At the 2015 International Warehouse Logistics Association (IWLA) Convention & Expo in Savannah, Ga., the spotlight was on both experienced leaders and the generation that will follow in their footsteps.

The association, which serves nearly 500 corporate members representing 3,000 warehousing locations, presented the 2015 Jock Menzies IWLA Distinguished Service and Leadership Award to Gary Minardi, president of San Jose Distribution Services, headquartered in San Jose, Calif., and Paul Delp, president and CEO of Lansdale Warehouse Co. Inc., based in Lansdale, Pa. The award recognizes outstanding leadership and service to the warehouse logistics industry and to IWLA. The group also named Mark DeFabis, IWLA treasurer and president and CEO of Plainfield, Ind.-based Integrated Distribution Services Inc., its 2015 Government Affairs Person of the Year.

IWLA recognizes that running a DC takes dedication, intelligence, and experience. Rising logistics professionals may arrive at the job with the first two qualities, but it takes time and good guidance to gain the right experience. That is the motivation for IWLA's newly revised Emerging Leaders Program, which was formally launched at the convention.

"The IWLA Emerging Leaders program develops and cultivates the next generation of leaders, helping them grow professionally," said Rob Doyle, vice president for business development at Commercial Warehousing and IWLA's incoming chairman, in a statement. The upgraded program will provide training, education, networking, and mentoring for new managers as they work their way up the ranks in the warehousing industry, Doyle said.