Audience:
Open industry. All apparel and footwear industry professionals, regardless of AAFA membership, are encouraged to participate.
Description:
Ocean carrier contracts aren't just about rates—they're about strategy. This year, smart importers and BCOs are turning to automation and freight audits to uncover hidden costs, understand their freight under management, and leverage these insights during negotiations. This webinar by BlueCargo, in collaboration with AAFA, will guide participants on how to automate supply chain cost tracking—giving them full visibility over containerized fees like D&D, drayage, and ocean. With disruptions becoming the new normal, companies that can streamline their data will gain an edge when locking in favorable terms with ocean carriers. Whether you're in supply chain leadership, logistics, finance, or procurement, this webinar will equip you with the tools to eliminate overpayments, monitor freight spend in real-time, and go into contract season ready to negotiate smarter deals and save some big dollars.
Attendees of this webinar will learn:
- How to automate the auditing process of containerized fees to avoid overcharges.
- How to gain visibility into freight under management to control costs.
- About using real-time data insights to negotiate better terms with ocean carriers.
Speakers:
Alexandra Griffon
CEO, Co-Founder
BlueCargo
Alexandra Griffon, CEO and co-founder of BlueCargo, is spearheading digital transformation in logistics. BlueCargo supports over 700 US importers, logistics companies, and freight forwarders in optimizing their operations. With a background in operational finance, Alexandra met her business partner at UC Berkeley, Laura Theveniau. It was during their master's program that the concept for BlueCargo was ignited. In 2018, it ultimately gained early support from the prestigious Y Combinator accelerator program.
Under Alexandra's leadership, BlueCargo has transformed from a humble startup of two into a team of 30 experts. The platform is an award-winning tool that meticulously audits freight invoices and grants real-time visibility into cargo movements through ports. BlueCargo offers a suite to mitigate undue costs, including detention and demurrage fees, addressing the challenge of non-compliant and erroneous billing through its unique three-way check. Alexandra's dedication to innovation has propelled BlueCargo's impressive expansion, and her insights are in high demand. She frequently addresses industry forums and conferences, sharing her forward-looking perspective on Freight costs and solutions.
Colin Colbourn
Product Leader
BlueCargo
Colin Colbourn is a Product Leader at BlueCargo, reshaping the freight industry with tangible AI solutions that bring transparency and control to complex supply chains. With a degree from Penn State University and years of hands-on experience, Colin has dedicated his career to building products that help importers and BCOs sidestep costly pitfalls and streamline operations.
Colins journey began with a drive to simplify logistics, sharpened through consulting for nonprofits and strategic roles across the freight sector. Fluent in multiple languages, including Spanish, he understands the challenges global supply chain leaders face, and builds tools tailored to their needs. As a sailor and certified diver, he thrives on tackling new challenges—whether navigating rough seas or the intricate world of logistics.
Through his leadership and industry engagement, Colin stands as a trusted advisor in the freight community, inviting importers and BCOs to experience a smarter, more intuitive way of managing their supply chain costs with BlueCargo.
Moderator:
Conor O’Brien
Sustainability Policy Coordinator
AAFA
Conor O'Brien joined AAFA's policy team in 2024 as its Sustainability Policy Coordinator after completing his Masters in Environmental Science and Policy from Columbia University. Prior to joining AAFA, Conor worked for several years with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Boston, where he engaged with RCRA compliance, state coordination, climate adaptation planning, and environmental justice application. Initially trained as a chemist at Princeton University, Conor combines scientific research with policy analysis and application to provide holistic approaches to sustainable resource usage in pursuit of a more circular economy. Conor supports the work of the AAFA Environmental Committee and AAFA Product Safety Council by engaging with public and private stakeholders on issues of sustainability, product safety, and chemical management germane to the apparel and footwear industry.
Unable to join on January 23?
Register for the webinar to receive an email containing the direct link to access the recording of the webinar and a link to the PDF version of the presentation. The email will be sent 1-3 business days after the webinar.
CONTACT | QUESTIONS
Stephanie Paendong