President’s Letter: July, 2016

We've reached the crest of 2016 and are now moving into the second half of the year. We're not wasting any time here at the IACAC and hope that you're half as excited about what we've got on our plate as I am. Happy Fourth of July, everyone!

June CNS event

On June 16th, CNS, the US arm of IATA, came to Chicago to educate air freight forwarders about eAWB adoption. Starting August 1st, airlines here in Chicago are going to be pushing for as many shipments to be tendered with electronic MAWB's as possible. Thanks to our efforts and those of the CCBFA, we registered 150 people for the event and just over 120 people were in attendance for the half day event.

It was a privilege to open the event. Thanks as well to IACAC Board Member Scott Case who helped put it together, locate the venue and was the featured keynote speaker before handing it off to the team from CNS.

Between our pictures and theirs, we've brought them together into a gallery you can look through here.

AirCargo 2016 in Phoenix a success

Brian Bartolotta and Melissa Gallardo at AirCargo 2016I had the pleasure of attending the AirCargo 2016 conference in Phoenix earlier this month and between the sessions, the networking events and the great number of exhibitors in the hall, the more than six hundred people in attendance took away a TON over those three days.

July 28th networking event at Church Street Brewing Company

We had such a great time and turnout at our March networking event around the college basketball tournament that we're doing it again. This time, come join us July 28th from 6 - 9 PM at Church Street Brewing Company. There's no charge to attend, just bring yourself, your business cards, and a taste for great craft beer.

More details including an RSVP will be coming to the site shortly - stay tuned.

IACAC Golf Outing August 9th - Calling all golfers and sponsors

Our annual golf outing is coming up in a little over six weeks and we are thrilled to be back at the Bridges of Poplar Creek. This event is the highlight event of the association outing circuit each year (or so we think) and the proceeds benefit our IACAC Scholarship Fund.

Golf registration is only $125.00 for single golfers and $400.00 per foursome. Can't join us for golf or not a golfer? We'll see you at lunch for only $35.00!

Click here to register for the IACAC Golf Outing!

We're still looking for sponsors and raffle prizes as well to give away during the luncheon. For more information about becoming an IACAC Golf Outing sponsor, download this flier.

Airline tickets up for grabs at IACAC Golf Outing

As of June 29th, we've got a commitment for tickets from:

  • Lan (courtesy of Progressive Transportation)
  • Air Canada
  • Southwest

Stay tuned because we're still feverishly working the phones and email to try and secure more. The IACAC Golf Outing is one of the few events left for forwarders to win tickets from our valued airline partners.

 

 

President’s Letter: June, 2016.

It is finally safe to say that after what has been a remarkably miserable Spring weather-wise, we're out the other end of it. I decided the picture of the lawnmower was best because, well, I've become best friends with it over the past month or so. We've got a regularly scheduled weekly appointment, although that could easily be twice-weekly if I had the time. But summer's here, we (IACAC) aren't slowing down any time soon, and I wanted to take a few minutes to share the things that are important to the Association and you, our members, in the coming months.

AirCargo 2016: June 8 - 10; will YOU be there?

I will, and in fact my company will have a booth in the exhibition hall. The conference is jointly presented by four key air cargo trade associations; the Airforwarders Association (AfA), the Air-Expedited Motor Carriers Association (AEMCA), Airports Council International North America (ACI-NA) and the Express Logistics Association (XLA). It will be at the J.W. Marriott Desert Ridge in Phoenix, Arizona, and is a worthwhile event to attend. The nearly six hundred air cargo professionals who have already registered to attend will hear great sessions on things like drones and driverless trucks, an SSI-only session with a representative from TSA in Washington to ask pointed questions about security programs and the whole thing will be keynoted by Ray Thurston who started a company called SonicAir and led him ultimately to be CEO of UPS Worldwide Logistics for a period of time.

Don't miss out; registration is still available. If you're a member of one of these four associations, there might still be member discounts available; check with them. Otherwise visit aircargoconference.com to register.

eAWB education and training June 16th in Schaumburg.

The IACAC, along with the CCBFA and CNS are proud to be co-hosting a training session on e-AWB that is sponsored by United Airlines. Beginning in August, airlines at ORD are going to push to receive as many export air waybills electronically as possible. In order to educate the trade community on eAWB and better understand how it works and what is coming, CNS (the US arm of IATA) are offering a free half-day training at the Schaumburg Corporate Center (thanks to IACAC member and sponsor Roanoke Trade for helping to secure the space) on June 16th from 8 AM - 12:30 PM.

If you're unfamiliar with eAWB, how it works and whether you and your software provider can transmit this data to carriers, you will not want to miss this important session. To register or for more information, visit this link with CNS.

The eAWB training session will be our June event in lieu of our usual luncheon event since it's only two days after when we would have had our luncheon.

IACAC Golf Outing open to golfer registration - plenty of sponsorships still available.

It's getting close! Sure, you can go and play Bridges of Poplar Creek by yourself or with somebody else, but it won't be near as fun as doing it with us on August 9th. The registration is now open for golfers and we've kept the pricing identical to last year. For only $125.00 per golfer (or $400.00 per foursome), you will receive continental breakfast, an eighteen hole shotgun scramble, cart and lunch. That's a heck of a bargain, and in the coming weeks you'll be hearing about those great sponsors.

Speaking of sponsorship; there's a reason we do this other than wanting to spend a nice August day outdoors. The proceeds from the golf, sponsorships and prize raffles at lunch benefit our IACAC Scholarship, which last year awarded over $4,000 to three worthy recipients. We want to do the same thing this year, and you, yes you can make that happen. For more information about sponsoring or donating raffle items, download this flier.

If you have any questions, email our Golf Committee chairman Jim Wilbrandt at jim (at) basicent(dot)com.

President’s Letter: May, 2016.

Spring appears to be well on its way without stopping, finally. Trees are turning green, my local home improvement store is selling plants and flowers and despite some of the really cold and nasty weather of this past week (how do you go from 80 on Monday to 40 on Tuesday?), we've got warm things to look forward to. Warmer weather makes me think of getting back out on the links, and what better way to start talking about it than to remind everybody of the...

IACAC Golf Outing

We keep talking about it because it is important for two reasons. First, it is one of the most well-attended golf outings in the Chicago logistics industry. Second, it is a great chance for companies and brands to sponsor a hole or some part of the event and to contribute prizes to our luncheon raffle. The reason it is important is because proceeds from this event directly benefit our IACAC Scholarship. Last year we gave financial awards to three very worthy students and we hope to have the opportunity to equal that feat this year as well.

Registration will be opening in May for the event, but visit the event page for more information and to download a flier for information on being an IACAC Golf Outing sponsor.

Membership

One of my reasons for seeking the Presidency of this great organization was to increase its membership. I firmly believe that when you've been in business for sixty years, especially in an industry like air cargo, you've done something right. It is our responsibility to continue to grow this industry for the next generation of people who are looking to make a career of logistics. I am out speaking with my clients and my fellow board members are doing the same. Our goal is to increase membership in this organization and continuing to demonstrate the value and benefits of membership. For more information about joining IACAC, check out our membership page.

AirCargo 2016, June 8 - 10 in Phoenix.

We are not an industry that operates alone or without others. The success of air forwarders depends upon everyone up and down the air cargo supply chain, including airlines, ground handlers, truckers and others. These groups all come together at the annual AirCargo conference. This is the first year the conference is being held later in the year, and they're in early June at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge in Phoenix. The keynote speaker this year is Ray Thurston, who took a small company called SonicAir Couriers and became chairman of what is today UPS Supply Chain Solutions.

You missed your chance at the early bird, but it is still affordable to attend, exhibit or sponsor. For more information visit their website and sign up today.

 

President’s Letter, August, 2014

Bridges-of-Poplar-Creek-Country-Club-5.4

Hello, everyone.  Welcome to August.

It's been a mild summer so far, and if you're an electric utility you're likely upset because billings and usage are down, but as a consumer, it's been nice to have the windows open more days than not.   But kids going back to school later this month?  Where has the summer gone...my email has turned into everything outdoors now being on sale.  Do these retailers know something we don't?

The past few weeks have been a professionally busy summer for me.  Those of you who receive The Pallet saw that the return address has changed, and I've started my own company.  One of the first things that I did was to join this great organization because it's something that I believe in and am committed to as your President and someone who has served for years as a board member.  As we move into the fall, IACAC is only going to continue on its ascendancy and that is because of the great board that you elected and the involvement of you, our membership.

Golfing?  I am.

It's in a week and a half; you'd better have signed up.  The Early Bird Discount for foursomes expired at midnight, so if you're booking for four, the price is now $500.00.  Pricing for single golfers remains at $125.00 and if you're only able to join us for lunch, it's $35.00.  Only lunch?  Did I really say that?  It's not only lunch; it's a chance to win one of many amazing prizes that our sponsors have been kind enough to donate that benefit the Dennis J. Speck Scholarship Fund.

Our three "featured" raffle prizes that we have right now (and a serious THANK YOU to all of these fine people are):

Southwest Airlines - 2 Roundtrip Tickets

LAN - 2 Roundtrip Tickets

Holiday Inn Elk Grove Village - A night's stay and a gift card for dinner in their restaurant

This event isn't possible without you to play or contribute to a worthy cause.  Don't miss it.  JOIN US TODAY

Timely News

Be sure to check out The Pallet (or our Facebook feed) for links to two stories involving air cargo.  The first is the decision regarding the transport of lithium batteries - the final rule will be published in the coming days and we've got a link to the text.  The second is that Customs is continuing the ACAS pilot for another year and has re-opened it for sixty days (less, now) for companies to apply to participate.  We thank the Airforwarders Association for sharing this information with us, and we are sharing with you.

New Sponsor - AirBridge Cargo

We thank AirBridge for their sponsorship of IACAC.  Their most recent financial results were positive and they have been adding flights, including a freighter ex-DFW that we are promoting here on the site.  AirBridge Transparent LogoIf your company is interested in becoming a sponsor of IACAC or a corporate partner that is willing to offer benefits to our membership, please contact me directly to discuss this opportunity.