Theo Lamperis, a Chicago native, and former marine served four years in the military and was stationed around the United States and as far away as Okinawa, Japan. He could have gone anywhere for college, but he chose Auburn because he was looking to “attend one of the best supply chain programs in the country.” He is now poised to graduate not only as a Student Marshal but also fully employed. He feels more confident than ever that he made the right decision when choosing the Harbert College of Business at Auburn University.

Leveraging his background in the military and his interest in supply chain management, Lamperis found immense pay-off at the Harbert College. He is a Supply Chain Management major and a heavily involved student on-campus. Lamperis is involved in Auburn Catholic Student Organization, Auburn Club Baseball, Auburn Best Buddies, Auburn Veteran Student Organization, and Auburn Supply Chain Management Association. He has passed his Six Sigma Green Belt, a notable certification in the supply chain field. He has also completed two competitive supply chain internships during his time at Auburn. One with Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, Texas, and the other, with DHL in Fairburn, Georgia. These internships gave him valuable insight into the different offerings of the supply chain management field. These experiences prompted important self-reflection for Lamperis causing him to evaluate what he found personally rewarding in a career and what he didn’t. These crucial experiences shaped the career path he chose to pursue after graduation.

Lamperis feels his experience at Auburn, and ultimately his supply chain degree has “greatly complemented his previous military experience and provided insight into a future career path.” Theo’s story is one of great success catalyzed by passion and hard work. He feels that Auburn “provided him a new endeavor that he was looking for after his service.”  Lamperis is confident that other veterans will also find support and industry knowledge at the Harbert College.

“One of the best aspects of the supply chain program at Auburn University is the application of materials to real-life situations.”

This programmatic approach proved extremely valuable when Lamperis was required to participate in a case competition for BBB Industries as part of a supply chain sustainability course. For this project, students were asked to prepare a presentation based on BBB’s actual business data and present their findings and ideas to the company. During his presentation, BBB’s CEO, Duncan Gillis, was so impressed with Lamperis’s presentation that he offered him his dream job on the spot. Once he graduates in December, Lamperis will be a Circular Economy Business Analyst with BBB Industries in Daphne, AL. His position will focus on ways “to bring attention to sustainability in the automotive sector.”

Theo feels that the professors and staff in the Harbert College of Business played an integral role in his post-graduation job offer and his being named student marshal. He wants to express his gratitude to those he has met during his time at Auburn. But it seems that he may also be leaving a legacy of his own. One professor said, “Theo exemplifies leadership, compassion, and academic excellence in all of his endeavors.” Another says, “Theo is an incredible student and model ambassador for the Harbert College of Business.” Theo’s impact will be felt long after his graduation, and his connection to Auburn will be something he carries with him as he begins a new chapter.