Port Towns have always been tough. And tariffs, Washington, D.C. policy shifts, and unprecedented threats to supply chain certainty around the globe are testing that toughness like never before. It’s enough to make every member of the Southern California supply chain feel alone at sea with uncertain origins and destinations unknown. Fortunately, every Port Town has a lighthouse and resilient teams to stand together to weather storms of uncertainty.
In response to current events and in a show of solidarity with our local Port communities, this year’s Town Hall will take place at Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo High School Auditorium in West Long Beach only a short drive from the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. Cabrillo High School is also the home of the Academy of Global Logistics (AGL), a career pathway sponsored by the Port of Long Beach in partnership with CITT, Long Beach Unified School District, Long Beach City College, and California State University, Long Beach. The coalition of industry and educational partners that have supported AGL students over the last decade reflect Port Town Resilience and the sage words of founding CITT member Domenick Miretti to bring “the university to the docks, and the docks to the university.”
This year’s Town Hall will celebrate the many port community leaders and supply chain stakeholders who have supported CITT trade and transportation programs over the last three decades. The Town Hall will also celebrate AGL students and faculty and present the 2025 recipient of the prestigious Miretti Award, which recognizes a leader who has fostered partnerships along the supply chain, facilitated dialogue, and demonstrated long-term dedication to the industry. The Town Hall will conclude with a panel of experts who will discuss ways that Southern California supply chain stakeholders can, once again, unite to find ways to thrive in these unprecedented and uncertain times. It will be a night to remember!
This year's expert panelists include:
- Dr. Tom O'Brien (moderator), Associate Dean of the College of Professional Continuing Education, California State University Long Beach and former Executive Director of CITT
- Dr. Noel Hacegaba, Chief Operating Officer, Port of Long Beach
- Robert Loya, Chief Executive Officer, Harbor Trucking Association
- More to be announced soon!
