Program & Agenda

Blue Stage

Offical Opening of transport logistic Americas & air cargo Americas and project cargo Americas

Blue Stage

As global supply chains shift in response to rising costs, geopolitical uncertainty, and the push for sustainability, nearshoring and regionalization are changing the game for air cargo. This panel will discuss what happens when production moves closer to where goods are consumed. How that is reshaping demand, shortening lead times, and creating fresh opportunities for regional air freight.
We will explore what this means on the ground: from the pressure to expand regional airports and modernize cargo handling, to the need for faster, more flexible ground connections. The panel will discuss how carriers, forwarders, handlers, and airport operators are adjusting to fragmented trade routes and shifting customer expectations.
With examples from Latin America’s growing role in U.S. supply chains to Southeast Asia’s manufacturing surge, the panel will attempt to answer how these trends are influencing investment, infrastructure, and innovation. The aim of the panel is to trigger thoughts on building resilience, speed, and smarter regional networks.

Organizer: STAT Publishing Group

Moderator: Reji John, Editor, STAT Publishing Group
Speakers:
Diogo Elias, CEO, Avianca Cargo
Kes Nielsen, Director Business Development, Amazon Air Cargo
Tom Crabtree, MD, Transport Research Advisory

Red Stage

America is in the midst of one of the most ambitious infrastructure renewal drives in its history. The Inflation Reduction Act injected USD 110 billion into road and bridge construction alone, acting as a catalyst for large-scale investment in transport and public works. Now, with the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” set to unwind many of those incentives, the big question is: what’s next?

This panel will explore how America’s infrastructure ambitions will evolve, from state-funded megaprojects and public–private partnerships to the new role of private capital. We’ll examine how the heavy lift and engineered transport sector is enabling faster, more complex builds; how state-level initiatives are reshaping regional project pipelines; and how renewed infrastructure can fuel economic growth, supply chain resilience and long-term competitiveness.

Organizer: Heavy Lift & Project Forwarding International

Moderator: David Kershaw, Editor, HLPFI
Speakers:
Benjamin Liewald, COO Projects - North America, Fracht Group
Steven Todd, Executive Vice President, Permitting, ProMiles Software Development Corporation
Thorsten Schultz, UTC Overseas

Blue Stage

Digital Cargo & the Smart Supply Chain focuses on transforming traditional logistics into an integrated, data-driven ecosystem. This evolution encompasses data-driven operations, advanced automation, smart technologies, and strategic impact. This session will provide an in-depth analysis of how these innovations are being deployed on a global scale.

Organizer: World Trade Center Miami (WTCM)

Moderator: Alicia Lines, President, CNS, International Air Transport Association - IATA
Speakers: 
Basil Khalil, Vice President of Operations, Caribbean, Central America, and Global Service Participants, FedEx
Kristjan Lillemets, Chief Product Officer, Magaya Corporation
Akshat Khare, Chief Technology Officer, Sidecar

Red Stage

Organizer: Florida Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association (FCBF)

Moderator: Tom Hudson, Senior Economics Editor and Special Correspondent, WLRN Public Media
Speakers:
Jenette Prince, Vice President, Trade Control- Imports and Exports, Kuehne+Nagel
Hector Rosas, RH-Brokerage
Darrel Ortiz, Founder & CEO, CDM Software Solutions, Inc.
Jennifer Diaz, President and Founder, Diaz Trade Law

Blue Stage

As global trade flows face mounting pressures from shifting geopolitical priorities, evolving tariffs, and industrial policy divergence, transatlantic trade remains a cornerstone of economic cooperation—but also a flashpoint for friction. The EU-U.S. relationship is undergoing a significant realignment, shaped by differing approaches to trade, regulation, sustainability, and strategic autonomy. In Florida, where the economy is deeply connected to both European and Latin American markets, the transatlantic relationship is often viewed through a more commercially pragmatic and globally integrated lens—distinct from the political dynamics often seen in Washington or Brussels.
This roundtable, organized by the European American Chamber of Commerce Florida (EACC Florida), will explore the current landscape and future of trade between Europe and the United States, with a focus on how these shifts are felt and navigated in a key international logistics hub like Florida.
This session will provide actionable insights, including tariff mitigation strategies for logistics and supply chain professionals, policymakers, and exporters seeking to navigate a complex and evolving transatlantic trade environment.

TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION
- The future of U.S.-EU trade relations under “America First” industrial and trade policies
- Tariff regimes, regulatory alignment, and customs modernization
- Implications of the Trump administration’s legal approaches to tariffs and of related litigation
- The U.S.-E.U. Framework Agreement on trade
- Opportunities and risks for logistics, transport, and air cargo operators
- Transatlantic supply chain resilience and nearshoring trends
- Increased U.S. Government enforcement of laws and regulations related to trade and tariffs

Organizer: European American Chamber of Commerce, (EACC) Florida

Moderator: Jodi Ader, Sr. Manager, Trade & Tariff Advisory Services, RSMUS
Speakers:
Emmanuel Desbats, Vice-President Global Accounts, Clasquin
Christina Sleszynska, Executive Director, European American Chamber of Commerce - Florida
Alan Sutin, President, European American Chamber of Commerce - Florida
Micah Myers, Member, Cozen O’Connor
Antonio Teixeira, CEO, PicAdvanced

Red Stage

This familiar yet ever-evolving topic captures the seismic shift in global logistics, driven by explosive rise of online shopping and demand for faster delivery. A breakdown of what this transformation entails and how the cargo industry is evolving to meet it, will be discussed in this session, including metrics behind the E-Commerce surge, air cargo’s new role within this phenomenon, challenges & shifts, and forecasts for continued double-digit growth.

Organiser: World Trade Center Miami (WTCM)

Moderator: Emir Pineda, Director of Marketing & Air Service Development, Miami International Airport
Speakers:
Vera Nieuwland, Director, Digital Transformation Services, Kaufman Rossin
Jaime Basagoitia, Vice President & General Manager, TransExpress, Inc
Joe Mozzali, CEO, Amerijet International Airlines
Kes Nielsen, Director Business Development, Amazon Air Cargo

Blue Stage

Organizer: Florida Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association (FCBF)

Moderator: Jennifer Diaz, President, Diaz Trade Law
Speakers: 
Kim Highsmith, Director of Compliance, King Ocean Agency, Inc.
Chelsie Taveras, Sr. Global Trade Operations & Compliance Director, Cargill
Michelle Fajardo, President, Cargo International Consolidators Inc

Red Stage

Organizer: Airports Council International - North America

Moderator: Patrick Haley, Air Cargo Facilities Manager, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport - Port of Seattle
Speakers: 
Brandon Fried, Executive Director, Airforwarders Association (AfA)
Glyn Hughes, Director General, The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA)
Emir Pineda, Director, Air Service Development Division, Miami-Dade Aviation Department (MIA)

Red Stage

Organizer: Airports Council International - North America

Moderator: Simon Wood, Director, Air Service Development / Air Cargo Development, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport
Speakers:
Doug Banez, Managing Director, Hubpoint Strategic Advisors, LLC
Jennifer Carter, Vice President, Airport Affairs, Realterm
Eli Gregory, Head of Airport Investment and Development, Aviation Facilities Company Management LLC (AFCO)
Tod Willman, Assistant Vice President of Cargo Development, Orlando International Airport

Red Stage

The path to achieving sustainability in the freight transportation industry is marked by numerous challenges. This session will shed light on how transportation and logistics providers are proactively responding to government regulations, environmental concerns, and shifting industry trends. Revaluating their operations and embracing innovative approaches, these providers are paving the way for a greener and more sustainable future within the logistics industry.  

Organizer: World Trade Center Miami (WTCM)

Moderator: Katherine Preston, VP, Sustainability, Atlas Air
Speakers:
Manoela Peixoto, Corporate Sustainability Manager, Apex Logistics Intl.
Hannah Roque, Head Key Accounts (Cargo) Americas, United Airlines
Ronald Holmes, VP, Corporate Sustainability, Haskell

Red Stage

Organizer: Miami Dade College & Florida International University

Speaker: Dr. Sandy Mujica, Department Chairperson, Miami Dade College