Your Monthly Brief from the International Air Cargo Association of Chicago ✈️
✉️ From the President’s Desk
Dear Members,
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Annual Meeting and Board Elections on November 20th. Your engagement, support, and involvement are what keep the IACAC community thriving, and I’m honored to continue serving as your President.
This month also marked one of my favorite moments of the year announcing our 2025 IACAC Scholarship Winners. Supporting the next generation of logistics, aviation, and supply chain professionals is at the heart of our association’s mission, and this year’s applicant pool was truly exceptional.
Congratulations to all of our scholarship recipients! Their dedication, ambition, and passion remind us why investing in education matters.
As we wrap up 2025, I hope you’ll join us for our Holiday Luncheon on December 16th at The Foxtail on the Lake in Des Plaines. With limited seating for just 80 guests, it’s the perfect chance to celebrate the season and our industry with colleagues, partners, and friends.
Looking forward to closing out the year together.
Warm regards,
Christina Aguirre
President, IACAC
🏛️ 2026 IACAC Board of Directors
Executive Officers
-
President: Christina Aguirre, GET Logistics
-
Vice President: Ray Hurtado, CH Robinson
-
Treasurer: Bill Gerst, ITS/PTS Logistics
-
Secretary: Victoria Rahmanovic, ALPI USA
Directors
-
Larry Georgen, Perimeter Global Logistics (PGL)
-
Mandy Boyd, Mallory Alexander International Logistics
-
Glen Smith, Southwest Airlines
-
Philippa Haamann, Lufthansa Cargo
-
Bobby Rog, American Worldwide Agencies (AWA)
-
Kurt Schenkemeyer, Argents Air Express Ltd.
-
Misty Fitzgerald, M&M Direct Express
-
Harry Bath, Immediate Air Cargo Transit
As part of the global Sankyu Group, Sankyu USA offers integrated air-cargo, ocean, and land logistics solutions with a strong focus on high-tech and electronics supply-chains. Their end-to-end approach and U.S. presence make them a key asset for shippers seeking seamless international freight handling and compliance support.
IACAC News & Announcements
Welcome New Members – November 2025
-
Lisa Hackney, Savino Del Bene
Scholarship Winners Announced
We are pleased to congratulate the following students, selected as winners of the 2025 IACAC Scholarship:
-
Ava Strickland
-
Aidan Hennesey
-
Mackenna Case
-
Jack Grigus
-
Connor Crotty
-
Julie Fisher
-
Jocelyn Santiago
-
Nicholas Cantrell
-
Dominic Rizzo
-
Gabriella La Quaglia
-
Joseph Tader
-
Jessica Hurtado
- Justin Hurtado
Thank you for your support of our future logistics professionals.
Industry News & Updates – November 2025
High-Season Pressures Tighten Air-Freight Capacity Globally
Peak season pressures tighten air freight capacity globally,” published November 6, 2025 airlines prioritise high-yield cargo from Asia, capacity may tighten on select lanes.
Air-Cargo Demand from Asia Pacific to the U.S. Up 40 % in October
Air-cargo demand from Asia-Pacific to the U.S. continues to grow,” published this week notable surge in volumes ahead of peak shipping season.
Global Logistics Update – Tariff Truce, Capacity Cuts & Supply-Chain Disruption
Published November 13, 2025 — reporting that U.S. and China begin implementing tariff truce measures; capacity cuts continue and supply-chain equipment constraints persist.
AWA Expands U.S. Footprint with Strategic Acquisition — The newly expanded AWA network will provide enhanced forwarding capacity and options out of U.S. gateways like ORD, DFW, and LAX.
Hot Topics – Quick Scan
-
🛢️ Container & Drayage Bottlenecks Persist in Europe and Southern U.S., impacting air/sea intermodal flows.
-
✈️ Asia-U.S. Spot Rates Continue to Rise, especially for lanes carrying electronics and time-sensitive freight
-
📊 Forwarders Brace for Rate Volatility — airlines are selectively prioritizing premium cargo; general-commodity capacity remains under pressure.
Upcoming Events
🎄 Holiday Luncheon – Tuesday, December 16th
📍 The Foxtail on the Lake, Des Plaines, IL
🕐 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
✨ Limited seating: Only 80 guests — register early to secure your place.
Did You Know?
Air-cargo volumes from Asia Pacific to the U.S. saw a 40 % year-on-year increase in October — one of the fastest growth rates recorded for major lanes this year
IACAC Event Winners – Free Membership Giveaway
2025 Winners:
-
FEB – Laura Candella, ArcBest
-
MAR – Lisa Hennessey, Avalon Risk Management
-
APR – Scott Bergbreiter, PGL
-
MAY – Jesse Maugle, AWA
-
JUNE – Dakota Palacios, Dakota Express
-
✖ JULY – No giveaway this month
-
✖ AUG – No giveaway this month
-
SEPT – Denise Cano, Yusen Logistics
-
OCT – Rebecca Masaitis, LSI Logistic Solutions (Winner of complimentary AFA Conference ticket)
-
NOV – Carlos Delfin, VP Logistics
See you at the Holiday Luncheon — final chance to win in 2025!
