7:30
Networking, Registration, & Complimentary Breakfast
Presents The 9th Annual
Supply Chains & Intelligent Infrastructure
December 06, 2022
Victoria College Emerging Technology Complex
7403 Lone Tree Rd, Victoria, TX 77905
NEED A PLACE TO STAY?
Event Location:
Victoria College Emerging Technology Complex
7403 Lone Tree Rd, Victoria, TX 77905
We blocked off rooms at the Hilton Garden Inn at a special rate for the night of December 5th, 2022. Call to book and mention that you’re in town for the conference to get the rate for our guests at $105.00 + Taxes.
We Connect Founders From Around The Globe To Share The Latest.
The Transportation Committee of the Victoria Chamber of Commerce is planning to hold its ninth annual Transportation Conference on Tuesday, December 6th, 2022 from 7:30 am to 2:30 pm at the Victoria College Emerging Technology Complex, 7403 Lone Tree Rd, Victoria, TX 77905.
This year, the theme is “Supply Chains and Intelligent Infrastructure” and we have lined up a great program that will include speakers discussing current transportation topics. Speakers will discuss “IH 69 Update”, “Autonomy in Future Transportation”, “Broadband Initiative in Transportation”, and “Logistic issues along Texas Ports”. Our keynote speaker is Steve Schellenberg, Vice President of IMS Worldwide, who will discuss creating industrial development value and opportunity through logistics and supply chains.
We will also be presenting Lois Kolkhorst, with our South Texas Transportation Partner of the Year Award. Our goal is to provide an interesting conference that will focus transportation issues that impact our daily lives. The conference will also offer CEU credit hours for Licensed Professional Engineers.
MEET THE SPEAKERS
Steve Schellenberg
Mr. Steve Schellenberg, Vice President of Business Development, IMS Worldwide, Inc. has been involved in logistics, manufacturing, distribution and transportation for over thirty years. His experience includes managing all aspects of automotive supply chains, global distribution, and third-party logistics.
He has extensive experience in the North America Free Trade Agreement trading regions and has managed air cargo, freight forwarding and air charter operations.
For the past fifteen years, Mr. Schellenberg has conducted assessments of global supply chains and has performed evaluations related to the impacts of global trade and trade routes on industrial development and investment strategies.
In addition, Mr. Schellenberg has participated in numerous air cargo Master Plan and cargo studies. He has provided multiple evaluations related to the impact of global cross-border e-commerce trade on airports and related facilities, while providing insight regarding the infrastructure required to support this new sector of commerce.
Jeffrey DeCoux
Jeffrey DeCoux, Founder and Chairman of the Autonomy Institute. DeCoux is the Founder of ATRIUS Industries, Autonomous Infrastructure enabling the Robotic Edge. Prior, DeCoux was CEO and Founder of Hangar, the world’s first robotics-as-a-system data acquisition platform.
Mr. DeCoux has raised over $100 million for venture and business operations. Mr. DeCoux has over 30 years of experience within the high-tech industries where his attention has been focused on Founding companies that enhance business productivity through automation.
Mr. DeCoux builds large collaborative teams to develop system-of-systems platforms. Lead the engineering of complex platforms supporting high performance computing, networking, and operational controls. Built the nation’s first high-performance online database that provided real-time access to terabytes of information in 1999. Invented the first enterprise relationship management system in 1994 which led to over a dozen patents including the foundational systems used in industry today. Developed the architecture for the leading autopilot for small drones used in 195 countries, having executed over one million missions.
Sydney Murphy
Judge Sydney Brown Murphy was elected Alliance Chair in 2018 and has been enthusiastically advocating for the advancement of I-69. She encourages transportation advocates to be forward thinking and ardently support transportation infrastructure projects, and has been proactive herself in staying ahead of the tremendous growth coming to both the region of East Texas and the entire state. Since 2015, she has been involved in the I-69 Coalition Board and the Brazos Transit Board of Directors. Prior to being elected Polk County Judge in 2015, she was executive director of the Livingston-Polk County Chamber of Commerce for six years. She has a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A & M University and two Master of Education degrees from Sam Houston State University.
Terry Canales
State Representative Terry Canales was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 2012 to represent District 40, which encompasses the heart of Hidalgo County. In 2021, Canales was re-appointed by Texas Speaker of the House to serve as the Chair of the House Committee on Transportation—the first Latino to hold that position—and reappointed to the powerful Texas Sunset Advisory Commission. In 2021, Terry Canales was recognized by Texas Monthly in 2021 as one of the top 10 best legislators in the state.
Canales served 3 sessions on the House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence and has been a leader at the Capitol on creating a smarter, safer criminal justice system in Texas. Canales owns a law practice in Edinburg, Texas specializing in personal injury, criminal defense, and family law. He is married to the love of his life, Erica, and has five children: Juliana, Terry Andres, Caleb Ezra, Trigo, and Catalina.
Michael Cloud
Michael Cloud is a Constitutional Conservative who represents the 27th District of Texas in the U.S. Congress and defends American values, while working for economic growth, our Constitutional liberties, and a strong national defense.Thanks to his experience as a small business owner, Michael understands the importance of cutting regulations and getting federal bureaucracy out of the way to allow our economy to thrive.
As a longtime District 27 resident, he is committed to serving his fellow Texans in our district. And as a husband and father, he recognizes the urgency of transforming Washington and preserving for future generations the liberty and prosperity we enjoy as Americans.
Amy Mundy
Amy Mundy is the Executive Director of Victoria College Advancement & VC Foundation. She provides operational leadership for the development, implementation and growth of a comprehensive program advancing the mission of Victoria College and the Foundation.
This includes grant development, scholarships, community relations and legislative affairs. Amy currently serves on the board of Texas Association of Community College Foundations, Golden Crescent Habitat for Humanity, Victoria Police Foundation and Victoria Main Street Program.
She was featured in the Victoria Advocate Business Review Magazine in 2021, awarded the Chamber of Commerce Committee Chair of the Year in 2013 and was named JLV Sustainer of the Year in 2013 and 2021 for her contributions to the community.
Jeff Bauknight
Jeff Bauknight is the mayor of the City of Victoria. He was born in Austin and raised in Victoria. Bauknight earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from Texas A&M University. Upon returning to Victoria in 2004, he started Crossroads Mechanical, Inc., a mechanical contracting firm.
He is also a member of the Victoria Sales Tax Development Corporation, Victoria Economic Development Corporation, Legislative Committee, Compensation Committee, and the Appraisal District board. He was first elected to the City Council in 2013.
Ben Zeller
Ben Zeller is an 8th-generation Texan whose deep roots in The Lone Star state date back to Stephen F. Austin’s “Old 300” settlers. Ben graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Houston-Victoria with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and later earned an MBA from Texas A&M University-San Antonio.
He worked in the financial sector for several years at Wells Fargo Bank and Texas Dow Employees Credit Union (TDECU). While working at TDECU as a Senior Loan Officer, Ben ran for Victoria County Judge and was elected in November of 2014 as one of the youngest County Judges in Texas. Ben has been passionate about public policy since his teen years and is the President of the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas. He was chosen by the University of Houston – Victoria as their 2018 Young Alumnus of the Year for outstanding professional accomplishments.
He was also chosen by Texas A&M University-San Antonio in 2018 as the recipient of their inaugural Distinguished Alumni Award based on professional accomplishments and reputation. He currently serves on the boards of the Texas I-69 Alliance, Victoria Economic Development Corporation, and as an ex officio member of the Citizens Medical Center Board of Managers, among others. He is also a member of the Governor’s Task Force on Infectious Disease Preparedness & Response and the Victoria Rotary Club. He previously served as President of the South Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association, a board member of the Texas Association of Counties, a mentor in VISD’s high schools, and as an elected member of the State Republican Executive Committee.
An avid sportsman, he enjoys the outdoors and spending time on his family’s ranch. Ben and his wife Jamie, a former VISD high-school teacher, have been married since 2008. They have three young children and are active members of Parkway Church in Victoria
Geanie Morrison
State Representative Geanie W. Morrison has a record of being an effective conservative leader for Texas House District 30 and always strives to improve the lives of her constituents. She believes in individual liberty and personal freedom and votes to empower the people of Texas, not politicians and special interests.
For the 87th Legislative Session, Representative Morrison was appointed to serve on the House Committees on Redistricting, Appropriations, and Environmental Regulation. Geanie is married to her husband Jack and they have two children and two grandchildren. House District 30 consists of Aransas, Calhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Refugio, and Victoria County.
Lenny Llerena
Lenny Llerena is the Executive Director of the Victoria Regional Airport in Victoria, TX. The Airport resides on 1,700-acres of the former Foster Air Force Base. Mr. Llerena leads, directs, and is responsible for the overall management of the Victoria Regional Airport.
This includes leadership and oversight of the business operations, administration, staffing, financial administration, community and government relations, marketing, air service planning and development, facilities construction and maintenance, and the safety and security of the Airport. Prior to joining the Victoria Regional Airport, he was Airport Director of New Braunfels Regional Airport.
Edward Emmett
Judge Edward M. Emmett is a Fellow in Energy and Transportation at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. Currently, his research efforts are focused on freight mobility, building a resilient global supply chain and understanding the past, present and future role of highways.
Emmett has received numerous awards and honors, including Distinguished Alumnus of Rice University, the Distinguished Public Service Award from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, and the Presidential Call to Service Award.
Gerald Schwebel
As a key resource to IBC Bank’s international customers, Mr. Schwebel offers special expertise in international trade and finance, industrial/economic development and transportation.
Widely regarded as a leading expert on international trade and finance, Mr. Schwebel frequently represents IBC Bank and its customers with top government and business leaders in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. His knowledge and unique overview have led him to present expert testimony before Congress on issues regarding U.S.-Mexico trade including the United States, Mexico, Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA) and the former North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), transportation and logistics, international finance, and U.S. immigration reform. Mr. Schwebel’s perspectives on various topics related to international trade, economics, and banking have been featured in some of the major business publications in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
Lois Kolkhorst
Senator Lois W. Kolkhorst is a fifth generation Texan, with ancestral roots dating back to the Texas War of Independence. Married to her high school sweetheart Jim, she is a dedicated mother and small business owner. Born and raised in Senate District 18, she attended public schools before graduating from Texas Christian University.
Known by her colleagues for being a hard worker, Kolkhorst has passed legislation that impacts every code of Texas law, ranging from increased government transparency to fighting human trafficking. A longtime voice for private property rights, Senator Kolkhorst has worked with land owner groups to stop eminent domain abuse.
To protect and increase funding for our state parks and historic sites, she authored Proposition 5 in 2019, which passed statewide with overwhelming support. She has also led efforts to enhance Texas roads, ports and trade corridors delivering millions of dollars in funding for the state highways across her district. Senator Kolkhorst and her husband are blessed with two children, Lois Kate and Jake. A frequent volunteer at her church, Senator Kolkhorst also enjoys hobbies such as hunting, fishing and gardening.
Geir Eilif Kalhagen
Geir Eilif Kalhagen has served as the director of the Maritime Division at the Texas Department of Transportation since April 2020. He brings over three decades of experience in the global supply chain, with an emphasis on the maritime sector, global logistics and international commerce.
Kalhagen’s global experience in the private sector along with his tenure as CEO and executive director in the Washington State Public Port system has led to appointments to national and international organizations. He has served as the first vice president of the Americas for the International Association of Ports and Harbors and was appointed by Washington Governor, Jay Inslee, to the state’s Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board.
Kalhagen holds an MBA from the University of Oregon, a BA in Philosophy and Political Science from the University of South Alabama, and an AS in Business Management from Norwalk Community College. He has also earned a U.S.C.G. Limited Masters and a Six Sigma Black Belt.
Darrek Ferrell
Darrek Ferrell joined the City of Victoria on January 13, 2020, and brings over 12 years of local government experience with nearly five of them as a city manager. Ferrell’s areas of expertise include economic development, overall administration, lean management and finance, and budget.
During his time in Commerce, Ferrell focused on organizational leadership by rebuilding the management team and improving the city’s bond rating from a BBB to an A, further indicating the city’s credit quality. In addition, he worked with the State Legislature to pass a bill that will pave the way for Commerce to build a hotel and convention center in the community. Prior to joining the City of Commerce, Ferrell began his career with the City of Brenham and the City of San Antonio in the Office of Management & Budget.
He also spent some time working for the City Manager’s Office in McKinney, and in the City of Mount Vernon as its city administrator and economic development director. Ferrell earned a master’s degree in public service and administration from Texas A&M University and is a Credentialed Manager through the International City/County Management Association. Ferrell oversees the following departments: Police Department, Fire Department, Information Technology, Building & Equipment Services, and Municipal Court
Virginia Essary
Virginia Essary started her investigative career with the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors in September of 2012–starting as an Investigator I and working her way up to Investigator IV in the Compliance & Enforcement Department. Prior to joining the Board, Virginia worked with the Texas Department of Public Safety in Austin, Texas. She is a native of Austin, Texas, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Science with a minor in Economics from Texas State University.
SCHEDULE & AGENDA
8:15
Welcome
Color Guard and Presentation of Colors by CWV Post 1269
Amy Mundy, Executive Director- College Advancement & Victoria College Foundation
Honorable Jeff Bauknight, Mayor of Victoria
Honorable Ben Zeller, Victoria County Judge
Honorable Geanie Morrison, Texas State Representative, District 30
8:30
State and Federal Infrastructure Update – State Representative Terry Canales-Chairman of the Transportation Committee and Congressman Michael Cloud (Via Video)
8:50
IH 69 Update – Sydney Murphy, Chairman – The Alliance for IH 69
9:20
Intelligent Infrastructure – Jeffrey DeCoux , Autonomy Institute
9:50
Victoria Broadband Initiatives, Darrek Ferrell – Assistant City Manager
10:15
Break
10:30
Victoria Regional Airport Update – Lenny Llerena
10:50
Ports and Supply Chains – Geir Eilif Kalhagen – TxDOT Director of Maritime Division
11:10
Port of Victoria – Judge Ed Emmett
11:30
Port of Laredo – Gerald Schwebel
12:00
Break for Lunch
1:00
Keynote Speaker – Steve Schellenberg, Vice President of IMS Worldwide, Inc. “Logistics and industrial development opportunities”
1:45
Award – South Texas Transportation Scholarship
Presented by the Kiwanis Club of Victoria
Award – South Texas Transportation Partner of the Year
Presented to State Senator Lois Kolkhorst, District 8
2:15
CEU Class – Ethics for Engineers – Virginia Essary
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Victoria College Emerging Technology Complex
7403 Lone Tree Rd, Victoria, TX 77905