After 121 years, the International Association of Refrigerated Warehouses (IARW) and World Food Logistics Organization (WFLO) Convention & Expo is still the world’s largest public refrigerated warehousing and logistics event.

The 2012 IARW-WFLO Convention & Expo, held April 21-26 at the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort and Spa in Tucson, Ariz., is expected to attract 700 industry leaders and guests from around the world.

This year’s event, themed “Energize Success,” will feature 17.5 hours of educational programming designed to explore what success looks like in today’s temperature-controlled logistics market.

“This year’s IARW-WFLO Convention & Expo is tailored to help industry leaders develop new strategies for success,” says Bill Hudson, president and CEO of IARW and WFLO, both based in Alexandria, Va. “We’re offering more educational programming than ever before and a sold-out expo to provide attendees with a comprehensive overview of the latest technologies, trends and best practices.”

The three keynote speakers will provide strategies to help leaders succeed. Opening keynote speaker Steve Farber will share how leaders can use his LEAP framework (Love, Energy, Audacity and Proof) to radically improve an organization by keeping employees engaged and passionate about their work. Economist Dr. Gene Stanaland will share an overview of current financial structure and his economic forecast for this year and next. Closing speaker Dave Horsager will discuss how to develop trust amongst employees and customers to drive revenue.

The expo will also include 45-minute strategy sessions that provide the latest information on the industry's most important trends and issues. This year, IARW-WFLO is introducing education tracks, which will help attendees identify focus sessions related to their specific interests or job responsibilities. The four tracks include: Business and Market Development; Liability and Risk Management; Operations Management; and Research.

On April 22, members of the WFLO Scientific Advisory Council will present their latest research in food science, food safety, packaging and logistics. The Scientific Advisory Council is a body of food scientists and logistics experts who provide research and support to IARW and WFLO members throughout the year.

To register or learn more, visit www.iarw.org/convention.