MEET THE VOICES LEADING WERC 2026

John Frehse Executive Masterclass (WERC Kickoff Session)

Monday, May 18 | 8:00 AM

The Future of Workforce Leadership in a Shifting Economy

Transform your workforce challenges into opportunities. Leaders are currently facing unprecedented challenges. Tariffs, evolving regulations, inflation, and persistent labor shortages are reshaping the landscape, and traditional workforce strategies may no longer be enough to address these issues. As workforce dynamics grow more complex, leaders must find new, innovative ways to drive success and sustain their people’s growth. Leading labor expert John Frehse, Head of Global Labor Strategy at Ankura, reveals critical strategies every leader should prioritize to optimize their hourly workforce. Drawing on over 25 years of research from the Leadership Lab, this session will highlight five key focus areas that are essential for people leaders managing large hourly teams in 2026 and beyond:

• Using artificial intelligence to manage, not to lead
• Determining the true cost of overstaffing and understaffing
• Understanding the correlation between employee experience and business results
• Fixing employees’ lack of trust in leadership
• The most powerful thing any leader can do (and how to start doing it right away)

Tyler Gillum Keynote

Monday, May 18 | 11:30 AM

Score a Culture Home Run the Savannah Bananas Way

Savannah Bananas Head Coach Tyler Gillum built the most successful sports team in America – not by focusing on baseball, but on buy-in. In this keynote, learn how Gillum creates a culture of excellence through a leadership approach that emphasizes commitment over compliance. He’ll detail the team’s journey from the creation of "Banana Ball" to becoming the greatest show in sports by nurturing an environment where teams both thrive and achieve the extraordinary. Learn Gillum’s approach to energy, mindset, and servant leadership, including how to define and build culture from the top, and how to ensure that dedication to the mission flows through every level. You’ll walk away with actionable strategies to help create a championship-level culture that’s fully embraced by your team.

Jason Schenker Keynote

Tuesday, May 19 | 11:30 AM

From Strategy to Execution: How Economic and Technology Trends are Reshaping Material Handling and Warehouse Operations

Join top-ranked economist and bestselling author, Jason Schenker, for a dynamic keynote and fireside chat that connects global economic and technology trends to the realities shaping today’s material handling and warehouse operations. Jason will unpack the latest developments in AI, automation, labor markets and geopolitics, translating them into practical insights for both the material handling industry and professionals leading warehouse and distribution operations. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how economic shifts and emerging technologies are influencing investment priorities, supply chain resiliency, and operational performance – and how to turn those trends into a lasting competitive advantage.

JOIN US AT WERC 2026

FACILITY TOURS

Date: Wednesday, May 20

Cost: $50

Experience distribution processes in action with our guided facility tours in the Jacksonville, Florida region. Enhance your conference experience by adding a tour to your registration for just $50. This year, we are proud to host the following tours:
 

Anderson DuBose
The Anderson DuBose Jacksonville distribution center opened in August of 2025 and is a 165,000 square foot facility that services restaurants in the South East Georgia/Northern Florida market. It operates in all three temp zones and currently supports 200 restaurants. The DC utilizes a low-ammonia system for cooling, offering enhanced safety, improved efficiency, and environmental sustainability benefits. The DC’s location to its service market, along with it being a rail site, drives significant miles reduction to the system.

Johnstone Supply, LLC
Johnstone Supply is a wholesale distributor serving professional HVACR contractors. Johnstone has the largest selection of equipment and genuine OEM parts in the industry. On this tour, participants will view real-time operations and voice-picking. Johnstone’s core mission—Making it Easy for the HVACR Contractor to do Business—emphasizes product selection, availability, and eCommerce. The Jacksonville Distribution Center services ninety branches across seven states in the Southeast. *Closed toe shoes are required*

Henry Schein, Inc.
On this tour of Henry Schein of medical and dental supplies, participants will experience the facility that runs for 21 hours a day, Monday through Friday. During this tour of a VNA (Very Narrow Aisle) warehouse, complete with wire guidance, turrets, and a 3-level full case pick mode, participants will view the RF technology that is used for receiving, putaway, replenishment, and cycle count functions. This facility also utilizes picking with Voice directed picking technology and conveyors that route packages to multiple trailers for shipments to their customers in the Southeast.
*No open toe shoes, no food or beverage, no photography or video*

Register for a Facility Tour Now!
New registrants can add a tour when you register for WERC 2026. If you have already registered, you can add a facility tour by modifying your registration. Simply check the box next to the tour of your choice on the agenda page and then process payment for the tour.

Please note: Tour fees are non-refundable.