Supply chain and logistics professionals are constantly adapting to technological and socioeconomic shifts in the mobility landscape. While nothing has tested supply chains like the current pandemic, the American public and the policymakers who serve them have never been more aware of the role that goods movement professionals play in delivering essential goods to families and communities. This webinar will feature experts within the supply chain industry who will identify the most critical areas in the supply chain to improve resiliency, discuss ways that ports can become more efficient in the aftermath of COVID-19, and delve into ways that leaders in industry, government, and education can collaborate to ensure a competitive and adaptive supply chain workforce.
Moderators:
Tyler Reeb, Director of Research and Workforce Development at the Center for International Trade and Transportation at the California State University of Long Beach & Editor of Empowering the New Mobility Workforce: Educating, Training, and Inspiring Future Transportation Professionals
Romic Aevaz, Policy Analyst, Eno Center for Transportation
Panelists:
Rick Blasgen, President, The Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals
Kristin Decas, CEO and Director, Port Hueneme
Ian R. Roark, Vice President of Workforce Development and Strategic Partnerships, Pima Community College
Watch the Recording:
A proven leader, Kristin Decas repeatedly demonstrates her ability to build vision and implement strategy through open, collaborative processes that foster results. Since beginning her tenure with the Port of Hueneme in February 2012, the Port has realized several successes. Tonnage totals reached significant new milestones with cargo growing from 1.3 million tons in FY 2012 to over 1.6 million tons in FY 2018, marking the Port’s strongest sustained trade years since its inception in 1937. Port trade related activity spurs $1.7 billion in economic activity and 15,834 direct, indirect, induced and influenced jobs, increases of 113% and 55% respectively over 2013 performance. Most recent successes include securing a $3.3 million California Air Resources Board grant for zero emission equipment and infrastructure and a $12.3 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant. Over $45 million in infrastructure improvements are advancing on Kristin’s watch, including the installation of shoreside power for refrigerated cargo ships and a harbor deepening project that will also re-nourish local beaches. Kristin championed the first Port Banana Festival in 2012, an annual event now drawing over 12,000 visitors to the Port. From 2015- 2019, Mrs. Decas served as the President of the California Association of Port Authorities (CAPA) representing California’s 11 deep water ports, providing educational leadership and advocacy on issues related to transportation, trade, the environment, land use, and energy. Kristin was the first woman to run both the Port of New Bedford in its 50-year history and the Port of Hueneme in its 82-year history. In 2015, she was elected to Chair the American Association of Port Authorities, the 4th woman to hold the post in the Association’s 106 years. Kristin lives in Oxnard, CA with her husband, and is the proud mother of two daughters, Chloe and Gina.
Rick D. Blasgen is the president and chief executive officer of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) in Lombard, Illinois, USA. Blasgen began his career with Nabisco, working in a regional customer service center in Chicago, Illinois. While at Nabisco, he held various logistics positions of increasing responsibility in inventory management, order processing, and transportation and distribution center operations management. Blasgen became vice president, supply chain, at Nabisco in June 1998, then vice president supply chain for Kraft in June 2002. He joined ConAgra Foods in August 2003 as senior vice president integrated logistics. Blasgen has devoted much of his time to furthering a number of company’s supply chain management programs and initiatives. This experience has given him a solid foundation for his role at CSCMP where he has responsibility for the overall business operations and strategic plan of the organization. His efforts support CSCMP’s mission of leading the supply chain management profession through the development and dissemination of supply chain education and research. Blasgen was designated by the US Department of Commerce in 2011 to serve as the Chair of the Advisory Committee on Supply Chain Competitiveness (ACSCC) providing the Administration advice and counsel on issues and concerns that affect the supply chain sector. He continues to chair that committee. He is a member of Northwestern University’s Transportation Center Business Advisory Committee and a past chair of the Grocery Manufacturers Association Logistics Committee, and a past president of the Warehousing Education and Research Council (WERC). Blasgen is a graduate of Governors State University, earning his degree in business administration and majoring in finance.
Dr. Ian Roark serves as the Vice President of Workforce Development & Strategic Partnerships for Pima Community College. As the college’s single point of contact for workforce and economic development initiatives, Ian works with internal and external stakeholders to respond to the workforce needs of businesses and industry and the guide the college-wide alignment to the economic development priorities of the region and state. He is also honored to lead the Workforce Development Division, a phenomenal team of talented leaders and practitioners serving over 6,000 students in training, certificate, and degree programs annually. Ian holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Angelo State University, a Master’s of Education/Educational Leadership from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin, and a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of Texas at San Antonio. He is dedicated to collective impact partnerships, community college innovation, the future of work, early college programs, and business and industry engagement, with an emphasis on student access, success, and upward mobility. Ian currently serves on the: Arizona Community College Coordinating Council Workforce & Economic Development COmmittee (Chair), Pima Association of Governments Economic Vitality Advisory Committee, Tucson United Way ELDER Alliance Leadership Council, Tucson Metro Chamber Board of Directors, Arizona Association for Economic Development Government Affairs Committee, Pacific Southwest Region University Transportation Center Executive Committee, and the Manufacturing Institute’s Education Council. In addition to his responsibilities, recognitions, and requests to speak regionally and nationally, Ian was named as the 2019 Workforce Practitioner of the Year by the Arizona Association for Economic Development, and was named to the Aspen Institute’s Presidential Fellowship for Community College Excellence for 2019-2020. Ian has been married to his awesome wife, Landi, who is an exemplary public school teacher and published children’s author, for 22 years. Together they have two children; a fun-loving, witty, and athletic son who is 13; and an artistic, mathematical, and scientific daughter, who is 17. Together, they all enjoy road trips, watching movies, and backyard cookouts. Ian’s favorite activities include hiking, camping, writing and playing music, and reading
