The N.C. State Ports Authority announced the industry speakers for one of three panels at its 2024 Cold Chain Summit.

Venture capitalists, economic developers and cold supply chain executives will speak at the Cold Chain Summit, kicking off April 18 at Hotel Ballast on North Water Street. The annual conference highlights growth in the cold storage and supply chain industry in the state.

The Economic Development Momentum panel will be centered on industry investment. Featured on the panel will be Scott Satterfield, CEO of Wilmington Business Development; Chris Ramm of Ramm Capital Partners; Mike Massardo of Edgewater Ventures; and Scott Pertel, CEO of Cold Summit Development.

Other panels will tackle topics such as expanding cold gateways and operations of the future. The speakers in the remaining two panels are expected to be announced in the coming weeks, Elly Cosgrove, N.C. Ports communications manager told the Business Journal.

Cold supply chain allows cargo carrying fresh produce among other goods to be transported through the Port of Wilmington while maintaining a refrigerated temperature. North Carolina port officials are in the process of obtaining infrastructure to support the transport of cold cargo such as cold storage facilities, trade designations and additional rail upgrades.

Keynote speakers at this year’s Cold Chain Summit include N.C. State Ports executives such as executive director Brian Clark and chief commercial officer Hans Bean, N.C. Chamber of Commerce CEO Gary Salamido and CNBC correspondent Scott Cohn.

Brian Clark told the Business Journal that the port’s partnership with cold storage produce company Lewis Nursery and Farms, announced in December, is one of multiple developments underway supporting the cold supply chain.

In Pender County, shipping company Maersk’s subsidiary Performance Team recently completed a cold storage warehouse which opened on Feb. 12, said Kevin Doell, Maersk’s media relations manager. Cold Summit Development is also building an approximately 300,000-square-foot cold storage facility on Raleigh Street.