Press release
A U.S. Department of Labor grant awarded to Highline Community College’s Center of Excellence for International Trade, Transportation, and Logistics is targeting one of Washington State’s strongest – and relatively unknown – sectors.

“As an industry, supply chain management involves many different types of business processes,” says Allison Clark, Highline College economic development manager. “Because of that, I think many people don’t realize it exists, or know about how many great job opportunities there are in this area.”

According to a 2008 study conducted by Port Jobs, a Seattle-based non-profit organization which publishes international trade policy and industry research, public knowledge of the industry is limited, and educational and training options available at area colleges and technical schools are relatively new.

With this initiative, the center is reaching out to businesses, schools, and other organizations throughout King and Pierce Counties in an effort to increase public awareness of the supply chain management sector and build a more competitive workforce. The effort includes appearances at various career fairs as well as visits to regional high schools and community colleges.

An important goal of the project is to deepen and expand relationships with industry partners throughout the region, especially with large, well-known employers as well as supply chain management and logistics firms. The objective is to establish clear and relevant educational and employment pathways for individuals looking to start or switch careers.

“This project is fully aligned with Highline’s overall mission to provide innovative and meaningful economic development opportunities to our community,” says Highline President Jack Bermingham. “The potential for jobs within this industry is tremendous. It’s another great example of how our Center of Excellence is leading the way forward and driving our state’s economy to become more competitive in the global economy.”

Strategically located between the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma and Sea-Tac International Airport, the center was created in 2007, and functions as the primary development engine for the industry in Washington state.

To read an industry overview, learn more about the initiative, or to discover more about careers in supply chain management, visit: www.ittlwa.com/industryoverview.aspx.

An informational booklet is available for download on the website. For further information, send emails to: supplychain@highline.edu.

Highline was founded in 1961 as the first community college in King County. With approximately 18,900 annual students and 350,000 alumni, it is one of the state’s largest institutions of higher education.

The college offers a wide range of academic transfer and professional-technical education programs, with day, evening and weekend classes. Alumni include former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice, entrepreneur Junki Yoshida and Washington state poet laureate Sam Green.