Alumnus Rich Bulger. Image courtesy of the University.
Our students commonly have various reasons that they enroll at the University. Some students choose a particular program right after high school and receive a college degree, while other students are looking for professional development.
Alumnus Rich Bulger initially enrolled in the master’s in reverse logistics program management for three reasons:
- He wanted to evaluate if corporate tuition assistance could be leveraged to train his team at Cisco.
- He wanted to learn how to recruit professionals who were motivated to learn more about the field of reverse logistics.
- He wanted to be a participant in educating the next generation of reverse logistics leaders.
Rich was awarded his master’s degree in reverse logistics management in September 2023. He believes that one of the best unintended benefits of his education was how his courses forced him to write down what he had already learned and experienced.
At the same time, his courses challenged his thought processes and helped him to solve new business problems that he faced. Rich credits the University with fostering his creative thinking and helping him understand the broad impact of logistics decisions on communities and the world at large.
His reverse logistics courses helped him to explore the environmental impacts of reverse logistics – an often-overlooked topic. He also came to appreciate how recycling and reverse logistics were essential from both global and local perspectives. Rich was impressed by the circular nature of these recycling and reverse logistics and how they connect forward and reverse logistics in business.
The courses also focused on sustainability, showing how small changes in logistics operations can create significant benefits for both businesses and the environment. Rich notes that his classes linked theory with practical applications, transforming his understanding of reverse logistics as part of a circular economy.
Rich also enjoyed the class discussions, where he exchanged ideas with faculty and industry experts to enrich his learning experience. The courses presented the latest trends and challenges. Students like Rich brought innovations, such as artificial intelligence, into the conversations, making the lessons more dynamic and forward-looking.
A Long History in Reverse Logistics at Verizon and Cisco
Rich’s dedication, passion, and contributions to reverse logistics are unparalleled. He spent 17 years at Verizon® and over three years at Cisco®.
Rich rose through the ranks at Verizon, starting as a temporary employee and eventually became the youngest director in the company. In 2010, Rich launched Verizon’s first retail trade-in program, driving sales and revenue by offering value for customers’ unwanted products.
When Rich was first asked to apply for the Director of Reverse Logistics position at Verizon, he candidly asked, “What is reverse logistics, and what is a CRTC?” This role showed him not only the importance of reverse logistics but also demonstrated an educational gap in the industry.
Later, Rich worked as the Director of Reverse Logistics at Cisco. By modernizing Cisco’s reverse logistics practices, Rich helped transform its reverse logistics operation from a cost center to a profit center. Under his leadership, Cisco won three prestigious supply chain awards from Gartner.
Founding RecirQ
While still taking his master’s courses, Rich became the CEO of RecirQ, a sustainability company. He grew company revenues from $27M to $116M in just five years, leveraging modern reverse logistics and marketing practices to match used supply to used demand.
Based on his academic knowledge, Rich built a business plan for RecirQ and laid the foundation for a reverse logistics warehouse management system that optimized operations and improved efficiency. His courses helped him to meet real-world business challenges, driving growth and sustainability initiatives in the circular economy.
Seeing the Need for a Book about Reverse Logistics
Rich is also a board member of the Reverse Logistics Association (RLA), which has over 1,500 participating companies. Rich discovered this lack of formal training in reverse logistics was a widespread issue in the industry and determined that reverse logistics knowledge was shared inconsistently across companies.
His courses and his business experience helped Rich develop his ideas on the circular economy of supply chains, which became the foundation for a book called “Going Circular: The Evolution of Reverse Logistics into a Competitive Weapon.” He used notes and assignments from his master’s degree courses to help craft his book.
Rich’s book serves as a vital resource for students, educators, and practitioners, contributing to the understanding and development of reverse logistics, especially in the context of circular economics. He has also made a video for the University to use in its courses, encouraging students to engage with current and relevant issues in reverse logistics.
Rich’s book went on to be adopted globally as a must-read for reverse logistics students and companies. In addition, the book is being evaluated for use in University courses in the reverse logistics management and supply chain management program.
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Advocating for More Reverse Logistics Education
Rich continues to advocate for a comprehensive view of reverse logistics in environmental sustainability. He frequently speaks at conferences and engages with faculty, sharing how his courses inspired him to explore green solutions in the field. He says that his courses improved his awareness of the complexities of reverse logistics and its critical role within supply chain management.
Rich remains active in alumni activities and helping to modernize course content. He believes in the importance of staying engaged with the University to ensure the next generation of students receive the most relevant and up-to-date education.
As an alumnus and CEO, Rich offers valuable real-world applications of reverse logistics, benefiting both academics and industry professionals. His book establishes both Rich and the University as thought leaders in the field.
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