KC DELIVERS: THE HUB FOR FOOD LOGISTICS
2020 KC SMARTPORT ANNUAL INDUSTRY BRIEFING
April 2, 2020 | 7:30 to 9:30am
Kansas City Convention Center
The KC SmartPort 12th Annual Industry Briefing, KC DELIVERS, will focus on the rapid changes occurring in the food sector. Multiple topics will be covered by the keynote and panel speakers, including food production and the technologies used, how consumers buy food, as well as food distribution and delivery in an on demand world.
2020 KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Dr. James Tompkins
Chief Executive Officer
Tompkins International
Dr. James A. Tompkins is an international authority on designing and implementing end-to-end supply chains. As the founder and CEO of Tompkins International, his focus over the last several years has been in the areas of digital commerce, unichannel and supply chain reinvention, helping companies connect supply chain processes with the customer journey to increase longterm profitable growth. Jim coined the phrase ‘Sell Anywhere,’ which is the strategy of selling through a wide range of online and offline channels where consumers shop, buy and enjoy products, offering a seamless, end-to-end customer experience.
Additional 2020 Speakers
Jason Robertson
Food + Beverage Market Director
CRB
Jason Robertson serves as Food + Beverage Market Director at CRB, leading the company-wide growth of the market by leveraging design, construction and delivery excellence to bring innovative solutions to clients.
More 2020 speakers to be announced soon.
2019 Annual Industry Briefing Recap
KC SmartPort held their 11th Annual Industry Briefing FLEX on April 4, 2019. A expert panel of leaders from Amazon, Cushman & Wakefield, BNSF Railway and Heitman Architects addressed a crowd of more than 550 logistics, real estate and economic development professionals.
Mike Grella, Amazon’s director of economic development from 2012-19, was the keynote speaker for the event. Other speakers included Karl Heitman, president, Heitman Architects, who has 30 years of experience in corporate facility design, plus a unique understanding of “Manufacturing 4.0” technologies and digital connectivity, Colby Tanner, assistant vice president, BNSF Railway, who is responsible for directing, planning and implementing the location and expansion of industries within the BNSF System and Ann Petersen, managing director, Cushman & Wakefield, with 15 years of experience in economic development negotiations, including coordination and implementation of incentives.
Event speakers discussed the ways companies and organizations are adapting to changes and opportunities by implementing flexible practices and flexible supply chains. Companies are facing rapid transformation in workforce development, transportation flexibility and space usage/design.
FLEX | KC SmartPort 2019 Industry Briefing from Hint on Vimeo.