Industry Briefing

Annual Industry Briefing

Event Details

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KC DELIVERS: THE HUB FOR FOOD LOGISTICS

2021 KC SMARTPORT ANNUAL INDUSTRY BRIEFING
April 29, 2021 | 7:30 to 9:30am
Kansas City Convention Center

Due to continued uncertainty with holding a large indoor event in 2020, the Annual Industry Briefing will not be held in 2020. Instead, KC SmartPort plans to hold a great event on April 29, 2021.

The KC SmartPort 12th Annual Industry Briefing, KC DELIVERS, will focus on the rapid changes occurring in the food and beverage sector. Multiple topics will be covered by the keynote and panel speakers, including food and beverage production and the technologies used, how consumers buy food and beverage products, as well as food and beverage distribution and delivery in an on demand world.

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2021 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 2021 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.

Monica-Massey-headshot2

Monica Massey
Executive VP, Chief of Staff and Chief Innovation Officer
Dairy Farmers of America

As DFA’s senior vice president, chief of staff and chief innovation officer, Monica Massey is responsible for a wide range of duties related to the overall health of the farmer-owned cooperative and dairy foods processor. She serves on the crisis preparedness team, strategic planning and policy committee, and leads the Cooperative’s innovation efforts, including its partnership with the Sprint Accelerator and DFA’s investments in ag tech and dairy food start-ups.

Josh Bays
Partner
Site Selection Group

Josh Bays is a Partner at Site Selection Group where he leads the company’s industrial practice. Throughout his career, Bays has developed various cutting-edge analytical platforms that have enabled clients to optimize their location decisions. In addition, he is a critical part of the company's executive team and helps provide and implement strategic direction for Site Selection Group.

2019 Annual Industry Briefing Recap

KC SmartPort held their 11^th 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.