Associations

Cargo volumes at U.S. ports are forecast to increase 3.9% in December following a 5.6% decline in November, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report compiled by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

The West coast strike by workers at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach negatively affected container volumes in November, but resolution of the strike after eight days meant disruption in December was limited to just two days.

WEST AURORA, Ill. — Gatorade and USA Today High School Sports have named Lauren Carlini of West Aurora High School as the 2012-13 Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year.  

Carlini received the news at West Aurora High School from 2012 Olympic silver medalist April Ross, who earned Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year honors in 1999-00.

CHICAGO — OfficeMax has appointed EVP, CFO and CAO Bruce Besanko, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, to the USO of Illinois’ board of directors. Besanko will join the USO's finance committee and serve a three-year term.

The March of Dimes trustees elected Deidra Merriwether and Will Smith as the charitable group’s newest board members.

Merriwether serves as SVP and COO of Kmart and Sears format at Sears Holdings and Smith is SVP of marketing for Brown Shoe Company. Merriwether and Smith join a group of more than 30 trustees as the organization prepares to celebrate its 75th anniversary next year. March of Dimes trustees, who serve as volunteers, represent the public in governing the organization and advancing its mission. They serve five-year terms.

More than 500 suppliers and service companies were on hand recently to hear what Walmart chief marketing officer Stephen Quinn had to say at an event organized by the Bentonville Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce.

More than 500 people are expected to attend the Northwest Arkansas Retail Link User Group’s annual holiday luncheon featuring key Walmart executives as guest speakers.

"The Future of Retail Link," is the title of a presentation to be given by Chris Lamb, a project manager with Walmart’s massive Information Systems Division. Matt Kistler, SVP of merchandise execution with Walmart U.S. also is scheduled to speak.

Kelly Semrau, SVP of global corporate affairs, communication and sustainability at SC Johnson, is the newest board member at the American Cleaning Institute (ACI).

The group, previously known as the Soap and Detergent Association, confirmed her appointment at a recent meeting where Amway’s Catherine Ehrenberger and Sasol’s Tom O’Brien were also appointed to new posts.

Ehrenberger, vp of research and development, quality and regulatory at Amway, was named board chair and O’Brien, group vp and general manager as Sasol, was named vice chair.

Washington, DC — Merchants at CVS, Smart & Final and Meijer have been named recipients of the 2013 Confectionery Leadership Awards by the National Confectioners Association.