Wow, what a difference a year makes! Certainly the parcel shipping industry is not immune to change, both good and bad. And this year’s theme, Stay Ahead of the PACKage, could not have been more apropos.
 
Despite a difficult economy, PARCEL Forum achieved a record first-day attendance, surpassing its previous record set last year by three percent. Overall verified attendance for the three-day event totaled 617 (428 represented conference and exhibit hall attendees and 169 represented exhibitor and speaker personnel).
 
The exhibit hall featured 57 companies comprising more than 7,000 square feet of space with a record 16 first-time exhibitors. “I’m always amazed by the response we get from first-time exhibitors after the show closes,” says Joel Dunkel, President, EventEvolution Management Inc., producers of PARCEL Forum. “The show is built so differently than most they participate that they come with limited expectations and leave stunned by the level of attendees they meet.” To support that fact, 92% of PARCEL Forum attendees have either final approval or specify/recommend purchases for their area of expertise, and 78% indicate they do not attend any other industry show.
 
PARCEL Forum continued with its mission of helping attendees ship more packages, more frequently and more cost-effectively by expanding its educational conference. The conference introduced four new pre-conference workshops that covered Green Logistics, International Shipping, Operational Best Practices and Parcel Transportation Law. These intensive all-day workshops were presented by some of the leading parcel shipping and logistics authorities such as: Mark Taylor, formerly of Taylor Systems Engineering; Vera Angelico, LEED AP Architect; J. Michael Zachary and Robin McDaniel, Tompkins Associates; Ken Concepcion, Department of Homeland Security; John Blanchard and John Hill, TranSystems Corporation; Geoff Sisko, Gross & Associates and Brent Primus, Primus Law Office.
 
In addition, the general conference introduced two new tracks, Transportation Fundamentals and Transportation Masters, to go along with its successful Growth Strategies, Technology Applications and Operational Efficiencies tracks. Overall, the conference offered more than 30 sessions, workshops and roundtables that received a rating of 3.85 out of 4 for speaker knowledge and 3.5 out of 4 for session content.
 
PARCEL Forum also featured two great keynote presentations. The Opening Day Keynote Luncheon presentation was given by James A. Tompkins, President and CEO of Tompkins Associates. His entertaining keynote focused on the seven habits that successful fulfillment operations all have in common. He discussed how implementing these “good” habits allow you to uncover some of the greatest opportunities for fulfillment operation improvements. The Breakfast Keynote was given by Ruth Y. Goldway, Commissioner, United States Postal Regulatory Commission. Her keynote highlighted how important the U.S. Postal Service is to our country and discussed the role of the Postal Regulatory Commission and how it impacts shippers.
 
Also, PARCEL Forum is home to the Carrier Roundtable Panel and this year’s did not disappoint. This year, the panel was moderated by William Greene, Executive Director, Morgan Stanley and featured: Jerry Beyl, V.P. of Worldwide Sales, FedEx; James P. Cochrane, V.P. Ground Shipping, United States Postal Service; Bill Lewandowski, V.P. Strategic Accounts, UPS; Conal Finnegan, V.P. of Strategic Initiatives & Business Development, Purolator USA; and Rob Shirley, CEO, XPship. Attendees asked questions on everything from forecasting surcharges to what the panelists’ “green” policies are now and in the future. Considering everything taking place in the parcel shipping industry today, this panel could not have been better timed.
 
Lastly, many of the changes that took place this year were based on the input received from the PARCEL Forum Conference Advisory Board. Board members included: Brain Coller, Medline Industries; Kimberly Cox, Bracco Diagnostics; Herman Dunst and Sean Hunt, Medifast, Inc.; Gerardo Figueroa, Frito-Lay, Inc.; Brenda Jackson, Internal Revenue Service; Kathy Kuechle, Fingerhut Fulfillment; Brian Morgan, Baxter Healthcare; Oscar Murray, DITAN; Rocco Rinaldi, Pirelli Tire of North America; Douglas Spangler, Abercrombie & Fitch, Lisa Tegtmeyer, CDW and Dave Traut, Follett Higher Education. The board’s involvement ensures that PARCEL Forum will always address the issues that are most important to the parcel shipping and logistics industry.
 
 
 
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
PARCEL Forum 2009 will take place in Chicago October 5-7, 2009.
 
SPECIAL BONUS!
PARCEL Forum 2009 will be co-located with DOCUMENT Strategy Forum and Mailing Systems Technology Conference.
 
If you are interested in attending, exhibiting or sponsoring, please visit www.PARCELforum.com or call toll-free 866-378-4991.