President: Fall 2023 - Spring 2024

VP of Administration & Executive Advisor: Fall 2022 - Spring 2023

My Introduction to AOSCM

I became a member of The Association for Operations & Supply Chain Management (AOSCM) in 2022 after transferring from San Diego Mesa Community College. Before attending San Diego, I played one season of college football at Linfield University in Oregon and also spent time at Folsom Lake Community College. After transferring to Cal State Fullerton with an Associate’s Degree, I declared a concentration in Operations and Supply Chain Management, aiming to graduate in May 2024. In my free time, I enjoy traveling, surfing, snowboarding, cliff jumping, playing guitar, cooking, and participating in competitive activities.

When I first joined AOSCM, it was a relatively small organization with just three active board members and around 15 members, many of whom were inactive. We knew we needed a significant shift to increase our relevance and impact, so we began a comprehensive rebranding effort. This repositioned us as a more competitive and ambitious association. As a result, we expanded our executive board to 12 members and increased active membership to about 25.

I served as the Vice President of Administration and Executive Advisor, helping to implement the President’s vision for the club. Our efforts led to 22 members securing internships or job offers between Fall 2022 and Spring 2023, benefiting over 60% of our members.

With one year remaining before graduation, I saw tremendous untapped potential in AOSCM. When I assumed the presidency in May 2023, we had 10 company contacts, 23 active members, and minimal female representation—only 6% of general members and 8% of the executive board were women. We hosted four events per semester, knew of fewer than 10 AOSCM alumni, and had no club awards or recognitions. However, we were still making an impact, with 14 members receiving internship or job offers in Spring 2023—competing with some of the most established organizations at Cal State Fullerton.

My vision was to make AOSCM the #1 business club at CSUF, focusing on connecting students with companies for internships and jobs and building a strong community. Recognizing that many other clubs and career centers were struggling with this, I aimed to create a community where like-minded individuals could foster relationships, grow both personally and professionally, and receive guidance as they embarked on their career journeys.

My Presidency: First Semester

During my first semester as President, we had a lot to figure out. Not only did we want to establish AOSCM as the premier business club, but we also wanted to create a sustainable system that would last for years. The COVID-19 pandemic had been tough on many organizations, and we had lost touch with much of our club’s history. It was crucial to develop a plan to prepare for future challenges and ensure our sustainability.

One of our key initiatives was formulating our mission statement and launching our website, csufaoscm.com. The website was designed to be an easy-to-use platform for students, members, alumni, and industry professionals to stay informed and get involved. Additionally, we learned how to navigate CSUF’s administrative processes, such as booking rooms and hosting events.

Historically, AOSCM had been a male-dominated club, particularly after the pandemic, so we prioritized increasing diversity and promoting inclusivity. We also adopted a more professional approach to our activities, operating under the belief that it’s easier to maintain high standards of professionalism from the start and then relax them over time than to try and impose professionalism later on.

One of the challenges we faced in refocusing our culture was that people often resist change. Too much change at once can turn people away from an organization they once knew, so we emphasized the benefits of the changes and the impact we were having on students. Our membership grew, and we began hosting monthly general meetings, weekly executive meetings, and organized 10 individual recruiting events.

By the end of Fall 2023, we had earned the BICC Club of the Month Award for November and increased the number of members securing internships or job offers from 11 to 31. Our executive board grew to 15 members, and we streamlined non-supply chain-related tasks by recruiting students from different majors to handle marketing, finance, and human resources roles. This eliminated bottlenecks in our management processes and greatly improved our efficiency.

My Presidency: Second Semester

Entering my second semester, we were in the midst of rapid change. It was a challenge to sustain the level of success we had achieved while continuing to grow. The club was starting to become overly focused on professionalism, which began to overshadow the sense of fun and community that had made it enjoyable in the past. It was crucial to address this and strike a better balance, ensuring that while we pursued our goals, we didn’t lose the camaraderie and relaxed atmosphere that kept people engaged. After all, we’re still college students, and the club should reflect that.

We made it a priority to host social events and casual gatherings in addition to our career-focused activities. This helped foster a sense of community and build lasting friendships, which ultimately enhanced our ability to help students secure internships and jobs.

I’m proud to say that we accomplished everything we set out to do—and more. In just one year, our membership grew from 41 to 101 students, and we significantly boosted our members’ career success. One of our most impactful initiatives was founding the inaugural AOSCM Career Fair, where students had the opportunity to engage with 10 hiring companies over two days. We also developed a robust member development program, which included 72 hours of career workshops at The Business Exchange. In just three months, we helped over 108 students with resume building, LinkedIn profiles, job applications, and interview preparation.

We worked hard to increase diversity within the club, growing female representation from 6% to 38% among general members and from 8% to 50% on the executive board. We increased the number of events hosted from 12 to 42 events throughout the year, including 6 company tours, 12 guest speaker sessions, collaborated with 8 CSUF business clubs, 5 colleges, and 3 professional organizations. We increased the number of recruiting companies from 10 to over 70—a 700% increase year-over-year.

These accomplishments would not have been possible without a dedicated and diverse team. Managing students with different interests, responsibilities, and priorities is no small feat, but we created a system that allowed us to share the workload effectively and fostered an environment of success and achievement. In my time as President, the Executive Board tripled, from 5 to 15 active and defined roles, leading a diverse team to drive AOSCM's growth and development, fostering leadership and practical management experience among students.

To further streamline our operations, we developed over 50 standard operating procedures (SOPs) and very detailed work breakdown structures (WBSs), which provided clear instructions and processes for managing club activities. This system helped ensure the club could continue to operate smoothly for years to come.

We also made significant strides in marketing and outreach. Our social media presence grew from 25 to 85 posts per year, and we launched a weekly newsletter that reached members and alumni, publishing 40 editions in just one year. Our digital efforts garnered over 141,000 impressions and expanded our network by 460 members.

From a financial perspective, we successfully secured $2,600 in BICC funding, established a Company Sponsorship Program generating $12,780 annually, and raised $730 through membership fees. These resources allowed us to offer more opportunities to students and ensure the club’s long-term sustainability.

At the end of the day, our ultimate goal was to help as many students as possible secure internships and jobs. By the time my presidency ended, we had increased the number of students receiving offers from 22 to 65—a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved.

Reflection on the Presidency

Serving as President of AOSCM was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. It was an opportunity for me to impact the lives of hundreds of students, experiment with new ideas, and learn valuable lessons about leadership, teamwork, and perseverance. I learned more practical skills during my year as President than I did throughout my five years of college.

I learned what it means to truly listen to others, to face criticism head-on, and to trust in the people around me. It was a challenging but incredibly fulfilling experience, and I’m grateful for the chance to have made a difference.

Looking ahead, I see a bright future for AOSCM. I believe the club will continue to prioritize helping students secure internships and jobs while also fostering a sense of community, fun, and belonging. AOSCM will remain a club that values character, work ethic, and compassion, regardless of background or experience.

It was an honor to serve as President, and I want to thank everyone I’ve met through CSUF and AOSCM for making this such a memorable experience. My door is always open to current and former members who wish to reach out. Thank you all, and God bless.