CCLA is proud to kick off this year’s conference

“Courier & Logistics – Supply Chain Convergence”

with a bang!

Transportation and logistics professionals will be acutely interested in the opening portion of the day’s events.

The events begin when CCLA hosts a shipper/customer panel entitled "Shippers’ Perspectives – Customers’ Views on Courier & Logistics Providers" (session to run from 8:30 – 9:20 am).

This forum will provide perspectives from high volume users on such areas as company key buying factors, service requirements and quality, satisfaction levels, and their assessment of the state of the industry.

Our prestigious panel includes: Bill Dearden, General Manager, Distribution of American Eagle Outfitters Canada, Michael Grier, Logistics Manager of Avon Canada Inc. and John Bescec, Regional Trade Manager for the Americas Region for Microsoft Canada. Panelists will share insight, future trends, vision and more. 

Join attendees that will include senior executives, owners, operations personnel and decision makers from various courier, messenger and logistics corporations of all sizes, as well as others involved in transportation invited from across Canada; listen and learn from these insights. 

Through this session, delegates should take away a better understanding of what shippers look for when selecting a courier or logistics partner in these times of continuous industry integration.

• Hear viewpoints and opinions of three leading Canadian shippers – users of courier & logistics firms
• Hear their visions regarding historical and future trends in goods movement

Our Prestigious Panel Participants:

Bill Dearden

General Manager –– Distribution

American Eagle Outfitters Canada

Bill Dearden is the General Manager of distribution for American Eagle Canada.  His professional background spans many years in various logistics Operations and General Manager positions with Swift Sure Group, Midland Transport, TNT, and now with American Eagle Outfitters Canada. He is CITT Distribution and TDG IATA Certified and attended West Humber Collegiate Institute. He is a proud father of 2 teenagers, living in Oakville for the past 16 years.

American Eagle Outfitters (NASDAQ: AEOS) is a leading retailer that designs, markets and sells its own brand of laidback, current clothing targeting 15 to 25 year-olds, providing high-quality merchandise at affordable prices. AE's original collection includes standards like jeans and graphic Ts as well as essentials like accessories, outerwear, footwear, basics and swimwear.

American Eagle Outfitters currently operates 815 stores in 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and 71 AE stores in Canada. A new branded intimates line under the name “aerie by American Eagle” arrived in American Eagle stores this fall. The assortment includes a complete line of bras, undies and dormwear designed for American Eagle's core 15 to 25 year-old customer. AE also operates ae.com, which offers additional sizes and styles of favorite AE merchandise and ships around the world. The company plans to open MARTIN + OSA, a new sportswear concept targeting 25 to 40 year-old women and men, in the fall of 2006.

For additional information and updates, visit www.martinandosa.com. Or http://www.ae.com

Michael A. Grier

Logistics Manager

Avon Canada Inc.

Michael's current responsibilities include all aspects of Avon Canada's logistic network, including ocean, air and ground transportation for import, export and customs compliance, as well as a domestic delivery network of over 50 companies that provide transportation services to more than 65,000 Avon Sales Representatives.

He has more than 15 years of Supply Chain experience and has held management positions in Sales Operations, Customer Service, Distribution, Sourcing and Materials Management.

Avon is the world's leading direct seller of beauty and related products, with $8 billion in annual revenues and nearly 48,000 employees. We market to women around the world through 5 million independent sales representatives in over 120 countries.  Avon is widely recognized as a top global brand and a world leader in lipsticks, fragrances and anti-aging skin care.

Worldwide, Avon sells three pieces of jewelry each second, that’s 89,725,000 pieces a year!  Avon also stopped product safety testing on animals in 1989. Visit us at www.avon.ca

John Bescec

Regional Trade Manager, Americas Region

Microsoft Canada Co.

John Bescec is the Regional Trade Manager for the Americas Region for Microsoft Corporation.  His professional background includes over 17 years in international trade, logistics, domestic and international customs compliance.  His current role involves managing regional trade, providing technical expertise and support to the Microsoft business streams, Microsoft vendors, and establishing and managing trade policy and compliance in Canada.  Prior to joining Microsoft, he was Senior Vice President with I.E. Canada and an International Trade Advisor for Nortel Networks. He is a Certified International Trade Professional (C.I.T.P.), a Certified Customs Specialist (CCS), a Certified Association Executive (CAE) and he holds a BA in Industrial Relations from the University of Toronto.

Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing.

Microsoft Canada Co. was founded in 1985. As the Canadian subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation in Redmond, Washington, the company provides sales, marketing, consulting and local support services in French and English. Microsoft Canada has grown from five people in 1985 to more than 800 employees. It also has strong relationships with more than 24,000 partners across Canada. More than 1,100 of these are Microsoft Certified Partners, and over 200 are Gold Certified Partners.

Headquartered in Mississauga, Microsoft Canada has regional offices in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec and Halifax.

Microsoft Canada had more than $1 billion in annual sales in 2005. In a 2005 KPMG/Ipsos-Reid study, Canadian CEOs voted Microsoft one of the 25 most respected corporations in Canada.

Microsoft Canada was also named in 2005 as one of Canada's 50 Best Employers in Report on Business Magazine and named one of Canada's Top 100 Employers in Maclean's.

For additional information and updates, visit www.microsoft.ca

Back to Speakers