Schedule

8:00 AM

Connections & Conversation Networking Breakfast

Start your day with meaningful and powerful connections. This interactive breakfast uses the World Cafe model, a dynamic, innovative format that sparks authentic dialogue and helps you connect with colleagues on today's most pressing leadership and operational challenges. 

This year, we are adding a new lightning-round peer-to-peer session featuring fast-paced, rotating table discussions. You will share ideas in short bursts before moving to the next topic, creating a dynamic flow of perspectives and takeaways. 

It's an engaging blend of peer learning, networking, and action-oriented discussions designed to leave you energized, inspired, and better connected to the WERC community. 
 

Considering both a TMS and a WMS implementation? Make the right move from the start.

Join us for a practical discussion on how to sequence these critical investments and avoid costly missteps. Join Greg Utter for this can't-miss session and learn:

• How to avoid implementation pitfalls
• How to maximize ROI of your tech investments
• How to build a scalable, integrated digital supply chain

Speaker: Greg Utter, Senior Managing Director, Alpine Supply Chain Solutions

Goods-to-Person and Labor Strategy

Our expert panel explores the ways goods-to-person systems impact labor strategies in today's busy warehouses. We'll discuss the effects on workforce planning, costs, and retention - plus the cultural and operational shifts that come with automation. You'll hear practical insights to align this technology with your long-term labor and efficiency goals. Whether you're evaluating automation for the first time or fine-tuning an existing operation, this session will help you align automation investments and processes with long-term workforce goals. 

Speakers: Bryan Gauger, President & CEO, Danny Ross, Channel Development Manager, and Ryan Elkins, Sales Director - North Texas, Cisco-Eagle
 

Proven Ways to Boost Labor Productivity... in Just One Day!

In the fast-paced world of warehousing, stressed-out managers face demanding customers, constant deadlines, and a tight labor market - so workforce productivity is vital. Fortunately, there are 7 practical ways to improve warehouse labor productivity in just one day, without spending a lot of money. Attendees will discover the key differences between labor productivity and labor performance, and why they matter. Other takeaways include the fundamental factors that drive labor performance and which ones are easiest to improve, plus exploration of a sample performance assessment.

Speaker: Steve Hopper, Inviscid Consulting
 

10:45 AM

Benchmarking & Best Practices - Increasing Productivity & Warehouse Efficiency

This session discusses the importance and methodology of benchmarking in improving warehouse efficiency and productivity within the supply chain sector. It outlines a step-by-step approach to benchmarking, including key metrics, data collection, and performance comparison to identify gaps and implement improvements. Challenges in benchmarking and attributes of effective performance measures are also highlighted to aid organizations in achieving best practices. 

Speaker: Michael Mikitka, MHI
 

Update on OSHA's Proposed Heat Injury Standard for Warehouses

OSHA is developing a new Heat Injury and Illness Prevention Standard that will affect both indoor and outdoor workplaces, including warehouses. This session gives warehouse workers a front-row view of the rulemaking process, highlights key takeaways from recent public hearings, and explores the differing perspectives of labor and employer groups. You will gain practical insights to prepare for what's ahead, including: Safety & Compliance - understand the potential impact of OSHA's proposed regulations on warehouse operations. Facility Readiness - explore HVAC strategies, ventilation improvements, and thermal comfort standards that can reduce risks. Legal Preparedness - learn how personal injury litigation trends and proactive documentation practices can shape your risk-mitigation approach.

Speaker: Lionel Ortiz, Whiskey Lima Corp. 

Texas Industrial Real Estate Outlook

Explore DFW's booming warehouse market, rising land costs, tight vacancies, and growth hotspots. Learn how to operators and 3PLs can secure the right space to stay competitive. Bring your questions and get your answers for our speakers. 

11:30 AM

Get The Most Out Of Your Warehouse Space

Learn how to get the most out of your existing warehouse space, and/or plan for your next facility. What is the right type of storage and material handling equipment and technology to support your operation? How do you develop an efficient material flow and layout design? 

Speaker: Norm Saenz, St. Onge
 

Leadership Skills for Warehouse Supervisors

In many warehouse operations, supervisors are promoted because they were outstanding lift operators. However, without proper training, they often fail to distinguish between performing the work and leading others. We have delivered more than a dozen workshops on this challenge to multi-city operators such as Kuehne+Nagel and Kane Logistics. The results are clear: talented doers can become effective leaders. In this session, participants practice with mini-cases and role plays designed to build leadership skills.  

Speaker: Ken Ackerman, Ackerman Company
 

Vision Meets Voice: What You Need to Know about the Next Evolution in Warehouse Picking

Modern warehouses are evolving from voice-only systems to hybrid voice-and-vision picking to improve accuracy, reduce training time, and gain real-time visual confirmation where it counts. In this interactive session, we will demonstrate the key advantages of vision-enabled picking - including AI-driven assistance, offline capability, image capture, and exception handling - and compare them to traditional voice-only workflows. You'll see how hybrid systems integrate with existing WMS/ERP environments, explore rollout plans for 60-90 day pilots, and examine real-world smart glasses case studies outside the warehouse floor. We'll close with a candid discussion of lessons learned and key performance indicators (KPIs) that can help you evaluate if, when, and how to make the shift to hybrid picking in your own operations.

Speaker: Robby Moss, Moviynt Division at Vuzix Corporation

1:15 PM

3:00 PM