IDIS to Send Students to Industry Event

The Industrial Distribution and Logistics (IDIS) program at ECU’s College of Engineering and Technology is one of five universities nationwide that is sponsored by the Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association (MHEDA) to attend their annual convention. IDIS is proud to be included as MHEDA’s guest along with Clemson University, Purdue University, Texas A&M, and the University of Nebraska at Kearney, all top schools for industrial distribution and logistics degree programs.

Through a generous $3,000 gift designated for rising seniors, IDIS will send Caroline Harris and Nicholas Whedbee to this year’s Convention and Showcase. The conference theme is “What’s your vision?” and centers around dramatic technology, automation and e-commerce impacts on material handling manufacturers and distributors. Harris and Whedbee will meet with industry professionals and will participate in the convention that features guest speakers, roundtable discussions and outstanding education sessions.

Caroline Harris

Nicholas Whedbee

The keynote speech will provide ideas on designing businesses for the 21st century, and general sessions will include economic forecasts, ways to profit from upcoming demographic shifts, and digital solutions for our industry.

“Over the years, this conference has given the department many insights into the impacts of disruptive technologies on wholesale distribution and the dealership distribution channel that we then integrate into our curriculum,” said Mark Angolia, IDIS program coordinator and assistant professor. “For the students that attend, the networking and exposure to business leaders are priceless.”

“The MHEDA conference gives us…a chance to network with some of the best material handling distributors in the country,” said Nicholas Whedbee, junior. “The opportunity to represent ECU and the IDIS program means a lot to me since this program has already provided me with so many great experiences.”

Junior Caroline Harris echoed Whedbee’s thoughts about the convention. She says it will allow her to network with “business professionals that I would otherwise not have the opportunity to meet.”

While at the conference, one thing is for sure. Both Whedbee and Harris plan on living up to the already strong reputation the College of Engineering and Technology and the IDIS program has within the industry.

“We are a close-knit program where greatness is expected, and I will always uphold this level of expectation for my professors and fellow classmates,” said Harris.

The MHEDA annual conference is May 5-8 in Miami Beach, Florida.