KC SmartPort Appoints New Chairman

Plans in 2008 include the opening of three intermodal facilities

KANSAS CITY, Mo., February 7, 2008 – Mike Priest, regional vice president of TranSystems, will begin his term as the chairman for KC SmartPort as John Wagner finishes his term.

In his first year as board chairman, Priest will work closely with Chris Gutierrez, president of KC SmartPort, to lead the organization. As a non-profit, KC SmartPort aims to elevate Kansas City's status as a top-tier transportation and logistics location.

"The KC area's advantages in the transportation industry piques interest," said Priest. "I want to take that initial interest to the next level. KC needs to be top-of-mind in the logistics and transportation industry."

In 2008, KC SmartPort will build on its excellence from 2007. The organization will continue to work with the Kansas City Area Development Council to attract new and expanding transportation-based companies to the area. In 2007, KC SmartPort in cooperation with the Kansas City Area Development Council successfully attracted companies such as MWI Veterinary Supply, The Piston Group and Kimberly-Clark.

"The KC region experienced tremendous success in 2007," said Gutierrez. "We want to continue to see KC at the top of a company's list when it wants to expand or relocate."

The area can expect another transportation asset to come online in the first quarter of 2008. KC SmartPort and its partner EDS will complete Phase 1 of The Trade Data Exchange. The technology-driven interface increases freight visibility, which results in a more efficient supply chain.  

"Companies want the ability to know where their products are, when they will reach its destination and how long it will take for the freight to arrive. The TDE provides that," said Gutierrez. 

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About KC SmartPort

Kansas City SmartPort, Inc. is a non-profit economic development organization dedicated to building upon Kansas City's historic transportation hub status to make Kansas City a cutting-edge, high-tech inland port. KC SmartPort has two main focuses in its mission: To grow the area's transportation and logistics industry by attracting businesses with significant transportation and logistics elements; and to make it cheaper, faster, more efficient, and secure for companies to move goods into, from, and through the Kansas City area. For more information, please visit www.kcsmartport.com.

About TranSystems

TranSystems' 1,300 professionals in 45 offices throughout the U.S. provide architecture, engineering and planning; management and supply chain consulting; real estate consulting; and security to all sectors of the transportation industry. TranSystems' subject matter expertise in the multiple modes of goods movement - freight rail, trucking, ports and shipping - puts it on track to identify and execute innovative solutions leveraging modal interoperability. Typical projects include multi-modal shipping facilities, marine and inland terminals, logistics-based business parks and regional terminals that connect multiple facilities with rail and other infrastructure. Its ability to meet the continuum of transportation challenges facing our clients anywhere in the world rests firmly on the range of modal expertise, technical disciplines and consulting services we have gathered into one integrated business entity. To access current and historical information, visit TranSystems' website at www.transystems.com.