Syfan University is Unique Experience for Young Generation
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| Jim Syfan, CEO |
Our company won’t be fielding a Top 10 football team any time soon, but our academic investment in Syfan University so far has exceeded expectations over the past seven summers.
Syfan University is the name of our 10-week summer internship program. Prior to Syfan U’s creation in 2017, little was known about the logistics industry or taught in area schools. However, there is now a logistics curriculum that our company helped to develop locally at the University of North Georgia (UNG) and Lanier Technical College that is beginning to find its way to other schools, too.
The worldwide pandemic in 2020 also brought a lot of attention to the critical importance of logistics and the supply chain, further generating interest among students at the collegiate level.
This summer, we had 17 very bright young interns – three women and 14 men from across the Southeast – who joined our company for a full immersion into our operations. They were put to work alongside our teams in accounting, dispatch operations, IT and several other areas within the Syfan companies.
They also took classes here that you might not expect. Led by Tiffany Culbertson, Senior L&D Specialist, the students enrolled in classes ranging from emotional intelligence to Lean Six Sigma training. A class on Peer Peace Building provided instruction in “positive conflict resolution” to learn respect in overcoming differences among colleagues.
All the classes stress the importance of team building and soft skills that are so important in our fast-paced, competitive work environment.
We shared our company values by having the interns join our team members in volunteering at the Georgia Mountain Food Bank. They also served as volunteers at our annual Syfan 5K and Fun Run benefiting research in childhood cancer.
In between their team-building exercises, the interns were receiving valuable hands-on experience, working alongside our Syfan team members. I can tell you, however, that our team enjoyed these interactions as much as the students. Their youthful energy was infectious and added a lot of fun to our daily operations.
We closed out the summer with a cornhole tournament with a hilarious competition pitting the interns and Syfan team members versus management. I won’t tell you who won, but I will say those young arms sure wore us out!
Thank you to Tiffany and all our Syfan team members for mentoring our interns this summer. I know that the students will return to their schools to spread the good word about Syfan Logistics and the other Syfan companies – and hopefully we will see more than a few of them return in the future as full-time team members.
In addition to learning about the logistics industry and our company, this year’s intern class helped out with the Syfan Supports Rally 5K and Fun Run.
Syfan Supports Rally 5K and Fun Run Raises $50,000 For CHILDHOOD CANCER RESEARCH
The second annual 5K and Fun Run attracted 167 participants along the Midland Greenway in Gainesville, including several childhood cancer survivors. Hundreds of other supporters came out to cheer on the runners and walkers.
“Our community came together to support an important cause,” President Greg Syfan said. “It is crucial to raise both awareness and funds, and we have achieved that with our second Syfan Supports 5K and Fun Run.”
Syfan Logistics and the Syfan family have been longtime supporters of the Rally Foundation. Greg Syfan’s granddaughter, 12-year-old cancer survivor Brecklynn Allgood, inspires their dedication.
If you were not able to join us this year, we hope you will next year. We’ll keep you updated on details for next year’s event.
Team Member Spotlight: Cassie Hall
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| Cassie Hall |
Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce Silver Shovel Award Winner
Cassie Hall is always willing to go above and beyond to help our company and the community.
Everyone at Syfan Logistics already knows this about Cassie. Now the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce does, too.
The chamber presented Cassie with a Silver Shovel award for her work with its Youth Leadership Hall County and Leadership Hall County programs. The awards are given annually to chamber volunteers who have worked hard for the chamber and business in Gainesville-Hall County.
Cassie was selected for the 2022-23 Leadership Hall County class and now serves on the Planning Activities Committee for Youth Leadership. She also planned last year’s Leadership Hall visit to Syfan Logistics. It was the first time Leadership Hall had come to Syfan and they are coming back this year.
“Syfan has been very involved with the chamber,” Cassie said. “We have really worked on that relationship. It was great because I was able to come in and advocate which led to Syfan sponsoring graduation for Youth Leadership.”
Cassie, a Senior Pricing Analyst, earned a business degree in Supply Chain & Logistics from the University of North Georgia. In college, she worked at Syfan Logistics during peak season and was in our second internship class. After her internship ended, she was offered a full-time job.
As a senior pricing analyst, she oversees the pricing department, which handles Syfan’s contract bidding.
“I knew I wanted to be in business,” said Cassie, who celebrated her fifth anniversary at Syfan this year. “Processes made sense to me. Forecasting was something I loved – I loved the math side of it. I wanted to be at a company where I could dig in and do analytics. I also wanted to be a part of the community, part of the bigger picture, and give back. I found both worlds here.”
Cassie and her husband, Brody, live in Clarkesville, Ga. They have known each other since they were children and will celebrate their first anniversary in November.
Syfan Logistics Honored For Family Approach To Business
Family means everything at Syfan Logistics.
For its family-centered approach to business, the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce recognized Syfan Logistics as the Family Business of the Year for 2024.
Jim, Gloria, Greg, and Steve Syfan were honored for their nearly 40 years of being business leaders in Hall County, Ga., and their significant contributions to the community. While we have over 450 team members here at Syfan Logistics, we consider ourselves a close-knit family.
“Our success as a family-owned business is a tribute to the hard work and dedication of our entire team,” President Greg Syfan said. “It’s not just the Syfan family name. We are a family company through and through. We have husbands and wives who work together here, and we have some employee weddings coming up in the next year. We are very supportive and care for each other. This award means a lot to us.”
The Family Business of the Year award is a testament to Syfan Logistics’ commitment to excellence as an employer, its community service, and its place as a nationally recognized third-party logistics and transportation company.
“The Syfan family has not only built a successful business but has also made a lasting impact on the Hall County community through their philanthropic efforts and community involvement,” said Kit Dunlap, President & CEO of the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce.
We are deeply honored to have earned the Chamber’s Family Business of the Year award.
Serving The Community:
Grilling for Gainesville Police and Serving at the Food Bank
We recently took part in two of our favorite community service events – volunteering at the local food bank and feeding our law enforcement officers.
Part of our summer internship program involves serving in the community. Our interns volunteered at the Georgia Mountain Food Bank, making a positive impact in our community by packing hundreds of food boxes for those in need.
Each year, we grill hamburgers and hot dogs for our friends in law enforcement. Recently, it was the Gainesville Police Department’s turn, and we served over 100 officers and staff. We always look forward to grilling, enjoying fellowship with the officers, and letting them know we appreciate all they do.
Our team members are passionate about contributing to our community.
