Event Calendar
Past Event
Industry Technical Workshop: "AI in Transportation: From Insight to Action to Outcome How Visibility, Execution, and Asset Networks Are (or Aren't) Delivering Real Results"
Northwestern University Transportation Center
2:00 PM
//
Room 1420/30, Kellogg Global Hub
Details
The AI in Transportation Industry Workshop will explore the growing role of AI in managing transportation assets, operations and systems. To address this rapidly evolving landscape the Northwestern University Transportation Center is bringing together subject matter experts to discuss how AI is (or is not) delivering real results. The Workshop will feature leaders from C.H. Robinson, Loop, project44, XPO and Wi-Tronix.
EVENT CHAIR
Bret Johnson - Interim Director, NUTC
AGENDA
2:00 PM Welcome / Opening Remarks
* Bret Johnson, Interim Director, NUTC
2:10 PM Presentations
* Ryan Hammett, Director, Market Intelligence & Insights, C.H. Robinson
* Larry Jordan, Chief Executive Officer & President, Wi-Tronix
* Nick Ruggiero, Director, Product Management, project44
* Jay Silberkleit, Chief Information Officer, XPO
3:15 PM Networking Break
3:45 PM Panel Discussion
* [Moderator] Jonathan Shaver, Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer, Loop
4:30 PM End of Program
BIOGRAPHIES
RYAN HAMMETT [speaker]
Director, Market Intelligence & Insights, C. H. Robinson
Ryan Hammett is the Director of Market Intelligence and Insights at C.H. Robinson, where he oversees C.H. Robinson’s North America thought leadership team. With $22 billion in freight under management and 19 million shipments annually, C.H. Robinson solves logistics problems for over 90,000 customers and 450,000 contract carriers on their platform globally. This unique industry perspective allows Ryan and his team to help the shipper and carrier communities simplify transportation-related complexities into actionable insights. His responsibilities also include C.H. Robinson’s collaboration with research universities to publish academic studies relevant to supply
chain and transportation.
In his time at C.H. Robinson Ryan has held multiple roles mostly focused on the shipper
community, including technology implementation, business development, M&A integration(Freightquote), project management, commercial strategy, and as chief of staff to the Chief Commercial Officer. Ryan graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering from Louisiana Tech University (2000). Prior to joining C.H. Robinson, Ryan worked in the civil engineering and consulting industries. Originally from Louisiana, Ryan has lived in the Twin Cities of Minnesota since 2013 with his wife and two sons.
BRET JOHNSON [host]
Interim Director, Northwestern University Transportation Center
Bret Johnson is the senior associate director of the Northwestern University Transportation Center (NUTC), and the director of the Center for the Commercialization of Innovative Transportation Technology at Northwestern. Prior to joining Northwestern, Bret held senior engineering and project management positions at 3COM, Grayhill, Northrop-Grumman, and GE Astrospace. He received an M.A. in Science, Technology and Public Policy from The George Washington University, an M.S. in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Stanford University, and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
LARRY JORDAN [speaker]
Chief Executive Officer & President, Wi-Tronix
Larry Jordan, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Wi-Tronix, is committed to a global vision of saving lives by improving the safety, service reliability, and operational efficiency of transportation systems for the rail industry. Prior to founding Wi-Tronix, Larry spent 15 years at the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors working on innovative digital solutions for the railway industry. In 2004, Larry created the beginnings of Wi-Tronix in his own basement, deploying the first system in May of 2005. Despite humble beginnings and challenges, Larry adopted the “Make Things Happen” attitude early on. An inventor and innovator, Larry holds multiple patents in locomotive control systems. He believes passionately that innovation can provide the future of rail safety. Through collaborative innovation, Larry was able to gain new customers, deploy Wi-Tronix event recorders, and expand the product line to include interface capabilities, ultimately leading to the Wi-Tronix IoT & Violet Edge systems.
NICK RUGGIERO [speaker]
Director, Product Management, project44
Nick Ruggiero is Director of Product Management at project44, the global leader in supply chain decision intelligence. He leads product strategy for AI-powered automation — including the company's Autopilot platform and AI agents that autonomously resolve supply chain exceptions. Nick played a key role in the creation of Movement, project44's Decision Intelligence Platform, as well as core supply chain visibility products. Prior to project44, he held product roles at Uptake, an industrial AI company. Nick attended the Illinois Institute of Technology and is based in the Chicago area.
JONATHAN SHAVER [moderator]
Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer, Loop
Jonathan Shaver is the co-Founder and Chief Business Officer of Loop. Jonathan previously co-founded and was CEO of StrategIQ Commerce, which worked with many of the largest e-commerce and retail brands assisting in design, oversight, and measurement of their shipping networks. He built the company to 100 + employees who processed and analyzed billions of shipping and commerce transactions before an acquisition by Loop. He holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management with an emphasis in Transportation and is a supporter and advocate of Entrepreneurship and Diversity initiatives at Kellogg. Jonathan resides in Chicago IL with his wife and two sons. His family foundation, Limitless, supports scholarships for both academic and extra circular activities for Chicago’s underserved youth.
JAY SILBERKLEIT [speaker]
Chief Information Officer, XPO
Jay Silberkleit leads XPO’s technology organization, the capstone of an 18-year career as an enterprise systems leader with Fortune 500 companies that have complex technology-centric operations. Mr. Silberkleit joined XPO as vice president, enterprise architecture in 2012, shortly after the company was founded, and was instrumental in creating XPO’s technology ecosystem, including its digital brokerage platform. In 2021, he was named senior vice president, technology, with responsibility for the company’s optimization initiatives in less-than-truckload. Mr. Silberkleit came to XPO from Waste Management, Inc., where he served as principal software engineer.
ABOUT NUTC
The Northwestern University Transportation Center (NUTC) is one of the world’s leading interdisciplinary education and research institutions, serving industry, government and the public sectors. Founded in 1954 to generate substantive and enduring contributions for the better movement of materials, people, energy, and information, NUTC stands at the forefront of transportation research and education. NUTC brings together academic researchers, students and business affiliates in a joint open exploration of transportation and supply chain operations. NUTC aims to influence national and international transportation policy, management and technological developments with the goal of making transportation and supply chain operations more productive, efficient, safe, secure, environmentally friendly and socially beneficial.
Time
Wednesday, May 13, 2026 at 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Location
Room 1420/30, Kellogg Global Hub Map
Contact
Calendar
Northwestern University Transportation Center
Northwestern Engineering PhD Hooding and Master's Degree Recognition Ceremony
McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science
9:00 AM
Details
McCormick School of Engineering PhD Hooding and Master's Degree Recognition Ceremony. The most up to date information can be found on our graduation webpage.
Time
Monday, June 15, 2026 at 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Contact
Calendar
McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science
Northwestern Engineering Undergraduate Convocation
McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science
2:00 PM
Details
McCormick School of Engineering Undergraduate Convocation. The most up to date information can be found on our graduation webpage.
Time
Monday, June 15, 2026 at 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Contact
Calendar
McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science
NUTC Exec Ed (Summer 2026) Freight Transportation & Logistics
Northwestern University Transportation Center
8:00 AM
//
Ruan Conference Center, Chambers Hall
Details
EXECUTIVE EDUCATION SERIES
Freight Transportation & Logistics:
Resilient Freight Leadership: Navigating Recovery, Disruption, and the Future of Moving Freight
July 20-22, 2026
CLICK TO REGISTER - JULY 2026
Northwestern University Transportation Center’s (NUTC) 2026 Executive Education Freight Transportation & Logistics program, Resilient Freight Leadership - Navigating Recovery, Disruption, and the Future of Moving Freight, will be offered on July 20-22 at NUTC headquarters in Evanston.
Over the last couple of years, the global logistics community has managed challenges across the first, middle, and final mile. The ongoing global turbulence associated with war-related disruptions and complex tariff policies in the supply of various commodities, labor recruitment challenges, and inflation have continued to pressure supply chains and increase volatility on both the demand and supply sides. Even with a gradual recovery from the “freight recession,” other economic and operational uncertainties will continue to impact the freight transportation system across every mode and across all geographies. In this essential three-day Executive Education program, Northwestern faculty and industry experts will provide fundamental knowledge and practical insights for managing through these challenges and beyond.
NUTC’s Freight Transportation & Logistics three-day Executive Education program has a proven track record of delivering current and forward-looking insight and actionable knowledge into North American/global transportation and supply chains. From domestic transportation (intermodal, parcel and last mile delivery, rail, third-party logistics, trucking, warehousing), to international transportation (air cargo, ocean shipping, ports, sourcing), the program provides an unmatched view into how freight moves. Attendees will get a first-hand look at domestic and international logistics and supply chain trends and learn how to leverage freight management technology and data analytics for greater efficiency and resilience. This program is specifically designed for early- to mid-level transportation managers, at both carriers and shippers, to deepen their overall knowledge of the freight transportation ecosystem.
Program content will be thoroughly integrated by our instructors, so that participants will gain a comprehensive understanding and view of both domestic and international transportation sectors. The program is interactive in nature and will provide many opportunities for discussions with faculty and fellow participants. Prior knowledge and experience in logistics, transportation and supply chain management will be useful, but is not a prerequisite.
INSTRUCTORS
Mark Baxa - President and CEO, CSCMP
Mike Brennan - Advisor, Farmer’s Fridge
Mike Burton – CEO, MEDLOG
Eric Jakubowski - Rail consultant
Shawn McWhorter - President (Americas Region), Nippon Cargo Airlines
Marty O'Hara - CenterPoint Properties, VP Strategic Projects & Planning
Chris Pickett - Chief Operating Officer, Flock Freight
Steven Rothberg - Founding Partner, Mercator International
Ian Savage - Associate Chair and Professor of Instruction in Economics, Northwestern
Joseph L. Schofer - Professor Emeritus of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northwestern
Bill Seliger - Director, Amazon Delivery Central Operations, Amazon
Dana Thompson - Transportation and Logistics Strategy Consultant, Timothy L Jones & Associates
Jan Van Mieghem - A.C. Buehler Professor & Deputy Dean, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern
Justin Zubrod - Managing Partner, Justin Zubrod & Co.
TOPICS
Freight Transportation & Logistics Trends
Data Science & Transportation Analytics
Managing Under Uncertainty
Global Sourcing (On / Near-Shoring) Strategy
Freight & Logistics Operations:
> Air Cargo
> Intermodal
> Ocean Shipping and Ports
> Rail
> Trucking
> 3PL/4PL, Brokerage, Warehouse
Package / Parcel Shipping & Last-Mile Services
Freight Performance Measurement
Transportation Pricing & Costs
Future of Freight Technology and Trends
REGISTRATION
Registration includes attendee tuition, materials, breakfast, lunch and a welcome reception.
For group rates, please contact Bret Johnson.
General Registration (early bird $2500) (increase to $3,000 on June 20)
Business Advisory Council Company Employees ($2,200)
Look up Business Advisory Council companies
Government & Academic Professionals ($2,300)
CLICK TO REGISTER - JULY 2026
Time
Monday, July 20, 2026 at 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Location
Ruan Conference Center, Chambers Hall Map
Contact
Calendar
Northwestern University Transportation Center
NUTC Exec Ed (Summer 2026) Freight Transportation & Logistics
Northwestern University Transportation Center
8:00 AM
//
Ruan Conference Center, Chambers Hall
Details
EXECUTIVE EDUCATION SERIES
Freight Transportation & Logistics:
Resilient Freight Leadership: Navigating Recovery, Disruption, and the Future of Moving Freight
July 20-22, 2026
CLICK TO REGISTER - JULY 2026
Northwestern University Transportation Center’s (NUTC) 2026 Executive Education Freight Transportation & Logistics program, Resilient Freight Leadership - Navigating Recovery, Disruption, and the Future of Moving Freight, will be offered on July 20-22 at NUTC headquarters in Evanston.
Over the last couple of years, the global logistics community has managed challenges across the first, middle, and final mile. The ongoing global turbulence associated with war-related disruptions and complex tariff policies in the supply of various commodities, labor recruitment challenges, and inflation have continued to pressure supply chains and increase volatility on both the demand and supply sides. Even with a gradual recovery from the “freight recession,” other economic and operational uncertainties will continue to impact the freight transportation system across every mode and across all geographies. In this essential three-day Executive Education program, Northwestern faculty and industry experts will provide fundamental knowledge and practical insights for managing through these challenges and beyond.
NUTC’s Freight Transportation & Logistics three-day Executive Education program has a proven track record of delivering current and forward-looking insight and actionable knowledge into North American/global transportation and supply chains. From domestic transportation (intermodal, parcel and last mile delivery, rail, third-party logistics, trucking, warehousing), to international transportation (air cargo, ocean shipping, ports, sourcing), the program provides an unmatched view into how freight moves. Attendees will get a first-hand look at domestic and international logistics and supply chain trends and learn how to leverage freight management technology and data analytics for greater efficiency and resilience. This program is specifically designed for early- to mid-level transportation managers, at both carriers and shippers, to deepen their overall knowledge of the freight transportation ecosystem.
Program content will be thoroughly integrated by our instructors, so that participants will gain a comprehensive understanding and view of both domestic and international transportation sectors. The program is interactive in nature and will provide many opportunities for discussions with faculty and fellow participants. Prior knowledge and experience in logistics, transportation and supply chain management will be useful, but is not a prerequisite.
INSTRUCTORS
Mark Baxa - President and CEO, CSCMP
Mike Brennan - Advisor, Farmer’s Fridge
Mike Burton – CEO, MEDLOG
Eric Jakubowski - Rail consultant
Shawn McWhorter - President (Americas Region), Nippon Cargo Airlines
Marty O'Hara - CenterPoint Properties, VP Strategic Projects & Planning
Chris Pickett - Chief Operating Officer, Flock Freight
Steven Rothberg - Founding Partner, Mercator International
Ian Savage - Associate Chair and Professor of Instruction in Economics, Northwestern
Joseph L. Schofer - Professor Emeritus of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northwestern
Bill Seliger - Director, Amazon Delivery Central Operations, Amazon
Dana Thompson - Transportation and Logistics Strategy Consultant, Timothy L Jones & Associates
Jan Van Mieghem - A.C. Buehler Professor & Deputy Dean, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern
Justin Zubrod - Managing Partner, Justin Zubrod & Co.
TOPICS
Freight Transportation & Logistics Trends
Data Science & Transportation Analytics
Managing Under Uncertainty
Global Sourcing (On / Near-Shoring) Strategy
Freight & Logistics Operations:
> Air Cargo
> Intermodal
> Ocean Shipping and Ports
> Rail
> Trucking
> 3PL/4PL, Brokerage, Warehouse
Package / Parcel Shipping & Last-Mile Services
Freight Performance Measurement
Transportation Pricing & Costs
Future of Freight Technology and Trends
REGISTRATION
Registration includes attendee tuition, materials, breakfast, lunch and a welcome reception.
For group rates, please contact Bret Johnson.
General Registration (early bird $2500) (increase to $3,000 on June 20)
Business Advisory Council Company Employees ($2,200)
Look up Business Advisory Council companies
Government & Academic Professionals ($2,300)
CLICK TO REGISTER - JULY 2026
Time
Tuesday, July 21, 2026 at 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Location
Ruan Conference Center, Chambers Hall Map
Contact
Calendar
Northwestern University Transportation Center
NUTC Exec Ed (Summer 2026) Freight Transportation & Logistics
Northwestern University Transportation Center
8:00 AM
//
Ruan Conference Center, Chambers Hall
Details
EXECUTIVE EDUCATION SERIES
Freight Transportation & Logistics:
Resilient Freight Leadership: Navigating Recovery, Disruption, and the Future of Moving Freight
July 20-22, 2026
CLICK TO REGISTER - JULY 2026
Northwestern University Transportation Center’s (NUTC) 2026 Executive Education Freight Transportation & Logistics program, Resilient Freight Leadership - Navigating Recovery, Disruption, and the Future of Moving Freight, will be offered on July 20-22 at NUTC headquarters in Evanston.
Over the last couple of years, the global logistics community has managed challenges across the first, middle, and final mile. The ongoing global turbulence associated with war-related disruptions and complex tariff policies in the supply of various commodities, labor recruitment challenges, and inflation have continued to pressure supply chains and increase volatility on both the demand and supply sides. Even with a gradual recovery from the “freight recession,” other economic and operational uncertainties will continue to impact the freight transportation system across every mode and across all geographies. In this essential three-day Executive Education program, Northwestern faculty and industry experts will provide fundamental knowledge and practical insights for managing through these challenges and beyond.
NUTC’s Freight Transportation & Logistics three-day Executive Education program has a proven track record of delivering current and forward-looking insight and actionable knowledge into North American/global transportation and supply chains. From domestic transportation (intermodal, parcel and last mile delivery, rail, third-party logistics, trucking, warehousing), to international transportation (air cargo, ocean shipping, ports, sourcing), the program provides an unmatched view into how freight moves. Attendees will get a first-hand look at domestic and international logistics and supply chain trends and learn how to leverage freight management technology and data analytics for greater efficiency and resilience. This program is specifically designed for early- to mid-level transportation managers, at both carriers and shippers, to deepen their overall knowledge of the freight transportation ecosystem.
Program content will be thoroughly integrated by our instructors, so that participants will gain a comprehensive understanding and view of both domestic and international transportation sectors. The program is interactive in nature and will provide many opportunities for discussions with faculty and fellow participants. Prior knowledge and experience in logistics, transportation and supply chain management will be useful, but is not a prerequisite.
INSTRUCTORS
Mark Baxa - President and CEO, CSCMP
Mike Brennan - Advisor, Farmer’s Fridge
Mike Burton – CEO, MEDLOG
Eric Jakubowski - Rail consultant
Shawn McWhorter - President (Americas Region), Nippon Cargo Airlines
Marty O'Hara - CenterPoint Properties, VP Strategic Projects & Planning
Chris Pickett - Chief Operating Officer, Flock Freight
Steven Rothberg - Founding Partner, Mercator International
Ian Savage - Associate Chair and Professor of Instruction in Economics, Northwestern
Joseph L. Schofer - Professor Emeritus of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northwestern
Bill Seliger - Director, Amazon Delivery Central Operations, Amazon
Dana Thompson - Transportation and Logistics Strategy Consultant, Timothy L Jones & Associates
Jan Van Mieghem - A.C. Buehler Professor & Deputy Dean, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern
Justin Zubrod - Managing Partner, Justin Zubrod & Co.
TOPICS
Freight Transportation & Logistics Trends
Data Science & Transportation Analytics
Managing Under Uncertainty
Global Sourcing (On / Near-Shoring) Strategy
Freight & Logistics Operations:
> Air Cargo
> Intermodal
> Ocean Shipping and Ports
> Rail
> Trucking
> 3PL/4PL, Brokerage, Warehouse
Package / Parcel Shipping & Last-Mile Services
Freight Performance Measurement
Transportation Pricing & Costs
Future of Freight Technology and Trends
REGISTRATION
Registration includes attendee tuition, materials, breakfast, lunch and a welcome reception.
For group rates, please contact Bret Johnson.
General Registration (early bird $2500) (increase to $3,000 on June 20)
Business Advisory Council Company Employees ($2,200)
Look up Business Advisory Council companies
Government & Academic Professionals ($2,300)
CLICK TO REGISTER - JULY 2026
Time
Wednesday, July 22, 2026 at 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Location
Ruan Conference Center, Chambers Hall Map
Contact
Calendar
Northwestern University Transportation Center