ITC Scholarship Recipient (2011)
Lisa Engle
Supply Chain Projects Manager
Rolls-Royce North America

When I was given the honor of receiving the ITC scholarship in 2011, it was around the same time that I found my passion for Supply Chain. I entered the IUPUI Kelley School of business as a marketing major, but after taking only 1 supply chain class, I quickly changed my major to include Supply Chain. From there I went to become the president of the Operations Supply Chain Management (OSCM) Club for the Kelley School and jumped head first into the Supply Chain world of networking and exploring the opportunities. That is when I found the ITC organization and all the wonderful people, knowledge, and opportunities the organization offered. During the dinner ceremony for the scholarship, I heard one of the most influential speeches for my career, and to this day talk about. INDOT came and spoke about the changes that are happening and will be happening in order for Indianapolis to embrace the “Cross Roads of America”. That night, with networking with Supply Chain professionals and listening to the speaker, kicked started my passion and career for Supply Chain.
Upon graduation I accepted an offer with Rolls-Royce to join their Supply Chain Graduate development program, which is an 18 month program of completing 3-6 month rotations in the areas of supply chain. This was an exciting start to my professional career because I worked in manufacturing, supply chain design, logistics, and had the great opportunity to live aboard to understand the global aspect of supply chain. At the end of the 18 months I happily accepted a full-time position with Rolls-Royce as a Defense Supply Chain Designer. In this role I was an analyst that pulled together supply chain data to support the feasibility and implementation of supply chain projects for Defense. In this role I interacted with the entire value stream from procurement to delivering engines to the customer. This role gave me the foundation to understanding the business and applying supply chain principles including project management. Recently I have been promoted into my current role of Supply Chain Project Manager. In this role I am responsible for Supply Chain and Value Stream Design activities and associated Business Change Projects for the regional Defense business that will be focused on Delivery, Cost and Inventory initiatives across the respective value streams.
I want to thank ITC and all their members for all their kindness and support that has helped me early in my career.

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ITC Scholarship Recipient (2017)
Mahamadou Serki

Coming from a third world nation, getting a higher education here is a lifetime opportunity. Although integrating to the society is somewhat challenging, I was determined to get my education going. I have always been inspired by the transportation industry and believe that having a career in the field will be cool. To make my dream come true, I went on to get an associate degree in Supply Chain and Logistics Management from Ivy Tech Community College of Indianapolis in fall 2015, and transferred to Kelley School of Business at IUPUI where I am currently pursuing a Bachelor in Supply Chain Management. I planned to graduate in May 2019 but winning the ITC scholarship made a significant contribution to my academic year, and gave me the opportunity to enroll in more courses this year, so that I can graduate in December of this Year.
My post-graduation plans consist of seeking a job in transportation field and spending quality times with my wife, son, and daughter. I am also planning on going back to get my MBA at Kelley, a couple of years later.
I appreciate the Indianapolis Transportation Club for their contribution in my education and overall contributions to our community at large. I encourage my fellow students to apply for this great scholarship and hope to be part of the contributors in the near future.


Posted by ITC Editor

The essential job of any attorney is problem solver. Sometimes that simply involves trying to help clients anticipate and avoid problems. More often, it involves advising clients on how to resolve existing problems. Occasionally, it is necessary for clients to make use of the court system to enforce their rights, but in many cases, there are alternative methods to resolve problems without using the court system—alternatives that are often faster and easier than litigation and that will almost always be less expensive. An attorney can help you decide what method is best for resolving your particular problem.

When you are faced with a serious problem, it is important to seek legal advice early. An attorney can help you to fully understand your legal rights and your options for preserving them. Your attorney may have seen similar situations before and may be able to offer strategies that have proven to be successful (or unsuccessful, which is also helpful info). He or she will likely have suggestions for strengthening your position and preserving evidence in case a lawsuit is necessary. Most importantly, the attorney can give you some idea of the costs and possible outcomes of litigation, so you can factor that information into your decision.

How do you know when it is necessary to lawyer up? Here are some things to consider in deciding whether you should seek advice from an attorney: 

1. Evaluate what is at stake. 

Some actions and transactions have important and/or long-term consequences, so it is worth making sure that they are handled correctly. Transactions that are routine or of a low value can probably be done on a handshake without much risk; however, transactions of a high value or involving important assets can present a risk if not handled correctly, so shortcuts should be avoided. Some situations, such as the poaching of customers in violation of a non-compete agreement, may require an immediate legal response to prevent irreparable harm. You should consider consulting an attorney any time you are facing a situation where the risks to you or your business are high.

2. Don’t be too eager to escalate. 

Escalation includes making statements or ultimatums or taking actions that burn bridges and may make later concessions difficult. Escalation of a situation may feel good at the time, but it can easily backfire. Consider whether a dispute that seems to test your patience and principles may also be an opportunity to demonstrate your superior customer service and professionalism. Make sure you have exhausted business solutions that involve cooperation before escalating the dispute into a truly adversarial situation. Many clients, after being engaged in a lawsuit, have expressed regret that they did not try harder to work things out before resorting to the legal system. A lawyer can provide assistance to you in finding creative ways to diffuse or de-escalate a dispute. 

3. Research your options. 

If you are unable to resolve things cooperatively, there may be alternative measures available without resorting to litigation. Look for factors that influence the situation and other parties that might be in a position to assist, and see if they can provide you with additional leverage to steer toward an agreement. Looking for informal solutions lets you consider creative approaches that would not be part of a lawsuit.

4. Understand the limits of litigation. 

You should always have realistic expectations of your case’s potential outcome before resorting to litigation. The court system can be slow and expensive. Ultimately, almost every lawsuit settles out of court through a compromise agreement, which means that neither side gets all of what it is seeking. In addition, unless there is a contractual provision or statute authorizing the recovery of attorney fees, each party to a lawsuit pays its own lawyer, which means even if one party wins at trial, each side will still have to pay its own attorney fees. 

A lawyer can help you navigate all of these questions and issues, and can guide you toward the best possible outcome in your particular situation. It is very rewarding to help a client avoid a potential dispute, or turn a problem into a success. What an attorney really wants to do is help clients know their rights and options so they can make the best decisions, whether personally or professionally. As exciting as it is to win in the courtroom, it is almost as exciting to empower clients with advice that lets them handle the situation on their own. Almost. ​