President’s Report on the 51st Annual Conference for the Transportation & Logistics Council

by Jeffrey L. Meyer, Sr. Manager Transportation

Nestle Purina PetCare Company

It is with immense pleasure and pride that I present the President’s Report on the 51^st Annual Conference for the Transportation & Logistics Council. This year’s conference, held at the Hilton Houston Post Oak Convention Center from March 17-19^th, was a resounding success, marked by insightful presentations, great audience participation, and numerous networking opportunities. The event brought together industry subject matter experts, practitioners, and stakeholders from across our supply chain industry.  The common goal was to advance our knowledge of this ever-changing field.

Conference Overview

The 51^st Annual Conference was timely with current discussions on Tariffs, Economic and Political Challenges, Fighting Cargo Theft & Fraud, Transportation Law and Legal concepts, Risk & Insurance, Technology, Sustainability & AI, LTL & the NMFC changes, and through sharing of managing cargo claims. The general sessions, workshops, and panel discussions were meticulously designed to address the myriad challenges and opportunities that we deal with daily and those that still lie ahead.

Guest Speaker Addresses

Gary Thomas, a Crime Analyst with CargoNet, was our Monday luncheon speaker.  Gary shared his 24+ years’ experience of being in the trenches fighting cargo theft.  Insightful advice was shared with our packed room of attendees.  It was obvious that Gary is on the leading edge of understanding the ever-rapid evolving landscape of fraud and theft.  From his discussion, sometimes humorous, I left with fresh ideas on how my organization can strengthen its practices. 

On Tuesday, we took a different direction with our guest speaker Charlie Jenkins, CEO of Port Houston.  What a riveting story of what Port Houston has accomplished and how they accomplish growth. Today this port is a $1 trillion annual economic engine. Charlie shared repeated stories and examples on how the port managed its growth in a “Texas” style of doing it 1^st, then working with the Federal Government to catch up to them with economic funds and policies.  Had the port taken the 1^st step of waiting for the Fed’s to green-light these projects, the port would not have ever met its needs and timelines.

Networking Opportunities

One of the hallmarks of our conference is the networking opportunities it offers. We appreciate the support from our exhibitors and sponsors that make this possible.  This year, we facilitated several networking events, including an exhibitors’ reception on Monday evening and the President’s Reception on Tuesday.  These events provided attendees with the chance to forge new connections, exchange ideas, and explore potential collaborations.

Feedback and Future Directions

Feedback from the conference attendees has been positive. Participants praised the quality of the presentations, the diversity of topics covered, and the opportunities for professional development. We also took note on some ideas to enhance next year’s program. 

As we look to the future, the Transportation & Logistics Council remains committed to being on the leading edge of identifying emerging topics and collaboration within the industry. Plans are already underway for the 52^nd Annual Conference, which will be hosted at the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs, Franklin TN. The conference will be March 16, 2026, thru the 18^th, and our optional Seminars are on the preceding Sunday.  I am also happy to announce that this event will start in the afternoon of the 16^th, giving more flexibility for travel. To ensure we provide adequate coverage of our topics, the conference will now end at 5 PM on Wednesday.

In conclusion, the 51^st Annual Conference was a success and that was only possible because of the panelists, moderators, exhibitors, sponsors, & our Board.  A lot of hard work along with some sacrifices occurred to make this conference a success and I am grateful for all.  I cannot dismiss the value of our attendees as well.  The fresh faces, the level of engagement, and the curiosity are significant. Together, we are paving the way for a sustainable and prosperous future in transportation and logistics.

Thank you, and I look forward to seeing you all at next year’s conference.