HIGH POINT — Addressing the many challenges that have developed in transportation and logistics, the American Home Furnishings Alliance has set the theme of “Seeking Calmer Waters” for its 2022 Logistics Conference.
The event, presented by the AHFA’s Specialized Furniture Carriers division is set for June 13-15 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Wilmington Riverfront in Wilmington, N.C.
“Our goal was to assemble an agenda with presenters whose expertise can help companies navigate out of the turbulent seas of the past two years and focus on successful strategies for the future,” said Mike Padjen, director of AHFA’s Solution Partners and Specialized Furniture Carriers divisions.
Registration is $499 per person ($199 for AHFA members) and is now open online. Reservations may be made at a group discounted rate through May 11 or until the room block is full. Use the conference link to access the hotel reservation page.
Program highlights
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Chad Porter
Keynote presenter Chad Porter, a motivational speaker and author of “Severed Dreams.” Attendees will receive a signed copy of Porter’s book.
- Addressing the complex topics of reshoring and nearshoring is Rosemary Coates, president of Blue Silk Consulting, with more than 30 years of experience in supply chain and operations management.
- Sharing insights to the current state of ocean freight is Peter Tirschwell, vice president of maritime, trade and supply chain for S&P Global and founder and chairman of the annual TPM conference in Long Beach, Calif., one of the world’s largest shipping events.
- John D. Bassett III, chairman of Vaughan-Bassett Furniture, will address the long-term logistics challenges in our industry and the impact of those challenges on the future of manufacturing and sales.
- A retailer panel will discuss today’s logistics climate and its impact on store operations. Panelists: Mike Lesso, divisional vice president of supply chain for American Freight Furniture and Mattress, Biloxi, Miss., and John Gray, owner with his brother, Kevin, of Custom Home Furniture Galleries of Wilmington, N.C.
- A cybersecurity and data protection panel will feature executives from TCDI, a Greensboro, N.C.-based firm specializing in legal services technology and cybersecurity solutions: Steve Wujek, TCDI’s senior network and cybersecurity engineer; Greg Michalek, senior director of business development; and moderator Tom MacKenzie, an independent privacy and security consultant.
- On hiring and retaining labor will be Seth Becker, vice president of sales and talent intelligence for Randall Reilly and owner of Trucker News and Overdrive Online.
- Hans Bean, chief commercial officer of North Carolina Ports, will offer an update on North Carolina’s port operations.
- Ken Smith, former managing partner and one of the founding partners of Smith Leonard in High Point, will provide a “state of the industry” report.
Additional program highlights include a welcome address from North Carolina Speaker of the House Tim Moore, an optional golf outing on June 13 and a tour of the North Carolina Railroad Museum.
The premier conference sponsor for the third year is North Carolina Ports.
Other sponsors include: Bluewater Logistics Group and Gulfstream Shippers Assn., gold sponsors; the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, silver sponsor; and Bassett Furniture Inds., bronze sponsor; and J.B. Hunt, Wiseway Transportation Services and the Furniture Shippers Assn., sponsoring special conference events.
Conference partner sponsors include American West Worldwide Express, A.R.C. Transit (Evans Network), Bennett, Cooke Trucking Co., CV International, Deliveright Logistics, Fragilepak, Ideal Transport, Massood Logistics, Murrows Transfer, Sunbelt Furniture Xpress and Sun Warehousing & Distribution.
