IRPT Conference Offered This Week In Louisville
Inland Rivers, Ports & Terminals, Inc. will host its annual conference September 19-21 in Louisville, Ky.
All activities other than special outings will take place at the Hyatt Regency, 320 Jefferson St., Louisville.
This year’s conference offers more than 18 hours of conference content, including professional development hours offered. It also includes opportunities to network and socialize.
Following welcoming remarks on September 20, the conference will kick off with a legislative update question-and-answer session with panelists Jessica Jennings of the National Association of Counties, Brett Richards of Jones Walker and Chloe Cantor of the Tennessee Valley Authority. Panelists will address such topics as the impacts of changing legislation, the aftermath of the federal infrastructure package and what to expect in the Water Resources Development Act of 2024.
Jody Peacock, CEO of the Ports of Indiana, will offer a case study titled “Ports of Indiana: Case Study—The Port of the Future.”
The final morning session will be “Site Development Opportunities and Considerations” from Tommy Kurtz with Avident Advisors.
In the afternoon, a Commodities Update and Forecast will include panelists Jonah Rattner of Robindale Coal, discussing energy; Jason Troendle with The Fertilizer Institute, discussing fertilizer; and Richard McCarty of American Commercial Barge Line, discussing grains and agriculture.
Afternoon presentations will include a State of the Industry talk from ACBL and a session on Supply Chain Resilience from Dr. Donald Maier of the University of Tennessee.
The day will conclude with dinner and a tour aboard the Belle of Louisville steamboat.
The first session on September 21, focused on Infrastructure Funding Opportunities, will include a question-and-answer session with panelists Charles “Bob” Brettell of Peabody Consulting (federal), Frank Acevedo of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA Ports Program), Morgan Ellis with the Department of Energy, and Kevin Full and Brian Hinrichs, both with VAA LLC (representing regional opportunities).
Other September 21 sessions will include a State of The Industry talk from CSX, “U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Research and Development Approach” from Brian Mangrum of the Nashville Engineer District and a session titled “Innovative Technology for Long-Term Solutions” that will feature panelists from businesses with new technologies to offer the industry. A general business meeting will include the ratification of officers, the executive director’s report and election and announcement of the 2023-2025 directors.
The second full day of conference sessions will end with a farewell reception with hors d’oeuvres and cocktails.
