Associated Material Handling Helps Develop Future Talent

The course allows students to apply their first-year graduate education to a real-world project. Thirty-three students were tasked with developing a comprehensive business strategy for two of Associated’s operating divisions.

After working closely with the company’s management team for three weeks, the students presented their findings and corresponding strategies to classmates; professors; Michael B. Romano, president and CEO of Associated; and a panel of Associated employees.

“In addition to the great ideas and valuable insight these students provided us with, NIU’s project consulting class served as a platform to create awareness and appreciation of our industry,” says Romano. “Increasing exposure to the academic community will ultimately help ensure the availability of a continuing pool of people that will sustain the industry's growth and bring new, fresh ideas. The industry must also continue to focus on the academic community to educate future decision makers as to the value it brings to the buyers and users of our products and services.”