Agenda

Monday, February 10, 2025

Downtown San Antonio Icons Tour

Discover the rich history and vibrant culture of downtown San Antonio on a guided walking tour of its most iconic landmarks. Begin your journey at the historic Alamo, where you'll explore its significance as the city's first Spanish mission and delve into the pivotal Battle of the Alamo. Then, take a leisurely stroll along the beautiful River Walk, home to the largest urban ecosystem in the U.S. As you walk downtown, marvel at the stunning architecture of the San Fernando Cathedral, Bexar County Courthouse, Governor’s Palace, La Villita, and more. Your expert guide will share captivating stories of San Antonio’s heritage, making this tour an unforgettable experience in one of Texas’s most fascinating cities.

Pearl District History & Culinary Tour

Embark on a delightful culinary adventure through San Antonio's Pearl District, where exceptional flavors blend with rich history. Explore the revitalized charm of this vibrant area as you enjoy small plates from celebrated local eateries, highlighting the city’s dynamic food scene and its ties to the iconic Pearl Brewery. Along the way, discover the fascinating transformation of the district, from its roots as a historic brewery to its current status as a thriving center of gastronomy and culture.

Tuesday, February 11, 2025

ACD State of Affairs
Matt Fridley, Brenntag North America, Inc.; ACD Vice Chair of the Board

ACD Vice Chair of the Board, Matt Fridley, will deliver an update on association membership, programs, and events and provide an outlook of what's ahead. 

THRIVE: Turn Uncertainty to Your Competitive Advantage
Meridith Elliot Powell

In today’s fast-paced, disruptive marketplace, uncertainty is inevitable. The key to thriving is not avoiding change but embracing it as an opportunity. Without a strategy, this disruption can hurt innovation, talent retention, and bottom-line results.

Join award-winning business growth strategist and author, Meridith Elliott Powell, as she reveals proven strategies to turn uncertainty into a powerful asset. This high-energy keynote will provide actionable insights, compelling stories, and a personalized plan to help you not just survive—but thrive in times of disruption.

 Don’t miss this essential session to unlock your organization’s potential!

Learn How A Chemical Distributor Put Inventory & Customer Best Practices in Action
Pradip Krishnadevarajan Ph.D Co-founder, and Senthil Gunasekaran, Co-founder, ACTvantage

In this session, attendees will discover essential best practices for effectively managing inventory, customers, and their interconnections. You’ll learn how to use quantitative assessments of inventory and customer profitability to make key decisions, such as freeing up high-risk inventory and protecting the right inventory for core customers.

You’ll also gain valuable insights from a chemical distributor's roadmap for streamlining inventory management. Plus, uncover how these principles can enhance your margin and pricing strategies for even greater business success.

Lunch

Facilitation Techniques for Enhancing Relationships, Developing Teams, and Conducting Effective Meetings
Becky Frederick, Workplace Strategy

Do you wonder why employees are not more engaged in projects or meetings? Are your teams struggling to collaborate and execute on behalf of your business?  

Using facilitation techniques, she has learned and practiced for over 25 years, Becky will share how these techniques can increase effectiveness, engagement, and collaboration across an organization. The word “facilitate” comes from the Latin facilis, for "easy" and it means to make something easier or more likely to happen – which is essential for today’s business initiatives. Leaders and managers require various tools and techniques as they face increasing uncertainty and change in their business environments and organizations.  

Participants will leave this interactive session with best practices and resources that will assist them in facilitating relationships, teams, and meetings to support greater efficiency and effectiveness.

Cybersecurity Best Practices
Todd Vasilou, CISA

In this must-attend session, Todd Vasilou from CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency) will provide a thorough overview of the agency’s mission and key initiatives, highlighting its vital role in protecting national cybersecurity. Attendees will gain valuable, firsthand insights into the latest cyber threats and vulnerabilities through an in-depth cyber threat briefing, ensuring your organization is well-equipped to stay ahead of emerging risks. The session will conclude with an exclusive look at CISA’s powerful, no-cost resources and services designed to strengthen your cybersecurity defenses.

Networking Reception

Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Duty Drawback: How to Save on Import Duties, Taxes and Fees
Alessandra Mediago, Charter Brokerage

Join Charter Brokerage for a high-level overview of how to establish and manage a sophisticated duty-drawback program that will refund import duty, tax, and fee recoveries.  We will walk through the requirements and compliance ‘must haves’ behind drawback programs while examining what types of drawback opportunities are available within your company’s imports and exports and your overall supply chain.  Duty mitigation tactics are at an all-time high due to the international trade landscape, and we invite you to learn more about drawbacks from the nation’s largest drawback company.

Break

Legislative and Regulatory Update
Nick Breslin, ACD

Join ACD’s Senior Manager of Regulatory Affairs, Nick Breslin, for a comprehensive session designed to keep you ahead of the curve in the ever-evolving legislative and regulatory landscape. Nick will guide you through the latest critical updates and their direct implications for your business. Additionally, he will showcase valuable ACD resources tailored to help your company navigate complex regulatory changes, ensuring compliance and long-term success in the face of shifting policies.