-master-degree-supply-chain-logistics-trade-and-transportation