Symposium Theme:

SESSION I- THE NAFTA DILEMMA: A NEW NORTH AMERICAN DYNAMIC  (*click to read bio or presentation)

Moderator: Carlos Martinez Gonzalez, Association of Laredo Forwarding Agents

• *Eric Miller, President of Rideau Potomac Strategy Group
• *Gerald Schwebel, Executive Vice President, International Bank of Commerce

SESSION II- NORTH AMERICAN TRADE: WHAT'S NEXT?  (*click to read bio or presentation)

Moderator: Jose D. Gonzalez, Laredo Licensed U.S. Customs Brokers Association

• *Geoffrey Powell, Past President and Chairman of the Board, National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA)
• *Mario Sanchez Montemayor, National Commissioner at Confederation of Associations of Customs Agents in Mexico(CAAAREM)
• *Angela Collins, Chair, Canadian Society of Customs Brokers

SESSION III- THE FUTURE OF SUPPLY CHAIN  (*click to read bio or presentation)

Moderator: *Ben Escarcega, Director Integrated Solutions Group, Yusen Logistics

Presentation: *Nigel Cory, Associate Director, Trade Policy, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) – *The Future of Global and Regional Supply Chains  

• *Jean-Pierre Asselin, Managing Partner, Trans Pro Logistics
• *Jose Miñarro, Senior Vice President Customs, Transplace

 SESSION IV- MANUFACTURING AND TECHNOLOGY: THE 4TH REVOLUTION   (*click to read bio or presentation) 

Introduction: Joseph Mendiola, Vice President of Business Development, Laredo Economic Development Corporation

Presentation: *Dr. Ralph Biedermann, President, The MRB Group- “*Regional Manufacturing Outlook”

• *Luis Hernandez Garcia, Operations Manager, CATERPILLAR-REMAN
• Joaquin Nacher, Vice President of Operations, Medline Industries

SESSION V- THE BENEFITS OF APPRENTICESHIP IN THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY  (*click to read bio or presentation) 

Moderator: Gerardo Maldonado, Vice President, Laredo Motor Carriers Association

• *David Harrison, Executive Director, National Apprenticeship FASTPORT

SESSION VI-  THE STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OR REGIONALISM IN SOUTH TEXAS ENERGY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT   (*click to read bio or presentation) 

Moderator: Jorge Canavati, President, J. Canavati & Co. LLC.

• *John LaRue, Executive Director, Port of Corpus Christi Authority (POCCA)
• *Christopher Ashcraft, Vice President & CEO, South Texas Energy & Economic Roundtable (STEER)

Leaders from the Logistics and Manufacturing industry, as well as faculty and students, gathered at TAMIU for the 24th Annual Logistics and Manufacturing Symposium Pathways for Trade: North America the Most Competitive Region in the World, September 19-20, 2017. 

The event hosted by Laredo Development Foundation, Logistics and Manufacturing Association (LMA), Texas A&M International University (TAMIU), Association of Laredo Forwarding Agents (ALFA), Laredo Licensed U.S. Customs Brokers Association (LLUSCBA), INDEX, CODEIN and Laredo Motor Carriers Association (LMCA) brought topics about International Policy and Trade, Customs Law and Security, Manufacturing 4.0, Innovation Technology, Supply Chain, Transportation, Energy, NAFTA and other critical topics 

SESSION I.- INTERNATIONAL POLICY AND TRADE   *click to see presentation

• Francisco Jaime King Cancino,* Vice Chiar of the World Customs  Organization’s Private Sector Consultative Group (PSCG)
• M. Angeles Villarreal, Specialist in International Trade and Finance at U.S. Congressional Research Service

SESSION II.- NORTH AMERICAN PORTS & CORRIDOR INITIATIVE  *click to see presentation

• Colleen Shepherd,* Executive Director, Calgary Regional Partnership
• Bryndis Whitson,* Director, Stakeholder Relations at Van Horne Institute
• Ing. Carlos Dominguez Ahedo,* Secretary of Economic Development from the State of Colima, Mexico
• Vice Admiral Alejandro Miranda,* General Director, Integral Port Administration from Manzanillo, Colima, Mexico

SESSION III.- CUSTOMS LAW AND SECURITY   *click to see presentation

• Mtro. Andres Rohde Ponce,* President, International Customs Law Academy
• David V. Aguilar,* Principal, Global Security and Innovative Strategies

  BINATIONAL CONVERSATION  

• Honorable, Pete Saenz, Mayor, City of Laredo, Texas
• Honorable, Enrique Rivas, Mayor,  City of Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas
• Honorable, Ing. Carlos W. Talancon, Secretary of Economic Development from the State of Tamaulipas
• Honorable, Richard Peña Raymond, Texas State Representative, District 42

SESSION I.- MANUFACTURING 4.0, INNOVATION TECHNOLOGY AND SUPPLY CHAIN  *click to see presentation

• Dr. F. Frank Chen,* Lutcher Brown Distinguished Chair in Advanced Manufacturing Mechanical Engineering Department & Center for Advanced Manufacturing & Lean Systems, UTSA
• Dr. Ralph Biedermann,* President, The MRB Group

SESSION II.-   TRANSPORTATION CHANGES AND REGULATIONS 

• Robert Costello, Chief Economist & Senior Vice President, American Trucking Association (ATA)
• Martin Rojas, Senior Adviser for the Americas, International Road Transportation Union
• Russell Stubbs, Chairman, FFE Holdings & Truckload Carriers Association  Past Chairman

SESSION III.-  ENERGY RENAISSANCE IN NORTH AMERICA  *click to see presentation

• Henry Cuellar, U.S. Representative for Texas 28th Congress District
• Jack N. Gerard, President and CEO, American Petroleum Institute (API)
• Dr. Gustavo Murillo,* Director of Research in Exploration and Production, Mexican Petroleum Institute (MPI)