Speakers


John R. Bagileo has been practicing transportation law for more than 40 years, representing the interests of both carriers and shippers in regulatory matters. He has represented clients before state courts, federal district courts, the Court of Federal Claims, the Courts of Appeal, the U.S. Supreme Court, and federal and state transportation regulatory agencies. Bagileo earned the distinction of being one of the nation’s leading transportation attorneys by representing shippers, motor carriers, transportation intermediaries, railroads and ocean carriers.

Gregory Bostick, vice president, Pinnacle Foods Group, has over twenty years of supply chain experience, focusing on start-up and re-organizational processes. His background includes companies such as Penske Corporation, Trak Auto, Hygrade Logistics and the US Air Force. In his current role, Bostick has reduced transportation costs by 18 percent over a period of 22 months while increasing service levels. His contributions have established solid carrier partnerships, increased warehouse stability and throughput, and increased dynamic mode-shifting. Bostick is a US Air Force Veteran and a graduate of Eastern University in St. David, Pa. He is also a Certified Six-Sigma Black Belt and Toyota Process System (TPS) trainer.

William B. Cassidy, is the executive editor of Traffic World, the logistics and transportation weekly news magazine founded in 1907. Cassidy joined Traffic World in 1996 as an associate editor and became managing editor in 1998. He was promoted to executive editor in 2006. At Traffic World, Cassidy has covered from the gamut: Capitol Hill and federal agencies, supply chain technology, and the trucking, rail and maritime industries. He also edits Commonwealth Business Media’s annual Logistics Career Guide. Prior to Traffic World, Bill covered trucking issues for Transport Topics and Fleet Owner magazines. He has written articles for several other business publications as well.

Greg Cohen is president of the American Highway Users Alliance. Cohen serves motorists and highway supporters as their chief advocate – pursuing federal policies that improve highway safety and reduce congestion. Prior to joining The Highway Users in 2002, Cohen served as a professional staff member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on the Highways and Transit Subcommittee where he was responsible for oversight of the Federal Highway Administration’s implementation of the 1998 highway bill, TEA 21. Cohen is a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Institute of Transportation Engineers and is a fellow of the Eno Transportation Foundation.

Michael J. Economides, Ph.D., is one of the most instantly recognizable names in the petroleum and chemical engineering professions, as well as the energy industry. He is a professor at the Cullen College of Engineering, University of Houston, where he teaches and conducts research. Previously, he was the Samuel R. Noble professor of petroleum engineering at Texas A&M University and served as chief scientist of the Global Petroleum Research Institute (GPRI). Economides has authored and co-authored numerous publications, including the best-selling book, “The Color Of Oil.”

Hal Feuchtwanger is managing director of global logistics for i2 Technologies, leading the company’s global logistics solutions and go-to-market strategies. As a 24-year logistics industry professional, he has built a unique blend of skills and expertise that includes substantial breadth and depth in transport operations, technology and consulting. Prior to joining i2 in 2006, he excelled in various logistics leadership roles with The Martin-Brower Company, Wal-Mart, and Michaels Stores. For the past 12 years he has provided consulting services to a host of leading companies including; Coca-Cola, PetsMart, Sprint PCS, PepsiCo, Dana Corporation, Petco and the US Postal Service.

Adrian Gonzalez is director of the Logistics Executive Council (LEC) with ARC Advisory Group. The LEC is a user member-driven service that serves as a medium for collaboration, benchmarking, and best practice research for logistics and supply chain executives from manufacturing, retail, food & beverage, CPG and 3PL companies. Over the past five years, Gonzalez has authored several strategy reports on various supply chain topics, and he has managed consulting projects for Global 1000 clients. In recognition of his contribution to the supply chain and logistics field, Gonzalez was selected as a “Pro to Know” by Supply & Demand Chain Executive Magazine.

Lynn Kaster is field services director for the SAP Travel and Logistics business unit, with focus on North America and the Logistics Services Provider arena. She has more than 15 years’ experience in the transportation and logistics industry and global supply chain. Immediately prior to joining SAP, Kaster served as the director of product management for Schneider Logistics where she was responsible for transforming and improving processes and system capabilities while managing change. She participated in the acquisition and integration (systems and processes) of a domestic transportation provider in China and launched the company's freight forwarding / customs house brokerage services in Europe. Kaster has earned a Black-Belt in Six Sigma, a PMP Certification from PMI and is a member of the CSCMP Wisconsin Roundtable.

Roger Morton is senior editor for Outsourced Logistics magazine, formerly known as Logistics Today. The magazine is celebrating the launch of its new brand, which focuses on best practices surrounding contracting and performing outsourced logistics services, with the June 2008 issue. Morton, who has been with the magazine for 13 years, has accumulated more than 36 years experience in editorial and production management, and is a veteran logistics editor with expertise in domestic and international transportation and global logistics. Recently, Morton’s editorial assignment has expanded to include covering the nation's infrastructure issue and surface transportation policy commissions.

Robert Poole is director of transportation studies at the Reason Foundation, a non-profit organization promoting individual liberty, limited government, and advancing free minds and free markets. Poole has been an advisor to the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, the White House Office of Policy Development, and the California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Utah, Virginia and Texas DOTs. The New York Times calls him “the chief theorist for private solutions to gridlock.” He is a member of the board of the Public-Private Ventures division of ARTBA and a member of the Transportation Research Board’s Congestion Pricing Committee.

Donald Ratajczak, Ph.D., is emeritus professor of the J. Mack Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University and consulting economist for leading businesses and governmental agencies. Ratajczak is one of the world’s most celebrated economists and a primary source of economic forecasting information. His analyses of business cycles, international trade, economic forecasting and Federal Reserve policy are featured regularly on CNN, CNBC and in major print media. Hailed the nation’s “top economic guru” by BusinessWeek magazine, Ratajczak is a recipient of the prestigious Blue Chip award for forecasting accuracy.

T. Peter Ruane, Ph.D., is the president and CEO of the American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA). Ruane has over 35 years of diversified experience in the economic development, transportation and construction fields. He is the first association executive to have been awarded the American Public Works Association Distinguished Service Award in 1999 and was voted one of Engineering News-Record magazine’s top newsmakers from throughout the world in 1998. Both of these awards were for his unique personal leadership in the passage of TEA-21, then the largest public works legislation in the history of the United States. In December 2000 Ruane was appointed as the only construction industry trade association executive to serve on the Bush-Cheney Transportation Transition Team. He recently was named one of Public Works magazine’s 2005 “Trendsetters” for his leadership in helping to pass SAFETEA-LU.

Kathy Ruffalo is a government affairs consultant with over 17 years of experience in the public policy arena. Ruffalo spent more than 10 years as a senior staff member of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. During that time, she was involved in the development, drafting and negotiations related to the last three federal transportation bills – ISTEA in 1991, TEA-21 in 1998 and SAFETEA-LU in 2005. Ruffalo also spent six years as a senior advisor to Idaho Governor Dirk Kempthorne. Recently, she was appointed by Congress to be a member of the National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission.

Larry J. Sabato, Ph.D.,  is the Robert Kent Gooch professor of politics at the University of Virginia. As founder and director of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics, Sabato bridges the gap between the ivory tower and the real world on issues of critical importance to American democracy and the challenges facing our political process. He is the author of more than 20 books and countless essays on the American political process and has been making national media appearances since the 1970s. Sabato also regularly updates “Sabato’s Crystal Ball,” a critically-acclaimed election analysis Web site.

Peter Wharton is a senior product marketing manager for transportation management at Sterling Commerce. As a software industry veteran, he has worked for a number of software vendors of supply chain solutions. Wharton started his career in development, designing distribution and inventory systems for Imperial Tobacco. His later experience includes managing the carrier relationships with UPS, FedEx, DHL and USPS while director of strategic alliances for Kewill. He attended the University of East Anglia, where he graduated with a joint honors degree in Environmental Sciences and Computing.