MTSU business students engage with Amazon HQ executives at Nashville summit

Amazon manager and Middle Tennessee State University alumnus Nathan Swartz, rear center, gathers with Jones College of Business students and MTSU Director of Corporate Engagements Brad Tammen, far left, at Amazon’s Nashville, Tenn., headquarters in early December. Students pictured with them, from left, included Syd Panak, Olivia May, Havjin Barkhan, Chase Holmes, Jonathan Dunn, and Jose Rivera. (Submitted photo)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University students from the Jones College of Business recently had the opportunity to participate in the Amazon Reliability and Maintenance Engineering Third Party Summit, held at the Amazon Nashville, Tennessee, headquarters.

The event was organized by MTSU alumnus Nathan Swartz, senior manager at Amazon. The 1996 MTSU graduate (B.S. in political science) graciously welcomed a select group of Jones College students into the inner workings of Amazon. The summit provided an exclusive glimpse into the world of the global e-commerce giant, shedding light on crucial aspects of supply chain, finance, information systems, and professional selling.

With over 25 years of senior leadership experience in supply chain management and logistics, Swartz serves on the Jones College of Business Dean’s Advisory Council, dedicating his time to enhancing the quality of business education at MTSU. Before joining Amazon in 2021, he spent 24 years in the U.S. Army as a logistics officer, retiring as a colonel.

“The overwhelming feedback from Amazon leaders was how impressed they were with the MTSU students. They were fully engaged in all the formal and informal discussions over a two-day period,” Swartz said. “They asked insightful questions to the senior leaders that sparked deep dives into topics. I am super proud of the students. The Amazon and RME 3P leaders have committed to stay connected with them through their academic and professional careers.”

A group of students from Middle Tennessee State University’s Jones College of Business and Brad Tammen, director of strategic partnerships and corporate engagements, gather outside of Amazon’s Nashville, Tenn., headquarters during the company’s summit in early December. Pictured, from left, are students Priscilla Hammermeister, Syd Panak, Jose Rivera, Havjin Barkhan, Chase Holmes, Olivia King, Tammen, and Jonathan Dunn. (Submitted photo)

Brad Tammen, director of strategic partnerships and corporate engagements at MTSU, served as the university’s liaison at the Dec. 5-6 summit, facilitating meaningful interactions between university students and Amazon executives. Students had the unique opportunity to sit at the table with Amazon leaders, engaging in discussions on various topics such as cost savings, data analytics, value propositions, talent architecture and pathways, supply chain, and artificial intelligence, or AI.

Brad Tammen, director of strategic and corporate initiatives, MTSU Development Office — Brad Tammen

Reflecting on the experience, Tammen expressed how MTSU’s talented students made the university shine on a global scale.

“It was so impressive to see Amazon and their key partners welcome MTSU students with open arms. We are so fortunate to have an alumnus and first-generation student like Nathan Swartz at Amazon to allow for opportunities like this for our students,” Tammen said.

The Jones College students who attended the summit represented various disciplines within the business school, showcasing the university’s diverse talent pool: Jonathan Dunn, Priscilla Hammermeister, Olivia King and Olivia May (supply chain); Jose Rivera (finance); Syd Panak and Havjin Barkhan (information systems and analytics); and Chase Holmes (professional selling).

Additionally, several key Jones College representatives who couldn’t attend the summit played instrumental roles in making the event happen. They included Carolyn Tumbleson, development director; Richard Tarpey, assistant professor; and Dean Joyce Heames.

Dr. Joyce Heames, dean, Jennings A. Jones College of Business — Dr. Joyce Heames

Heames shared her enthusiasm for the Amazon summit, emphasizing its significance in preparing students for the dynamic world of business.

“The Amazon summit not only allowed our talented students to engage with key leadership but also provided them with a firsthand understanding of the challenges and opportunities within a global giant like Amazon,” she said. “Such experiences are invaluable in shaping the future leaders emerging from the Jones College of Business, and we look forward to fostering more of these impactful collaborations in the future.”

To learn more about corporate industry partnerships for student engagement with MTSU, contact Tammen at brad.tammen@mtsu.edu.

— Brian Delaney (Brian.Delaney@mtsu.edu)