January 19, 2012

The Peter J. Tobin College of Business and the
Student Government Association hosted a conversation on supply
chain operations with Gary A. Smith entitled “Public and
Private Sector Supply Chains Two Sides of the Same Coin”
in the D’Angelo Center on November 10, 2011.
Smith, the director of Supply Chain Operations
for the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) and recently
appointed member of the Department of Management’s Advisory Board,
discussed the role of technology; similarities between the public
and private sectors; strategic sourcing; inventory and supplier
relationship management; and how to positively impact supply chain
operations.

Over 70 Tobin students were in attendance to
learn more about the career opportunities available in this growing
field. Dr. John Angelidis, management department chair, and Dr.
Larry Boone, director of the Executive-in-Residence Program (EIRP),
were on-hand to emphasize the added value of the College’s current
graduate and undergraduate course offerings that can help prepare
students for Supply Chain Management Certification.
“I think it is beneficial to our student body
to understand there are other skill sets needed in today’s economic
slowdown,” said Dr. Jay Nathan, professor of management.

In his capacity at NYCHA, Smith is responsible
for the sourcing, procurement, warehousing and delivery of all
material used in the operation and maintenance of 175,000 public
housing units in New York City. Prior to joining the Authority in
2004, he spent most of his thirty-year career in private sector
supply chain management and consulting in a variety of industries.
He holds multiple industry certifications: certified in production
and inventory management (CPIM); certified supply chain
professional (CSCP) with the Association for Operations Management
(APICS) and a certified professional in supply management (CPSM)
through the Institute of Supply Management (ISM).
The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)
provides safe housing for low to moderate-income residents
throughout the five boroughs; administers a citywide Section 8
Leased Housing Program in rental apartments and works to enhance
the quality of life at NYCHA by offering residents opportunities to
participate in a multitude of community, educational and
recreational programs, as well as job readiness and training
initiatives.

About the Peter J. Tobin College of
Business
The Peter J. Tobin College of Business has provided a high-quality
business education for over eighty years, offering individuals from
throughout the world the opportunity to study in New York’s dynamic
business environment. The innovative curriculum emphasizes an
analytic and hands-on understanding of business practice that
prepares graduates to excel in today’s global marketplace.
For additional information about the Peter J.
Tobin College of Business, please contact Asia Hauter at (718)
990-6218, via e-mail at hautera@stjohns.edu or
visit us at www.stjohns.edu/tobin.