KC SMARTPORT ANNUAL INDUSTRY BRIEFING


 
SAVE THE DATE FOR THE 2025 ANNUAL INDUSTRY BRIEFING
      

Wednesday, April 16, 2025
3:00 - 6:00 P.M.
KC Convention Center

Additional details coming soon. For information on sponsorship opportunities, please contact Elli Houston.

2024 EVENT RECAP

 
KANSAS CITY IS THE CENTER OF GLOBAL INVESTMENT
      

The United States is attracting foreign direct investment from across the globe, with growing opportunities for reshoring and nearshoring. KC SmartPort's 2024 Annual Industry Briefing explored the future of global investment in North America and its impact on U.S. industrial development, supply chain shifts and workforce trends.

650+ local and national industry experts gathered on April 10, 2024 to hear insights on economic and site selection trends from Bearnard Baumohl, chief global economist with the Economic Outlook Group, and David Hickey, global managing director at Hickey and Associates. Read the full event recap.

2024 FEATURED SPEAKERS


BERNARD BAUMOHL

Bernard Baumohl Headshot 2024 

Bernard Baumohl is chief global economist at The Economic Outlook Group. He is well known for being ahead of the curve in assessing the direction of the U.S. and world economy. The Wall Street Journal ranked him as the most accurate economic forecaster for 2018.

Mr. Baumohl began his career as an analyst with the Council on Foreign Relations, a think tank specializing in international affairs and national security. He later served as an economist at European American Bank with responsibilities to monitor the global economy and develop forecasts. Mr. Baumohl was also an award-winning economics reporter with TIME magazine who covered the White House, Federal Reserve and Wall Street.

In additional to his current post as chief global economist, Mr. Baumohl is on the faculty of the New York Institute of Finance, where he conducts seminars on how forward-looking economic indicators can help business leaders better foresee turning points in the economy. He is also a member of the monthly Wall Street Journal Economic Forecast Panel and his projections on the economy and geopolitical trends are frequently cited in the New York TimesWashington PostBusiness WeekFinancial Times, and on National Public Radio.

Mr. Baumohl is author of The Secrets of Economic Indicators: Hidden Clues to Future Economic Trends and Investment Opportunities (Pearson Education). He has a Master’s degree in International Affairs and Economics from Columbia University.



DAVID HICKEY

David Hickey Headshot 

David Hickey is Global Managing Director of Hickey and Associates, a leader in location strategy, labor analytics, supply chain and logistics optimization, and government incentives advisory. David leads key client accounts and major initiatives for the firm around the world. In recent years, David has led the firm’s robust expansion in the dynamic Asia Pacific region and navigated the growth strategy for EMEA.

Prior to being a senior leader of the firm, David managed legislative and regulatory affairs for an international organization representing business and agriculture cooperatives and served as a policy advisor for a member of the United States Senate. David is a frequent contributor in industry media and a featured speaker at business, real estate, and economic development events globally.

Hickey and Associates supports a wide-ranging, diverse array of clients from industries ranging from aerospace and defense, semiconductors, automotive, food and beverage, and FCMG businesses, among many others.  With nearly forty years in the industry, the firm helps clients navigate their global footprints and supply chains to determine the optimal locations for their business operations.

David resides in Scottsdale, Arizona with his wife, son, and always-excitable cocker spaniel.  David also serves on the boards of several industry and philanthropic organizations, including the Michael P Hickey Foundation, a scholarship fund for aspiring economic development professionals.