Develop Visionary Leadership Skills at WERC’s Annual Conference

With the theme “Leading with Vision,” WERC’s marquee event showcases guidance to help boost efficiency today and gain a clear vision for future success.

Annually, the Warehousing Education and Research Council (WERC), a division of MHI, presents the only event dedicated to bringing warehousing, distribution and logistics professionals together—the WERC 2025 Annual Conference. I—along with WERC Conference Vice Chair Melissa “Mel” Alwood, regional vice president operations at Neovia Logistics—am thrilled to invite you to join us at our marquee event in New Orleans on June 8‑11.

Over the past several months, we’ve built the WERC Conference with a variety of educational experiences that support the event’s theme: “Leading with Vision.” Attendees will gain exclusive access to insights from the best minds in our supply chain community. Through a range of session formats—including keynotes, thought leader presentations, peer‑to‑peer discussions, facility tours and more—you’ll explore a variety of approaches to elevate your operational efficiency today and gain a clear vision of what it takes to succeed in the future.

A Conference Committee comprised of WERC members reviews each proposed educational session topic. These volunteers consider both the relevance and timeliness of the presentation to ensure its content delivers maximum value. This vetting process ensures that WERC Conference attendees get insights into the topics that are directly applicable to their operational situations. This effort ensures your time will be well spent.

Don’t miss this chance to immerse yourself and your team in informative sessions covering the newest technologies, best practices and leading trends.

• Session topics include robotics, high‑performing teams, sustainability, automation, artificial intelligence (AI) and the voice of the American workforce.
• You’ll discover the latest developments in operational benchmarking and gain actionable insights that will propel your organization forward.
• There will be plenty of formal and informal opportunities for networking with your peers, including at off‑site opening and closing receptions, during breaks between sessions and at lunch. Women @ WERC—open to everyone—also returns as a networking and education session on Monday afternoon.
• The WERC Conference couldn’t happen without the support of its many industry sponsors. Meet the technology and solutions providers who support your day‑to‑day operations at kiosks located throughout the event.

Opening, Closing Keynotes to Share Guidance on “Leading with Vision”

The Conference Committee is particularly excited about the two keynotes we have planned.

On Monday, Destin Sandlin opens the WERC Conference with an 8:30 a.m. keynote, “The ‘Smarter Every Day’ Perspective: Embracing Change and Breaking Barriers.” This inspiring and engaging kickoff session will help shift attendees’ perspectives and set the tone for the days ahead. Sandlin—a renowned engineer and creator of YouTube’s hit series “Smarter Every Day”—will challenge attendees to rethink the familiar and embrace the unexpected. Known for his viral “Backwards Bicycle” experiment, Sandlin uses his unique storytelling and scientific approach to reveal how unlearning old habits can be as powerful as learning new ones. Attendees will discover new ways to open their minds, confront challenges head‑on and adopt a fresh perspective to drive innovation and adaptability throughout warehousing and supply chain operations.

Closing the WERC Conference on Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. is Sugar Ray Leonard, who will share “The Power to Win.” Achieving greatness—whether in the ring or across the supply chain—requires discipline, focus, determination, preparation and the courage to face challenges head‑on. Leonard’s keynote will draw compelling parallels between his legendary boxing career and the principles that drive personal and professional success. Through humor and engaging storytelling, he will share lessons from his journey to Olympic gold, professional championships and entrepreneurial success. This dynamic presentation will emphasize themes essential to logistics and distribution: peak performance, resilience under pressure and adapting to change in a fast‑paced environment. Attendees will leave inspired by his actionable principles and motivated to achieve their own championship‑level success.

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