Each recipient was recognized with the prestigious award for significant influence on containerization in world trade and transportation.' Anthony Chiarello, president of American Shipping Group, presented the award to Mr. Gabrielson. Allen Clifford, CII president, presented the Connie Award to Mr. Schember.
CII, founded in 1960, has been presenting the Connie Award since 1972, and it has become the most coveted honor in the field of containerization and its ancillary industries.' Among some 40 recipients to date are Captain S. Y. Kuo, Phillip Yeager, Ronald Widdows, Malcom McLean, Thomas B. Crowley Sr., Anthony A. Scioscia, James McKenna, James Newsome and the Honorable Helen D. Bentley.
"Without the cargo, there is no industry," said Mr. Clifford. "CII determined and the votes indicated that honoring a major importer, such as Target, and a significant exporter, Cargill, was appropriate at this time. It also allowed us to bring the Connie Awards to America's heartland." Both recipients were honored for innovative spirit in their careers and at their respective companies, as well as for the positive influence on the industries they serve.
In accepting the award, Mr. Gabrielson said: "This is a time of tremendous change and opportunity within the entire shipping industry. Our nation's infrastructure-- ports, roads, bridges and last mile connectors-- is not able to handle our future growth. Many of our locks and dams on our inland waterways have aged well beyond their useful life. Without improvements to our physical supply chain, we could see further impacts to our economy. The completion of the widening of the Panama Canal in 2014 will be a game changer." He continued, "East Coast and Gulf ports could begin to see more discretionary cargo when it's completed.' But beyond the developments in the ports themselves, the last mile connectors and inland infrastructure must be in place to truly capitalize on the benefit." Gabrielson continued: "I believe that now is the time to collaborate together as shippers and service providers- to work with our leaders at the State and Federal level to develop the comprehensive goods movement plan that we need. This will begin to lay the groundwork for infrastructure changes that will meet our current and future needs. We all know resources are tight for our government partners, so as leaders we must work to prioritize those projects that will have the biggest impact on our industry and our economy."
In closing, Mr. Gabrielson said: "And as leaders in this industry, we also have a responsibility to help develop tomorrow's leaders. The education, scholarship and outreach programs that CII and others are doing are helping to lay the foundation for that to become a reality. I would encourage all of us to get engaged in these programs and make them a priority."
Mr. Gabrielson is responsible for the management and movement of all imported product for Target Stores and Target.com.
Mr. Schember is responsible for the Global Container Group, Cargill's Warehouse and Terminal Group, has over 25 years experience in the logistics industry.
In accepting his award, Mr. Schember said: "I am here representing Cargill and its 1,200 transportation and logistics professionals worldwide." Cargill is an international producer and marketer of food, agricultural and industrial products and services.
Mr. Schember noted: "The rise in global population and the recent commodity price spikes bring renewed attention to the issue of food security around the world.''We believe food security is a basic human right.''One dimension of the issue is addressed by free trade and the movement of food from areas of surplus to areas of deficit. Cargill works hard at thi
