Advisory Committee on Supply Chain Competitiveness adds new members

The Department of Commerce this week deepened its bench of public and private sector supply chain, logistics, and freight transportation heavy hitters, announcing it has added 11 new members to its Advisory Committee on Supply Chain Competitiveness (ACSSC).

The main role of the Committee, which Commerce said is comprised of 45 senior-level private sector representatives of multiple industries and supply chain experts that the department appointed, is to advise the Secretary, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and other U.S. agencies on supply chain issues that affect the international competitiveness of U.S. business. Committee members come from various supply chain backgrounds, including manufacturers, 3PL’s, industry associations, port authorities, airlines, and consultants, among others.

The ACSSC was established in November 2011.

The 11 new members of the ACSSC are:
-Jaqueline Faseler, Global Supply Chain Sustainability Director – The Dow Chemical Company – Midland, Mich.;
-Jonathan Gold, Vice President, Supply Chain and Customs Policy – National Retail Federation – Washington, D.C.;
Walter Kemmsies, Chief Economist – JLL – Chicago, Ill.;
-Houston Mason, Director of Distribution – McCormick and Company – Hunt Valley, Md.;
-Elizabeth Ogard, President – Prime Focus – De Pere, Wis.;
-Bethann Rooney, Deputy Director of the Port Commerce Department – The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey – New York, N.Y.;
-Gene Seroka, Executive Director – Port of Los Angeles – San Pedro, Calif.;
-Yossi Sheffi, Director – Massachusetts Institute of Technology Center for Transportation and Logistics – Cambridge, Mass.;
-Jon Slangerup, Chief Executive Officer – Port of Long Beach – Long Beach, Calif.;
-Prem William, Vice President SCI Solutions and Operations – HAVI Global Solutions – Downers Grove, Ill.; and
Melzana Wilson, Vice President of Compliance – Mallory Alexander International Logistics – Memphis, Tenn.

Commerce officials said that the ACSCC has provided Obama administration officials with a series of recommendations related to Single Window and American freight-related issues that were used in the President’s Single Window initiative and developing U.S. freight policy and plans, and its next meeting scheduled for April 20-21 in Houston.          

When the Committee was first introduced nearly five years ago, Commerce said it would
act as a liaison between industry and government and endeavor to ensure regular contact with supply chain-based industries, including manufacturers, distributors, and exports. It added that the Committee’s advice will play a role in developing a national freight policy and in executing President Obama’s National Export Initiative.

The Committee also has the ear of key policy makers inside the Beltway, at the Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency
Commerce said federal officials serve on the Committee as non-voting members and work with those and other agencies to coordinate government activities and programs to implement Committee recommendations.

Newsroom Notes recently caught up with new ACSCC member Jonathan Gold at the National Retail Federation about his appointment to the board. Gold will advise officials on improving international competitiveness in his role at the ACSCC.

“From my perspective, my role will focus on looking at the supply chain from both the international and domestic sides, as both are equally important,” he said. “It is great we can move product from overseas to the U.S., but moving within the U.S. can be a problem. That is due to things like the current state of U.S. infrastructure, congestion issues impacting ports, and regulatory issues as well. All these things are important, and my hope is that the committee takes a deep dive into these issues to work on things like freight policy, the regulatory piece, and how to pay for it all.”

Gold explained these are all big supply chain-related questions that continue to be asked. This is why this committee is key to advancing these issues and coming up with solutions moving forward.