JFK Air Cargo EXPO This Thursday

     JFK Air Cargo EXPO 2019 takes off this Thursday March 28 from 0800 until 1700. There is still time to attend.
     Tariff is $95, which includes the luncheon. Venue is Russo’s on the Bay in nearby Howard Beach, Queens, New York about 10 minutes from JFK International’s main runways.
     This is the 20th anniversary of this grand airport event that gets down to cases with display stands, a thoughtful discussion panel at 0900 in the morning plus an engaging luncheon guest speaker who will serve up some forward thinking after a very good meal.

If You Knew Suzy

     Apropos of International Women’s Month, Luncheon Keynote speaker is Ms. Suzy Wardle, Head of Digital & Distribution, Virgin Atlantic Airways Cargo.
     Ms. Wardle promises a look from her unique perspective into digitization, business simplification, e-commerce, and the future of customer interaction.

Kickoff at 0800

     While elsewhere, a slew of air cargo conferences address an ever expanding menu of issues, JFK International, the main international aerial gateway for the greatest city in the world—New York seems up to its armpits in challenges that has seen air cargo volumes at the gateway sink during the past two decades.
     At 0900 sharp on Thursday at JFK Air Cargo Expo, Airforwarders Association(AfA) President Brandon Fried the “Action Jackson” of the air cargo business, has put together a panel that will attempt to share some understanding in "Connecting Air Cargo's Dots” at JFK Air Cargo Day.
     “We plan to address several key issues affecting the industry,” Brandon told Flying Typers.
     “Of course, our discussion will begin by discussing the e-commerce mega trend, along with its challenges and opportunities.
     “Since the panel features a broad spectrum of industry experts from forwarding, airline, trucking, and airport facility interests, we will talk about the changing nature of our business today.
     “For instance, how have current airfreight commodities changed over the last ten years? “Has electronic data produced operational efficiencies or is it just benefiting software providers?

Does Flexport Matter?

     “Also, is automation changing the business by emphasizing technology while deemphasizing people?” Brandon wonders.
     “Is digital forwarder Flexport capable of significantly improving our industry?
     “Can Amazon become a significant player in freight forwarding?
     “Much to discuss, but understanding how growing e-commerce freight volumes affect airports, and industry stakeholders is essential.

Truck Lines & JFK Sinking Volumes

     “In spite of significant gateway airports seeing unanticipated volumes as high as 40% beyond forecasts, truckers are experiencing unprecedented waiting times while forwarders pay the tab.
     “Antiquated airport facilities are struggling to accommodate the surge while many wonder why JFK volumes have decreased by 20% over the last ten years,” Brandon told FT.
     “This panel is going to include provocative and frank discussion during which we hope to involve the audience in developing ideas that will help make our future more successful.
     “If in the JFK area on Thursday, I would not miss it!” Brandon Fried declared.
Geoffrey

For More Click Here.

     The technological challenges facing the logistics industry and the celebration of International Women’s Day were on the agenda when FlyingTypers had a chat with the always insightful Cathy Morrow Roberson, Founder and Head Analyst of Atlanta-based Logistics Trends & Insights LLC.
     For the last two decades, the native of South Carolina has been offering the logistics industry a rare mix of heady insight and down-to-earth common sense.
     Her storied career, prior to setting up her own rapidly expanding business, was built on a decade as an analyst at UPS Supply Chain Solutions followed by a consultancy role at a boutique transport analyst company.

Librarian Searches For Research

     But Cathy stumbled into the logistics industry due to her love of research after getting a degree in history and economics from Winthrop University.
     “I had this ‘brilliant’ idea of becoming either an economic historian or an archaeologist,” she laughed.
     “There wasn’t a whole lot of demand for either!
     “So I went to graduate school at the University of South Carolina and got a masters in Library Science.
     “I’ve always loved researching, so I became a librarian for about six years.

UPS & More

     “During that time there was a startup company here in the Atlanta area that was looking for market research people. I applied and I was hired right on the spot. I worked with them for about a year-and-a-half. One of their clients happened to be UPS.
     “UPS offered me a job right as my start-up was suffering due to the dotcom bust, so I signed up and that was where it all started.”
     Initially Roberson worked on a new product development team tasked with finding market opportunities beyond small packages for UPS.
     “Through that group we developed what is today the company’s reverse logistics offerings and UPS Capital,” she said.

UPS Delivers Groceries?

     “We also tested last mile delivery of groceries.
     “We realized quickly that trying to make a profit out of that wasn’t going to be easy.
     “We buried that one pretty fast and I think history has shown it was the right decision.
     “Ultimately what came out of that whole group was UPS Supply Chain Solutions.

A Decade & More

     “I stayed with UPS Supply Chain Solutions for 11 years and I oversaw competitive analysis, helped out with M&A due diligence and facilitated research in expansions into new markets, whether they be a geography or a new product.
     “In my last 2 years I was given an opportunity to move into operations.
     “I accepted that and ended up working for one of the larger clients of UPS which happened to be the federal government (DoD).”

Worked For USA DOD

     “Essentially I was helping manage the government’s transportation through UPS’ freight forwarding arm.
     “I managed their air freight and road freight here in the U.S., and also international movements, particularly in the Middle East.”

Her Brave Start Up

     After a period working as a consultant, Roberson founded Logistics Trends & Insights LLC in 2015 to offer what she rightly concluded the industry lacked, “customized, value-driven premium logistics research and consulting services available at competitive prices.”
     She has not looked back since.

Building A Team

     Recently FedEx veteran Dean Maciuba (right) joined the team as Director of Consulting Services.
     “After working in research and analysis for a number of consultancies, frankly, I knew I could do it better and more affordably for clients, so I started my own business.
     “I really wanted to do it my way. I wanted to talk more with logistics providers and startups, as well as the shippers, rather than churning data.
     “I like to get inside what’s really happening because there’s so much noise out there.

Side Stepping Content Avalanche

     “There’s so much content.
     “We bring it all together and try to make some sense out of it, particularly the numbers.
     “As well as working with a number of start-ups, helping them with their whole thought leadership, we also help more traditional SME shippers with their supply chain strategies.
     “I also work with several traditional forwarders and 3PLs.
     “In today’s environment there’s a lot of emerging technology, and logistics providers that are trying to comprehend all this different technology, so that’s another area that we do a lot of work in, evaluating this technology.

A Link In Blockchain?

     “For example, we try to determine— especially for shippers or 3PLs—if blockchain is the right fit for them.
     “What are their specific needs?
     “We’ve helped a number of clients with this type of challenge.
     “Another client, an investment bank, asked me to come in to evaluate a freight brokerage technology system.
     “The recommendation was to upgrade it; it was about 20 years old and obsolete, and freight brokerage is changing so fast. “So I helped develop recommendations, including a review of artificial intelligence and other tools that help with their clients.
     “They ended up with a system they are very happy with operationally and financially.”

The Voice

     Asked how she feels as a prominent female voice in the logistics industry over the past two decades, Roberson simply believes she has consistently been treated on her merits, not her gender.
     “I’ve never really felt like I was treated any differently to a man, either at UPS or outside UPS with my own business,” she said.
     “I’ve never really thought of it as about gender—I want to be known for what I bring to the table, not just because I’m a woman, and I think that’s how I have been treated.”
     She continues, in tears of laughter, explaining her view of gender stereotypes:
     “The sad thing around my house is I can’t cook.
     “Nor do I have any desire to cook.
     “My husband Chris loves it.
     “He loves to cook.
     “So we laugh at the role reversal. I’d rather research and write on logistics versus do anything around the house, it’s an interesting industry!”

The Nexus

     “More seriously, Cathy Roberson offers some advice to people entering the industry:
     “I was chatting to a young lady recently who was planning to go and work for one of the large airplane manufacturers and she was asking me about being a woman in a male-dominated industry.
     “I told her the same thing I would tell a guy; the same thing I tell my son:
     “Do your best. Do your best, and you’ll get there.”
     “Treat others with respect and, if they’re good people, they’re going to respect you back, regardless if you’re a man or a woman.
     “You prove yourself by doing that. It sounds so corny, I know it does, but it’s so true.
     “If you do a good job, you’re going to be successful.
     “I do believe that.
     “Women have a lot to offer the logistics industry and I think the door is open to them.”
SkyKing

For More Information click here or contact Cathy.

Click Here To Listen To The Podcast.

     The name São Paulo honors the Apostle, Saint Paul of Tarsus.
     The city's metropolitan area, the Greater São Paulo, ranks as the most populous in Brazil and the 12th most populous on Earth.
     The municipality is also the Earth's 11th largest city proper by population.
     The city is the capital of the surrounding state of São Paulo, the most populous and wealthiest state in Brazil.
     São Paulo has the 11th largest GDP in the world.
     For Dominic Kennedy, Managing Director, Cargo at Virgin Atlantic:
     “São Paulo is a fantastic route for our cargo customers, with high demand for both import and export capacity and we are excited to be flying to this continent for the first time beginning in April 2020.
     “Alongside our launch of Tel Aviv services in September, this new phase of growth for Virgin Atlantic means we are giving customers more choice to two of the world’s most dynamic cargo markets at a time when both are enjoying increasing prosperity, driven by their thriving business and consumer communities.”
     VS has embarked on an ambitious growth plan which, in 2019, includes the arrival of the first four of 12 Airbus A350-1000.
     Virgin said it looks forward to becoming the founding member of a new, $13 billion transatlantic joint venture with over 300 daily transatlantic flights and 96 non-stop transatlantic routes, alongside Delta, Air France and KLM as well as launching new services from London Heathrow to Las Vegas and Manchester to Los Angeles.