Haslam College of Business - Fast-Tracked Future: Nicholas Hom

The typical undergraduate experience lasts four years, but Nicholas Hom is not the typical student. The Crestwood, Kentucky, native majoring in supply chain management is set to graduate from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Haslam College of Business after just two-and-a-half years. His five-semester undergraduate career was made possible by a head start with AP credits and a focused academic plan, highlighting Hom’s determination and dedication to strategic thinking and long-term goals. Whether it’s excelling in an internship, securing a full-time role before graduation or leading a student organization, Hom, who was recognized as a Haslam top graduate, demonstrates a drive to learn, lead and make meaningful contributions.

Curiosity Sparked

Hom initially became interested in supply chain after growing up watching the television show “How It’s Made” with his dad, and this fascination planted the seed for his future major.

“I’ve always liked the manufacturing element of supply chain,” he says. “One of the best parts of Haslam’s supply chain management program is visiting different plants, and those trips were a highlight for me. Manufacturing really lived up to my expectations.”

Drawn to the complexity of moving products to shelves, Hom was also fascinated by how consumer convenience was transformed into a behind-the-scenes science.

“As a consumer, you think, ‘It’s on the shelf, so I’m going to buy it,’ but it’s fascinating to see how everything comes together behind the scenes just to get those products on that shelf,” he says.

Supply Chain Immersion

Hom didn’t just study supply chain, he immersed himself in it. He spent one semester of his undergraduate career deepening his understanding of supply chain through a co-op with Kimberly-Clark, a more immersive, time-intensive alternative to a traditional internship. During his time with the company, he worked with the transportation team to help manage outbound shipments from various warehouses or distribution centers and manufacturing plants.

The co-op spanned 20 weeks — from January to May — and Hom worked a full 40-hour week, giving him the experience of a full-time supply chain professional.

“Shifting from 16 credit hours to a 40-hour workweek was definitely an adjustment,” he says. “But the nice part was, once the workday ended, it really ended. There was no homework or late-night study session to worry about.”

The summer before his senior year, Hom completed a 10-week internship with PepsiCo at a distribution center in southern Indiana, where he worked on a process optimization project. By the end of the internship, he had earned an offer for a full-time supply chain associate position after graduation. “It was nice going into my senior year with that security,” Hom says.

Staying Involved

For Hom, staying active outside the classroom was just as important as academics. A former high school wrestler, he found new balance through UT’s wrestling club and a Brazilian jiu-jitsu PE class that turned into a lasting hobby.

“I was looking for a way to keep doing the sport I loved, but in a more fun, less intense way,” he says. “It was a great outlet and a way to meet people from all over campus.”

Not one to turn down a chance for connections and enrichment, Hom also served as president for UT’s Supply Chain Analytics and Reporting Club, challenging himself to grow in areas he hadn’t before.

“One of my personal weaknesses is delegation,” he says. “Serving as president of the club helped me realize I can’t do everything, so leaning on my executive team helped me grow.”

According to Cole Burns, director of supply chain management student development and career management, Hom’s impact on campus hasn’t gone unnoticed by those who’ve seen his growth firsthand.

“Nick is one of the brightest students to come through the supply chain management program, and it’s shown through the way that his peers and faculty engage with him,” says Burns. “He has also been one of the most involved students I know, taking advantage of every opportunity that comes his way.”

An Eye on the Future

Hom is excited to begin his role as a supply chain associate with PepsiCo soon after graduation, and true to form, he’s already thinking ahead.

Down the line, he would like to be involved with process engineering — looking at different manufacturing lines and figuring out where efficiencies could be improved — or production planning, which involves looking at demand forecasts and setting production schedules accordingly based on the plant’s capacity. When pondering his future as a leader, Hom remains open.

“The two different paths I’ve seen in supply chain are either managing people or being a subject matter expert,” he explains. “Playing to my strengths would lean more toward subject matter expert, but I’m definitely not opposed to leadership positions.”

However, he will continue to lean on what his experiences at UT taught him.

“I think it’s good to push out of your comfort zone,” he concludes.

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CONTACT

Leah McAmis, senior editor, leah@utk.edu