Nick is currently the Senior Vice President of Sales and Chief Commercial Officer at CMA CGM (America) LLC. He has been in this role since September of 2015 and has been with CMA CGM since March, 2009. He has held various roles at CMA CGM, including Vice President of Import Sales and Regional Vice President Sales, Western Region. Nick has been involved in international logistics since 1991 holding positions of progressive responsibility at steamship lines and logistics companies. He is a graduate of the University of Southern California and California State University, Long Beach.

Attended State University of New York at Stoney Brook (SUNY). Graduated from Brooklyn College, City University of New York.

Started his career working in Port Newark at one of the larger Container Freight Stations.  After several years tending to the NVOCC consolidators as their key account manager he expended the CFS operation and opened terminals in Charleston, Los Angeles, Chicago and Atlanta.  He later opened his own NVOCC and trucking company in New York. After a successful run, he sold his business to a 3PL and became their national business development director. At which time, he obtained his Customs Broker License. He spent 15 years with 3PLs developing supply chain solutions and compliance programs with specific focus on bridging the compliance, commercial and sales verticals of the international transportation industry. He recently joined Grove Services Inc. as their Director of Logistics.  He also served eight years the US Navy Reserves as an aircrewmen flying on patrol aircraft.

A graduate of the University of Mississippi in 1990, Don went to work for a small privately owned cotton merchant straight out of school by the name of DECA International.  Don’s main role with DECA was traffic manager.  Don oversaw all phases of the movement of cotton including domestic transportation, international transportation as well as the documentation necessary from interior cotton warehouse to spinning mill.  DECA’s annual volume of cotton was approximately 2000*40’ containers a year with a value of 65 million dollars.

In 1999 Don moved from DECA to Dunavant Enterprise, Inc to help Dunavant better understand the flow of cotton from the Australian gins to the spinning mills in Southeast Asia.  In 2003, Don was named Vice President of US cotton International Operations for Dunavant.  Those responsibilities include negotiating and contracting rates for 20,000+ containers a year as well as all AP and AR as it related to export moves from US to foreign spinning mills.  Dunavant’s annual US International freight spend was in excess of 30 million and the overall revenue from international sales was in excess of 600 million.

In 2009, Dunavant sold the cotton trading arm of the company to Louis Dreyfuss/Allenberg and in 2010 turned the focus of the company to the Logistics industry.  Don has been instrumental in helping Dunavant implement the new focus of the company towards competing in the NVOCC and Freight Forwarding industry as the Senior Vice President of Operations.  Headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, Dunavant Logistics Group’s main focus is in the Agriculture, Retail and Chemical sectors for both import and export.  Dunavant also competes in the Domestic truck freight brokerage and container drayage industry with 12 terminals located throughout the Southeast US and Gulf regions of the US.

Don has been married to his wife (Elise) for 26 years and they have 2 children, Edward (22) and Anne Carter (18).  Don lives and works in the at the Dunavant headquarters in Memphis, TN.

David is currently President of The Kearney Companies, a New Orleans based third party Logistics Company that serves the supply chain needs of many large importers and exporters in the Port of New Orleans and in the Port of Savannah, GA. David oversees the company’s business development efforts and helps manage the company’s third party logistics solutions that include: warehousing services, rail transloading services, freight management operations, and import and export freight forwarding services. The Kearney Companies works with its customers to implement tailored solutions that are unique to each customer’s supply chain requirements. The Kearney Companies, Inc. currently operates over 1.5 Million square feet of warehouse capacity; including 400,000 square feet in Savannah, GA. These facilities are mostly rail served locations with access to the six class one railroads (BNSF, CN, CSX, KCS, NS, UP).

David attended Southern Methodist University (Class of 1996) where he earned a BBA in General Business. While attending SMU, David participated in the university’s international Studies program in Copenhagen, Denmark and worked abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina for a South American based shipping agency. In 2008, David earned his master’s degree (EMBA) from Tulane’s A.B. Freeman School of Business – Executive MBA Program. David is a native of New Orleans and has lived previously in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles where he worked for two of the world’s largest container shipping lines (Maersk Line and APL/NOL Group).

David has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the World Trade Center of New Orleans (WTC). David currently serves on the Board of Directors of the New Orleans Board of Trade (NOBOT) and is a part of the NOBOT Rail User Group Committee. David is currently serving as the President of the Board of directors of the Tulane University – Association of Business Alumni (TABA). David has been active on the TABA Forum Committee since 2012. David is married with two children and currently lives in New Orleans, LA.

Richard Teubner was a member of the United States Coast Guard for more than 24 years where he gained extensive national program leadership experience in regulatory development, port security, maritime transportation system management, environmental emergency responses, and compliance programs.  He has served as the Vice President for Business Development at O’Brien’s Response Management a subsidiary of SEACOR Holdings, Inc; and at SEACOR Holdings with responsibilities that included cross divisional business development and special projects.  He recently concluded serving as the Chief Operating Officer at SEACOR Island Lines, LLC in Port Everglades and CLEANCOR Energy Solutions LLC a subsidiary of SEACOR Holdings, Inc., and is Vice President of SEACOR AMH, LLC Container on Barge Service for the Inland River Services Division of SEACOR Holdings Inc.

His work experience includes operational oversight of a container shipping line, program/project management with a major engineering company; and extensive support of the national operations of numerous transportation related businesses in his consulting practice.  Rich has developed or managed the development of a significant number of program level operations that have included master planning, preparedness, feasibility assessment, exercise and simulation, training, regional risk management, security improvement, and trade and operational resiliency and redundancy assurance for a variety of major public/private sector business operations.

Donna Lemm, is the Executive Vice President of National Sales for IMC Companies, a leading provider of container drayage, equipment management and supply chain solutions headquartered in Memphis, TN.  Donna has over twenty-five years in the global logistics business.  Her early career was spent on the ocean carrier side in sales where she credits the foundation for her commitment to excellence and love for the business.   She joins the IMC executive team to lead the company’s national sales footprint serving every major port and rail operation in the United States.

Donna is a member of the Board of Trade in New Orleans and is a Director with the International Freight Forwarders Customs Brokers Association of New Orleans. She serves on the Advisory Board of Agriculture Transportation Coalition and recently served as the AGTC Chair of Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) testifying before Congress. Donna is an active speaker on both a regional and national scale in addressing the challenges facing the U.S. shipping and intermodal community.

She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Louisiana State University and a Master of Arts degree from the University of Bradford, England.

Ed has been working in the Container Shipping Industry for over 40 years.  Ed started his career with Sealand Services out of NYC and move up in the company to Area Manager.  Following 14 years with Sealand Ed moved over to Ned Lloyd Lines for 5 years becoming Vice President of the North East Region working on cargo to and from the USA to all global areas.   Following this Ed moved to Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) starting in the Trans-Atlantic, moving into Refrigerated Trades and finally for the last 15 years into the VP position for exports from North America to Asia, the Middle East, the Sub Con, and India.

Prior to joining Sealand Ed has been spent three years in Trucking management, two years in Warehouse management and three years in line production with Ford Motor Co.

During his long career Ed has been involved in all aspects of shipping both export and import to include inland movement, via Truck, and Rail including extensive work on inland origins for all commodities.  Ed has also been extensively involved in the oversight of Customer Service, Contracting, Pricing, and Operations.

Ed is now retired from OOCL and has started his own company named Griffin Creek Consulting.  Ed continues to be involved in major commodities movements via Container, working with clients to ensure they are advantaged in all aspects of container movements.

The export markets are extremely volatile and Ed has the experience and strength to help customers attain the best services and cost savings available.

Presently Ed is consulting on a major Warehouse development, Exports of Agri products including Cold chain management and other products such as Hay and Grains.  Also working with importers such as Lowes on cost savings and process management.

Jared Sleeth, Director of Business Development, NOPB Railroad

Jared Sleeth currently serves as the Director of Business Development for the New Orleans Public Belt, a position to which he was appointed in August 2016.  Jared manages NOPB’s relationships with its New Orleans area industry customers and its Class I business partners, including marketing NOPB’s service, promoting opportunities for new business, and assisting in planning and service design.

Sleeth joined NOPB’s management team in 2015 as a Trainmaster and spent nearly a year in the Transportation Department before being named Director of Business Development.  In his new role, Sleeth reports to executive vice president and COO Doug Campbell.  Prior to his time with NOPB, Sleeth was Manager of Yard Operations at Union Pacific Railroad in Parsons, Kansas.  His experience with UP ranged from high volume main line operations to local customer service.  Prior to joining the railroad, Sleeth worked in the trucking and warehousing industry as an Operations Manager for Suddath Relocation Systems, an agent for United Van Lines.  He is also a Florida Certified Building Contractor.

Jared is originally from Jacksonville, FL and has called New Orleans home for two years.  He graduated from Clemson University with a degree in Business Management.

Roquita Coleman-Williams is a manager of CN Supply Chain Solutions – a progressive rail team focused on international supply chain innovations. She began her career 20 years ago with UPS where she served in various sales and marketing leadership roles until joining the CN Railway in 2008.  In 2011 she became the 64th president, and first African American, of the Memphis World Trade Club.  Coleman-Williams was appointed, by Memphis mayor and city council, to Memphis Area Transit Authority Board Commissioners in 2014. In this role, she governs policy for Tennessee’s largest transit system.

An award-winning leader and engaging speaker, Coleman-Williams has a knack for turning opportunity into success. Recognized nationally; she has been awarded Top 40 under 40, Rising Stars of North American Railroads, Cargo News Next Generation of Freight Leaders and MBJ Super Women in Business, all while advocating for the advancement of women in transportation industry.

In 2016, Coleman-Williams answered the ultimate call in the railroad industry. She earned a conductor’s license to operate freight trains on a class 1 railroad – an industry where less than 10% of roles are held by women.  She can now speak with a new earnestness about overcoming obstacles the male dominated industry.

James W. McFarland
The Rolanette and Berdon Lawrence Distinguished Chair in Finance
The Freeman School Distinguished Chair in Business
A.B. Freeman School of Business
Tulane University

James W. McFarland is The Rolanette and Berdon Lawrence Distinguished Chair in Finance and The Freeman School Distinguished Chair in Business in the A. B. Freeman School of Business at Tulane University.  He serves as the Executive Director of the Tulane Energy Institute.  Previously, Dr. McFarland was the Dean of the Freeman School from July 1, 1988, through June 30, 2005.  Prior to joining the faculty at Tulane, he was the Dean of the College of Business Administration at the University of Houston.  Dr. McFarland has also served on the faculties of Texas A&M University, the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, the University of Rhode Island, and the University of New Mexico.  In addition to his academic appointments, he has worked as a researcher for the University of California Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Presidential Commission on the Nation’s Water Resources.  Dr. McFarland has served on boards and as a consultant to a number of non-profit, private, and public organizations.  Dr. McFarland has a Ph.D. in Statistics, Economics, and Mathematics from Texas A&M University.

Brent is a Senior Commercial Manager for Sasol in Houston and has been with them for 4 years.  Brent has been supporting Sasol’s Mega Projects (LCCP and USGTL in Westlake, LA) with a focus on utilities, industrial gases and supply chain logistics.  Brent has been instrumental in implementing contracts for power, industrial gases, packaging, rail and marine freight rates and process and water treatment chemicals and services, as well as, purchasing and financing hopper and tank cars.

Prior to Sasol, Brent spent 24 years with LyondellBasell in various production management and planning and optimization roles and as the manager of utilities and industrial gases for all of LyondellBasell’s operating sites.

Erin Butler is the Director of U.S. Commercial Service New Orleans, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Erin leads a team of international trade specialists who help Louisiana companies sell their products and services globally. U.S. Commercial Service New Orleans is part of the Commerce Department’s worldwide network, which helps US companies to compete and win in international markets.

Erin returned to the Commerce Department in 2016 after seven years in the private sector. Most recently she was Director of Sales, U.S. for the international maritime company Nautisk. Previously she worked for FedEx as their Senior International Account Executive for the Gulf Coast. During her first tenure with the federal government, Erin was a Foreign Commercial Service Officer and worked in Washington, D.C. doing media relations and client relationship management. She has travelled extensively and worked in Europe, the Middle East, and West Africa. She holds a Master of Arts in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and completed her undergraduate studies in English and Russian at the University of Florida.

Rashard Howard is the Industrial Development Manager with the CSX Strategic Business Development team. CSX is internationally recognized as one of the nation’s leading transportation companies reaching 23 states with 240 short line and regional railroads.

In his current role, Howard partners with state, local and port officials to pursue economic development opportunities. Promoting quality rail sites as a key component of the logistical infrastructure plans, he represents the CSX brand, recruiting top businesses to Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and the Gulf of Florida.

Howard is a fourth generation railroad employee and has been with the CSX organization for over ten years. He began his progressive career in 2007 as a Trainmaster Management Trainee. Throughout his tenure, Howard has managed 110 employees, contributed to service improvement projects resulting in annualized savings of ~$180MM, and consistently maintained a safety performance record of 100% for his teams. In 2013, Howard was one of the youngest employees to be awarded the prestigious CSX Chairman’s Award of Excellence, the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a company employee.

Recognized by industry leaders and his peers for his extensive industry knowledge, ability to leverage strategic partnerships, and astute understanding of business operations and development, Howard cultivated his portfolio as a participant in multiple executive leadership development programs. Those programs include the CSX Operations Process Excellence Leadership Program, Moving Up Management Intensive Executive Training Program, and the CSX Associate Development Program. Additionally, he received his Six Sigma Black Belt, Lean, and Project Manager Certification, as well as, the University of Florida Leadership Development Institute Leadership Certification. Most recently, Rashard earned the Intensive Economic and Community Development Training Certification from Auburn University.

Howard’s quest to deliver superior performance and total commitment has afforded him the opportunity to explore the Southeast, living in Atlanta, GA, Florence, SC, Charleston, SC, Jacksonville, FL, and most recently Nashville, TN. He has held positions such as Line of Road Trainmaster, Terminal Trainmaster, Manager of Network Operations, Process Improvement Black Belt, and Geographic Sales Manager.

When he is not working on the railroad, Howard calls Birmingham, AL home. His number one priority is his family, followed by a passion for service to the local community. Rashard has served as a board member for the Girl Scouts Gateway Council and Community First Credit Union.  He is also an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

A native of Waycross, GA, Howard earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Management from Valdosta State University.

Gregory Rusovich joined Transoceanic Shipping Company in 1981 after receiving his Political Science degree from Tulane University in New Orleans. Mr. Rusovich served as President and Chief Operating Officer of the global company from 1989 – 2003, and as President and Chief Executive Officer from 2003 – 2005.  Mr. Rusovich devised and implemented the company’s strategy to “go global” launching 25 international offices with a primary focus on the energy and emerging markets.  The profitable quest of the Transoceanic group drew the interest of the globe’s largest logistics firms, and the company was acquired by Agility (previously PWC of Kuwait) in 2005.  Subsequently, Mr. Rusovich served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the public corporation’s subsidiary, Agility Projects Logistics (Transoceanic) from 2005 – 2008.  In this leading executive role, he led the company’s operations as well as the company’s aggressive merger and acquisition efforts.  Mr. Rusovich now serves as the Chief Executive Officer, Transoceanic Development, a firm dedicated to global logistics and transportation.

Born and raised in New Orleans, Mr. Rusovich is also very active in numerous past and present civic pursuits and has received many awards and honors for his many civic endeavors. He has dedicated his civic efforts toward post Katrina New Orleans tourism, reform and recovery issues. In that capacity, he served as past Chair and is the Chairman Elect, New Orleans Convention Visitors Bureau, Chairman, Louisiana Board of International Commerce, and past Chair, Greater New Orleans, Inc. Appointed by Governor Bobby Jindal to the Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans, Mr. Rusovich served as a Commissioner and is a past Chairman.

In addition, he serves on the Board of Directors of many leading organizations including:  past Chairman, New Orleans Business Council; past Chair, Regional Business Council Coalition; past Chair, Metropolitan Crime Commission; Executive Committee and Chair Elect, New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation; a Board Member for the Colony Beach and Tennis Association ; is a former Board Member for NOLA Business Alliance,  and a former Board Member for Metairie Park Country Day School. He is past Chair of the New Orleans Crime Coalition and continues to serve on its Executive Committee.  He is a member of the Young President’s Organization, and serves as the Honorary Consul General of Serbia to the State of Louisiana.  He is the recipient of the 2015 Gold Medal from the Republic of Serbia.

Mr. Rusovich received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2000; the Young Leadership Council’s Role Model Award in 1991; the Lifetime Membership Award from the World Trade Club in 2004; Crimestoppers George Loker Community Service Award in March, 2010; Propeller Club Maritime Man of the Year 2010; 2010 recipient of City Business’ Driving Forces, one of Family Services Ten Outstanding Persons in 2011, and was inducted into the Junior Achievement Hall of Fame in 2011. In   December, 2012, Mr. Rusovich was honored by St. Charles Avenue Magazine as one of its Activists of the Year and most recently, in October 2015, received the Lynne and Jerome Goldman Criminal Justice Reform Award from Court Watch NOLA.  He also had the opportunity to address the Journal of Commerce Breakbulk Conference held in New Orleans in 2006, as their keynote speaker.

Mr. Rusovich is married to Suzanne Walther Rusovich. Together they have two children, Colin and Nicholas. He is an avid football and basketball fan, and enjoys tennis and fishing…when time permits.

Jeff currently serves as President of Transportation Consultants, Inc. dba TCI Trucking & Warehousing and TCI Tank Logistics, LLC which are forward-thinking, technologically advanced asset based logistics providers specializing in the transportation of containerized cargo and ISO tank bulk liquid cargo, container yard and tank depot services, and warehousing services.  Jeff started his career with Jensen Companies, LLC as their Chief Financial Officer for the group of companies that includes TCI Trucking & Warehousing and in addition a granite distribution entity (Triton Stone), multiple real estate entities, and multiple value added/packaging entities (TCI Packaging, Import Sterilization Inc).  Jeff previously worked for Edgen Murray, an international steel distribution company, as a Financial Controller and Analyst in both Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Edinburgh, Scotland and also worked for Ernst & Young in their audit department for over 5 years focusing on both public and private companies.  He holds a B.S. in Accounting from Louisiana State University and a Masters in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from the University of New Orleans.  He is also Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and sits on the board of the International Freight Forwarders and Customs Brokers Association of New Orleans (IFFCBANO).

Edwin Bastian joined BBC Chartering in August 0f 2007. He currently serves as Global Sales Director and leads the strategic sales initiative for the largest global breakbulk and project chartering fleet in the world. During Ed’s 40 year career, he has held management positions with following companies, NYK North America, Evergreen Marine, Port of Long Beach, Jones Stevedoring and Nautilus Leasing, UBS and Morgan Stanley. Ed is an active member of various industry organizations including International Transportation Management Association of Houston, Railway Industrial Clearance Association, Editorial Advisory Board for Breakbulk Magazine, Breakbulk Americas Program Advisory Board and serves on the board of Maritime Workers Emergency Medical Fund. Ed also is frequently invited as a guest speaker and panelist at trade luncheons and events both inside and outside the Houston area.

Keith Reardon was appointed Vice President of Intermodal Services in May 2012, based in Toronto. Mr. Reardon oversees all aspects of the company’s domestic and international intermodal activities.

In 2009, Mr. Reardon was appointed Vice President of CN Supply Chain Solutions, where he was responsible for the Automotive and Iron Ore business units and CN’s non-rail transportation services including transloading, freight forwarding and warehousing, just to name a few. He also directed many supply chain and business development initiatives for CN – working closely with CN customers and partners. Previously, he was Assistant Vice President of CN Transloading Operations, where he managed more than 80 CN-owned warehousing and distribution facilities.

Passionate about logistics, Mr. Reardon has more than 20 years of experience in the field; he also held senior positions with outside firms in the world of logistics for a number of years. Mr. Reardon holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing and an MBA from the University of North Florida.Keith Reardon

Erik Hansen is Vice President Sales & Marketing with Kansas City Southern, leading the Intermodal business unit in the U.S. and Mexico. Before joining the Company in August 2014, he held various positions with the Maersk Group, the latest of which was five years in Mexico City as Managing Director of Maersk Line for Mexico and part of Central America. From 1992-2007, he worked as country and regional CFO for subsidiaries in A.P. Moller – Maersk in the Far East and later in Latin America. Erik has a degree in Financial and Management Accounting from Copenhagen Business School and has taken executive courses at IMD in Switzerland, at Columbia Business School in New York, as well as the DTU Executive School of Business in Denmark. He lives in Kansas City.

Brandy D. Christian serves as president and chief executive officer of the Port of New Orleans, a public agency that manages $61 million in revenues, 292 employees, and $200 million in capital projects. She joined the Port NOLA team as chief operating officer in January 2015 and became president and chief executive officer on January 1, 2017.

Christian is in the ranks of an elite group of women executives in the Port industry and is the first female CEO in Port NOLA’s 120-year history. She brings a global perspective and experience building high performance teams in complex organizations to her new role. Christian plans to continue Port NOLA’s success with a strategic focus, collaborative partnerships and bold action.

Prior to joining Port NOLA, she served 14 years with the Port of San Diego, California’s fourth-largest cargo port and one of that state’s largest public land developers with a portfolio encompassing maritime, industry, hospitality and tourism. Serving as vice president of strategy and business development, Christian was the driving force behind streamlining the public agency’s operational processes, reducing costs, securing major accounts, and negotiating leases for the cruise and cargo business lines.

Before joining the Port of San Diego, Christian worked for KPMG Consulting as a quality management consultant in their public sector practice. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Arizona and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Southern California. Christian is a Certified Port Executive, Certified Six Sigma Green Belt, Board of Examiners – Malcolm Baldrige, and the recipient of the Examiner of the Year by the California Award for Performance Excellence.

Since arriving at Port NOLA, Christian has joined the University of New Orleans Transportation Institute (UNOTI) Advisory Board and the Green Marine Board of Directors; she also serves as Cruise Committee Chair for the American Association of Port Authorities. Christian was named an Alumna of the Year (2015) by the University of Arizona and 2016 Top Female Achiever by New Orleans Magazine.

Education:
–        Bachelor of Commerce, University of Natal (Durban, South Africa)
–        Member of Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (MICS)

Career:
1987-1989 – South African Navy
1991-1993 – Projects Officer: Grindrod Ships Agency (Durban, South Africa)
1993-1994 – Sales Representative: King and Sons Ships Agency (Johannesburg, South Africa)
1994-1996 – Container Manager: MACS (Johannesburg, South Africa)
1996-1999 – Breakbulk and Chartering Manager: MACS (Johannesburg, South Africa)
1999-2002 – Owner’s Representative: Gulf Africa Line (New Orleans LA, USA)
2002-2007 – Owner’s Representative: Gulf Africa Line/Galborg (Houston TX, USA)
2007-present – Director: Galborg/MACS (Houston TX, USA)

Whilst in the USA I have been in charge of the commercial running of the Gulf Africa Line service between US and Southern Africa, and since beginning 2015, also the MACS Transatlantic service between US and North Europe/UK.

Mike McClellan was named Vice President of Industrial Products in July of 2013.    In this position, McClellan is responsible for 5 business divisions for the NS:

• Agriculture & Consumer Goods
• Chemicals
• Metals & Construction
• Paper, Clay & Forest Products
• Short Line Marketing & Commercial Development

McClellan joined Norfolk Southern in 1998 as Assistant Vice President of Intermodal Planning.  He became Vice President of Intermodal Marketing in February 2000, and Vice President of Intermodal and Automotive Marketing in January of 2005.  McClellan began his career in 1985 in Conrail’s Marketing department.  Since then, McClellan has worked for the Transportation Practice of Ernst & Young as well as serving as an independent transportation consultant.

McClellan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia and an MBA in Marketing from the University of Cincinnati.  McClellan serves on the boards of various organizations in the Hampton Roads area.

As Executive Vice President, and as liaison to AAFA’s Government Contracts Committee, AAFA’s Government Relations Committee, and AAFA’s Brand Protection Council, Stephen E. Lamar is responsible for the design and execution of AAFA lobbying strategies on a series of issues covering government procurement, counterfeiting/intellectual property rights, international trade, market access, customs, labor, environment, and product safety. In these roles, Steve also advises AAFA member companies on legislation and regulatory policies affecting the clothing and footwear industries. In addition, Steve serves as the liaison to AAFA’s Legwear Committee. Prior to AAFA, Steve was a trade analyst at the U.S. Department of Commerce. Before joining the Commerce Department, Steve served for two years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the southern African country of Botswana. Steve is President of the Washington International Trade Association. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Colgate University and a Master of Arts Degree in International Affairs (with a concentration on African politics and international trade) from George Washington University.

Patrick Burnson is the executive editor of Logistics Management and Supply Chain Management Review, published by Peerless Media, LLC.  Based in San Francisco, Burnson is a widely-published author, who has spent his entire career focusing on international trade, port operations, and ocean cargo transport.

Current status ; I retired, under my own terms, from UTi Worldwide, as Global VP Ocean freight Procurement, in September 2014, having spent 39 years with them on 4 continents. I am now a Consultant.

My expertize is in global ocean shipping Contracts and Rate Negotiation Strategy along with enhanced Customer and Ocean carrier relationships can be attested by the referenced contacts at the end of this Bio.

As 10XOCEANSOLUTIONS, inc I have strategic Partnerships with DREWRY Consultants London and AFMS Consultants USA.

My 3 primary values in business are Honesty, Integrity and Transparency.

Background: I was born and bred in UK, and attended Isleworth Grammar School, majoring in English and Economics. My very first job after leaving school at 16, was Junior Shipping Clerk for Pyrene (now Chubb) and subsequent moves in the Shipping industry took me though the Beechams organization to Sperry Marine in Bracknell. The relocation to Reading, eventually led, in April 1975, to a positon with a small Freight Forwarder known as Transtec, later purchased in 1984, by what is now known as UTi Worldwide.

From1975-1980, and with the advent of containerization, Transtec and its network   grew quickly. In 1978 I obtained a Diploma from Reading Univ. in Transportation, Maritime Law, Marine Insurance and International Banking.

I volunteered to re locate to Manchester in order to grow and manage the larger export opportunities within the North of England, and opened the office there in 1980.

From 1980-84 we took advantage of large scale North of England export volumes to South Africa and Asia and built a formidable FCL and LCL business, becoming the largest FF to South Africa, managing in excess of 100 containers a month from Manchester in partnership with the Rennies executive mgmt. team of  Peter Thorrington, Roger McFarlane  and Tiger Wessels (P R T later to become the original owners of UTi Worldwide).

In 1984 I accepted an opportunity to drive additional growth on the UK-South Africa trade and accepted a positon as RDM by relocating to Johannesburg.

During my time in SA I also developed large scale Asia-South Africa business and prior to the birth of my first child I returned to the UK in 1987, and took up the position of RDM Asia-UK. The organization then became known, globally, as Burlington Air Express in 1987/8

The experience and knowledge that I had gained then led the organization to create a new position in Asia, determining that existing ocean freight agents could be replaced by a fully owned Burlington, Asia Ocean Network

and in 1989 I took up the role of Regional Ocean Director, based in Hong Kong, forming Burlington Ocean Express.  During the next 3 years I built from ‘scratch’, an Asia network of Ocean freight business and operation in 5 countries, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Japan and South Korea.

Whilst the Asia- South Africa/Europe and UK ocean business grew rapidly in those 3 years, the one area of the world that was difficult to grow from Asia was North America, where Burlington had a large scale presence in Air freight but limited ocean activity.

It was then in October 1991that I volunteered to grow the Burlington Ocean operation in North America and moved my family to Los Angeles to drive global growth to and from North America. I became Asst., to the President of Burlington Ocean Express in 1992.

During the transition from Burlington to Union Transport in 1992/3, I took on the role of RDM Asia-North America and grew a substantial ocean freight business across all trades.

During the next 6 years and through Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 1998 , I was charged with managing the Ocean freight operation in North America and its ocean presence in 24 locations.

As UTi Worldwide emerged in 2000 my responsibilities grew and grew, and I took on the role of VP Global Ocean freight, of Operations, Growth Strategy and Procurement through their glory years  2000-2008. At that time the volume under my control was 400,000 teu, all covered under Ocean Service Contracts with over 20 shipping lines worldwide. Building a Trusting long term, mutually beneficial relationship with key Ocean carrier executives was paramount to my success.

I became a US citizen in 2007.

At UTi, I developed, during that period, a very specific and strategic ocean freight procurement program for major BCO’s, called SOS. Restricted to NEW 10000 teu+ global ocean freight customers.

I spent the last 7 years at UTi dedicating myself to them.

The customer base for those SOS accounts was, at the time of my departure,
Estee Lauder,
Ansell Healthcare,
Carlisle Transportation,
Fisher and Paykel,
Dow Corning
Nexteer Automotive.

Some 100,000+ teu. In total, approx. 20 % of UTi’s ocean freight activity.

I formed and Presented Customer Panels at the annual Journal of Commerce Transpacific Maritime Conference in March 2015 and March 2016 where I ran discussions on Ocean Contracting for BCO’s, with 4 of my former customers.

Most recently, September 2016, I also ran a Panel at the IHS event in Hamburg reviewing Best Practices in Ocean freight contracting.

Thank you
Chas Deller

Customer and Carrier References at the end of this communication:

References:

Frank Chao SVP Yang Ming Line
Oli Reichl VP Hamburg Sud
Wolfgang Freese President Hapag Lloyd
Bill Payne President of NYK
Jeremy Nixon COO of NYK
Grant Daly former CEO of Safmarine (Maersk)
Nick Fafoutis VP CMA CGM
Philip Damas Executive Drewry Consultants London UK

Andrew Gillespie Ansell Healthcare New Jersey
Peter Goulding Estee Lauder New York
Stuart Turner Nexteer Automotive Michigan
Dan Cronkright Dow Corning  Michigan
Roger McFarlane former Chairman UTi Worldwide

Fabio was born near Rome in Italy and comes to us with a wealth of international maritime experience.  On January 1st, 2015 he became President of MSC (USA) after one year as Vice President at MSC Headquarters in New York City.  Prior to this he joined MSC (USA)’s Houston Office where he held several positions. He was quickly promoted and moved to MSC’s New Orleans office in the position of Office Manager.  In 2010 he transferred to Charleston, South Carolina, the largest MSC facility in the U.S.A. where as Office Manager he drove MSC’s business as for almost three years.  He has a Master’s Degree in Maritime Studies from Pisa University in Italy and became a Ship’s Captain in 2007.  One year later Fabio commanded the MHC Viareggio, a military vessel based in La Spezia, Italy which was one of the most rewarding assignments of his military career.

After spending time at the Aeronautical Technical Institute in Rome he joined the Italian Naval Academy in Livorno, Italy in 1995.  During the early part of his career he was a foreign student pilot in the U.S. Navy Flight Training Program after obtaining an Electronic Engineering degree in 1999. During that time, he was stationed at US aviation military bases N.A.S. Whiting Field in Florida and N.A.S Corpus Christi in Texas, where he was awarded his “Naval Aviator” certificate.  He then returned to Italy for six years where he served as a navy pilot on assignments for both the Italian Navy and the Allied forces.

He currently resides in New Jersey with his wife Leah, and their three children Isabella, Francesca and Evan.