Welcome to FreightWeekSTL 2023
FreightWeekSTL is back for its sixth consecutive year. From May 22 to May 26, we are delivering a full lineup of engaging panel discussions and other offerings that highlight the unique role of the St. Louis region in advancing major infrastructure projects and addressing global supply chain disruption.
FreightWeekSTL attracts freight and logistics experts; economic development, real estate development and transportation professionals; regional leaders from across the bi-state St. Louis area, and other forward thinkers from the public and private sector who are interested in the content being shared and eager to network and collaborate during our in-person events.
The primarily virtual format for FreightWeekSTL the past few years attracted excellent viewership for each of the sessions and considerable social media interest and interactions, while the content shared last year garnered extensive earned media exposure reinforcing the significant role the St. Louis region has in the national and global supply chains. This year’s conference is building on that success, delivering additional timely and relevant topics and discussions featuring nationally influential speakers with valuable insight.
Check out the session descriptions, dates and times below – and catch up on any presentations and discussions you may have missed.
All sessions will be offered virtually unless otherwise noted
Monday, May 22 | Innovation Day
Tracking the Progress of Autonomous Railcars
Monday, May 22 | 9 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Session Details: St. Louis start-up Intramotev Autonomous Rail continues to make advances in the development of an autonomous, zero-emissions railcar that would be able to operate without the use of a locomotive. Get the latest details on their progress toward commercial launch of a new solution that has the potential to make the U.S. rail system more efficient and sustainable, while also expediting the supply chain process.
Speaker: Timothy Luchini, Ph.D., Co-Founder and CEO of Intramotev Autonomous Rail
Press Release: Click Here
Digitalization of Global Waterways
Monday, May 22 | 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Session Details: Be among the first to learn about Israeli-based DockTech’s “Digital Twin” technology and data analysis that creates a virtual representation of the seabed of ports and waterways providing valuable insight for a variety of maritime stakeholders, delivering greater visibility, predictability and empowerment, and helping to improve freight movement through the global port system.
Speaker: Uri Yoselevich, Founder and CEO, DockTech
Press Release: Click Here
Supply Chain Information Highway with St. Louis Ties
Monday, May 22 | 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Session Details: Learn about a St. Louis-based company’s partnership with the Port of Long Beach and the role they are playing in helping to create a supply chain information highway with the ability to access, analyze and integrate data regarding the movement of freight through the nation’s largest ports in a way that helps improve in-transit visibility.
Speakers:
• Jason Carter, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, UNCOMN
• Noel Hacegaba, Deputy Executive Director/COO, Port of Long Beach
Press Release: Click Here
Tuesday, May 23
St. Louis Regional Ports Investing for the Future
Tuesday, May 23 | 9 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Session Details: Learn about the continuing investments underway at four ports in the St. Louis region, recent infrastructure funding wins, and how the improvements being made will help support continued growth in traditional barge services and intermodal operations in the Ag Coast of America, while helping to prepare for the arrival of innovative new Container-on-Vessel service in the Midwest.
Speakers:
• Dennis Wilmsmeyer, Executive Director, America’s Central Port
• Susan Taylor, Port Authority Director, St. Louis Development Corporation
• Ed Weilbacher, Port Director, Kaskaskia Regional Port District
• Jim McNichols, Executive Director, Jefferson County Port Authority
Press Release: Click Here
Ag Coast of America Riverboat Cruise
Tuesday, May 23 | 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Session Details (In-Person Event): Hosted by the St. Louis Regional Freightway, this special cruise will highlight key freight assets and opportunities that position the St. Louis region as a thriving freight and logistics hub with global access. This curated tour will provide an up-close look at critical elements of the region’s multimodal freight network, including roads and bridges; rail and barge facilities; multimodal freight transfer services; and the ports and infrastructure that have made this section of the Mississippi River the Ag Coast of America. Hot and cold lunch options will be available for purchase. During registration, you also have the opportunity to purchase a riverboat cruise ticket for a college or high school student interested in a career in manufacturing, logistics or a related career field.
Speaker: Narration by Susan Taylor, Port Authority Director at St. Louis Development Corporation
Wednesday, May 24 | 2023 Freight Summit
2023 Freight Summit
Wednesday, May 24 | 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Session Details (SOLD OUT): Don’t miss this opportunity to gather again in-person for a Freight Summit featuring the release of the 2024 Priority Projects List, a valuable tool used to advocate for support and funding for critical infrastructure improvements that strengthen the St. Louis region’s position as a world-class freight hub, with associated remarks by representatives of both the Illinois and Missouri Departments of Transportation. The event will also feature a keynote address that will spotlight the East Coast’s largest container import gateway – the Port of New York & New Jersey – while highlighting its rail connectivity to the St. Louis region.
Speakers:
• Tom Blair, St. Louis District Engineer, Missouri Department of Transportation
• Kirk Brown, Region Five Engineer, Illinois Department of Transportation
• Mike Bozza, Deputy Port Director, Port Authority of New York & New Jersey
Press Release: Click Here
2024 Priority Freight Projects List: Click Here
Thursday, May 25
Drought and Flood Resiliency Planning Along the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers
Thursday, May 25 | 9 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Session Details: With low water levels alternating with flood conditions to disrupt operations on the Missouri and Mississippi rivers in recent years, those involved in creating the plans and policies to keep river traffic moving have found new ways to partner and collaborate to strengthen the resiliency of the rivers for navigation. Learn about how they are working together, what the agriculture community does when the waterways aren’t available for transport and the important role of both dredging and communications. The session will also cover the Lower Missouri River Study concept (which ties to flow in the mid-Mississippi River) and how various partners are coming together to try to set the stage for proactive flood and drought resiliency through this study.
Speakers:
• Cheryl Ball, Waterways and Freight Administrator, Missouri Department of Transportation
• Chris Klenklen, Deputy Director, Missouri Department of Agriculture
• Lou Dell’Orco, Chief – Operations Division, US Army Corps of Engineers
• Shane Kinne, Executive Director, Coalition to Protect the Missouri River
Press Release: Click Here
Why Big Manufacturing Expansion and Growth is Coming to the St. Louis Region
Thursday, May 25 | 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Session Details: This session will spotlight some of the exciting planned developments and manufacturing expansions underway in the St. Louis region, with a focus on why this activity is occurring here. Learn about Good Developments Group’s plans to develop Gateway South directly adjacent to the National Gateway Arch, and the proposed construction innovation district driven by prefabricated modular manufacturing; American Foods Group’s new beef processing plant in Warren County, Mo.; James Hardie Industries’ first Missouri facility coming to Jefferson County, and Tyson Foods plant expansion underway in Caseyville, Ill. We will explore the factors driving these decisions to invest in this region and gain insight to help continue this growth trend.
Speakers:
• Alec Jadacki, Partner, Good Developments Group (Gateway South Project)
• Scott Willert, CTP, President, America’s Service Line, LLC / America’s Logistics
• Sean Parks, Senior Capacity Manager, James Hardie Building Products
• Christopher Rogers, Plant Manager – Prepared Foods Division, Tyson Foods
Press Release: Click Here
Friday, May 26
Release of the St. Louis Region’s Spring 2023 Industrial Real Estate Market Report
Friday, May 26 | 9 a.m.
Session Details: Digital release of the latest Industrial Market Report for the St. Louis region, which focuses on bulk industrial buildings that are vital to the freight and logistics supply chain. The data highlights the latest market fundamentals in the St. Louis region, recent trends in construction and development, and the current labor figures that demonstrate readiness to meet the workforce needs of the bi-state region’s robust supply chain logistics, distribution and manufacturing industries.
Report Available: Click Here
70 on 70 Spotlight: Inside the 70-Mile 70s Corridor Linking Missouri & Illinois
Friday, May 26 | 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Session Details: Hear firsthand from the researchers taking a closer look at this vital link between Illinois and Missouri, a 70-mile corridor that is the epicenter of the historic surge in new construction in the St. Louis regional industrial market. Over 24-million square feet of new industrial space hit the market over the last five years, and nowhere is this construction boom more evident than along the 70s corridor (including I-70, I-170, I-270, and I-370) running from Missouri to Illinois. Learn more about this major logistics corridor that is home to a wealth of national manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors, with room to welcome more.
Speakers:
• Doug Rasmussen, CEO and Managing Principal, Steadfast City Economic & Community Partners
• Ed Lampitt, Vice Chair, Cushman & Wakefield
• Matt Hrubes, Senior Vice President, CBRE
Press Release: Click Here
Thank You to Our Sponsors
Last year’s FreightWeekSTL attracted solid attendance, social media interest and widespread media coverage — and we are excited to build on that success once again this year. None of this would be possible without the support of our many sponsors. Thank you for helping us deliver FreightWeekSTL 2023!
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Presenting Sponsors
Supporting Sponsors
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