KC SMARTPORT ANNUAL INDUSTRY BRIEFING


AXIS: 2024 ANNUAL INDUSTRY BRIEFING

Wednesday, April 10, 2024
3:00 - 6:00 P.M.
Kansas City Convention Center

KANSAS CITY IS THE CENTER OF GLOBAL INVESTMENT
      

North American project activity is booming across industries and regions, with major legislative moves fueling a 20-year high for U.S. manufacturing construction. The United States is currently attracting 23% of all foreign direct investment across the globe, with growing opportunities for reshoring and nearshoring.

Join industry leaders at the 2024 KC SmartPort Annual Industry Briefing to discover insights into the future of global investment in North America and its impact on U.S. industrial development, supply chain shifts and workforce trends.
 

FEATURED SPEAKERS


BERNARD BAUMOHL

Bernard Baumohl Headshot 2024

Bernard Baumohl is chief global economist at The Economic Outlook Group. He is well known for being ahead of the curve in assessing the direction of the U.S. and world economy. The Wall Street Journal ranked him as the most accurate economic forecaster for 2018.

Mr. Baumohl began his career as an analyst with the Council on Foreign Relations, a think tank specializing in international affairs and national security. He later served as an economist at European American Bank with responsibilities to monitor the global economy and develop forecasts. Mr. Baumohl was also an award-winning economics reporter with TIME magazine who covered the White House, Federal Reserve and Wall Street.

In additional to his current post as chief global economist, Mr. Baumohl is on the faculty of the New York Institute of Finance, where he conducts seminars on how forward-looking economic indicators can help business leaders better foresee turning points in the economy. He is also a member of the monthly Wall Street Journal Economic Forecast Panel and his projections on the economy and geopolitical trends are frequently cited in the New York TimesWashington PostBusiness WeekFinancial Times, and on National Public Radio.

Mr. Baumohl is author of The Secrets of Economic Indicators: Hidden Clues to Future Economic Trends and Investment Opportunities (Pearson Education). He has a Master’s degree in International Affairs and Economics from Columbia University.



DAVID HICKEY

Hickey-David+Hickey 

David Hickey is Global Managing Director of Hickey and Associates, a leader in location strategy, labor analytics, supply chain and logistics optimization, and government incentives advisory. David leads key client accounts and major initiatives for the firm around the world. In recent years, David has led the firm’s robust expansion in the dynamic Asia Pacific region and navigated the growth strategy for EMEA.

Prior to being a senior leader of the firm, David managed legislative and regulatory affairs for an international organization representing business and agriculture cooperatives and served as a policy advisor for a member of the United States Senate. David is a frequent contributor in industry media and a featured speaker at business, real estate, and economic development events globally.

Hickey and Associates supports a wide-ranging, diverse array of clients from industries ranging from aerospace and defense, semiconductors, automotive, food and beverage, and FCMG businesses, among many others.  With nearly forty years in the industry, the firm helps clients navigate their global footprints and supply chains to determine the optimal locations for their business operations.

David resides in Scottsdale, Arizona with his wife, son, and always-excitable cocker spaniel.  David also serves on the boards of several industry and philanthropic organizations, including the Michael P Hickey Foundation, a scholarship fund for aspiring economic development professionals.

2023 EVENT RECAP

KC SmartPort’s 2023 Annual Industry Briefing celebrated the Kansas City region’s momentum as a leader in the field of electrification, bringing together 650+ local and national business leaders on April 12, 2023. The event featured Panasonic and Burns & McDonnell leadership, who shared their insights on the electric vehicle (EV) industry and its impact on infrastructure, global supply chains and industrial development. Read the full event recap.