Bryant Finalizes Keynote Lineup for 40th Global Trade Summit
Top Voices Driving Automation, Life Sciences, and Leadership Trends Headline Bryant's Global Trade Summit
Industry leaders in robotics, life sciences, and executive performance to headline New England's premier international business event on September 24
Industry leaders in robotics, life sciences, and executive performance to headline New England's premier international business event on September 24
Nationally recognized leaders in automation, life sciences, and executive leadership will headline Bryant University's John H. Chafee Center for International Business' 40th Global Trade Summit on September 24, bringing decades of industry expertise and strategic insight to New England's premier international business event. As the Summit celebrates its 40th anniversary, this year's keynote speakers will equip business leaders with practical strategies for navigating global uncertainty, accelerating innovation, and leading through a rapidly evolving economic landscape.
The 2026 Global Trade Summit will convene business executives, manufacturers, exporters, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and supply chain professionals to explore the trends, technologies, and leadership strategies shaping the future of global commerce.
Global Trade Summit’s keynote speakers:
- Michael Santora, CEO of Logic, will deliver the morning keynote examining the latest innovations in supply chain and warehouse automation. Santora will explore how robotics, intelligent automation, and emerging technologies are transforming end-to-end supply chain operations while providing a look at the future of space supply chains and the next generation of logistics innovation
- Brendan LaCerda, Director in Moody’s Analytics’ Economic Research group, will provide an economic perspective on the forces reshaping global trade and supply chains. As the lead analyst for U.S. fiscal policy and inflation forecasts, LaCerda brings more than 15 years of experience as a macroeconomic forecaster, with recent research focused on tariffs and global supply chains. He will examine the economic trends and policy dynamics influencing global commerce, offering insights into what businesses should be watching as they navigate an evolving international trade environment.
- Bob Cormier, President and CEO of the Rhode Island Life Science Hub, will share lessons from more than 25 years of driving innovation, business growth, and organizational transformation across the United States and Europe. Drawing on his extensive leadership experience in the life sciences and medtech industries, Cormier will discuss the opportunities shaping Rhode Island's innovation economy and the region's role in the future of advanced industries.
- Monika Sattler, executive performance advisor to C-suite leaders and corporate teams and Bryant University alumna, will present her keynote, "Own the CLIMB." Sattler will offer practical strategies for sustaining high performance during periods of uncertainty, creating clarity in leadership, and building resilient workplace cultures that enable organizations to thrive through change.
Registration is now open for the 2026 Global Trade Summit. To view the full agenda, learn more about this year's speakers, and reserve your seat, visit: https://global-trade-summit.bryant.edu/
About the John H. Chafee Center for International Business
The John H. Chafee Center for International Business is Rhode Island's designated agency for world trade and export activities. For more than 40 years, the Center has helped grow Rhode Island's economy through international business development, export assistance, strategic consulting, trade missions, market research, and educational programming.
About Bryant University
For more than 160 years, Bryant University has prepared innovative leaders through an integrated education that combines business, the liberal arts, and health and behavioral sciences. Located in Smithfield, Rhode Island, Bryant is nationally recognized for student outcomes, return on investment, and preparing graduates to lead in a rapidly changing global economy.
