FMA Summits
The Cold Storage Reliability Summit
When downtime isn't an option.
A working summit for cold storage operators and infrastructure partners focused on refrigeration uptime, power resilience, and expansion decisions built for implementers, not spectators.
→ Shaped by what the Texas freeze exposed: redundancy is the operating model.
Two days to reduce risk, validate options, and leave with a plan.
Cold storage does not fail gracefully. UNINTERRUPTED is built for the people responsible for keeping temperature-controlled operations stable and the partners who deliver reliability. You’ll get curated 1:1 conversations and operator case studies focused on what actually breaks: power resilience, refrigeration redundancy, controls, and commissioning while live. If you’re making decisions in the next 12–18 months, this is where you pressure-test the plan before the next disruption does.
Because downtime is expensive
This summit is designed around preventing the failures that trigger excursions, lost product, and emergency decisions.
Because vendor selection is hard
Curated 1:1s help you evaluate solutions faster, with enough structure to keep conversations useful and comparable.
Because your next upgrades are already in motion
Utility constraints, redundancy upgrades, automation cutovers this is where operators share what worked and what didn’t.
Operators and the partners they rely on.
Built around implementers responsible for keeping temperature-controlled operations stable and the infrastructure partners who deliver reliability.
Cold storage operators
- VP / Director, Facilities
- VP / Director, Engineering
- Director, Refrigeration / Utilities
- Director, Maintenance & Reliability
- Operations Leaders and Site GMs
- Expansion / Retrofit Project Leads
Infrastructure partners
- Backup power, microgrids, UPS, switchgear
- Industrial refrigeration (ammonia / CO₂), controls
- Automation (AS/RS, conveyors), WMS integration
- Design-build / EPC, commissioning
- Monitoring, alarms, response workflows
- Envelope, doors, insulation, thermal performance
Reliability, power, and cold chain control.
Every topic is designed around one question: what fails first and what do the best operators do differently?
Power resilience
Generator sizing, fuel assumptions, microgrid strategy, and “day 2” readiness.
Refrigeration redundancy
Compressor/valve/control single points of failure and what operators standardize.
Controls + monitoring
Alarm fatigue, sensor integrity, escalation, and preventing excursions.
Commissioning while live
Sequencing, contingencies, and keeping the facility stable during upgrades.
Automation reliability
AS/RS + WMS integration issues, throughput bottlenecks, and recovery plans.
Insurance + compliance
Documenting readiness without overbuilding; resilience expectations are rising.
Operator Case Studies (Announcing Soon).
This program is built around 20-minute operator case studies and closed-door working sessions. Speakers are confirmed directly with cold storage operators and engineering leaders. Until the lineup is published, below is the exact case study slate we are recruiting for.
Grid Resilience & Backup Power
Managing 12–18 month upgrade timelines: interim power strategies, phased commissioning, and how teams get utility decisions unstuck.
Start-up sequencing, inrush currents, fuel logistics, and the real design decisions that prevent temperature excursions during an outage.
What operators do before the event: maintenance windows, live failover drills, monitoring, staffing and escalation.
Documenting resilience, maintenance, and controls integrity to meet underwriting and audit expectations without overbuilding.
Refrigeration Redundancy & Temperature Excursions
Where redundancy actually matters: compressors, controls, valves, sensors, and single points of failure operators keep missing.
A failure-mode breakdown: what triggered the excursion, how it was detected, and what fixes eliminated recurrence.
Alarm fatigue, false positives, sensor integrity, and the control logic that keeps temperature stable when conditions shift fast.
Step-by-step sequencing for upgrades while staying live: risks, contingencies, and the exact checks that prevented disruption.
Capacity Expansion & Automation Integration
Layout, racking, airflow, and operational changes that increased throughput and storage density without expanding footprint.
Integration failures, data handoffs, downtime risk, and the operating model that kept automation from becoming the bottleneck.
Demand management, scheduling, and controls strategies that reduced cost while maintaining temperature stability and uptime.
The mistakes: vendor selection, scope creep, weak commissioning, and what operators changed to prevent repeat failures.
Note: “Apply to present” is for cold storage operators and engineering leaders only. Solution providers participate via pre-scheduled 1:1 meetings and working sessions.
Meet the Solution Providers (Announcing Soon).
This summit includes 12 pre-scheduled 1-on-1 meetings for qualified operators. Provider confirmations will be published as contracts are signed. In the meantime, you can request access and tell us what you need then we match you as the roster finalizes.
Open
Power Resilience
Backup Power, Microgrids, and Fuel Strategy
- Generator / microgrid architecture for refrigeration loads
- Start-up sequencing, load shedding, and controls integration
- Fuel logistics and runtime planning for extended events
Open
Utility Constraints
Interconnection, Upgrade Timelines, and Interim Power
- Queue reality + permitting pathways
- Interim power strategies while upgrades are pending
- Phased commissioning without downtime
Open
Controls & Monitoring
Alarm Integrity, Monitoring, and Incident Response
- Temperature excursion early warning
- Controls logic for rapid stabilization
- Operator playbooks and drills
Open
Refrigeration
Ammonia Redundancy and Single-Point Failure Removal
- Compressor redundancy and sequencing
- Valves, sensors, and control dependencies
- Maintenance planning under uptime constraint
Open
Temperature Control
Excursion Prevention, Root Cause, and Recovery
- Detection, containment, and recovery steps
- Airflow, defrost, and door management practices
- Auditable documentation for insurance and QA
Open
Retrofit Execution
Retrofits and Commissioning While Staying Live
- Phasing, shutdown windows, and contingency plans
- QA/QC checks that prevent repeat failures
- Performance verification (M&V) without disruption
Open
Automation
AS/RS + WMS Integration Without Operational Risk
- Integration patterns and failure points
- Cutover planning and rollback scenarios
- Operating model changes that actually stick
Open
Capacity
Add Capacity Without a New Building
- Throughput, layout, and racking strategies
- Airflow and temperature stability at higher density
- Execution sequencing to stay live
Open
Energy Cost
Demand Management and Cost Control Under Constraint
- Peak shaving and scheduling without risking temperature
- Controls strategies that reduce cost and stabilize operations
- Budget predictability under volatile rates
Summit Schedule
Two days engineered for cold storage outcomes: pre-scheduled 1:1s you choose, operator case studies that compress learning, and hosted networking built around refrigeration, uptime, power, and expansion decisions.
3-Day Summit Overview
Pre-Scheduled 1:1 Meetings
Private, 1-hour sessions with partners you select, held at their corporate dining tables.
Operator & Partner Case Studies
20-minute, outcome-focused sessions built around refrigeration reliability, power resilience, automation, and expansion.
| Time | Day 1 Wednesday • Oct 28 |
Day 2 Thursday • Oct 29 |
Day 3 Friday • Oct 30 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7:00am | Corporate Dining & Networking | Corporate Dining & Networking | |
| 8:00am – 10:00am | Operator & Partner Case Studies | Operator & Partner Case Studies | |
| 10:00am | Hosted Networking in Exhibit Room | Hosted Networking in Exhibit Room | |
| 11:00am | Operator & Partner Case Studies | Operator & Partner Case Studies | |
| 12:00pm | Pre-Scheduled 1:1 Meetings (Lunch) | Pre-Scheduled 1:1 Meetings (Lunch) | |
| 1:00pm | Operator & Partner Case Studies | Operator & Partner Case Studies | |
| 2:00pm | Partner Setup / Registration | Operator & Partner Case Studies | — |
| 3:00pm | Partner Setup / Registration | Hosted Networking in Exhibit Room | — |
| 3:30pm | Partner Setup / Registration | Operator & Partner Case Studies | — |
| 5:00pm – 7:00pm | Partner Setup / Registration | Private Reception, Dinner & 1:1 Meetings | — |
Event Schedule & Location
The Westin Chicago Lombard · Lombard, Illinois
A delegate-friendly suburban venue with ample space for curated 1:1s, operator case studies, and private networking receptions built for focus, not distractions.
Hotel Info & Rooms →Choose your seats and register.
This is the inaugural Cold Storage Summit. Each delegate receives full access to the program, all meals and receptions, and curated introductions with solution providers relevant to cold storage operations (refrigeration, power resilience, automation, and expansion planning).
TEAM PRICING 1–2 delegates: $2,900 per person · 3–5 delegates: $1,850 per person
| Seats | Package | Investment | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Solo delegate |
$2,900
($2,900 per delegate)
|
One site, one project priority, or a single decision-maker evaluating options. | |
| 2 | Two-person team |
$5,800
($2,900 per delegate)
|
Facilities + refrigeration/engineering attending together to compare solutions. | |
| 3 | Core leadership team |
$5,550
($1,850 per delegate)
|
Facilities, engineering, and operations aligning on upgrades and timelines. | |
| 4 | Project squad |
$7,400
($1,850 per delegate)
|
Bring refrigeration, power/energy, and maintenance into one coordinated plan. | |
| 5 | Enterprise team |
$9,250
($1,850 per delegate)
|
Multi-site portfolios or national networks standardizing solutions across facilities. |
All options include all meals, receptions, full access to every session, and curated introductions with solution providers aligned to cold storage priorities. Onsite support is provided by the FMA team.
Why operators trust the FMA Summits format.
This Cold Storage Summit is a new, focused program built on the same proven FMA Summits format trusted by facility operators across regulated, mission-critical environments. The testimonials below reflect prior FMA Summits, demonstrating the structure, audience quality, and outcomes delegates can expect.
“The best facilities-focused event I attend.”
Brendan has attended multiple FMA Summits and values the format: one room, real operators, and practical discussions around infrastructure, energy, and facility performance. The structure allows him to compare approaches and leave with clear next steps — not sales noise.
Brendan Sullivan
Exec. Director, Facilities – Estée Lauder Companies
“This format consistently delivers value.”
Steve has participated in numerous FMA Summits over the years. He returns because the audience is curated, the conversations are technical and relevant, and the time spent leads to real vendor relationships and implemented projects.
Steven Driver
Global Energy Program Director – Sanofi
“A rare chance to learn from industry and government together.”
Scott attended an FMA Summit to better understand how private-sector operators approach infrastructure, safety, and resilience. He found the sessions concise, relevant, and immediately applicable — offering insights that could be adapted and implemented within government facilities.
Scott Bonhoff
Safety, Environmental & Fire Protection – FBI
Choose how many seats you need and secure them.
If this summit matches the problems on your desk refrigeration reliability, power capacity, uptime risk, and expansion planning then the next decision is simple: attend alone, or bring the people who will have to execute the plan when you get back.
1–2 delegates: $2,900 per person · 3–5 delegates: $1,850 per person. All options include full program access, meals, receptions, and curated meetings with solution providers relevant to cold storage operations.
This is the inaugural Cold Storage Summit. Seats are limited to keep the room operator-focused. When capacity is reached, registration closes.