# Leadership summit wraps up in Battle Creek 

/ Published Oct. 30, 2023
BATTLE CREEK, Mich., Battle Creek, Mich
Leadership for The Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services and Document Servicers wrapped up their weeklong summit in Battle Creek, Michigan, October 27. It was a week of strategic planning and collaboration to chart the road ahead.

                DLA Disposition Services Director Mike Cannon delivers his opening remarks at the agency's Leadership Summit held at the command's headquarters in Battle Creek, Michigan.                            DLA DS Director opening remarks last day                            DLA Disposition Services Director Mike Cannon delivers his opening remarks at the agency's Leadership Summit held at the command's headquarters in Battle Creek, Michigan.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Jace ArmstrongVIRIN: 231027-D-OS362-0096“It's been a good week,” DLA Disposition Services Director Mike Cannon said to the summit attendees during his final opening remarks of the summit. “We covered a lot of stuff, the goal of this gathering is to just prepare this part of the organization for the next year. How do we get through fiscal year 24? What are our priorities?

“Obviously you know finishing the WMS rollout and all things associated with it integrating and improving support to the Document Services mission and then all things audit are really at the top of our to-do list,” Cannon told them.

This was DLA Document Services leadership teams first summit after being officially aligned under Disposition Services

Looking back at her first trip to Battle Creek, Natalie Coulson, equipment management solutions deputy director for Document Services said, “It was a great experience. I really feel we are becoming part of the Disposition Services family. Everyone has been super friendly, and I have learned a lot about the different aeras of Disposition Services that I did not know before.”

Topics covered included integrating Document Services into the team, Warehouse Management System currently being rolled out at field sites, DOD Performance Management and Appraisal Program commonly referred to as DPMAP and audit readiness.

Cannon emphasized that with the addition of Document Services the agency is even more geographically dispersed, now with close to 100 locations in more than 40 states and 14 countries. “We have got to do a better job of communicating,” Cannon said.

He then instructed the attendees to take back what they had learned over the past week and share it with their people.

The last item on the summit’s agenda Cannon said was his favorite, the chance to publicly acknowledge outstanding performance of some of the workforce.

But before he did that, he acknowledged that it would be hard to be fair and equitable on selecting site of the year when some sites had made the transition to MWS this past year and others making the switch this year.

“So, we'll get back to site of the year awards in a couple years,” Cannon said. “So... I'm going to declare everybody won site of the year this year.” The room erupted in applause.

He then invited each person being recognized for their personal award to the front of the room and presented them with their award.

This year’s awards:
      - Length of Service:  Faron J. Cordrey – 40 Years
      - Memorandum of Appreciation:  Llewellyn (Lew) Castro, Department of Navy
      - Superior Civilian Service Award:          - LA-Tanya Williams
        - Todd Shuman
        - Danny Kim
        - Jorge Felix
        - Richard “Brock” Hall