Joe Artino started his career at UPS in 1995 as a peak season Driver Helper, based out of Newbury Park, CA. He worked his way through various positions in Operations and Sales, becoming an International/Air Specialist out of Van Nuys. Soon after, he was promoted to International Account Manager, and then Senior Account Manager out of Gardena, CA. Following eight years of selling and managing many of the company’s SoCal District customers, he was promoted to Director of Global Accounts in 2014, and was assigned to the Nike account. Joe has a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and Master of Science in Supply Chain Management from University of San Diego.

At Boeing, Ezunial "Eze" Burts is responsible for rapidly advancing the adoption of technology and innovative industry methods to drive safety, quality, digital transformation, factory automation, and future production strategy. He closely interfaces with the enterprise operations councils for Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality and Program Management. Previously, he served as senior manager Global Engineering Strategy & Operations / External Technical Affiliations, where he oversaw company-wide strategy and investment levels for global strategic partnerships and led a team of program management professionals to manage an investment portfolio. With over 20 years of experience, Eze is a Certified Professional Contract Manager and he earned a Global Logistics Specialist Professional Designation from CSULB, where he is now an instructor. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Policy at the University of Southern California and studied at MIT Sloan School of Management. He is a founding board member of Thriving Elements, a non-profit organization that provides mentorship for girls in underserved neighborhoods.

Jeff Cribbs started Fairgrounds Transportation in 2008 as a full-service 3PL transportation provider, and recently added international and trade show divisions to his company service offerings. In 2015, he started Precision Logistics with two partners and provides warehousing, pick and pack, and fulfillment out of multiple locations across the U.S. Jeff was previously the Director of Sales for Daylight Transport, where he designed and taught the Selling and Account Management Skills training course for sales representatives. Jeff also recently acted as a consultant for The Dependable Companies, helping to merge five different independent divisions into a single marketing strategy. Jeff has a Bachelor of Arts in Engineering Technology with a focus on Robotics from CSULB.

Sue Dexter is currently a PhD candidate in Urban Planning and Development at the University of Southern California. Her research interests include transportation planning and infrastructure, freight, and environmental policy. She was previously a Program Manager at Toyota Motor North America for 26 years, where she specialized in broad-scale distribution and system development projects and coordinated all aspects of parts distribution center construction, design, and launch. She is a certified Toyota Production Systems instructor and kaizen leader. Sue has a Master’s degree in Operational Research from the London School of Economics, and currently serves on the Advisory Board for Cabrillo High School’s Academy of Global Logistics (AGL) program.

Dr. Pearl Dytuco is responsible for global logistics operations at Skyworks Solutions headquartered in Irvine, California. She has 32 years of experience in international trade, compliance, and operations. Pearl’s educational accomplishments include a Doctoral degree in Business Administration (California Southern University), Master’s in Business Administration (University of Redlands), Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering (University of Santo Tomas), Global Logistics Specialist Certification (CSULB), and Supply Chain Management Certification (Pennsylvania State University). Pearl is a Six Sigma Green Belt professional and a licensed U.S. Customs Broker.

Samantha Galltin has over 18 years of experience in operations, business development, and strategic leadership across transportation, logistics, and maritime sectors. At the Port of Long Beach, she led the Commercial Operations Bureau, enhancing the Port’s value proposition and expanding market share through strategic customer engagement. Her background includes key leadership roles at BNSF, where she managed industrial sales and port development strategies across the southern half of the network. More recently, she held executive roles at InductEV and Fleetzero, overseeing commercial operations, customer success, and decarbonization initiatives. Samantha brings deep expertise in rail and port business development, innovation, and electrification strategy to drive sustainable growth and transformation.

Dan Gardner has over 20 years of experience in the third-party logistics business, where he has held CEO-level and senior management positions with companies including Ocean World Lines, Fritz Companies, and DHL Global Forwarding. He was the founder and president of Trade Facilitators, Inc., a supply chain consulting and executive search firm. Dan also taught Global Logistics & Supply Chain Management at both The University of Miami and Florida International University Graduate Business Schools. He has an MBA from the University of Miami and holds multiple professional industry certifications. Dan is also a widely published author and journalist, with numerous articles and books to his credit.

Gene Harris has more than 20 years of experience managing and leading terminal operations in the Port of Los Angeles. In his current role, Gene manages West Coast container port operations for ONE and has oversight of the area port operations managers located in LA/LB, Oakland, Tacoma, and Vancouver. He leads strategic planning and design, operational execution and coordination, supplier management, performance evaluation, and service quality. Gene is experienced in managing multiple operations and has consistently maintained a successful track record for managing a safe and productive workplace. His professional experience includes serving as General Manager of Yard & Gate at Yusen Terminals LLC., Sr. Warehouse Manager for National Retail Transportation, and over nine years with Ports America. Gene received a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from California Maritime Academy. He also received his Marine Terminal Operations Professional Program designation from CSULB.

Ryan Hopkins has over 15 year of logistics and supply chain experience and is currently responsible for supply chain capacity planning, inventory placement, and the design of the Saks fulfillment center network. His previous positions included Director of Strategic Initiatives and Client Development at CaseStack, Inc. (now Hub Group), where he worked with retailers such as Whole Foods Market and Kroger; and Senior Program Manager for the Last Mile business unit at Amazon, where he launched the company's s in-house delivery service provider program on the West Coast. While at Amazon, Ryan also worked as a Principal Product Manager in the Global Logistics organization, managing a cross-border less-than-container-load (LCL) consolidation program that serviced Amazon’s marketplaces worldwide. Ryan holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Humboldt State University and graduated from the Global Logistics Professional program at CSULB in 2007.

Maurice Joseph has over 20 years of experience in the transportation and logistics field with YRC Logistics, FedEx, and Conway. He is a member of the Los Angeles Customs Brokers & Forwarder Association, and Advisory Board member for the Operations and Supply Chain Management group at CSULB’s College of Business Administration.

Mette B. Karapetian, MBA-GLP, has work experience includes ocean carriers and steamship agents in the U.S. and Europe. Mette is one of the founding instructors of the GLS program and has taught there for the last 25 years. She currently serves on the Capstone Evaluation Panel and is the GLS Online Facilitator and Capstone Advisor.  She is a graduate of the A.P. Moller Shipping School, Copenhagen, and has a Master's degree in Business Administration from CSULB. Mette is currently finalizing her second Master's in Science from CSULB in Education - Educational Technologies and Media Leadership.

Biju Kewalram is the former co-CEO of Vanguard Logistics Services, a leading global NVOCC, where he spent more than a decade in various capacities. His previous international experience includes positions as CEO of logistics application developer FreightSoft; CIO of NACA Logistics; and COO for Vanguard Logistics. He has expertise in areas including technology systems for logistics and freight movement that help businesses increase efficiency. He is a strong proponent of the symbiosis between operations, customer service, and technology.

Bridgett Lewis has a dual role, overseeing security operations at the nation’s busiest seaport, the Port of Long Beach; and directing operations at the Central California Maritime Coordination Center (MCC) housed at the port’s Security Command and Control Center. Bridgett holds bachelor’s and dual master’s degrees from the University of Akron, Ohio, and a graduate certificate in Human Resources from California State University, Dominguez Hills. In addition, she completed the Safe Communities Institute Executive Fellowship Program for Command Staff at the Sol Price School of Public Policy at the University of Southern California. She is a City of Torrance Commissioner serving as Chair of the Civil Service Commission, serves as the elected Vice-Chair of the Employee Relations Committee, and is a certified mediator.

In addition to his role at Navistar, Kevin Maggay also works at BNSF Railway as the Assistant Director of Environmental Operations, where he oversees strategic and technical air quality initiatives in 28 Western U.S. states. His skills include strategic communication and stakeholder engagement to inform policy makers on technical issues. Kevin provides input on policy and development for community groups, NGOs, industry groups, media, and regulatory agencies such as CARB, SCAQMD, and EPA Region IX. He graduated from University of Southern California with a Bachelor’s in Environmental Studies, with an emphasis in Business. He also attended the GLP program at CSULB.

Dr. Thomas O'Brien is Associate Dean in the College of Professional and Continuing Education (CPaCE) at California State University, Long Beach. He previously served as Executive Director of the Center for International Trade and Transportation (CITT) at CSULB and the Deputy Director of the METRANS Transportation Consortium, a partnership of CSULB and the University of Southern California. He previously served as CITT’s Director of Research. His teaching and research focus on logistics, supply chain management, and goods movement policy as well as transportation workforce development. Dr. O’Brien is a past President of the Council of University Transportation Centers (CUTC). He is Vice Chair of the Transportation Research Board’s Intermodal Freight Transport Committee and a member of the Urban Freight Committee. He also serves on the Boards of the Harbor Association of Industry and Commerce, Los Angeles Transportation Club, and National Transit Institute. Dr. O’Brien has a Master’s degree in Urban Planning and Development and a Ph.D in Policy, Planning, and Development from the University of Southern California. He is both a former Eno and Eisenhower Transportation Fellow.

Don Peltier has over 40 years in the containerized cargo movement sector of the supply chain. As Chief Operations Officer for Paramount Intermodal Systems, he manages a fleet of 65 Trucks, six warehouses, and a chassis rental/lease fleet of over 450 units. Mr. Peltier manages the short and long-term strategies for Import and Export Intermodal transportation movement. He is also the point of contact for external stakeholders such as regulators, legislators, trade groups, and the media. Mr. Peltier has served on various advisory committees including the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach’s Supply Chain Optimization Core Advisory Committee, the Port of Oakland’s Port Efficiency Task Force, and the Northwest Seaport Alliance’s Port Executive Advisory Council; as well as the USC Marshall School of Business: Center for Global Supply Chain Management – Port Solution Initiative, the University of California Santa Barbara Customer Experience Certificate Program, and the University of California Riverside Extension Studies - Design Thinking. He designed curriculum for the Associate of Arts in Excellence in Maritime program at Long Beach City College.

With over 20 years of experience, Bob Rippel provides local, corporate, and global sales organizations with tactical and strategic skills. His background includes corporate sales, sales training, and leadership development to enhance the performance of organizations such as Miller Heiman, Franklin Covey and Real Learning. At RJ Learning Group, Bob helps organizations to improve their sales process, sales effectiveness, overall sales productivity, and post-sale customer experience. Bob was a finalist for “Best Sales Trainer” at the American Business Awards, and graduated from CSULB with a degree in Journalism.

Cameron Roberts has more than 30 years of experience in international trade. His practice areas include customs law, export compliance, domestic and international transportation law, maritime law, trade, and insurance issues. He is a member of numerous customs, international trade, and legal associations. He is a past President of the Foreign Trade Association and Harbor Transportation Club. He earned his B.A. degree in political science and international relations from CSULB, and his JD degree (cum laude) from Seattle University School of Law. Mr. Roberts is admitted to practice in California and Washington, the Court of International Trade, and the Federal Maritime Commission.

In addition to his work with the California Trucking Association, Matt Schrap is also a Member of the Energy and Environmental Policy Committee, the Highway Policy Committee, and the Intermodal Carriers Conference of the American Trucking Associations, and serves as President of California Fleet Solutions and VP of Government Programs for Crossroads Equipment Lease and Finance. Matt is also responsible for all regulatory compliance and incentive program inquiries and training for the Velocity Vehicle Group of Companies.

Marqueveia Towns is currently the Airfreight Export Manager at Shipco Transport Inc. With nearly 20 years of experience in the airfreight business, Towns started as an export agent for airlines before transitioning into the freight forwarding side of the business. Her objective is to help students learn more about the air cargo industry. She is a graduate of California State Dominguez Hills.

Kevin Turner specializes in the sale, lease, and tenant representation of office, industrial, and R&D properties. He is highly experienced and qualified in the creation and execution of marketing campaigns, financial and market analysis, site selection, lease evaluation, multi-tenant evaluations, facility counseling, land development transactions, and sale and lease negotiations. He currently serves as the Ports and Logistics Practice Group Leader for Cushman & Wakefield and Steering Committee Leadership Council for Cushman & Wakefield Global Supply Chain Consulting. Kevin is a frequent panelist and speaker at industry events, and is a graduate of the GLS program.

Elizabeth Warren is focused on bringing together community, business, and government stakeholders to ensure clients achieve the best possible outcomes. She is the former Executive Director of FuturePorts, a nonprofit advocacy group, and was the Public Policy Manager for transportation and environment at the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. Before a career in public policy, she worked in the civil engineering and construction industry for several global engineering firms, where she acquired expertise on national port, railroad, and transportation projects. Elizabeth has master’s degrees in Global Public Policy from both the University of Southern California and the University of Hong Kong; and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Pepperdine University.