2022 KC SmartPort Annual Industry Briefing Recap
KC SmartPort’s 2022 Annual Industry Briefing: KC Delivers, showcased an expert panel of leaders from Port of Los Angeles, Urban Outfitters and Biggins Lacy Shapiro & Co. The panel addressed a crowd of more than 650 logistics, real estate and economic development professionals on April 13 in Kansas City. The event offered insight on current challenges and future opportunities within the global supply chain and how the Kansas City region delivers as a strategic logistics hub.
Eugene Seroka, the executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, was the keynote for the event and provided an update on global shipping trends. Seroka was joined by panelists Tom Moonan, regional director, URBN, who leads the Urban Outfitters Kansas City operations and furniture supply chain, and Michelle Comerford, project director / industrial & supply chain practice leader, Biggins Lacy Shapiro & Co., who develops corporate location strategies and executes site selection projects for manufacturing and distribution clients. Read the full recap.
2022 KEYNOTE
EUGENE D. SEROKA
Executive Director
Port of Los Angeles
Gene Seroka is the Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles, the busiest container port in North America. As Executive Director, Seroka interacts with a wide range of stakeholders, including Port customers around the globe, industry partners, elected and appointed officials at all levels, business leaders and local residents. A respected global trade expert, Seroka has advocated for rules-based trade agreements that benefit American exporters and manufacturers.
As chief of America’s top port, he is responsible for managing a more than $1.7 billion budget, advancing major capital projects, growing trade volumes and promoting innovative, sustainable practices that strengthen the region’s economy. Under his direction, the Port has taken a leadership role in adopting cutting-edge technologies to improve the reliability, predictability and efficiency of the flow of cargo across global seaborne trade.
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FEATURING
OMAR TOVAR
Chief Logistics Officer
URBN
Omar Tovar is Chief Logistics Officer at URBN, a portfolio of global consumer brands comprised of Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, Free People, BHLDN, Terrain, Menus & Venues, and Nuuly. He joined the company in August 2016 after two years as Vice President of North America Supply Chain, Operations and Logistics at Nike Corporation. At a global level, Omar is responsible for origin logistics, transportation, distribution and fulfillment, supply chain innovation and management, sales and operations planning, call center operations, supply chain human resources and supply chain finance.
MICHELLE COMERFORD
Project Director / Industrial & Supply Chain Practice Leader
Biggins Lacy Shapiro & Co.
Michelle Comerford is the Industrial & Supply Chain Practice Leader at Biggins Lacy Shapiro & Co., one of the largest specialty site selection and incentives advisory firms in North America. Michelle Comerford develops corporate location strategies and executes site selection projects for BLS & Co.’s manufacturing and distribution clients. Based in Cleveland, Michelle has worked across a range of industries during her 20-year career. She is an expert in transportation/logistics cost analysis, and has advised numerous clients on site selection decisions with an emphasis on supply chain network optimization, inbound and outbound transportation costs, and customer service requirements, among other operating factors.