Grainger Chairman, President and CEO inspires CLC graduates; Company to help CLC launch new logistics degree

Grainger Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer James T. Ryan addressed 505 graduates of the College of Lake County and nearly 4,000 guests at its 47th annual commencement ceremonies on May 14. The college conferred 2,023 associate degrees and certificates to 1,854 graduates.

During his commencement address, Ryan encouraged graduates to concentrate on finding their life's purpose.

"In my experience, having a purpose became much more meaningful when it started including others, and moved from 'me' to 'we,' Ryan said. "When that happened, even more of my days were filled with excitement, energy and passion, which is usually a pretty good indicator that you've found purpose in your life."

Grainger, a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Lake Forest, and a leading distributor of industrial supplies, has a long history of supporting CLC students with grants, scholarships and internships, as well as participating on career advisory committees.

The most recent example of this support comes in the form of a new Transportation, Distribution and Logistics (TDL) degree. Looking toward developing a skilled workforce and in response to the growing demand for quality supply chain professionals in Lake County, CLC plans to launch a TDL degree in 2017, and is partnering with Grainger as the Founding Partner to develop the curriculum.

"Although the transportation, distribution and logistics sector currently employs thousands of individuals in the Chicago area and is 9 percent of the nation's GDP, we do not currently offer this type of associate degree," said CLC Provost Dr. Rich Haney. "We appreciate Grainger's support in helping us develop the ideal TDL program that is based on current and future industry needs. Grainger is a long-time supporter of CLC, and we are delighted to partner with them on this initiative as well."

Ryan visited CLC in April to talk with engineering students, where he was inspired by a student who had struggled in school until he discovered a passion for robotics. At the commencement ceremonies, Ryan recounted his experience coming out of college.

"That passion for investing in developing myself and improving my life was powerful and it drove about everything I did during that time… but I found that was not enough. What I learned is that defining your purpose has to continue to evolve, and it ultimately can't be just about you… or just about your career," Ryan told the graduates.

"The biggest evolution of my purpose came when I realized the power of committing myself, and my passion to other people. Finding your purpose takes hard work and is never finished. Moving my purpose from 'me' to 'we' was also very powerful in my career," Ryan explained. "When I committed myself to the development and success of the people on my teams, we achieved better results and I realized greater satisfaction in what I was doing. Today, my purpose has evolved even further to creating opportunities for people that help them develop and improve their lives. It's about helping others learn and improve their lives through access to education, experiences and resources that open doors to what otherwise may not have been possible," he said.

To learn more about the College of Lake County, visit www.clcillinois.edu.