AHFA Announces 2026 Global Logistics & Supply Chain Conference

January 14, 2026  by Karen Parrish in Business Strategy, Industry   

The keynote presenter on Tuesday, June 16, is Chris Spear, president and CEO of the American Trucking Associations (ATA). Spear is a government relations specialist with over two decades of experience on five continents serving the transportation, energy and defense technology industries. He was named president and CEO of ATA in 2016 and previously was vice president of government affairs at Hyundai Motor Company for one year and vice president of global government relations at Honeywell International for more than six years.

ATA represents a federation of 50 state associations with over 33,000 members consisting of motor carriers, original equipment manufacturers, suppliers and services. Together these sectors represent more than 8.5 million industry employees who move 71 percent of all domestic freight.

Spear’s presentation anchors a two-day agenda featuring:

- Case studies from industry leaders: Learn how top organizations are navigating disruptions, building supply chain resilience and achieving greater efficiency.

- Future-focused topics: Explore the impact of AI and automation on today’s supply chains, as well as on future supply chain management.

- Cutting-edge insights: Discover emerging technologies and solutions redefining logistics and supply chain operations.

- Interactive sessions and panels: Engage directly with experts through panel discussions and Q&A designed to tackle real-world challenges.

Rob Spilman, chairman and CEO of Bassett Furniture, will present the Industry Keynote on Wednesday, June 17, and Mark Vitner, senior economist and founder of Piedmont Crescent Capital, will provide an economic outlook.

“This is more than a conference. It’s a chance to shape the future of global logistics together,” states Gene Clark, executive director of AHFA’s Solution Partners division.

An optional pre-conference golf outing at Greenbrier Country Club is slated for Monday morning, June 15, and a reception opens the conference that evening. The business program begins at 8:15 a.m. June 16 and concludes with a dinner event June 17.

Earlybird registration is $299 per person until March 1. After March 1, registration increases to $349 per person. (AHFA members should check the registration page for member discounts.)

A block of discounted rooms is available at the Delta Hotels Virginia Beach Waterfront Suites on a first come basis until May 31 or until the block is full. (Reservations also can be made by calling the hotel directly at 757/910-1012 and requesting the AHFA conference discount.)

Port of Virginia is the Platinum Sponsor of the 2026 AHFA Global Logistics & Supply Chain Conference, and a tour of the port is slated Wednesday morning, June 17. Massood Logistics is the Bronze Sponsor; breaks are sponsored by Cooke Trucking and CV International, and J.B. Hunt and SunBelt Xpress are Partner Sponsors.

Questions about the conference or sponsorship can be directed to Gene Clark.