ACIA 109th ANNUAL CONVENTION
SPEAKER SESSIONS
October 1–4, 2026
NIR BASHAN
Keynote Speaker
Nir Bashan is an internationally acclaimed keynote speaker, bestselling author, Forbes contributor, and currently the most-read author on Forbes covering creativity and AI. He is the author of The Creator Mindset and The Solution Mindset, two bestsellers, and has worked with leading organizations including Microsoft, American Airlines, AT&T, Porsche, Rolex, and the NFL. Through his engaging, research-backed keynotes, Nir equips leaders and teams with practical tools to think differently, embrace change, and turn challenges into opportunities.
GARY BANDERMAN JR.
Director of Operations
Gary Banderman Jr. is the Director of Operations for Woody Bogler Trucking Company and Woody Bogler Logistics. Gary joined the Woody Bogler team in 2011. He has over 20 years of experience in the Transportation, Logistics, and Supply Chain Management Industry. Gary’s day-to-day responsibilities are to oversee asset and logistics operations at the Gerald, MO and Springfield, MO terminals. When not at work or “playing trucks”, as his kids describe it, he enjoys spending time with his wife and 3 children outdoors and at the lake.
MARK "BIV" BIVENOUR
Business Development Specialist
Mark adds over 40 years of Beverage Industry experience to the BWC team. Through his roles as VP Sales and Marketing for Columbus Distributing, VP Sales for Hill Distributing, CEO for 17th Star Distributing, as well as EVP for Brew Kettle Brewing, Mark has extensive knowledge and understanding of supplier/distributor partnerships. This expertise helps distributors and small brewers understand the marketplace, their business, and maximize their relationships.
ZACH FARRIS
Vice President
Zach Farris is Vice President of KYFI Incorporated and Kentucky Container Service (KYCS), a family-owned international logistics company. A graduate of the University of Louisville, he has over 15 years of professional experience in international transportation, supply chain management, logistics, and grew up in the family business. Zach is responsible for the strategic growth of both companies, helping expand their integrated freight forwarding, NVOCC, drayage, container depot, and maintenance and repair services across global markets.
​
Throughout his career, Zach has worked with manufacturers, importers, exporters, steamship lines, and logistics partners to develop innovative supply chain solutions that improve efficiency, reduce transportation costs, and enhance service reliability. He has a particular passion for the global barrel trade and the beverage and spirits industry, where KYFI has developed long-standing partnerships supporting international trade for many decades.
​
Zach is an active supporter of ACIA and enjoys collaborating with fellow members to strengthen the industry and advance best practices in international trade and logistics.
​
Zach is married to his wife, Elizabeth, and together they have two children, Oliver and Amelia. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, and playing soccer and basketball.
TODD HARRETT
Director of Corporate Business Development
Todd Harrett currently serves as Director of Corporate Business Development for Averitt, one of the nation's leading freight transportation providers. Todd earned undergraduate degrees in Economics and Finance from the University of Kentucky, along with an MBA from Indiana University. In 2002, Todd started his professional career in Commercial Real Estate brokerage with Sperry Van Ness. He joined Northern Continental Logistics in 2008, a company cofounded by his father. When the business was sold in 2015, he spent time in Wealth Management and led the development of several investment properties until joining Averitt in 2019. Todd leads Averitt's spirits niche in Kentucky, serving distilleries and supporting industries with world-class logistics solutions. Today, He represents Averitt as a proud member of the Kentucky Distillers Association and directly serves clients based in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Missouri.
DAVID MERESAK
Business Development Manager
David Meresak has been helping international companies navigate complex supply challenges since 2005 after graduating from the University of Missouri- Columbia with a degree in Russian Area Studies/Language with a minor emphasis in business administration. He has been a business development manager at Laufer Group International since 2013 and enjoys helping global organizations by offering new ways of thinking and new solutions to drive out costs in their international distribution networks. His professional life has taken him around the globe visiting customers, agents, offices and suppliers. His focus is on forest product exports/imports, and he has a passion for the global barrel trade and the spirits it produces. David and Laufer Group have been proud supporting members of ACIA for over 10 years and he volunteers as Golf Chair for the association helping organize the day for all participants.
David is married to his beautiful wife, Tara, and they have 2 amazing hockey-loving/playing children. When not on the ice or coaching his kids’ various teams, David is an avid global traveler, bourbon enthusiast, marathoner (mostly halves), a beer league hockey player, and he enjoys volunteering his time for his local Sacred Heart Parish community and other organizations dear to his heart.
CHAD NIMAN
Forest Products Specialist, Principal
Chad is a Forest Products Research Specialist Principal in the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of Kentucky. His focus is hardwood markets, quality, and value recovery of forest products, wood grading systems, wood drying and utilization. He is Director of ForestryWorks Kentucky, Director of the Ohio Valley Lumber Drying Association, Director of the Robinson Wood Utilization Center, and co-founder of the Campus Woods Utilization program. He is one of the authors of the Kentucky Forest Sector Economic Contribution Report, highlighting local value-added forest products, adding $20.2 billion to Kentucky's economy. He teaches Wood Science, Forest Product Markets, Utilization and Wood ID at the University of Kentucky.