SMC3 Releases Final Conference Agenda for Connections 2011

JOC Staff |
ATLANTA, Ga. – April 26, 2011 – SMC3 today announced the release of the final agenda for its June 14-17 Connections 2011 conference in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Sessions of note in this year’s conference line-up include a keynote presentation by news correspondent Forrest Sawyer, the release of Auburn University research findings on synergistic pricing in the LTL industry, trends in multimodal solutions and the impact of global trade on North American transportation.

“This year’s conference will be exceptionally information packed, as attendees delve into understanding the most-pressing issues affecting North American transportation—from economic and technological changes to evolving regulatory, energy and security issues—with numerous formal and informal networking opportunities and unprecedented access to world-class presenters and speakers,” said SMC3 President and CEO Jack E. Middleton.

New to the SMC³ roster of top-shelf presenters: Greg Smith, industry director for transportation and logistics with Oracle Corporation; David Congdon, CEO of Old Dominion Freight Line; Tommy Barnes, president of Con-way Multimodal; Jahan Byrne, marketing and business development executive with the Port of Oakland; Brian Mayer, vice president of global supply chain for Eaton Corporation and David Ross, director and transportation analyst with Stifel Nicolaus.

“Connections 2011 will convene more than thirty topnotch presenters and subject matter experts, including Anne Ferro, administrator with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and Tom Jensen, vice president of UPS,” said Danny B. Slaton, SMC3 executive vice president. “These speakers provide deep, up-to-the-minute industry, technological and regulatory knowledge—all designed to support attendee insights and ultimate business success.”

Attendees can expect format enhancements to the conference’s Legislative and Regulatory Update session, to be moderated by frequent SMC³ presenter John Bagileo, principal of The Law Office of John R. Bagileo. The new heavy-hitting panel will tackle hours of service (HOS), cell phone bans, electronic on-board recorders and CSA compliance. In his economic update, consulting economist Donald Ratajczak, Ph.D will outline his projections for the remainder of 2011 and present a special update on the challenges facing Japan and their impact on the U.S. economy.

Connections 2011 is sponsored by Blue Grace Logistics, Con-way Multimodal, England Logistics, Estes Express Lines, GlobalTranz, Unyson Logistics, and Worldwide Express and media sponsors Inbound Logistics, The Journal of Commerce, Logistics Management, SupplyChainBrain, and WT100.

Conference details and online registration are available at www.smc3conference.com.

About SMC³
SMC³ is a leading provider of data, technology and education as an integrated solution to the freight transportation community. SMC³'s core competency is its pricing expertise, which it delivers through data services and technology tools that simplify processes and promote collaboration between buyers and sellers of transportation services. The company also partners with leading transportation software developers for complete interoperability.

Throughout the year SMC³ offers educational programs that focus on key industry issues and advanced learning. These well-attended events are noted for their content, speakers and networking opportunities. The company currently serves more than 5,000 customers operating throughout the contiguous United States, Canada and Mexico. SMC³'s customer base covers all aspects of freight movement, and includes shippers, carriers, logistics service providers and freight-payment companies.