9/11-2008

Well, it is seven years ago today. I was working for a purchasing consulting company and I remember that I saw a flash on Yahoo News that there was some sort of plane accident at the World Trade Center. I thought it was going to be an interesting story of how a small plane hit the building as they sometimes do in NYC. Within a half hour, we were glued to a television watching the world become unglued.

Like most, I went home early that day to be with my family. I put a flag out, sent an e-mail of support to the White House, turned on television, and waited for the world to end.  While that thankfully has not happened, I do think that our lives, and careers, were changed on that day. Within weeks, I quit my consulting job and found my home in academia. So, that fateful anniversary is somewhat linked to my full time academic career.

I grew up in Elizabeth, NJ, just a few miles from the World Trade Center. It was built when I was in high school and it was just one more big building on the NYC skyline. I never thought much about it. A few months prior to 9/11, I was on a family road trip when we passed ‘my’ exit on the Garden State Parkway (Exit 137 and proud of it!). I pointed it out to my kids and as we passed the ramp you could see the WTC as plain as day off in the distance. I noticed it differently that day, through the eyes of my kids. Three months later it was gone, as were many from Elizabeth and the surrounding communities.

The world also changed that day for supply management professionals. Certainly travel has become dreary and complicated. Security, and perhaps not enough, has added complexity to the supply chain. And, we are certainly still feeling the economic fallout from that event. Work became a bit less fun. A lot of things became a lot less fun.

Here’s a toast to those whose lives were lost on 9/11…and to those who make sure it doesn’t happen again. We won’t forget you.