THE DC VELOCITY Q&A
thoughtleaders
GEORGE PREST HAS A VISION FOR THE FUTURE
of MHI, the venerable Charlotte, N.C.-based trade
association he now heads. For nearly seven decades, the
organization has served as an advocate for the material
handling sector. Now, he believes, the time has come
for the group to expand its mission and take its place
on the global stage. To that end, he’s looking to extend
the organization’s reach into the broader logistics and
supply chain management community.
He has already begun putting that plan into action.
Since taking the reins two years ago of what was for-
merly the Material Handling Industry of America, he
has led the rebranding of the association to simply
“MHI.” He also oversaw MHI’s launch of a new trade
show called “Modex” in January 2012. Held every other
year in Atlanta (the 2014 show opens March 17 at the
Georgia World Congress Center), Modex replaces the
North American Material Handling show. In contrast
to its predecessor, Modex has broadened its scope
beyond material handling to include transportation,
technology, and other aspects of the overall supply
chain.
Under Prest’s stewardship, MHI has also launched
the U.S. Material Handling & Logistics Roadmap initiative, an effort to identify the key challenges facing the
industry between now and 2025 and to develop action
When it comes to the material handling sector, says MHI’s George Prest, it’s time to
recognize it for what it really is: an integral part of the supply chain community.
INTERVIEW WITH GEORGE PREST
Material
handling’s
Material
handling’s
agent of change
