New Orleans, Louisiana
June 26, 2016
June 26, 2016
June 29, 2016
978-0-692-68565-5
2153-5965
Minorities in Engineering and Women in Engineering
Diversity and ASEE Diversity Committee
19
10.18260/p.27207
https://peer.asee.org/27207
706
Allie Copeland is the Vice President of Operations at Standard Supply & Distributing Inc., an independent privately owned industrial distributor of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and related products. Allie has an Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership from Pennsylvania State University and is currently pursing a Masters of Industrial Distribution from Texas A&M University in College Station, TX.
Dr. Malini Natarajarathinam is an Associate professor with Department of Engineering Technology and Industrial Distribution. She teaches classes on strategic relationships for industrial distribution, distribution information systems and new directions in Industrial Distribution. She is also the founding faculty and advisor for the Society of Women in Industrial Distribution (SWID). She works on many service learning projects with her students where they work with many local community agencies.
Industrial Distribution is a multi-billion dollar industry domestically. An issue within the industrial distribution industry is a relatively disproportionate number of male to female workers; less than 25% of the employed workforce is made up of female employees. This ratio is disparate from US total female workforce participation of 57% (DOL, 2015). The purpose of this study is to understand male and female perceptions from industry professionals as it relates to female gender challenges and opportunities within Industrial Distribution. A survey instrument was used across a variety of Industrial Distribution trade verticals to provide qualitative data. Analysis of the research data generated by the survey is designed to contribute to a collective understanding of opportunities and challenges that exist for females currently engaged in or looking to approach a career in industrial distribution.
Copeland, A., & Natarajarathinam, M. (2016, June), Women in Industrial Distribution: Emerging Opportunities and Challenges for Female College Graduates Paper presented at 2016 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, New Orleans, Louisiana. 10.18260/p.27207
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