Every year, the IARW-WFLO Convention explores challenges and issues facing today’s temperature-controlled industry. And, this year’s conference is no exception. That’s why the Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA), Alexandria, Va., revamped the 125th annual IARW-WFLO Convention, which is set to take place April 16-20 at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas.

The IARW-WFLO Convention remains to be the leading education and networking event dedicated to the temperature-controlled warehousing and logistics industry. Over 400 senior level executives representing cold storage warehousing and the suppliers who provide products and services for the industry— anyone from curtain, door, insulated panel and refrigeration equipment manufacturers to engineering firms, flooring specialists and material handling equipment providers—attend this convention for the high-quality educational content and world-class networking.

New features put a focus on high-level business issues through an expanded educational program. For example, gone are the focus sessions on warehouse operations. In its place are the following:

• Peer-to-peer executive roundtables, which provide attendees a chance to share ideas, ask questions and solve problems with their peers in a small group setting.
• Entrepreneur encounters, where attendees can learn from some of the best and brightest entrepreneurs who have grown companies and brands from the ground up.
• “Cool Pioneers,” where those who express innovation in human capital development, cost savings and time savings will share their perspectives and life lessons.

The convention will kick off with keynote speakers Robert Litan, non-resident senior fellow in the economic studies program for Brookings Institute, Washington, D.C., and Kevin Kallaugher, an award-winning, international editorial cartoonist for the Economist and the Baltimore Sun. A master storyteller with a keen sense of humor, Litan will explain how the ideas of economists have changed and are continuing to change businesses in ways that many, including entrepreneurs and executives, may not realize. Kallaugher will share his unique take on current events, politics and the economy using lively and entertaining illustrated presentations, well-placed humor and precision art. 

The closing general session will be presented by Juliet Funt, chief executive officer of WhiteSpace at Work, a training and consulting firm based in Littleton, Colo. Funt will help attendees learn the pivotal difference between activity and productivity through a streamlined method for personal process improvement, and will help executives, managers and teams answer the critical question, “What thoughts deserve my full attention today?”

And, while the traditional expo component will spin off to become the Global Cold Chain Expo, taking place June 20-22 at Chicago’s McCormick Place, there will be a number of distinctive business development and networking opportunities for members to connect and build relationships.

Help IARW-WFLO celebrate 125 years!

To register, exhibit or to learn more about the show, go to bit.ly/1N7Ytws.