Naval Reserve Supply Corps' Building a Winning Team workshop offers insights, forum.

St. Louis--Nearly 700 Supply Corps Reservists from units across the nation gathered for their annual Naval Reserve Supply Corps workshop here June 22-23.

"Our idea for the workshop was that the military can learn a lot from successful business and sports teams," commented CAPT Pete Welch, conference cochair. Welch of St. Louis-based VTU- 1813-G led the conference staff in putting the 2002 workshop together.

"Building a Winning Team" was the workshop theme. Featured presentations and panel discussions with senior leaders in sports, business and the military were aimed at introducing new ideas to attendees. Question and answer sessions were expanded to develop meaningful two-way dialog,

"Our conference goals focused on the Supply Corps' emphasis on joint operational logistics. The joint focus makes team management more vital," said RDML Chuck Williams, conference cochair. Williams sold Navy leadership on the workshop vision of "Building a winning Team", Utilizing successful business, sports, military, and government professionals who have developed and maintained quality organizations, and in hosting the workshop in St. Louis. "We developed take-away points from conference sessions to include the importance of maintaining character and developing leadership, communicating with team members up and down the chain, and managing all players, including challenging nonteam players, to participate in developing a winning cohesive team. The conference feedback we have received suggests our conference goals and take away points were achieved," said Williams.

Keynote comments from senior military opened the conference. Army Lt. Gen. Daniel L. Brown, Deputy Commander of the U.S. Transportation Command, joined VADM Keith W. Lippert, director of the Defense Logistics Agency, and RADM Justin D. McCarthy, Commander of Naval Supply Systems Command, in a senior logistics panel. The flag officers shared their views on the challenges, successes and requirements of logistics in the current war-fighting environment.

Guest speakers offering their experience on team building included St. Louis Rams General Manager Charley Armey; President and CEO Gerald E. Daniels of Military Aircraft and Missiles, The Boeing Company; Congressman Todd Akin; and Commander, Naval Reserve Force VADM John Totushek.

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