MWM guest columnist, Chris Gutierrez, is the president of Kansas City SmartPort, a non-profit economic development organization that works to attract freight-based companies, such as manufacturing, distribution and warehouses to the 18-county, bi-state Kansas City region.

Gutierrez has been active in logistics, international business and economic development for more than 30 years.

He joined KC SmartPort as president in 2003 and oversees all aspects of the organization, while providing thought leadership to the supply chain industry in KC and nationally.