The 2015 SIOR Spring World Conference, recently held at the Westin Kierland Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona, was another world class event. The 730 conference attendees enjoyed the beautiful venue situated on a golf course within walking distance to town. The Connecticut/Western Massachusetts chapter had 5 members that made the trip out to Arizona.
The first day of the conference included a Council of chapter presidents session led by Mark Duclos, speaker of the Council (COPS). The CT/western MA Chapter was recognized along with the Downstate N.Y. and N.J. chapters for organizing and hosting the Best and Most Creative New Program in 2014. This award was in recognition of the Tri State SIOR conference held in New York City at the Bank of America Tower.
Other highlights of the conference included Dr. Daniel Levitin sharing his insights on cutting edge neuroscience and cognitive psychology, relating to everyday business and life. Carlos Gutierrez, former CEO of Kellogg Company and secretary of commerce under President George W. Bush, gave an inspiring speech on why America is the best place to do business and to live. As an immigrant, Gutierrez provided a most interesting introspective on why the turns we made after the start of the great recession were the right ones and why the rest of the world is just adopting our methods. He is very optimistic that the U.S. will remain the center of economic commerce, technological innovation and growth for a very long time.

The closing general session featured Admiral James Stavridis, USN. He is widely recognized as a "Renaissance Admiral," and he is the longest serving global combatant commander in recent U.S. history. Admiral Stavridis shared his great and determined insight on the last several decades and a view into the future.
Other excellent educational sessions included one headlined as "Redefining America's Core Industrial Markets: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly." Led by K.C. Conway, senior credit risk manager at Sun Trust Banks, the session included logistics and why distribution is leaving the west coast of the U.S. and headed east. Can you say PanaMax? Rail freight was highlighted; and an interesting discussion ensued about 3D printing, and how it could soon change your life and retail markets in ways one cannot imagine. Opportunities in just in time distribution will likely be created too.