Compelling International Trade and Transportation Issues to Dominate Discussions at the Containerization & Intermodal Institute's One-Day Seminar in Houston

• Has the Panama Canal expansion already outgrown itself?
• How does the success or failure of the administration's export initiative impact your bottom line?
• Breakbulk is flourishing; what does that mean to your business?

HOUSTON, TX (June 5, 2013) -- These questions and other hot topics will be the focal point of the Containerization & Intermodal Institute's one-day seminar in Houston on June 20th at the Houston Marriott North. The program will commence with lunch at 11:30 a.m. and will be followed by two panels, adjourning at 5 p.m.

Michael Masserman, Executive Director for Export Policy, Promotion & Strategy, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, is the luncheon speaker. Rodolfo Sabonge, Executive Vice President for Planning and Business Development, Panama Canal Authority, is the confirmed keynote speaker.

The luncheon will be followed by panel discussions with major shippers, ocean carriers, freight forwarders, railroads and Port of Houston officials. The first panel, "Panama Canal Expansion-Will it provide new opportunities for business in the U.S. Gulf?" will be moderated by Jeffrey Lawrence, Partner, Cozen O'Connor and CII Board member. Speakers are Russ Boullion, Logistics Manager, Westlake Chemical; Wolfgang Freese, President, Hapag Lloyd Americas; David Gazzetta, General Director International Intermodal, Union Pacific; and Roger Guenther, Deputy Executive Director, Port of Houston Authority.

Michael DiVirgilio, Executive Vice President of Ceres Terminal and CII President will lead the second discussion, "Sector in Focus: The outlook for breakbulk cargo." Speakers are Kathy Canaan, Director Logistics and Export Compliance, FLUOR; Sean D. Carney, President and Commercial Operations Leader at Rickmers Linie (America) Inc.; Michael Fuentes, Senior Account Executive of Project Logistics and Global Freight, Crowley Maritime Corp.; and John A. Moseley, General Manager, Trade Development at the Port of Houston Authority.

Following the panelist's speeches will be a discussion among all the experts and a Q&A session. Tickets are $95, which includes the luncheon. Event sponsorships are also available and include tickets for the entire event, depending on level of sponsorship.

Other information is available from CII Executive Director, Barbara Yeninas or Suzie Chu, event manager, at execdir@containerization.org or (732) 817-9131 or visit www.containerization.org.

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