HIMC 2025 Agenda

November 2-5, 2025 – Hilton Americas, Downtown Houston

Our comprehensive schedule of events features an exciting lineup of keynote speeches, panel discussions, and networking opportunities designed to inform and inspire attendees and to help them stay ahead of the latest trends and developments in the industry.

With a focus on the future of shipping, our conference is the perfect platform to learn from experts, network with peers, and explore innovative solutions to the maritime industry’s challenges.

Join the conversation with #HIMC25.

Contact [email protected] for 2025 sponsorship opportunities.

2025 Agenda

Sunday, November 2, 2025

4:30-6:00 PM Welcome Happy Hour at J-Bar-M Barbeque

Monday, November 3, 2025

7:00 AM Registration/Breakfast
8:00 AM Welcome and Port Updates
8:30 AM Houston’s Momentum: Economic Growth and the Road Ahead

Jesse Thompson, Senior Business Economist, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas (Houston Branch)
9:00 AM Gateway to Growth: How Port Houston Anchors Texas’ Economic Surge and Industrial Expansion

Moderator: Craig Rhodes, Senior Vice President, Economic Development, Greater Houston Partnership
Panelist: DeAnn Kiker, SVP, Global Logistics, Procurement and Support, Ross Stores, Inc.
Panelist: Chet Thompson, President and CEO, American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM)
9:50 AM Keynote Speaker:

Raina L. Avalon, Executive Vice President & Chief Logistics Officer, The TJX Companies, Inc.
10:20 AM Networking Break
10:40 AM Global Currents: Navigating the Shifting Tides of Industry and Economy
11:10 AM Keynote Speaker:

Cathy Gautreaux, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Multimodal Freight and Infrastructure Policy, Office of the Secretary at U.S. Department of Transportation
11:40 AM Fireside Chat – Driving Trade Forward: Road Infrastructure Fueling Texas Freight Flow

Moderator: Candice Armenoff, Chief Strategy Officer, Port Houston
Panelist: Caroline Mays, Director of Planning and Modal Programs, Texas Department of Transportation
12:00 PM Lunch
1:10 PM Breakout Sessions
1:10 PM Main Ballroom: Intermodal Interconnectivity: Strengthening Houston’s Supply Chain by Sea, Rail, and Road

Moderator: Lynn Stacy, Managing Director, OEC Liquid Logistics Solutions, OEC Group Houston
Panelist: Brian Kobza, Chief Commercial Officer, IMC Logistics LLC
Panelist: Blake Borgen, Vice President of Business Development, USDG
Panelist: David Labbe, Vice President, Seaboard Marine
1:10 PM Breakout Session Room 1 – Zone 101: Understanding U.S. Foreign Trade Zones

Speaker: Trey Boring, President, IMS Worldwide, Inc
1:10 PM Breakout Session Room 2
1:10 PM Breakout Session Room 3 – Port Houston Exports: Trends, Challenges, and Future Outlook

Moderator: John Hark, Director of Chartering, North America Bertling Logistics & Adjunct Professor, Texas A&M University, Bertling Logistics Inc.
Panelist: Hector Rivero, President and CEO, Texas Chemical Council
Panelist: John-Michael Ruder, Chairman, Texas Cotton Association (TCA)
Panelist: Chet Thompson, President and CEO, American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers
2:00 PM Breakout Sessions
2:00 PM Main Ballroom: Insights from the Front Lines: Tackling Port Operations Challenges, Seizing Opportunities, and Ensuring Terminal Fluidity

Moderator: Ryan Mariacher, Chief Port Operations Officer, Port Houston
2:00 PM Breakout Session Room 1 – FTZ 84 in Action — Opportunities and Success Stories

Moderator: Rina Lawrence, Manager Economic Development, Port Houston
Panelist: Leticia Caballero, Admin Manager, PGS
Panelist: Catherine James, Founder, Dixie Cullen Interests
2:00 PM Breakout Session Room 2 – Steering Ahead: Digitalization and Operational Efficiency in Tanker Shipping

Moderator: Lance Nunez, Global Marine & Terminal Logistics Director, Dow, Inc.
Panelist: Greg DeLong, VP, Marine Liaison, Enterprise Products
Panelist: Shri Saranthy, Regional Lean Manager, LBC Tank Terminals
2:00 PM Breakout Session Room 3 – People Power: Shaping the Next Generation of Logistics Talent

Moderator: Rupak Rauniar, Professor and Assistant Chair- Supply Chain Management, University of Houston- Downtown
Panelist: Dr. Cassia Galvao, Associate Professor of Maritime Business, College of Marine Sciences & Maritime Studies of Texas A&M University
2:50 PM Networking Break
3:10 PM Keynote speaker:

Jim Teague, CEO, Enterprise Products
3:40 PM Waterways and World Trade: How Panama Canal Updates Are Shaping Global Logistics

Dr. Ricaurte “Catín” Vásquez, CEO, Panama Canal Authority
4:20 PM Closing Remarks
4:30 PM – 6:00 PM Evening Reception: An Evening of Connection, Conversations and Community

Tuesday, November 4, 2025

7:45 AM Breakfast/Registration
8:30 AM Opening Remarks
8:40 AM The Tariff Effect: Rethinking Sourcing, Manufacturing, and Infrastructure in an Evolving Trade Landscape

Moderator: Jonathan Gold, Vice President, Supply Chain & Customs Policy, National Retail Federation
Panelist: Cris Borzani, International Logistics and Customs Compliance Manager, Igloo
Panelist: Pete Mento, Director Customs and International Trade, DSV Air and Sea
Panelist: Christopher Smith, Customs Trade Advisor – Customs and Trade Center, North America, IKEA Purchasing Services (US) Inc.
9:30 AM From Disruption to Direction: Container Shippers Share Strategies in a Shifting Market

Moderator: Tony Glass, Chief Commercial Officer – Americas Region, EFL Global
Panelist: Ken O‘Brien, President and CEO, Gemini Shippers Association
Panelist: Michael Symonanis, Director, Strategic Network, Louis Dreyfus Company &  Chair, Transportation Committee, American Cotton Shippers Association
Panelist: Stacy Wedgeworth, Sr. Manager, Gulf Import Market, Walmart
10:20 AM Networking Break
10:40 AM Guest Speaker – Captain Richard Phillips: Captain of the Maersk Alabama, Author, and real life inspiration for the movie “Captain Phillips”
11:30 AM Charting the Course: Container Ocean Carriers and the Changing Dynamics of Global Trade

Moderator: John Moseley, Chief Commercial Officer, Port Houston
Panelist: Adeline Franger Chouraqui, CEO and President, CMA CGM America (invited)
Panelist: Stuart Sandlin, President, North America, Hapag-Lloyd
Panelist: Fabio Santucci, President & CEO, MSC
12:20 PM Lonestar Award
12:30 PM Lunch
1:40 PM Powering Progress: Innovations in Energy, Liquid, and Petrochemical Industries

Moderator: Chad Burke, President, Economic Alliance Houston Port Region
Panelist: Helen Currie, Chief Economist, ConocoPhillips
Panelist: Vincent DiCosimo, Senior Vice President Government Affairs, Targa Resources
Panelist: Bjarke Nissen, Chief Commercial Officer, Stolt Tankers
2:30 PM Breakout Sessions
2:30 PM Breakout Session Room 1 – Playing Defense: Tariff Mitigation Through FTZs

Speaker: Shane Williams, Managing Director, Ernst & Young Global Trade
2:30 PM Breakout Session Room 2 – Clean Seas, Clean Fuel: Driving Sustainability in Tanker Operations

Moderator: Matt Caine, President, HOYER Global Inc.
2:30 PM Breakout Session Room 3 – Steel Cargo, Heavy Demand: The Future of Steel Logistics

Moderator: Dave Morgan, President and CEO, Cooper/Ports America
3:20 PM Breakout Sessions
3:20 PM Breakout Session Room 1 – FTZ: Let’s Get Into It – Meet the Players

Moderator: James Grogan, Managing Director – Trade & Customs, Kroll
Panelist: Rina Lawrence, Economic Development Manager, Port Houston
Panelist: Michael L. Thomas, CEO, Thomas International
Panelist: Diana Urelius, Senior Manager – Trade Compliance, Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas
3:20 PM Breakout Session Room 2 – The Procurement Pivot: Building Agile, Future-Ready Supply Chains

Moderator: Peter Dill, Senior Manager – Indirect Purchasing, Huntsman Corporation
Panelist: Adrian Bregnard, General Manager Supply Chain, Shell
Panelist: Margaret Kidd, President, Houston Maritime Center & Museum
Panelist: Jeff Martin, Director, PC Service Supply Chain, HP
Panelist: Oliver Mitchell, Global Category Manager, Amazon
3:20 PM Breakout Session Room 3 – The Future of LNG Bunkering: Infrastructure, Innovation, and Implementation

Panelist: Jonathan (Jon) Cook, Chief Executive Officer, Pilot LNG, LLC
Panelist: Hilary Soileau, Attorney, K&L Gates LLP
4:10 PM Closing Remarks
4:30 PM Meet in Lobby for Port Tour (confirmed registrants only—space is limited, advance reservations are required)
5:45 PM Set Sail Social Port Tour