Schedule

Annual Conference Schedule

The 2026 Ports-to-Plains Annual Conference schedule is designed to deliver a strategic blend of federal policy updates, state implementation strategies, and high-value networking opportunities. This year’s agenda will feature insights from Congressional Delegation representatives, State DOT leaders, and industry experts focused on advancing the Future Interstate system and I-27 implementation. Attendees can expect timely discussions on funding, project delivery, and North American trade connectivity, with sessions structured to provide actionable takeaways and meaningful collaboration throughout the conference.

Remember to Register

The 2026 Ports-to-Plains Annual Conference schedule is still being finalized, with times subject to minor changes. Don’t wait—register now to secure your spot and stay informed on Future Interstate policy, I-27 implementation, and key networking opportunities.

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General Schedule

Plan your experience with the 2026 Ports-to-Plains Annual Conference general schedule, featuring key sessions on Future Interstate funding, I-27 implementation, and North American trade connectivity, along with networking events and binational discussions in Del Rio and Acuña.

5:30-7:00 PM

Registration

Ramada by Wyndham, 2101 Veterans Blvd., Del Rio, TX

7:30 PM

Kickoff Mixer

Gin House Jazz Club
Live Jazz • Hors d’oeuvres • Mariachi Del Rio • Transportation Provided

Speakers:

  • Alvaro “Al” Arreola, Mayor, City of Del Rio (invited)
  • Emilio Alejandro de Hoyos Montemayor, Mayor, Cuidad Acuña, (invited)
  • John Osborne, Chair, Ports-to-Plains Alliance

Sponsored by

7:00-8:00 AM

Breakfast

Ramada by Wyndham

Sponsored by :

9:00 AM

Departure to Acuña, Mexico

Passport, Pass Card, Global Entry or SENTRI Card Required

Sponsored by :

10:30 AM

Registration

Grand Real Hall (Salón Grand Real), Hotel Villa Real at Calle Nicolás Bravo 645, Zona Centro, 26200 Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila, Mexico

10:55 AM–11:20 AM

Welcome and Remarks

Speaker:

  • Emilio Alejandro De Hoyos Montemayor, Mayor, Ciudad Acuña

11:20–11:45 AM

Welcome and Remarks

Speaker:

  • Lauren Garduño, President/CEO, Ports-to-Plains Alliance

11:45 AM–12:10 PM

Update from Del Rio Port

Speaker:

  • Liliana Flores, Port Director, Port of Del Rio

12:10–12:35 PM

Remarks from Governor of Coahuila

Speaker:

  • Ing. Manolo Jiménez Salinas, Governor of the State of Coahuila of Zaragoza (invited)

12:35–1:00 PM

Signing of the Memorandum Of Understanding Between the Mayors, Judges, and State Authorities

1:00–1:25 PM

Remarks by the National President of CANACINTRA

Speaker:

  • Dra. María de Lourdes Medina Ortega, National President, National Chamber of the Transformation Industry (CANACINTRA)

1:25–1:50 PM

Remarks by State of Coahuila Attorney General

Speaker:

  • Mtro. Federico Fernández Montañez, State of Coahuila Attorney General (invited)

1:50-2:15 PM

Remarks by State of Coahuila Secretary of the Economy

Speaker:

  • Lic. Luis Eduardo Olivares Martínez, Secretary of Economy of the State

2:15-2:30 PM

Nearshoring Vs Reshoring. Mexico’s New Challenge

Speaker:

  • Samuel Peña Guzmán, Professor, Tecnológico de Monterrey; International Business and Foreign Investment Specialist

2:30–3:30 PM

Lunch

3:30–4:00 PM

Livestock Industry Presentation

Speaker:

  • Eng. Sergio Siller, Technical Advisor, Coahuila Regional Livestock Union

4:00–4:30 PM

Industrial Development

Speaker:

  • Grupo Amistad

4:30–5:00 PM

Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing

Speaker:

  • Howmet Aerospace

5:00–5:30 PM

Mexico Manufacturing Network

Speaker:

  • Caterpillar (invited)

5:30 – 6:00 PM

Consumer Products Manufacturing and Supply Chain

Speaker:

  • Newell Brands

6:00 – 6:30 PM

Automotive, Commercial Vehicle, and Electronics Supply Chain

Speaker:

  • PKC Group

7:00 – 9:00 PM

Dinner

Old Military Fort Museum
Museo del Antiguo Cuartel Militar
Pino Suárez 1. Col. 28 de Junio CP 26350. Ciudad Acuña, Acuña

9:00 PM

Departure to Del Rio, Texas

7:00-8:00 AM

Breakfast

Ramada by Wyndham

8:30-9:15 AM

From Trade Route to Strategic Asset: I-27, Border Security, and Emergency Response

Del Rio Civic Center – Pecan Ballroom

Speakers:

  • Fabian E. Mendoza Jr., COL, F.SAME, USA, (RET), Army Program Manager, SVP
  • TBD

9:15-9:45 AM

From Designation to Delivery: A Federal Funding Pathway for Future Interstates

Speakers:

  • Jennifer Shepard, Managing Director & Senior Policy Advisor, Hance Scarborough LLP

9:45-10:15 AM

Break | Snacks / Water / Coffee / Aguas Frescas

Sponsored by

10:15 -11:00 AM

Impact of the Del Rio Port: A Strategic Border Gateway for Trade, Jobs, and Regional Growth

Speakers:

  • Liliana Flores, Port Director, Port of Del Rio

11:00 -11:45 AM

ASREC Ports: Advancing Secure, Redundant, and Economic Corridors from Designation to Delivery

Speakers:

  • Lauren Garduño, President/CEO, Ports-to-Plains Alliance
  • Shane Getson, MLA and Parliamentary Secretary of Economic Corridors, Legislative Assembly of Alberta

12:00 -1:30 PM

Lunch & Keynote

Speakers:

  • Marc Williams, Executive Director, Texas Department of Transportation

2:00 -2:30 PM

Bridging Growth: The Economic Case for Extending I-27 Toward the Rio Grande Valley

Speakers:

  • REMI

2:30 -3:00 PM

Planning the Case for Investment: Future I-27, Port Access, and the Border Master Plan

Speakers:

  • TxDOT

3:00 -3:30 PM

Break | Snacks / Water / Coffee / Aguas Frescas

Sponsored by

3:30 -4:15 PM

Bridging Ports and Corridors: Advancing Cross-Border Trade Infrastructure

Speakers:

  • Del Rio
  • Eagle Pass – Homero Balderas, City Manager, City of Eagle Pass
  • Brownsville – Pete Sepulveda Jr., Executive Director, Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority

4:15 -4:45 PM

USMCA and the Corridor Economy: Moving Trade from Border to Market

Speakers:

  • Daniel Covarrubias, PhD, Director, Texas A&M International University’s (TAMIU) A. R. Sanchez, Jr. School of Business Texas Center for Border Economic and Enterprise Development

4:45 – 5:15 PM

Technology-Driven Corridors: Lessons for Moving from Designation to Delivery

Del Rio Civic Center – Pecan Ballroom

Speakers:

  • Tracy Forester, ITS Practice Leader, Halff

Sponsored by

5:15 – 5:30 PM

Building Momentum: Key Takeaways and Action Items

Del Rio Civic Center – Pecan Ballroom

Speakers:

  • Lauren Garduño, President/CEO, Ports-to-Plains Alliance

Sponsored by

6:00 – 9:00 PM

Evening Event

Main Street Social & Food Truck Fest
Downtown Del Rio • Music • Food Trucks • Border Culture

Sponsored by

Download the Schedule

Quick Links

Host City

Discover what makes our host city a strategic and welcoming location for this year’s conference, including travel information, attractions, and local highlights.

Explore Del Rio & Acuña

Lodging

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Pricing & Registration

Because of the support provided by our Sponsors, Registration will be FREE. We still need you to register for our conference planning.

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Sponsor the 2026 Ports-to-Plains Conference to boost visibility, connect with leaders, and support Future Interstate development.

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