Sustainability in Transportation – Bridging the Transatlantic Gap

The U.S. Administration unveiled on 10 January 2023 the National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization, a “landmark interagency framework of strategies and actions to remove all emissions from the transportation sector by 2050”.  This blueprint proposes a multimodal approach and lays out three key strategies to achieve decarbonization: increase convenience; improve efficiency; and transition to clean options. Building and relying on the historic investments and funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the blueprint sets ambitious but achievable targets and actions across all modes of transport for 2030, 2040 and 2050.

As a major enabler of this strategy, the IRA is perceived around the world as a crucial step in the global decarbonization efforts, with massive opportunities for clean energy production and manufacturing in the United States.

Please join us for a high-level discussion on what type of policies are being implemented on both sides of the Atlantic to decarbonize transportation, how they will play out in maritime and air transportation, and on supply chains, what opportunities exist for companies active in the areas of clean energy production and manufacturing, and more.

Samuel K. Skinner, Former Secretary of Transportation & Chief of Staff to President George H.W. Bush will be offering the keynote speech.

TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION

• What is the place of the IRA in the U.S. National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization and how will it benefit the decarbonization efforts of companies in the United States?
• What similar policies for transportation decarbonization are being implemented in the EU?
• What are the opportunities for cooperation between the EU and the U.S. in these areas?
• What initiatives are being taken locally by Miami-Dade County to decarbonize transportation, its ports and airports?
• What is the business case for decarbonizing supply chains?
• What are the opportunities for European companies already established in the US/Florida and/or considering expanding operations to the US/Florida?

SPEAKERS

• David Canard-Volland, VP Supply Chain Management and Emmanuel Desbats, National Sales Development Manager – Clasquin
• Gzim Ocakoglu – First Counselor on Mobility and Transport, EU Delegation in Washington DC
• Samuel K. Skinner, Former Secretary of Transportation & Chief of Staff to President George H.W.Bush; Off Counsel – Greenberg Traurig
• Alan Sutin, President EACC Florida and Principal Shareholder – Greenberg Traurig [Moderator]
• Galen Treuer, PhD – Climate Tech & Economic Innovation, Miami-Dade County |Office of Economic Development

SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES

David Canard-Volland

David has a strong background in International Supply Chain Management and Decarbonization.

He joined CLASQUIN in 1999 as Chief Information Officer in France, with a focus on software services and  headed the development and digitalization of the company in double digits growth, for 20 consecutive years.

Most recently, he has developed the Consulting division, as much in the optimization of warehouse as in the upstream and downstream Supply Chain. He has supported clients in decarbonization, as well as in conferences, trainings and transformation.

Always pushing solutions so Supply Chains become Sustainable… while targeting the drastic reduction of Green House Gases.

Emmanuel Desbats

Emmanuel is a seasoned expert in Logistics and a strategic leader with over 25 years of experience in the industry.

His career began in Paris and then took him to Montevideo, Buenos Aires, and Porto Alegre before settling in Miami, which has allowed him to become fluent in several languages and capable of effectively working with different cultures. From these experiences, he developed a strong knowledge of the Latin American market while focusing on Asia and its potential growth with the Americas.

Understanding the inner workings of the supply chain, Emmanuel partners strategically and proactively with different types of customers, translating their business objectives and logistics challenges into effective and efficient solutions and outcomes. His enthusiasm and collaborative leadership allow his team to innovate with confidence.

In his current role at CLASQUIN he oversees US Business Development. In recent years, Emmanuel has focused on opening new offices, developing tailor-made logistics solutions, and designing new products to meet complex logistics challenges like decarbonization.

Gzim Ocakoglu

Gzim Ocakoglu is, since mid-August 2019, First Counsellor on Mobility and Transport at the Delegation of the European Union to the United States (EUDEL). In his function, Gzim supports and promotes EU-US transport co-operation and dialogue through an open exchange of information on transport issues between the European Commission and the relevant US departments and agencies, and an engagement with business associations, private companies, think tanks and relevant international organizations.

In the European Commission for the last 19 years, Gzim has extensive experience in policy making, regulatory development and program management in maritime transport and logistics (2017 to 2019), in aviation and air traffic management (2013 to 2017), in Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) (2008 to 2013) and in security of eGovernment services (2003 to 2008). Before joining the Commission in 2003, he held for 10 years various research and management positions in the telecom industry, working for both equipment manufacturers and telecom operators.

Gzim Ocakoglu holds a MS degree in Electro-Mechanical Engineering from the “Université Libre de Bruxelles” and a MS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Minnesota.

Samuel K. Skinner

Samuel K. Skinner Chairs the Chicago Government Law & Policy Practice at Greenberg Traurig and has had a career in both the governmental and private sectors. As Of Counsel to the firm, he consults with clients in a variety of areas, including strategizing on complex litigation matters, state and federal regulatory matters, governmental matters, transportation issues, and corporate governance.

Mr. Skinner is the retired Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of USF Corporation, one of the nation’s leading transportation and logistics companies. During each year that he served as CEO, the company was recognized by Fortune magazine as one of America’s most admired companies. From 1993-1998 he served as President of Commonwealth Edison Company and its holding company Unicom Corporation (now Exelon), one of the country’s largest utilities.

Prior to joining Commonwealth Edison, Mr. Skinner served as Chief of Staff to President George H. W. Bush. As Chief of Staff, he coordinated the activities of numerous cabinet departments and administrative agencies reporting to the President. Prior to his White House Service, he served in the President’s Cabinet for nearly three years as Secretary of Transportation. In that capacity, he served as Chief Executive Officer of a Department with a budget of more than $30 billion and a workforce of 105,000 people. As Secretary, Mr. Skinner was credited with numerous successes, including the development of the President’s National Transportation Policy and the development and passage of landmark aviation and surface transportation legislation. He also developed our country’s “Open Skies” policy which liberalized U.S. international aviation policy and significantly increased the number of international flights to and from the U.S. In addition, Mr. Skinner acted as the President’s point person in numerous crisis situations, including the 1988 terrorist bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, the Eastern Airlines strike, the Exxon Valdez oil spill, the northern California earthquake, Hurricane Hugo, and the 1991 national rail strike. Washingtonian magazine twice gave Mr. Skinner its highest ranking for his performance as Secretary of Transportation and he has also received numerous awards from the transportation industry.

Mr. Skinner has spent more than 50 years in the legal profession. In 1975, President Gerald R. Ford appointed him the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, one of the few career prosecutors ever to hold that position. In this position, he managed one of the Department of Justice’s largest and most respected field offices. While in the U.S. Attorney’s office, Mr. Skinner investigated and litigated various complex financial fraud, official corruption, and civil rights cases, including the trial of United States Circuit Judge Otto Kerner. He also was in private practice at two large Chicago law firms where he held positions of leadership.

While practicing law, Mr. Skinner also served as Chairman of the Regional Transportation Authority of northeastern Illinois, the nation’s second largest mass transportation district. In this capacity, he developed the RTA’s first strategic plan that was used as a blueprint for a multibillion-dollar service expansion and capital development program. Upon graduation from college, Mr. Skinner held various sales and management positions with the IBM Corporation where he was selected as one of their three Outstanding Salesmen of the Year Nationwide in 1967. Mr. Skinner has also taught as Adjunct Professor of Management and Strategy at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

In 2005, Mr. Skinner was appointed by President George W. Bush to be a member of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission. The Commission was charged with making determinations regarding which of the nation’s more than 400 military facilities would remain active and which were to be closed.

Alan Sutin

Alan Sutin is a Principal Shareholder of Greenberg Traurig and Senior Chair of the firm’s Global Intellectual Property & Technology Practice. In addition to being an experienced business lawyer with a principal focus on commercial transactions with intellectual property and technology issues and privacy and cybersecurity matters, Alan also represents a wide variety of companies in connection with IT and business process outsourcing arrangements, strategic alliance agreements, commercial joint ventures and licensing matters. He has particular experience in Internet and electronic commerce issues and has been involved in many of the major policy issues surrounding the commercial development of the Internet. Alan has advised foreign governments and multinational corporations in connection with these issues and is a frequent speaker at major industry conferences and events around the world. Alan is involved in several professional and legal national and international organizations. He was an active Member of EACCNY and is EACC Florida’s first President. Alan is based in Miami.

Dr. Galen Treuer

Dr. Galen Treuer leads Climate Tech and Economic Innovation for Miami-Dade County. He works with the private sector to pursue the County’s climate resilience goals and catalyze regional investment in blue, green, and climate technology by bringing together a network of entrepreneurs, investors, businesses, academics, and community leaders. Treuer has worked on climate policy and solutions for 12 years and holds a Ph.D. in environmental science and policy from the University of Miami and a B.A. in economics from Oberlin College.

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Reception sponsored by