Smith School Honors Walmart’s Logistics Leader

Annual event highlights logistics, supply chain career opportunities for students

College Park, Md. – October 11, 2013 – The University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business today honored Chris Sultemeier, executive vice president of logistics for Walmart U.S., as the 2013 “Person of the Year” in the supply chain and logistics industry. Students and faculty recognized him at Smith’s 21st annual Industry Day, a career and networking event that highlights the school’s top-ranked supply chain management program and its relationships with top companies.

“Chris Sultemeier is one of the top executives in the field of logistics and a great role model for our students,” said Alex Triantis, dean of the Robert H. Smith School of Business. “Our supply chain management students are some of the best and brightest in the nation. We’ve been holding this event for more than 20 years to showcase their strengths to top companies, where they have gone on to become leaders in the industry.”

Smith students in the Supply Chain Management Society presented Sultemeier with the “Person of the Year” award to kick off Industry Day. Then he addressed a packed auditorium of students, faculty, staff and corporate recruiters, detailing his role with Walmart and his perspective on the industry.

In his role, Sultemeier has operating responsibility for general merchandise, fashion, grocery, Sam's Club, import, and specialty distribution centers for Walmart’s U.S. operations. He also has operating responsibility for all domestic and global ocean transportation functions. He was promoted to executive vice president in 2012.

Sultemeier joined Walmart in 1989 and previously served as senior vice president of transportation services, where he was responsible for all domestic transportation, the Walmart private fleet, and global transportation. He has also served as the company’s vice president of transportation, regional vice president of logistics, vice president of Sam’s Club distribution, vice president of Sam’s Club merchandise support and logistics project manager for new construction design and support.

Prior to joining Walmart, Sultemeier served in the U.S. Army as a captain. He is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point with a degree in mechanical engineering.

Students in the undergraduate Supply Chain Management Society and supply chain and logistics faculty organize Smith’s annual Industry Day. In addition to the morning program honoring Sultemeier, the day included a luncheon for employers and undergraduate students, and an afternoon career fair.  Representatives and recruiters from more than 30 companies participated in this year’s event.

The Smith School has been honoring industry leaders with the “Person of the Year” for 20 years. Recent honorees include Michael Roth, vice president of North American Operations at Amazon.com; Peter Gibbons, Starbucks’ executive vice president of Global Supply Chain Operations; Mark Holifield, Home Depot's senior vice president of global supply chain; John T. “Jock” Menzies, chairman of the Terminal Corporation, a warehouse, trucking and distribution company; Rick Blasgen, president and CEO of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals; and John D. Porcari, current U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation.

The Smith School’s logistics, transportation and supply chain management program is consistently recognized among the best business school programs in the country. U.S. News & World Report ranked the undergraduate program No. 7 in the United States in 2013. The Smith School also offers a master’s of business in supply chain management. Smith’s supply chain management curriculum incorporates all aspects of the industry, including expanding global networks and cutting-edge technology. In addition to offering a range of academic courses, the school is home to the Supply Chain Management Center, which provides research, consulting services and education highlighting the latest advances in e-supply chain management.