655 East County Road F
Vadnais Heights, MN 55127
April 14, 2026
Vadnais Heights Commons
member price: $299 I non-member price: $599
7:30 a.m. : Hot Breakfast & Networking
8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Conference Program
Hotel Options
Program Highlights
From AI Curiosity to Capability: A Practical Implementation Guide for Logistics
Craig Ritsema, Digital Growth Director, CLA & Brett Miller, Consulting CFO, CLA​
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AI is dominating industry conversations, but many logistics organizations are still determining what it actually means for their operations and where to begin. This session provides a clear, practical overview of what AI is—and what it isn’t—along with examples of where it is already delivering measurable results in logistics today. Attendees will learn the foundational steps to implementation, including working around legacy systems, building a usable data platform, securing operational data, selecting the right AI models, and identifying cost-effective applications across the organization. The session will equip logistics leaders with a straightforward framework for evaluating AI opportunities and deploying solutions that generate real business value without requiring massive technology overhauls.
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session 1
Making Money with Data: Proven Ways to Profit in a Challenging Freight Market
Swan Webb, Principal Data Scientist, The Results from Data Initiative​
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In a challenging freight market, margins are tight and every decision counts.
In this session. Swan Webb, Principal Data Scientist at The Results from Data Initiative, will share practical strategies for using data to drive profitability.
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Learn how to prioritize analytics investments for maximum ROI, avoid costly missteps—like investing in systems without aligning people and processes—and apply best practices for building sustainable data capabilities. This session will also explore how to create a culture of accountability so insights turn into measurable results.
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session 2
The People Component: How to Get the Right People in the Right Seats
Steven Andres, Certified EOS Implementer, EOS Worldwide​
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In this session attendees will learn how to clearly define and use their company’s core values, lean into their core focus or mission, and build an organizational structure that supports long-term success. Steve will also provide tools to help assess current team members and attract the right people for the right roles.
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Steve is a Certified EOS Implementer with EOS Worldwide who helps business owners and entrepreneurs get more of what they want from their businesses. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience as a business owner—including managing 10 retail locations and 40 employees—and more than 14 years of running businesses on the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), Steve brings practical, real-world insight to his work.
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session 3
Best Practice Roundtable Discussions
Discuss solutions to top issues impacting your business (pick two topics)​
​1. Dispatch Excellence: Art or Science?
2. Health Care Costs & Concerns
3. Up and Moving – Driver Health
4. AI Ideas – Open Discussion
5. Burnout or Recharge as a Leader
6. What Will Trucking Look Like in 5 Years?
7. Technology Overload – Thoughts & Opinions
8. Handling Conflict Between Departments
9. Building Pride in the Brand
10. Accountability Without Micromanagement
session 4
A Failure of Nerve is Costing you More Than you Think
Craig Howse, Founder, Conext​
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Effective leadership requires more than strategy and technicals skill; it demands a sense of self. A self-differentiated leader stands firmly on their values and principles, even when that becomes unpopular. They remain calm, grounded, and non-reactive in the face of pressure. They do not quit when challenges arise; they stay connected to their teams. In both business families and family businesses, emotionally aware leadership shapes culture, strengthens relationships, and drives long-term vision. Leadership is not just a process to follow; it is a way of thinking, choosing, and showing up.
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session 5
The Evolution of Trucking Leadership Through AI Integration
Kyle Kottke, General Manager, Kottke Trucking ​
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This session brings you beyond the technical hype and into the leadership reality from the trenches. You will get a candid look at Kottke Trucking’s AI journey, including what sparked it, the questions they asked, what they aimed to accomplish, where AI is delivering real operational value, and where he believes it will impact trucking first and most dramatically. This session will deliver practical insight, strategic clarity, and a roadmap to help you lead your organization confidently into what’s next.
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session 6
THANK YOU SPONSORS
LUNCH
DIAMOND
SILVER
