The Best Gather in the Southwest

Cold Chain Leaders Head to Scottsdale for the 2026 Global GCCA Convention

One hundred twenty-five years of education, connection, and relationship building. For the first time since 2019, the GCCA Convention returns to the first half of the year with a content-driven program to be held April 27-29, 2026.

Hosted at the newly renovated Scottsdale Grand Hyatt Resort, Scottsdale, Arizona, the annual program convenes cold chain leaders from around the world.

The program is designed for temperature-controlled warehousing, transportation, and logistics professionals, as well as industry suppliers and others that provide tools, technology, and equipment that support the cold chain, along with value-added services and innovative products.

“The 2026 GCCA Convention will host speakers, sponsors, and attendees from around North America and the world, to discuss key opportunities and challenges for the global cold chain – topics include leadership development, market and economic challenges and opportunities, capital investments, emerging technologies, multimodal logistics, grid capacity, ongoing trade fluctuations, and more,” says Sara Stickler, President and CEO of GCCA. “Demand for temperature-controlled environments is increasing around the world, and our members are ready to supply best-in-class solutions. I’m excited to hear the customer perspective from our main stage keynotes and also new topics curated for this year’s focus sessions. The Convention is the ideal place to share ideas and collaborate, ensuring efficient and quality response to emerging and continuing challenges.”

Expert Keynotes on Leadership, Economy, and Business

This year’s four Convention keynotes will focus on customer needs, building business enterprises, leadership and talent development, and the economic environment.

Greg Creed was Chief Executive Officer of Yum! Brands from January 2015 to December 2019 and served as a Director of the Board from November 2014 to May 2020. Creed retired after a successful 25-year career with the company. He has more than 40 years of global experience in marketing and operations at leading packaged-goods and restaurant brands.

Previously, Creed was head of Taco Bell, the Mexican-style quick service restaurant chain. He was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Taco Bell in early 2011 after serving as President and Chief Concept Officer and was responsible for driving the overall brand strategy and business performance in the United States and internationally.

He held various roles at Taco Bell, including Chief Marketing Officer, and spearheaded the “Think Outside the Bun” campaign and new product introductions that generated strong sales and profit growth for five consecutive years.

Doug Ducey is known as one of America’s most successful entrepreneurs and governors. Ducey began his career with Procter & Gamble, and later served as CEO of Cold Stone Creamery. There, Ducey led the expansion of the ice cream franchise from one single store into a business with 1,400 locations in the United States and 10 other countries.

Elected Arizona’s 23rd Governor in 2014, and reelected by an even wider margin in 2018, Ducey successfully championed historic policy initiatives, enacting the lowest flat income tax rate in the nation, knocking down licensing requirements that stood as a barrier to work, and eliminating or improving over 3,365 regulations resulting in the equivalent of a $183 million dollar tax cut.

Under Governor Ducey’s leadership, Arizona experienced unparalleled growth as the state’s economy boomed while the size of government shrunk. He welcomed record amounts of investment by leading various economic development initiatives, attracting businesses from all industries, and served as Chairman of the Republican Governors Association.

Drew Matus is Chief Market Strategist for MetLife Investment Management (MIM). In this capacity, Matus is responsible for formulating MIM’s global outlooks, which ultimately help to shape the company’s portfolio management and business decisions. His team also conducts research on investment themes to advise and inform MIM’s global team of investment professionals.

Prior to joining MetLife, Matus was the Deputy Chief U.S. Economist at UBS Securities LLC. Before banking, Matus worked in the market research group at Moore Capital Management, a hedge fund in New York, and also on the open market desk of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, assisting in the implementation and analysis of monetary policy operations and conducting Treasury market surveillance on behalf of several regulatory agencies.

Lindsay Shookus is a seven-time Emmy winning producer best known for her two-decade run shaping Saturday Night Live. As both producer and head of SNL’s talent department, she booked the show’s biggest hosts and musical guests, scouted rising stars, and helped launch the careers of Kristin Wiig, Kate McKinnon, and many more — earning a reputation as one of entertainment’s sharpest eyes for talent.

In her keynote presentation, Shookus shares important takeaways for how she was able to navigate challenging circumstances, and how anyone can do the same. Her insights are designed to help audience members reframe their mindsets to help them find the opportunity in adversity, make quick decisions, and develop solutions that will move them from one step backwards to two steps forward. Teamwork, resilience, accountability, and adaptability are all key components for sharpening your skills as a problem solver and emerging from the fire stronger, smarter, and better.

Cultivated Session Topics

Attendees will learn from peers and thought leaders on topics like food loss and waste, investments in capital upgrades, advancing multimodal logistics in North America, optimizing energy strategies, expanding grid capacity, navigating transportation shifts in the cold chain, and protecting your business in fluctuating markets.

“In recent years, we’ve been refining Convention breakout sessions to deliver the most impactful and relevant topics for our attendees,” said James Rogers, Senior Vice President, Member and Program Services and Operations for GCCA. “The 2026 Convention program will home in on what matters most for warehouse and transportation professionals – driving operational efficiencies through investments in technology, modernizing facility infrastructure, making smart capital upgrade decisions, bolstering energy strategies, navigating global logistics challenges, and combating food waste. I’m excited about the practical insights these sessions will deliver to help GCCA stakeholders adapt, compete, and thrive in the cold chain market.”

Key Technologies in the Cold Stage: Innovation Showcase and Stage

The Showcase offers Convention attendees an opportunity to evaluate new tools and technology – saving time and identifying the best solutions on the market. Directly connect with over 50 providers to learn about new equipment, technology trends, automation solutions, and other innovations that are moving the cold chain sector forward.

The thought leaders presenting on the Showcase Stage replace the previous Convention “Tech Talk” format. These tailored, focused presentations, highlighted on their own stage, will ensure attendees hear about high-level insights and use cases on emerging technologies and solutions deployment for warehouse owners and operators, transportation professionals, and cold storage builders. The Showcase Stage presenters provide valuable inside perspectives on the industry’s ongoing technical evolution.

2026 Cold Chain Café

GCCA’s Cold Chain Cafés provide an environment that convenes attendees in intimate groups to discuss the critical issues facing their businesses and the supply chain industry. Café participants choose from a variety of topics, joining moderated tables for intensive 20-minute conversations with peers before switching to a new table and topic of interest. Past Café discussions have included supply chain disruptions, traceability, food security, electrification of transport, macroeconomic trends, and more.

New Faces, Old Friends, and the Power of Relationship Building: Networking and Social Events

GCCA’s Scottsdale program offers multiple opportunities to connect, like breakfasts and coffee breaks on the showcase floor, group social events, and opportunities to give back to the community. Pickleball pro? Golf great? Valuable volunteer? Make sure to add these activities to your registration to round out your Convention experience. Additionally, the Grand Hyatt resort will host multiple receptions and the annual themed party – pack your finest for the GCCA Desert Oasis.

See You in Arizona

As the industry continues to evolve, GCCA is poised to lead. By members and stakeholders advancing pro-business global policy decisions, supporting and promoting new technology innovations, advancing a skilled workforce, and monitoring economic uncertainties, the annual Convention connects us, educates us, and prepares us for change.

The GCCA Convention is the ideal opportunity to collaborate on future-focused solutions for the entire cold chain. Find out more about this year’s program and register now: GCCA Convention 2026: The Premier Cold Chain Logistics Event

Contact Us

COLD FACTS Magazine and media inquiries: Lindsay Shelton-Gross, Senior Vice President, Global Communications, Marketing and Strategic Initiatives, Global Cold Chain Alliance

Editorial Ideas: Please contact Editor-In-Chief Alexandra Walsh

Advertising Opportunities: Contact Jeff Rhodes, Vice President of Sales, MCI USA Sales