KC SmartPort February E-News

Liberty, Mo. Plant Receives the Prestigious Ford Q 1 Award
Vari-Form, one of the world's largest producers of hydroformed structural components for the automotive industry, received the prestigious Ford Q 1 award. This award is Ford Motor Company's highest recognition for supplier quality.

Vari-Form's Liberty, Mo. plant is the first Vari-Form plant in the U.S. to receive this award. In 2007, KC SmartPort worked with the Liberty Partnership to attract Vari-Form to the area. The 36,000-square-foot facility employs 24 people.

"We are extremely proud to be recognized by Ford as one of its Tier 1 Preferred Quality Status suppliers," said Stephen Dow, president of Vari-Form. "This Q 1 certification acknowledges the hard work and excellent results the Vari-From team has achieved and we are honored to display the Ford Q 1 flag at our facility."

TDE Update
The Trade Data Exchange non-profit organization has been officially formed.  The Exchange will be the industry-based community that owns, manages and regulates the use of the TDE technology.  An initial board of directors is being recruited and will set the vision and action plan for the Exchange throughout 2010.  Board members will represent the many areas of responsibility within a supply chain move.  Active recruitment of members of the Exchange will begin in the second quarter.   For more information on the Exchange, please contact Chris Gutierrez.

The Value of Distribution Centers
With distribution center activity increasing in the Kansas City region, we have recognized the benefits of locating a DC within the community. According to the article, "The Distribution Center Story", distribution centers provide several positive impacts, including:

         - Additional property tax revenue
         - Indirect and induced economic impacts
         - New philanthropic activity
         - Skilled workforce
         - High wages
         - Competitive benefit packages

KC SmartPort will continue to market our region for additional Distribution Centers. For more information on 'The Distribution Center Story', click here.

KC SmartPort Appoints New Board Chair
Transportation Logistics Systems CEO Melody Warren has been appointed as chairwoman of Kansas City SmartPort. Warren succeeds Mike Priest, regional vice president of TranSystems Corp., and will be the first woman to hold the position.

Warren also will serve on KC SmartPort's 2010 Executive Committee along with Priest; Al Figuly, president of the Greater Kansas City Foreign Trade Zone; Bob Marcusse, president and CEO of the Kansas City Area Development Council; and Skip Kalb, director of strategic development for Burlington Northern Santa Fe.

"As a native Kansas Citian with 30 years in the transportation industry, I have always known that our geographic location and high volume of rail capacity positions Kansas City as a strong transportation hub," Warren said. "I am excited to be a part of KC SmartPort's efforts and will continue to help promote Kansas City's transportation industry."   

For a complete list of the 2010 KC SmartPort Board of Directors, please click here. 

Investor Profiles:
WLX and Western Logistics Express, LLC.
WLX is a locally owned and operated Flatbed Carrier with specialized heavy equipment transport capabilities. WLX has 80 late model tractors, more than 140 aluminum flatbeds, Removable Goose Neck trailer, Double Drop Trailers and Step Deck Trailers.

WLX's objective is to facilitate an experience transportation company with heavy duty permit transport logistic services.  Historically, WLX mainly focused in the Western States. However, over the years it has expanded into Texas, the Midwest, Mexico and Western providences of Canada.

WLX also provides Full Service Brokerage, Less Then Truckload Brokerage, Cross border services into Mexico and transportation project management services.

For additional information, please visit: www.wlxtrans.com 

Dysart Taylor Lay Cotter & McMonigle
Dysart Taylor Lay Cotter & McMonigle, P.C. was founded in 1934 - one year before the start of trucking regulation in the United States. Since 1934, Dysart Taylor has provided clients with solutions involving the legal eccentricities of the various modes and segments of the transportation industry. Five members of the firm have served as President of the Transportation Lawyers Association, and a sixth will become President in 2011 - numbers unmatched by any other firm in the country. Furthermore, Ken Hoffman, an attorney with Dysart Taylor, has been appointed as KC SmartPort's General Counsel.

The firm specializes in logistics, aviation, product liability, business acquisitions and mergers, estate planning, government regulation, insurance, securities, and taxation complements its general practice in business planning, litigation, construction, bankruptcy and creditor's rights, and real estate.

For more information, please visit www.dysarttaylor.com or contact Ken Hoffman at 816-931-2700 or khoffman@dysarttaylor.com.