When Scott Luton, founder and host of Supply Chain Now, asked me in our podcast interview what trends I'm seeing at the show, it was very difficult for me to pinpoint the standard "here's what's new" response.
There were over 40 new product announcements at Manifest, but to me, it's more than about the latest and greatest AI solution.
The one main trend that I saw and experienced over and over is community.
The supply chain community is like no other industry I've experienced before. It's truly where "everyone knows your name." There is no hierarchy. There are no egos. CEOs are approachable and celebrate their teams at every moment possible. Competitors are friends who can have beers together at the Beer Garden. Industry leaders truly want to introduce you to other logistics professionals. And once a year, the supply chain space comes together to do all of this and more.
That's why Manifest: The Future of Supply Chain & Logistics, which took place Feb. 9-11 in Las Vegas, has become the Super Bowl of Supply Chain and Logistics, offering a place where attendees and exhibitors, whether they be partners or competitors, can come together and just be in each other's company.
Lots of hugging, handshaking, laughing, lounging, beeping of lanyards (you have to be there to understand), and just plain networking. People didn't want to talk business. They just wanted to expand their community.
This is why I intentionally do not schedule interviews or briefings at this show. It amazes everyone; how can a journalist attend a show and not interview a single person? It's because I would rather get to know the entrepreneur behind the startup, the CEO behind the company, the marketing manager behind the emails, the winner behind the award.
I want to visit with familiar faces and make new friends.
I want to play with puppies, walk through cold storage units, climb on big rigs, have lunch with industry friends and truly understand what's on the horizon for exhibitors.
Here are the Top 8 highlights from this year's Manifest:
Steven Pham PhotoEditor-in-Chief Marina Mayer flanked by the overall Top Tech Startup winners -- SCIP and Tow4Tech.
--> Honoring the two Manifest-selected Top Tech Startup award winners -- SCIP and Tow4Tech. This award, presented by Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive, spotlights top software and technology startups in the supply chain and logistics space.
Editor-in-Chief Marina Mayer with Kary Jablonski, EVP, broker segment, Trucker Tools, and marketing, DAT Freight & Analytics.
--> Meeting Kary Jablonski, EVP, broker segment, Trucker Tools, and marketing, DAT Freight & Analytics. Jablonksi was named the overall winner of the Top Transportation Professional category for this year’s Rock Stars of the Supply Chain award, presented by Food Logistics.
Editor-in-Chief Marina Mayer with Scott Luton, founder and host of Supply Chain Now.
--> Sitting down with Scott Luton, founder and host of Supply Chain Now, to talk about dominant themes in the supply chain, challenges supply chain professionals face and what innovations are being developed to solve these challenges.
Courtney Muller, president of Manifest; Bernadette Hunter, chief revenue officer of ReturnBear; and Laura Ritchey, CEO of GEODIS America, at the Women's Luncheon.
--> Attending the Women's Lunch, sponsored by Food Logistics, Supply & Demand Chain Executive and the Women in Supply Chain Forum, where Courtney Muller, president of Manifest; Bernadette Hunter, chief revenue officer of ReturnBear; and Laura Ritchey, CEO of GEODIS America, talked about overcoming adversity, and how there's a phoenix in all of us.
--> Supporting Move For Hunger, a partner of last year's (and this year's) Women in Supply Chain Forum, where attendees and exhibitors packed 1,000 dinner kits and created 4,000 meals for three food banks.
--> Walking through a cold storage unit. Thank you to Lineage for the hospitality and the very warm, but very large cold storage apparel.
Editor-in-Chief Marina Mayer with Jennie Malafarina, co-founder of FR8MVMT, and Blythe Milligan, host of Everything is Logistics podcast.
--> Attending FR8MVMT's Million Dollar Trucker Bar party at the 1923 Prohibition Bar.
Editor-in-Chief Marina Mayer (bottom) with Jennifer Karpus-Romain, executive director of TMSA; Eileen Dabrowski, founder and CEO of Apex Tide Consulting; Michelle Leblanc, CEO of Drop & Hook; Holly Laboda, chief growth officer for Formula L; and Susan Joyce, sales executive at Food Logistics & Supply & Demand Chain Executive.
--> Catching up with old friends at the TMSA Meetup.
Thank you to the Manifest team for helping me build my own community.
--> CLICK HERE to check out our digital Media Kit.
--> Nominations for our Women in Supply Chain Award open March 9.
--> Check out all of our 2025 Top Tech Startup winners.
--> Email me at [email protected] to discuss interview opportunities, contributed content and how we can work together.
--> SAVE THE DATE: The 2026 Women in Supply Chain Forum, Nov. 17-19 in Charleston, S.C.
