Haslam College of Business - UT Haslam Graduate Student Finds Passion for Logistics through Father’s Trucking Career

Daphne Owens of Bessemer, Alabama, will graduate from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Haslam College of Business Online Master’s Degree in Supply Chain Management (MS SCM Online) in May, having gained expertise to progress her logistics career. A lifelong enthusiasm for the discipline, sparked by her father’s career, brought Owens to this moment.

“My father was my biggest inspiration,” Owens says. “He was an over-the-road, long-haul truck driver all his life.”

Her father, Meredith Owens, Jr., won numerous awards during his career, including safest driver and driver of the year. His passion and pride in doing his job well molded his daughter’s work ethic and drive.

The elder Owens would sometimes pick up short-haul assignments, and his daughter would eagerly ride along. On runs hauling chicken nuggets from Tyson Foods in Oxford, Alabama, Owen’s father explained that if they didn’t make their destination, a lot of children would miss out on Happy Meals. This piqued Owens’ youthful curiosity, and she asked how they could deliver the chicken without it spoiling.

“He told me they were in the freezer at the back of the truck,” she recalls. “And I thought, ‘Oh, wow. To get the chicken nuggets from the plant all the way to the Happy Meal, this is how that happens.’ That was how my inspiration started.”

Finding the Right Logistics Training

With that “Aha!” moment, Owens’ course was set. However, she struggled to find training and programs that matched her childhood ambition. After more research, she discovered American Public University’s online bachelor’s degree program in logistics and transportation management. She enrolled in the program and completed her bachelor’s .

Armed with her degree, Owens began moving up in the transportation industry, holding positions like dedicated fleet manager with Universal Logistics Holdings, Inc., and logistics specialist at West Rock Company. But she felt she could go further with additional training, so she again researched online programs – this time, for master’s degrees. Haslam’s MS SCM frequently appeared in the search results.

“I looked into it and discovered that Haslam has the number one supply chain management program in the nation,” she explains. “Also, multiple leaders from different companies were on the supply chain forums the college holds, which impressed me.”

She wasn’t sure if she was prepared to take on school and work, but multiple alumni reviews praising the Haslam program’s flexibility convinced her it was doable. Owens entered the program with some anxiety, but that quickly eased as she found a highly encouraging atmosphere.

“I had support from family and friends, but the staff and students were the cheerleaders,” Owens says. “Everybody gave you that pep talk to say, ‘You can do this.’”

Moving Ahead

The Haslam MS SCM Online program offered Owens the opportunity to enhance skills not specific to supply chain management, but essential to advancing a professional career, such as public speaking. Before beginning the MS SCM Online coursework, Owens found public speaking difficult, fearing she would be unable to communicate her ideas to an audience.

“This program challenged me to step outside of my comfort zone and become a stronger communicator,” Owens explains. “Through class discussions, collaboration with fellow students and opportunities to share real-world experiences, I gained confidence in using my voice. Those experiences played a major role in my personal and professional growth.”

Through the program, Owens also increased her familiarity with finance, gaining a grasp of cash flows, and worked on cross-function collaborations, enabling her to eliminate communication barriers, speed decision-making and improve efficiency. This training helped her secure her new position as a procurement analyst.

“Exposure to different supply chain functions helped,” Owens says. “I touched on procurement in the past, but the program opened me up to that and a more, and I’m already applying my training with this new position. There’s a lot of innovation coming down the pipeline for my company, including AI and different things we discussed in class.”

Hannah Carter, Haslam’s assistant director of online specialty master’s programs and MS SCM Online program manager, praised Owens’ remarkable work ethic and determination

“It’s been a pleasure to see her confidence grow throughout her time in the program,” Carter says. “I’m excited to cheer her on as she crosses the commencement stage this spring and to celebrate both her academic accomplishments and her new professional role.”

An Opportunity for Self-Improvement

Given how much she’s gained through Haslam’s MS SCM program, Owens would recommend it to every professional whose work involves supply chain.  

“I would tell anyone considering the program to not hesitate,” she says. “It doesn’t matter what stage you are in your profession. Take this chance to make yourself better. Go for it.”

According to Amy Cathey, associate dean for graduate and executive education, while Owens’ inspiration for entering the MS SCM program is unique, her experience reflects those of the many professionals who seek to further their careers through enrollment in one of Haslam’s graduate programs.

“We are thrilled that Daphne used her experience in our online supply chain program to move into a new job that broadens her career options,” Cathey says. “She joins thousands of other professionals who have similarly advanced their careers through Haslam.”

Owens already plans to build additional professional credentials by completing a Six Sigma Green Belt and pursuing the Association for Supply Chain Management’s APICS Supply Chain Professional certification. She has found that the program has given her the means and assurance to blaze a trail beyond the initial spark she found in her father’s truck.

“It’s made me well-rounded, preparing me for the professional world and the higher goals I seek,” Owens says. “It also helped me build confidence in myself. That may be the greatest lesson of all.”

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CONTACT:

Scott McNutt, senior business writer/publicist, rmcnutt4@utk.edu