Conference Schedule
Thursday, April 15
9:00 am – Opening Festivities
9:34 am – Closer to Home: Rethinking Supply Chains
Introduces three businesses – one in each city, relating how the combination of the COVID crisis and opportunities under the USMCA have caused them to rethink their supply chains – bringing them “closer to home” in the US, Mexico and Canada.
Featuring:
Fabian Valenzuela, Sales Manager, Label and Printing Solutions
Bill Jordan, CEO, Allied Tool and Die
Moderated by:
Hector Placencia, President, BRH2 Plastics
10:05 am – Links in the Chain: How Emerging Tech is Changing the Supply Chain Game
From blockchain to artificial intelligence, emerging technologies are helping businesses around the globe better manage and secure their supply chains. In this session, industry experts from Arizona, Canada, and Mexico will discuss the different emerging technologies already enhancing supply chain reliability in cross-border trade today, as well as explore what’s on the horizon for tomorrow.
Featuring:
Chris Fabre, CEO, Sky Republic
Jil Macdonald, Managing Director and Western North America Services Lead, AltaML
Victor Martinez, CEO, Gila Software
Moderated by:
Dr. Mohan Gopalakrishnan, Chair, ASU Supply Chain Management School
10:55 am – Breakout Sessions
Spanish Speakers Meetup facilitated by Ana Maria Araque, Vice President, and Antonio Proto, President, Descubre Phoenix & Arizona
eCommerce facilitated by Jordan Davis, Marketing Manager, SEED SPOT
Biotech facilitated by Monique Simair – Founder, Maven Water and Environment
Commercial Real Estate facilitated by Jeffrey Garza Walker Senior VP, Cresa, and Lorena Varela, General Manager, ReMax Realty, Sonora
COVID Travel Disruptions and Visas facilitated by Ronald Tocchini, Partner, Alcaraz Tocchini LLP
11:32 am – Mayor’s Export Awards Luncheon
Export Champion of the Year – Sharon Harper, President/CEO, Plaza Companies
Exporter of the Year – Daphne’s Headcovers, Jane Spicer, President/CEO
Export Service Provider of the Year – Honeywell Aerospace
Trilateral Trade Champion – Carol Colombo, Arizona District Export Council
Friday, April 16
9:00 am – Opening Festivities
9:30 am – The State of International Trade in Calgary, Phoenix, and Hermosillo
Featuring:
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego
Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi
Hermosillo Municipal President Celida Lopez (on Leave of Absence)
Moderated by:
Dr. Sanjeev Khagram, Dean, Thunderbird School of Global Management
10:15 am – Where’s the Money: Financing Trilateral Trade
Exploring the range of options for financing businesses in Calgary, Phoenix and Hermosillo that are engaged in cross-border trade.
Featuring:
Tom Doherty, Head of Business Banking, CIBC
David Adame, President/CEO, Chicanos Por La Causa
Jorge Burgos, Country Sales Head of Global Trade and Receivables Finance, HSBC Mexico
Michael Poynton, Manager, Business Center, BDC Calgary
Moderated by:
Monica Villalobos, President/CEO, Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
11:15 am – The Nuts and Bolts of Trilateral Trade for SMEs
Hear from business people in Calgary, Phoenix and Hermosillo about the necessary, but sometimes trying, aspects of engaging in import/export activities.
Featuring videos from:
Rhonda Goldberg, Founder, Oh!Naturals
Jerry Hanna, President/CEO, Clearflow Group Inc.
Santiago Cota, Co-Founder, ComicX Restaurant Bar & Store video
Introduced by:
Jerry Hanna, President/CEO, Clearflow Group Inc.
11:54 am – Cities Lead the Way – Zero Emissions Freight Vehicles, Cross Border Trade and Climate Action
Exploring how Phoenix, Hermosillo and Calgary are addressing climate change by fostering a business climate that supports the development and deployment of zero emissions vehicles, encourages working with state and federal governments to create zero emissions freight vehicles corridors, and promotes partnering with energy providers to develop the required infrastructure.
Featuring:
Mike Colborne, Chairman/CEO, Pacific Western
Colin Tetreault, Chair, City of Phoenix’s Environmental Quality & Sustainability Commission
Moderated by:
David Miller, C40, Managing Director for International Diplomacy
12:43 pm – Changing Labor Markets and the USMCA
Exploring the workforce resources in Calgary, Phoenix and Hermosillo and the opportunities they offer businesses engaged in cross-border trade.
Featuring:
Leslie Shier, Director, Client Excellence, Business Development, Calgary Economic Development
Roberto Velasco Alvarez, Office of the Deputy Secretary for North America
Alan Maguire, President, The Maguire Company
Moderated by:
Felix Tonella, Co-Founder, Intugo Alternative Nearshoring
1:07 pm – Breakout Sessions
Spanish Speakers Meetup facilitated by Mike Patterson, Attorney, Spencer Fane
“Physical” Security facilitated by Rafael Munoz, General Manager, Sky Angel
Cybersecurity facilitated by Ed Escobedo, Chief Strategy Officer, Sky Angel
Building a Digital Strategy facilitated by Brad Robson, Principal, Dotted i Strategies LTD
NOTE: All times are Mountain Standard.
