03-20-2014 Panama Canal Update: Changing Inland Transportation Flows?

TRAFFIC CLUB of CHICAGO PRESENTS:

PANAMA CANAL UPDATE:
CHANGING INLAND TRANSPORTATION FLOWS

THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2014
8:00 AM – 1:30 PM

Co-presented by the CSCMP Chicago Roundtable

How will the expansion of the Panama Canal impact global business, possibly change trade lanes, and spur infrastructure investments? Speakers and panelists will include professionals who have worked on the Panama Canal project, representatives from PortMiami and the Florida East Coast Railway, and shippers who plan to use the new canal facilities to deliver freight to the Midwest.

The opening ‘keynote’ speaker is Bill Johnson.  Mr. Johnson is Port Director for PortMiami, one of the nation’s top container cargo ports and the busiest cruise port in the world.   During his seven-year tenure, Mr. Johnson launched one of the most ambitious capital development programs at PortMiami with more than $2 billion in infrastructure improvements now underway.  These projects include: construction of a Port tunnel in conjunction with the Florida State Department of Transportation; the re-introduction of on-dock freight rail with Florida East Coast Railway; and the deepening of the Port’s channel to -50 feet to accommodate the new generation of larger, container cargo vessels.

The luncheon ‘keynote’ speaker is Kevin Keller, Vice President at HDR Engineering, Inc.  Keller has assisted the Panama Canal Authority as client manager for its Program Management Advisory and Related Services contract. He has nearly 30 years of management, planning, environmental, and engineering experience in the transportation and freight logistics sector.

Program Agenda:

8:00 a.m. –  Registration, Networking, Continental Breakfast

9:00 a.m. – Opening Keynote: Bill Johnson, Port Director, PortMiami

9:45 a.m. – Panama Canal ‘Construction Update’ (via remote connection): Oscar Bazán, Executive Vice President for Planning and Business Development, Panama Canal Authority

10:15 a.m. – Panel Session: “The New Panama Canal”
Moderator: Jim Hertwig, President and CEO, Florida East Coast Railway

Panelists:

• Oscar Bazán, Executive Vice President for Planning and Business Development, Panama Canal Authority
• Jeffrey LeClair, Global Logistics Development Manager – Global Network Operations, Caterpillar Inc.
• Danny Gabriel, Director of Int’l Logistics & Compliance, True Value Company
• Valerie Damm, Export Sales Deputy Manager, Evergreen Shipping Agency
• Scott Case, Founder, Position:Global

12:00 p.m. – Luncheon Keynote: “Beyond the Expansion: Next Steps for the Panama Canal Authority” by Kevin Keller, HDR Engineering

Location
Wojcik Center, Harper College
1200 W. Algonquin Road, Palatine, Illinois

Cost:

• $75 Members
• $115 Non-Members
• $20 Student Members Students: Contact Chris Pride to register (see contact info below)

Contact: Chris Pride; chripri@cdw.com