Take part in an exclusive one-on-one in-depth discussion with supply chain leaders as the Connections 2023 Leadership Series spotlight the latest in new trends, business strategies, corporate culture, and cutting-edge technologies driving the future of trucking. You’ll hear from forward-thinking supply chain leaders leading the charge on tackling real-world challenges and game-changing solutions to accelerate your drive to excellence.

Moderator: Jeff Berman, Group News Editor | Peerless Media
Speaker: Doug Waggoner, CEO | Echo Global Logistics

Seasoned logistics and supply chain professionals have weathered ups and downs of numerous economic cycles. Even the most veteran leaders feel pressure during times of economic uncertainty, tight capacity, and dynamic market changes. This timely session explores proven best practices for leading and planning through recession and mitigating risk.

Moderator: Bill Cassidy, Sr. Editor – Trucking and Domestic Transportation | The Journal of Commerce
Speakers: Tom Nightingale, CEO | AFS Logistics
Tom Schmitt, President, CEO and Director | Forward
Brad Stewart, Treasurer and SVP – Investor Relations | Knight-Swift

Take part in an exclusive one-on-one in-depth discussion with J.B. Hunt’s Craig Harper as the Connections 2023 Leadership Series spotlight the latest in new trends, business strategies, corporate culture, and cutting-edge technologies driving the future of trucking. You’ll hear from forward-thinking supply chain leaders leading the charge on tackling real-world challenges and game-changing solutions to accelerate your drive to excellence.

Moderator: Ellen Voie, Founder | Women In Trucking
Speaker: Craig Harper, Chief Sustainability Officer and EVP | J.B. Hunt

Moderator: Paige Creo, Director of Marketing | Maven

Speakers: Avi Geller, Founder and CEO | Maven
Geoffrey Muessig, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer | PITT OHIO
Bill Ward Jr., President | Ward Transport and Logistics

Lane imbalance is an ongoing issue that carriers deal with every day. Across North America, carriers must determine how to strategically price in unbalanced lanes so that their headhaul revenues mitigate the cost of empty returns and poor-paying freight in the backhaul. Led by SMC³’s Bill Shults, VP – Cost Intelligence System, we will explore how carriers are using innovation, data analytics, and solution tools to tackle lane imbalance and maintain profitability.

Speakers: Katie Fox, VP – Pricing | Forward
Mark Gowan, Manager – Traffic | Gardewine Group Inc.

Moderator: Bill Shults, VP – Cost Intelligence Systems | SMC³

Registered guests will embark on an out-of-this-world experience at Kennedy Space Center. An astronaut will give a guided tour followed by the opportunity to explore the many exhibits and displays, historic spacecraft and memorabilia, shows, and two IMAX theaters. Guests will enjoy a private lunch onsite before returning to the hotel for Monday’s networking reception.

The start of the 2020s has been anything but roaring. The economic outlook for the U.S. for 2023 has deteriorated under the weight of high inflation rates and rapid monetary tightening. Falling confidence in the economy such as softening consumption and investment, as well as geopolitical induced energy shocks, could culminate for a short recession this summer. What does this mean for US trucking? Join Armada Corporate Intelligence’s Keith Prather as we examine the road ahead to 2024.

Speaker: Keith Prather, Managing Director | Armada Corporate Intelligence

It’s a given recessions strike at the worst time. While we don’t know when they’ll hit, they’re inevitable. The age-old challenge carriers and shippers face is establishing the right framework well in advance for recession preparations and response. To prevail, this timely session explores an array of best practices to help recession-proof your organization.

Moderator: Jeff Berman, Group News Editor | Peerless Media
Speakers: Darrel Harris, President and Chief Operating Officer | Yellow Corporation
Tim Vander Pol, Executive Vice President | Peninsula Truck Lines
Charlie Prickett, President | AAA Cooper Transportation and Midwest Motor Express

The US branch of the rapidly expanding GLS Group is deliberately pursuing exponential growth through its commitments to innovation, service quality, and efficiency. In this session, learn how GLS was able to expedite time-in-transit, reduce operational costs, and enhance its direct-load line haul operations with the customized integration of DDC Sync from DDC FPO.

From building bespoke features to achieving frictionless tool adoption by drivers, crushing rejection rates, securing real-time data visibility, and standardizing smarter logistics planning, GLS-US COO Joe Bartone and DDC FPO Product Launch Manager Marissa Friedland detail the challenges and key learnings of this game-changing program.

Moderator: Bill Cassidy, Sr. Editor – Trucking and Domestic Transportation | The Journal of Commerce
Speakers: Marissa Friedland, Project Launch Manager | DD FPO
Joe Bartone, Chief Operating Officer | GLS-US

Dive into the priorities facing transportation procurement managers across the real-world supply chain, inclusive of how to accomplish critical objectives. Join SMC³’s Justin Springer and Resource Logistics Group’s Steve Huntley, as well as our carrier guest, as we unravel the requirements for handling the business, how to format the bid, effective tools for bid analysis, and more.

Moderator: Justin Springer, Director – Business Development | SMC³
Speakers: Steve Huntley, President and Founder | Resource Logistics Group
Todd Polen, VP – Pricing Services and Freight Profitability | Old Dominion Freight Line

Moderator: Victoria Kickham, Writer | DC Velocity
Speaker: Mike Horvath, EVP, CMO and Co-Founder | Revenova

Stay close and relax at the resort pool cabanas or explore Orlando, known as “The City Beautiful’ for its great weather and many fun things to do and explore. Visit a theme park, take an airboat ride looking for alligators, visit Winter Park and enjoy a boat tour... the possibilities are endless!

It’s no secret technology drives competitive advantages across the modern supply chain. But savvy CIOs understand that technology is only part of the equation. Next-generation CIOs believe the secrets of change and innovation happen in organizations that unify their people, processes, and technology. Join this unique ensemble of CIOs as Connections 2023 explore how CIOs are leveraging their broadened roles to reimagine how people and organizations work, hire, and communicate to build a culture of change and innovation.

Moderator: Jay Tomasello, Chief Information Officer | Forward

Speakers: Dana Davis, Chief Information Officer | Daylight Transport
Charles Miller, Chief Commercial Officer | Evans Transportation

Upheaval uncovers opportunity. The last three years have changed the way carriers and shippers have handled the final and middle miles. Throw in reverse logistics and companies are having to embrace a whole new way of thinking. From automation to e-commerce to sustainability, the focus is on making the growing array of unreasonable expectations reasonable. Join this expert panel as they explore the latest evolution of these rapidly growing segments of LTL.

Moderator: Cathy Roberson, Research Manager | Reverse Logistics Association

Speaker: Donna Kintop, SVP – Client Experience | DDC FPO

Moderator: Bill Cassidy, Sr. Editor – Trucking and Domestic Transportation | The Journal of Commerce
Speaker: Webb Estes, President and COO | Estes Express Lines

Since the conception of the Digital LTL Council in 2019, the roadmap to the digital bill of lading (eBOL) has focused on standardization for the simplification, automation, and digitization of LTL movement. With much of the heavy lifting completed, this timely session highlights the collaborative progress to date, while exploring the final steps to capturing the APIs required to successfully digitize a shipment from quote to delivery.

Moderator: Brian Thompson, Chief Commercial Officer | SMC³
Speakers: Paul Dugent, Executive Director – Digital LTL Council | NMFTA
Geoffrey Muessig, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer | Pitt Ohio
Sam Ralat, Director – Client Success | Estes Express

Understanding and keeping up with a changing regulatory landscape can be overwhelming. The increasing weight of new regulatory legislation, coupled with the increasingly diverse risks to which carriers and service providers are exposed, means that organizations need to ensure that no risks fall between the cracks. This timely panel explores the regulatory issues, new and amended, that will have a significant impact on freight transportation on the road to 2024.

Moderator: Randy Mullett, Founder and Principal | Mullett Strategies LLC
Speakers: Wiley Deck, Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy | Plus

Finish off the week at the annual Rise and Shine event with a soothing chair massage before heading home. It’s an ideal opportunity to relax, rejuvenate and recharge the mind, body and spirit.