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Amanda Peterson

Degree: MSSCM '17
Occupation: Principal Category Manager, Exelon Corp.

What is your current employment status? What does your company do and what is your role there?

I work for Exelon Corporation, which is a fortune 100 company. Exelon is the parent company to ComEd, and other utilities similar to ComEd, in Philadelphia, Baltimore, and the greater Washington D.C. area. Exelon is also the largest owner and operator of Nuclear Power Plants in North America. 

I am a Principal Category Manager for Exelon. I wear many hats in my role. Big picture, I am responsible for the negotiation, implementation, and management of large chemical, fuel, oil/lubricant, and resin contracts that span enterprise wide. This includes strategic sourcing activities like running bids, negotiating commercial terms, and establishing/updating agreements. I also work with our legal department to negotiate our legal terms and conditions that govern how the two entities interact contractually and resolve disputes (hopefully there are none!). When the agreements are in place, I am responsible for monitoring supplier performance and relationship management. I am a go-between for our suppliers and the business units of Exelon. I typically only focus on large relationships. Finally, I am also responsible for maintaining a watchful eye on the market forces that impact my category. I then work with my business partners and suppliers to mitigate those risks. When asked to describe my role briefly, I jokingly answer I herd cats.

What are your career goals?

I enjoy the work I do now and plan to continue growing in my current role. Today, I have exposure to senior management in our company, and work towards executing many of their strategic goals. Ultimately, someday I want to be part of the senior management team at my company.

What made you choose Loyola/Quinlan for pursuing graduate education in supply chain management?

I was initially researching MBA programs, and I had read in several sources about the quality and ranking of the Quinlan program. As I was looking into Loyola, I was intrigued by the supply chain degree. I took several classes within the degree program and was hooked. I also valued that Quinlan was making large investments in the program, and that it was well-ranked nationally.

What stands out to you regarding your education at Loyola/Quinlan?

The focus on analytics and comradery. There isn’t a day that goes by in my current role, where I am not doing research or some kind of analytical exercise. We were encouraged and required to have a solid understanding of the roles and significance that metrics play within operations and business strategy. I use what I learned and improved upon every day. Finally, the comradery. I met some really incredible people through the Supply Chain program, and could not imagine completing the degree without them.

What would you recommend to someone who is looking to start and/or grow their career in supply chain management?

Don’t be afraid of a lateral move. Our culture pushes that every move you make, needs to be a move up on the ladder of life. Sometimes, taking a lateral position to yours, in an entirely different department, organization, etc can be what gives you the extra edge you need when competing for the next open promotion. Broadening your skillset and experiences will pay off. A candidate that does one thing great, is nice to have. A candidate you can put in multiple roles and who will succeed in those roles and move fluidly, is incredibly valuable to today’s organizations that constantly have to respond to change and are continuously evolving.