Keynote: Charles D. “Chip” Nottingham, U.S. Surface Transportation Board

Chairman Charles D. Nottingham was sworn in on Monday, August 14, 2006, as a Board Member for a term ending December 31, 2010. He was also designated as Chairman by President George Bush. Nottingham has worked in the federal and state policy and management sectors, with an emphasis on transportation and environmental policy, as well as government reform and customer service, for fifteen years. Since 1998, his career has been focused on finding solutions and implementing innovation in the surface transportation arena. Nottingham is a licensed attorney in Virginia. He received his undergraduate degree from Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut and his law degree from George Mason University School of Law in Arlington, Virginia.

Jeff Berman, Senior Editor, Logistics Management magazine

Jeff Berman is Senior Editor for Logistics Management magazine, is a 12-year newspaper, B2B magazine, and on-line veteran. Berman joined Logistics Management in November 2005 to strengthen our daily and monthly news coverage for print and online products. He most recently ran online news operations at RBI’s EDN and IDG’s Health-IT World. “Reporting and writing about how products move through the supply chain on a daily basis and communicating logistics best practices to our readers—is something I simply enjoy doing.”

Joe Bryan, Managing Director, Global Insight’s North American Freight group

oe Bryan is the Managing Director of Global Insight’s North American Freight group. Mr. Bryan was the Managing Principal of Reebie Associates prior to its merger with Global Insight, and possesses broad practical experience in freight carrier management in multiple modes. He has held senior positions for both carrier Marketing and Operations, and has been associated with truckload, LTL, air and rail freight companies. He assists government and carrier clientele in strategy development, policy and operations analysis and market assessment.

John G. Capers, II,Director of Advertising Sales, International Trade & Transportation at Commonwealth Business Media.

John Capers is Director of Advertising Sales, International Trade & Transportation at Commonwealth Business Media. He has spent the last eleven years at Primedia/ Commonwealth Business Media in various management positions on Pacific Shipper Magazine, Pocket List of Railroad Officials, The Official Railway Guide, The Official Intermodal Guide, US Custom House Guide, Official Export Guide, Directory of United States Exporter, Directory of United States Importers, the Journal of Commerce’s Transportation Telephone Tickler and the PIERS data base.

John M. Cutler, Jr., McCarthy, Sweeney & Harkaway

John M. Cutler, Jr., McCarthy, Sweeney & Harkaway, has been General Counsel of NASSTRAC since 1999, when his partner, Dan Sweeney retired. Since graduating from Georgetown Law School in 1976, Cutler has been a specialist in transportation law, representing shippers before the ICC and STB, in federal and state courts, and in legislative proceedings. Cutler was active in defending shippers against undercharge claims during the the undercharge epidemic, and assists members and others with contract, bill of lading, claims, classification and other transportation law issues. He also represents shippers by rail, air and water. Cutler is a principal with the law firm of McCarthy, Sweeney & Harkaw

Joseph Estrella, Director of Transportation & Logistics Network, CVS/pharmacy

Prior to joining CVS, Joseph Estrella spent 17 years with Roadway Express in Operations, Sales, and Labor Relations; and Director of Distribution and Transportation with Staples. Estrella served in the infrantry with the U.S. Marine Corps and Foreign Service in Vietnam. He is a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association, American Bar Association, Warehouse Education Research Council, Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, NASSTRAC, and the NFL Players’ Association as Certified Contract Advisor.

Shawn Harper, Transportation Manager, Chatsworth Products, Inc.

Shawn Harper was hired into the newly created position of Transportation Manager in March 2006, overseeing the Global Transportation & Distribution of CPI finished goods and raw materials. He also is a key member of CPI’s international expansion team, and Supply Chain Capacity reset teams. Prior to CPI, Harper was the Operations Manager for FedEx Supply Chain Services. In this position he managed the facility responsible for the transportation & distribution of all DirecTV consumer products. From 1989 to 2002 Harper enjoyed a long and success progressive career with Baxter Healthcare Corp. Hyland Division where he held several positions within the Global Logistics organization.

Timothy P. Lynch, Senior Vice President, Federation Relations and Strategic Planning,
American Trucking Association

Timothy Lynch, who served as President and CEO of the Motor Freight Carriers Association since 1997, assumed this ATA post in October 2005. A veteran trucking industry legislative and policy expert, Lynch also previously had worked for ATA from 1993-97. He holds an M.B.A. from the University of Maryland, and a B.A. from the University of Maryland. Lynch is a member of an advisory panel to the Harvard Center For Risk Analysis, a member of the Advisory Board of the University of Michigan Trucking Industry Program, and a member of the Transportation Research Board’s Ad Hoc Task Force on Truck Transportation Research.

Bill Niemann, Senior Vice President, Sales, NYK Line (North America), Inc.

Bill Niemann joined NYK Line (North America) as Vice President, Sales in December 1999. Mr. Niemann, a 40-year veteran in the maritime industry, spent most of his career with Sea-Land Service, Inc. His last position with Sea-Land was Vice President, Global Pricing, domiciled in Charlotte, NC. Niemann is currently Senior Vice President, Sales for NYK Line, a member of the Board of Directors (North America), and is Chairman, Commercial Council Office for the NYK Group of companies, overseeing the integration of both Liner and Logistics business units in the U.S. Niemann served as an officer in the U.S. Army Transportation Corps from 1966 to 1969, prior to joining Sea-Land.

Christopher D. Norek, Ph.D. Senior Partner, Chain Connectors, Inc.

Chris Norek is a founding Senior Partner with Chain Connectors, Inc., an Atlanta-based supply chain consulting firm specializing in strategy, technology, returns management and training. He has been in the logistics field for over 15 years both in industry with Accenture, Kimberly-Clark, Apple Computer, and CSC as well as in academia as a professor at both Auburn University and the University of Tennessee. Dr. Norek has consulted for firms including SAP, amazon.com, Accenture, Office Depot, Cingular Wireless, The Sports Authority, Party City, and Aramark Uniform Services. He has been active in publishing for journals in the field including Journal of Business Logistics, International Journal of Logistics Management, Supply Chain Management Review, Logistics Quarterly (LQ), DC Velocity, and ASCET.

Michael J. Smid, President and Chief Executive Officer, YRC National Transportation

As President and Chief Executive Officer of YRC National Transportation, Mike Smid is responsible for the direction and executive management of Yellow Transportation, Roadway and Reimer Express Lines.  The subsidiaries are leading transportation providers of industrial, commercial and retail goods.  In September 2005, Smid was named President and Chief Executive Officer of Roadway.  Prior to that position, Smid was president of YRC Worldwide Enterprise Services and Chief Integration Officer for YRC Worldwide. Smid joined the company in 1985, and has worked in a wide variety of management capacities, including Senior Vice President, Operations; Branch Management; Sales; Distribution Center; Regional Management; and Group Vice President.

Michael Taylor, Prrogram Manager, U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security,
DHL Global Customer Solutions - Americas

Michael Taylor is responsible for managing all aspects of the United States Department of Homeland Security’s customer account with DHL. Taylor entered the transportation and logistics field in 1991 specializing in the management of ground and air logistics programs for civil and government clientele. In 2000, he joined DHL in the Field Operations Division of DHL Express business unit, and held various leadership and management roles in the Washington, D.C., Metro Area.