Michigan Ross Students Prepare to Excel in Supply Chain Roles Through BTS Fast Track Program

The BTS Fast Track program combines the business fundamentals of the BBA Program, the industry expertise of the one-year MSCM Program, and leadership training from the Tauber Institute for Global Operations to provide students with a unique multidisciplinary five-year experience.

Students can apply to the program through the Tauber Institute during their third year of study as BBAs. Students accepted into the program gain access to a guaranteed, paid team project through Tauber, extensive leadership and teamwork training through the LeadershipAdvantage℠ Program, and access to both business and engineering career resources. Then, as MSCM students, they also gain access to opportunities like MSCM alum mentorship and the Consulting Studio Project, which further prepare them for the challenges of today’s workplace.

To learn more about the program's benefits, we asked two students currently enrolled in the MSCM Program through BTS Fast Track to share their experiences so far.

Breanna Allen, MSCM ’25

Hometown

Southfield, Michigan

Why did you choose to do the BTS Fast Track Program?

Honestly, like most people, I did not know what I wanted to do after my undergraduate studies, but I was informed of the program during my junior year. It was perfect timing. I was fascinated that it was a bridge program between my undergraduate studies, the Tauber Institute for Global Operations, and the Master of Supply Chain Management Program. I have always wanted to earn a graduate degree, and I am grateful that the BTS program was an option. Additionally, I was interested in the purpose of the Tauber program, working in a multidisciplinary setting and receiving a summer internship in operations.

How will this program prepare you to succeed in a supply chain career?

I hope it will equip me with the knowledge to help me assess situations from multiple perspectives of the supply chain. I hope it also equips me with the tools and strategic mindset that I can apply throughout the advancement of my future professions within the supply chain. 

Have you utilized any resources available to you through Tauber?

I have taken advantage of the opportunities to be involved in Tauber, such as being a community building chairperson of the Tauber Student Advisory Board. This allows me to help foster community among the diversity of students within the Tauber cohorts. I am also assisting with organizing next year's Global Operations Conference by handling the logistics. 

What was your internship experience like?

I interned with Conagra Brands, Inc., a leading food company, in Omaha, Nebraska, for 12 weeks. I was partnered with two of my engineering classmates, and we had three projects that involved data visualization for frontline workers, process improvement in sustainability tracking, and developing a roadmap for the future of their production lines. It was an enriching experience to gain technical skills that I didn't have before. I also enjoyed working with my engineering teammates and meeting stakeholders in Conagra's manufacturing facilities to gain multiple perspectives. 

What has been your favorite memory or experience in the program?

My favorite memories have been the Tauber Spotlight! Competition and Tauber-organized facility tours. Spotlight! is an annual event showcasing everyone's summer internship projects. I enjoyed reconnecting with everyone after the summer to celebrate all the teams' accomplishments. I also had fun visiting two of Conagra's facility tours during spring break, as that was my first time walking in a factory. 

Why should prospective students consider the BTS Fast Track Program?

This is a great opportunity to become more specialized in a function while pursuing a graduate degree in it. The program prepares you for graduate school and the real world through the enriching technical curriculum and experiences with the Tauber Institute, where you gain analytical, problem-solving, teamwork, and other transferable skills by working in multidisciplinary environments.

Nathan Richtarcik, MSCM ’25

Hometown

Warren, Michigan

Why did you choose to do the BTS Fast Track Program?

I chose the BTS Fast Track Program because of the career opportunities it offers outside of school and the supply chain and operations experience I gained from the Tauber project. 

When I accepted my offer to the BTS Program, I was working as an intern in supplier quality management at a large manufacturing company in Detroit. I was considering a full-time position there as the team, culture, and benefits were great, but most of the work felt a bit mundane and unfulfilling. There were other roles open in the company, which I explored extensively, but I was looking for something more creative and exciting, and all signs were pointing towards some type of consulting or operations advisory role.

I knew this would require some "juice" to my resume and experiences. The MSCM degree would provide ample improvements to my business acumen and networking/recruiting capabilities, and the Tauber project would bode for extremely strong and marketable operations and project experience, so really, the decision felt almost automatic when I was notified of my acceptance to the program. 

How will this program prepare you to succeed in a supply chain career?

Quite frankly, I owe my career success to the BTS Program. The Tauber project was invaluable in pushing the limits of my abilities as an analyst and a manager. The MSCM status placed me in a unique recruiting position that was just a few steps above undergraduates gunning for the same positions and allowed me to stand out in my applications and experience. 

I started recruiting at the end of August, and by mid-September, I had already accepted an offer to work at a private equity company in New York City, doing operations and financial advisory project work. I couldn't be more excited or feel more prepared for the start of my career as a young professional, and it's all thanks to the BTS program. 

 Have you utilized any resources available to you through Tauber?

I didn't use a ton of resources available to me through Tauber, but I really leveraged the network to the best of my ability. I not only connected with but befriended students and professionals ranging from MBAs with 10+ years of professional experience to aerospace engineers who will be designing and building the next generation of aircraft to even C-suite members of leading U.S. manufacturing corporations.

 What was your internship experience like?

My internship experience was transformative and impactful. I was working in a machine shop in Houston, Texas, where we were tasked with revamping many of the shop's processes to realign its operations with its overarching strategy. The shop was in a severe backlog, making many parts it should be buying and overall struggling to meet the changing expectations demanded by the COVID-19 pandemic and its residual effects. 

My project partner and I worked with the site's shop managers to analyze, evaluate, and test various solutions tirelessly. We were on the shop floor for weeks talking with the operators and supervisors, performing time studies, and using all of the tools and frameworks I had gained during my time as a Ross undergraduate. We implemented new technologies, reporting and scheduling procedures, and key performance indicators, and highlighted key areas for improvement following our departure. 

One month after our project's finish date, the shop had significantly reduced its backlog, and it was no longer a bottleneck in the final product's supply chain.

 What has been your favorite memory or experience in the program?

One favorite memory is proving cumbersome to come up with, so I would say my favorite experience had to be the culmination of the friendship I developed with my project partner. From my understanding, most Tauber graduates feel the same way, but you're basically bound to make a meaningful and long-standing relationship with whoever you're working with.

You're in a new city, in my case, without an established network, and you spend enormous amounts of time with your project partners. Whether through the three months of full work weeks or time spent exploring the city and finding food and beverages, it's almost impossible not to develop a unique friendship built on shared history and experiences.

 Why should prospective students consider the BTS Fast Track program?

If you're interested in supply chain and operations but are unsure about or unsatisfied with the opportunities currently available, consider the BTS Fast Track program. It will, at the very least, place you on a better and more informed path with a more competitive recruiting status. 

At the very most, you'll come out with your dream job, network, and experiences.