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August 19, 2004 Transportation, distribution, logistics summit explores opportunities for stateINDIANAPOLIS – Indiana's second annual 21st Century Logistics Summit on Sept. 14 in Indianapolis will discuss how to make the state a national leader in the transportation, distribution and logistics industry. The summit, which will be at University Place Conference Center and Hotel at Indiana University-Purdue University, will begin at 8:30 a.m. with remarks by Lt. Gov. Kathy Davis; Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson; Victor Lechtenberg, Purdue's vice provost for engagement; and Dennis Oklak, Duke Realty Corp. CEO. The schedule for the summit is available online. The one-day session, which will include 250 leaders from industry, government, economic development and academia, is focused on building a high-growth, high-tech transportation, distribution and logistics industry, known as TDL, that creates jobs and supports other key sectors, including advanced manufacturing, information technology and the life sciences. Purdue President Martin C. Jischke has advocated establishing a transportation, distribution and logistics center at Purdue in partnership with the state of Indiana, other universities and industry. The summit is open to transportation professionals and the general public. There is a $200 registration fee that includes lunch. Registration information is available online or by calling (765) 494-2758. The keynote lunch speaker from noon to 1:15 p.m. is Michael Huerta, senior vice president and managing director of Transport Systems & Services Affiliated Computer Services. The title of his talk is "National Challenges and Opportunities." In testimony before the U.S. Senate in 2002, Huerta advocated a quantum leap – from $140 million annually to at least $2 billion – in investment in the nation's freight TDL systems due to "the unprecedented demands international trade is placing on our nation's infrastructure." Huerta, testifying on behalf of American's Gateways and Trade Corridors – a consortium made up of 22 separate TDL organizations – said freight traffic within U.S. borders will increase 100 percent by 2020, and foreign trade moving through American ports will increase 187 percent, with containerized cargo increasing 350 percent. On the income side of the national TDL ledger, Huerta testified that U.S. freight railroads contribute more than $14 billion per year to the economy in wages and benefits to about 200,000 employees, as well as billions of dollars of purchases and supplies. U.S. ports generate 13 million jobs and annually contribute more than $743 billion to the gross domestic product and $200 billion in federal, state and local taxes. At the summit, morning panels, made up of industry speakers, academics and government officials, will consider TDL in the Indiana economy, supply-chain security and its impact on TDL, and the state of TDL in Indiana. Afternoon sessions will examine the effects of outsourcing and globalization on logistics; TDL in the life sciences, information technology and advanced manufacturing; and TDL skills and education. Joseph F. Pekny, Purdue professor of chemical engineering and director of the university's e-Enterprise Center, will give the wrap-up address, "Carrying Indiana's Torch," at 4:15 p.m. The summit adjourns at 5 p.m. At 5 p.m. the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) and the Kelley School of Business will sponsor a networking session with L.L. Waters of the Indiana University Supply Chain Control Center in the Conference Center lobby. Refreshments and hors d'oeuvres will be served. The Council of Logistics Management is sponsoring a plant tour of Rolls-Royce Indianapolis at 5:30 p.m. The tour is limited to 75 attendees with U.S. citizenship and identification. Registration information for the tour is available online. William Friedman, executive director of the Ports of Indiana, said, "This summit will bring leaders from the private sector – from rail, trucking, air, maritime and manufacturing – together with government and university officials to begin a focused dialogue on Indiana's transportation logistics sector. TDL provides its own economic development opportunities, and it's essential to supporting the other industries that Indiana has identified as economic development targets." The Ports of Indiana, which currently operates the state's three maritime ports, began planning the first summit after the Indiana General Assembly in spring 2003 expanded the agency's economic development authority. Purdue was soon identified as a potential partner. John A. Schneider, Purdue's assistant vice provost for industry research, said, "Purdue is pleased to be a part of the 21st Century Logistics Summit, seeking ways to strengthen the sector that – literally – keeps our economy moving. At Purdue, we pride ourselves on providing the human capital that drives Indiana's economy. "This summit also will move forward a study the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership has commissioned Purdue to do on the feasibility of locating a logistics center on our campus. We've submitted a proposal to CICP for startup funds and are developing grant proposals for the 21st Century Research and Technology Fund and the National Science Foundation." Reha Uzsoy, a Purdue professor of industrial engineering, and a team of professors from Purdue, IUPUI, Ivy Tech and IU, wrote the study for the proposed logistics center. Uzsoy will be a moderator of the 9:30 a.m. session on TDL in the Indiana economy. Summit sponsors are Purdue, the Ports of Indiana, Indiana Department of Transportation, Indiana Department of Commerce, Baker and Daniels, Indiana University, Duke Realty Corp. and the Council on Logistics. Additional program information is available from Scott Sigman, Ports of Indiana senior director-intermodal, (317) 232-9205, ssigman@portsofindiana.com. Registration, lodging and transportation questions can be directed to Kathy Walters, conference coordinator at Purdue University, (800) 359-2968, kw@purdue.edu. Writer: Mike Lillich, (765) 494-2077, mlillich@purdue.edu Sources: Kara Ross, media contact for Michael Huerta, (202) 414-3652, kara.ross@acs-inc.com William Friedman, (317) 232-9203, wfriedman@portsofindiana.com John Schneider, (765) 494-5532, jas@purdue.edu Jody Peacock, Ports of Indiana media source, (317) 233-6225, jpeacock@portsofindiana.com
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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