Execs from State’s 5 Major Ports to Offer Insights at Florida event

MIAMI (August 27, 2024) – Executives from the state’s five major seaports will discuss the latest in global trade at the Florida Supply Chain Summit, where leaders from government, industry, and professional organizations will give updates on manufacturing, trade, and logistics.

Set for September 9-11, the event’s first full day, September 10, at PortMiami’s world-famous cruise ship terminal will feature representatives from Seaport Manatee, Port Everglades, Port Tampa Bay, PortMiami and JAXPORT in Jacksonville talking about “Anchoring Florida’s Global Trade –“ a rare chance to get insights from executives from each of the state’s leading ports.

Other sessions will cover industry trends and business opportunities—many linked to the nation’s supply chain. Summit presenters also will talk about news within the state’s cruise industry, and how Florida continues to drive innovations in space. Matt Chestnut, V.P. of

Business and Economic Development at Space Florida, will explore how the state agency is

expanding Florida’s spaceport and solidifying Florida’s role in space commerce.

“By facilitating and strengthening partnerships within the trade and logistics industry, the Florida Supply Chain Summit provides an invaluable platform for collaboration among key

representatives from industry, government, and academia,” said Hydi Webb, Director & CEO, PortMiami, the event’s business sponsor.“ The summit is crucial for addressing industry challenges, embracing emerging trends, and fostering workforce development.”

Program to Also Focus on Air Cargo, the CHIPS Act, and Artificial Intelligence (AI)

The program for the first time will cover opportunities and the critical role Florida plays in air cargo. Emir Pineda, a director at the Miami-Dade Aviation Department, will delve into how Miami International Airport – where 80 percent of the U.S.’s fresh flowers arrive from beyond the nation’s borders – plays a dominant role in many key markets.

The summit will be held on alternate days, beginning September 9 at Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay and continuing September 10 at Carnival’s cruise terminal at PortMiami. Rogue Valley Microdevices Founder and CEO Jessica Gomez, the first woman in the U.S. to lead a company supported by the CHIPS Act, will give the luncheon keynote speech on Tuesday. The act, signed by President Joe Biden in 2022, aims to help rebuild the nation’s semiconductor industry.

Following Gomez’s presentation, Quant CEO Deb Friar will host a panel of top technology minds to discuss how artificial intelligence (AI) is streamlining – and transforming - Florida’s supply chain using machine learning, deep learning, and other AI technologies.

Summit to Close With Supply Chain Primers

On Wednesday, back at Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay, organizers are expecting hundreds of attendees to hear spotlight speaker Max Baxa, President and CEO of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals International.

A fireside chat between Gary M. Goldfarb of Interport Logistics and Jason Tenenbaum of Prologis will cover community engagement has contributed to the industry’s growth.

A steering committee includes representatives from FloridaMakes, the U.S. Commerce Service, Florida Atlantic University, the University of South Florida and ports in Manatee, Tampa Bay, Jacksonville, the Everglades, and Miami. The summit’s education sponsor is the University of North Florida.

“As home to one of the nation’s flagship trade and logistics programs, we’re delighted to help foster continued industry growth in Florida and serve as a teaching partner in this important endeavor,” UNF President Moez Limayem said. “Florida is located at a crossroads of the world. It’s vital we persist in innovating ways to make, move, and trade goods around the globe.”

About the Florida Supply Chain Summit

The Florida Supply Chain Summit will occur September 9-11, 2024 at Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay, 1633 North Bayshore Drive, Miami, Fla; and at PortMiami, Cruise Terminal D, 1435 North Cruise Blvd., Miami Fla.

It is the fifth time, after a hiatus due to the pandemic, the Summit has been held after launching in 2019. Its vision is to facilitate and strengthen partnerships in the trade and logistics industry by providing opportunities to network, address industry issues, and share knowledge about critical issues.

The event, co-sponsored by PortMiami and the University of North Florida, also seeks to highlight emerging trends, technological innovations, and workforce development best practices.

Go to the summit’s website to view the program.