Biz to Go: Longwood University looks to build relationships at NRF show in New York
Credit: LOUIS LLOVIO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Longwood University's business school dean, Paul Barrett, said he hopes the show will boost the school's programs and its global profile.
NEW YORK --
Paul Barrett believes his trip to this week's National Retail Federation annual trade show here helps boost Longwood University's business school programs and its international profile.
"This is a good opportunity for us to network and to meet people in the industry," said Barrett, the school's dean.
The show brought about 24,000 retailers, vendors and analysts from around the world. Each represents an opportunity, whether it be as a future student, partner or provider of internships, Barrett said.
This is the second year that Longwood has made the trek from Farmville. But renovations at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center forced the university off the main trade show floor this year and into a separate floor in another part of the building.
"We're not getting as much traffic, but we're getting quality" inquiries, Barrett said.
Longwood is one of 13 colleges that had displays at this year's annual show. The school is a member of the NRF Foundation, the educational arm of the National Retail Federation.
Foundation senior director Angela N. Elder said her organization's aim is to help train people for careers in retail.
Barrett believes education is particularly important for retailers to keep up with the challenges of changing technology.
He points to global supply-chain management as one challenge facing retailers who are now buying products made in one country and shipped through several others before appearing on store shelves.
"You can't do retail today without" knowing about logistics, Barrett said.
The school is one of three universities associated with the Virginia Logistics Research Center, a high-technology research and development center at Fort Lee.
Abigail H. O'Connor, assistant business school dean and MBA director at Longwood, who joined Barrett here, said higher education has a responsibility to prepare students for the changing world.
"We need to grow the next generation of retail leaders," she said. "We're here to help do that."
Louis Llovio
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