6 Jan 2010 --- Caravan Ingredients has signed a new category management partnership with DePaul University’s Center for Sales Leadership. Caravan Ingredients joins a select group of companies that are dedicated to the education, training, and overall development of category management scholars at DePaul University’s College of Commerce. DePaul University’s College of Commerce is one of the nation’s 10 oldest business schools, with its undergraduate program ranked in the top 100 by BusinessWeek.

The DePaul Center for Sales Leadership launched the innovative Category Management professional development track in 2009 to provide a continuing source of talent for consumer package good retailers and manufacturers. Jim Wells, Program Sponsor and National Insight Manager at Caravan Ingredients will be working on DePaul University’s Center for Sales Leadership Advisory Board and Category Management Council to build an educational foundation that will prepare DePaul students for the rigors of category management positions. “It is a privilege to be selected by DePaul University to contribute to the development of up and coming young professionals and to the future growth of the Center for Sales Leadership program,” said Wells. Ron Savelli, CEO of Caravan Ingredients said, “We are extremely excited for Jim Wells and Caravan Ingredients to participate in this program. This supports Caravan’s continued commitment to our industry and its future leaders. This relationship will not only benefit our customers but Caravan as we continue to enhance our value added capabilities.”

In these newly established roles, Mr. Wells will lend his technical expertise in category management and consumer insight to develop course curriculum, establish criteria for category management training, and evaluate the overall success of the category management program. Mr. Wells will also participate as a guest lecturer, providing class content and working directly with students. “The input our students receive from industry leaders like Jim Wells, is essential to successfully preparing them for the challenges of careers in the category management industry today”, said Dan Strunk Managing Director of the Center for Sales Leadership. “What makes our program different is that students receive input on category management issues from both our retail and manufacturing partners. The learning experience is extraordinary; our students truly learn to see business solutions that benefit categories and not just one channel partner, we have professionals like Jim to thank for that”.