CITT News

PHOTO: IANA Staff welcome high school students from the Port of Long Beach's Academy of Global Logistics.

At the 2024 Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) EXPO, global logistics professionals showcased their expertise in enhancing efficiency and sustainability. This year’s EXPO served as an excellent opportunity for CITT staff to highlight the vital role of the Global Logistics Professional (GLP) program, in shaping the future of logistics education and workforce development. LeJon Huff, Program Coordinator for the College of Professional and Continuing Education (CPaCE), Devin Martinez, CITT Research Associate, and, Jovanni Sipraseuth, CPaCE Student Assistant, attended the EXPO and served as representatives of the program. For more than 25 years, CPaCE’s GLP program has pioneered an innovative approach to logistics education that is specific to Southern California’s thriving trade nexus, which includes North America’s largest port complex.

“It was a pleasure to see so many new developments in the logistics industry and meet instructors from the GLP program in person,” said Martinez. Martinez recently enrolled in the GLP program after completing a degree in Business Economics at CSULB this past Spring.

PHOTO: LeJon Huff (left) and Devin Martinez (right) staff the CSULB table at the IANA Expo.

According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics, the logistics professional career path is expected to grow by 19% from 2023 to 2033 – more than four times the average growth rate for all occupations. The GLP program is taught by industry professionals who coach students to help develop strategic planning skills, accelerate professional development, and adapt to changes in the industry. IANA’s longstanding partnership with CPaCE and CITT also made it possible for students from the Port of Long Beach’s Academy of Global Logistics (AGL) at Cabrillo High School to attend the event. Accompanied by AGL leads Dondrea Bautista and James Dowding, students were provided with the unique opportunity to meet industry professionals and witness the advances in intermodal industry technology showcased at the event.

IANA is North America's leading industry trade association representing the combined interests of the intermodal freight industry. IANA's membership roster of over 1,000 corporate members includes railroads; water carriers and stacktrain operators; port authorities; intermodal truckers and over-the-road highway carriers; intermodal marketing and logistics companies; and suppliers to the industry such as equipment manufacturers, intermodal leasing companies and technology firms.