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THE PRESIDENT’S EXPORT AWARDS

THE PRESIDENT’S EXPORT AWARDS

On May 21, 2018, United States Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross commenced the Nation’s annual World Trade Week by honoring 43 top American companies and organizations which either export American goods and services abroad or assist other business with exporting their own goods abroad. The honorees were recognized at the 49th annual President’s Export Awards ceremony in Washington, DC.

The President’s Export Awards ceremony marked a victory for President Trump and his administration, as Trump campaigned heavily on job creation back in 2016. This year’s award recipients contributed towards exporting more than two trillion dollars of American goods and services in 2017 alone- and those exports subsequently supported almost 11 million US jobs. In fact, in May – the same month of the Export Awards- the jobless rate in America tumbled from 4.1 percent to 3.9 percent- the lowest numbers since December of 2000.

Less unemployment, combined with Trump’s recent tax cuts, are not just putting more money in American worker’s bank accounts, it’s also increasing the bottom line of many employers. This means more investing, more creating and naturally, more jobs. The Congressional Budget Office agrees- raising its growth estimate for 2018 to 3.3 percent, which is more than double the growth rate estimate of 2016.

This growth, combined with President Trump’s campaign promises to bring jobs back to America from overseas give the Trump administration all the more reason to celebrate, especially at a time when according to the Brookings Institute, a record 85 percent of economic growth over the next five years is expected to come from exports. Hopefully this upward trend continues, and leaders like those selected for the President’s Export Awards can help lead the way for other businesses.

About the Awards

Introduced by President John F. Kennedy in 1961, the President’s Export Awards (or “E” awards) have become a longstanding tradition in Washington- one which spotlights the very brightest stars in the exporting industry- businesses that continue to make a powerful impact in the US exports market.

Among the total 43 businesses and organizations honored this year, nine honorees received the “E” award for export Service due to their exemplary support of export activities, 25 received the “E” award for exports following a consecutive four-year increase in export sales, and eight total companies received the prestigious “E” Star Award for exports, which is bestowed upon previous “E” award winners who have continued their growth trend with an additional 4 consecutive years of growth. Just one firm, Specialty Equipment Market Association (SMEA) of Diamond Bar, California was awarded the Star Award for Export Service. This award is given to previous honorees who have shown an additional four years of support to exporters beyond their initial award-winning support in a prior year.

The 2018 “E” Award recipients are:

“E” Award for Exports

Applied Membranes, Inc. – Vista, California

Located in the scenic city of Vista, California, Applied Membranes, Inc. manufactures reverse-osmosis water filtration systems, membranes and components for use in both commercial and residential applications. Founded in 1983 by Dr. Gil Dhawan, Applied Membranes systems have been used in 20,000 installations around the globe. Applied Membranes prides itself on its ability to offer flexible, customized solutions to suit even the most complex water treatment needs.

About Vista: Vista, California is located in San Diego County. With a population of 101,797 this mid-sized California city is less than 10 miles from the Pacific Ocean and boasts a warm Mediterranean climate. The city has an ideal workforce for industries ranging from semiconductor manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, navigational and electromedical engineering and more.

Automated Packaging Systems – Streetsboro, OH

With locations around the globe, including 10 in the United States, Automated Packaging Systems currently has over 30,000 packaging systems in operation across the planet. Inventors of the original Autobag brand pre-opened bag, Automated Packaging Systems was founded in 1962, in a modest garage in Queens, New York. Today, they are the leading manufacturer of bags-on-a-roll bagging systems, producing more bags-on-a-roll than all of their competitors combined.

About Streetsboro: Known as the Gateway to Progress, Streetsboro, Ohio is centrally located between the cities of Cleveland, Youngstown and Akron, Ohio. Home to three business parks – two of which are the largest in the Cleveland area, Streetsboro has an unprecedented access to major interstate highways and the busiest intersection in both Portage and Summit counties. The city is known for its skilled manufacturing workforce, with 32 percent of its industry in the manufacturing field.

Beekley Medical – Bristol, CT

Founded by F. Cheney Beekley in 1934, Beekley Medical first began as a printing and lithograph press. Today Beekley Medical, along with two other related companies falls under the Beekley Corporation umbrella. In the 84 years since Beekley first opened his business in Hartford, Connecticut Beekley Medical has become an innovator in the medical products field, developing products that help both doctors and patients have a more positive clinical outcome.

About Bristol: Just twenty miles south of Hartford, Connecticut and halfway between New York City, New York and Boston, Massachusetts, the suburban city of Bristol, Connecticut is probably best known as being home to sports network ESPN. But that’s not all this 60k-plus resident city has going for it. Strategically positioned between four labor markets (Hartford, Waterbury, Torrington and New Haven, Connecticut), the are also boasts a large population of educated workers, thanks to its close proximity to Universities like Yale, Harvard, MIT, Princeton and New York University.

Colorado Mesa University – International Student Admissions and Programs – Grand Junction, CO

Founded in 1925 Colorado Mesa University’s (CMU) International Student Admissions and Programs department was honored with a President’s Export Award thanks to CMU’s tireless efforts to attract international students to the 11,000 –plus-student university. With programs ranging from technical certificates all the way up to master’s degrees,  CMU offers nearly 100 undergraduate programs and over 40 associates degree and certificate programs, including Business/Commerce, Biology/Biological Sciences and Criminal Justice/ Safety Studies. Located in picturesque Grand Junction, Colorado, CMU is ranked #24 in Regional Colleges West.

About Grand Junction: Known as the ‘Energy Capital of the West,’ Grand Junction, Colorado is located in the natural-resource-rich Piceance Basin- a strategic foothold which allows free access to both domestic and international trade routes. Grand Junction is already home to such energy giants as Exxon Mobil, Chevron and Halliburton, as well as numerous energy start-ups which focus wind energy and clean-tech, which benefit from the city’s Jump-Start tax credit program.

Colorado State University – Fort Collins, Colorado

The second Colorado university to receive an “E”-award, Fort Collins-based Colorado State University earned their place in American History thanks to CSU’s emphasis on exporting education and ramped-up recruitment of international students. CSU has increased international enrollment for the past 11 years straight, increasing the international student population by 126 percent in the past decade. Currently, CSU has 1,995 international students, who President Tony Frank credits with helping to expand the cultural and intellectual lexicon on campus.

About Fort Collins: Located just 65 miles north of Denver, Fort Collins, Colorado was initially founded as a military outpost by the United States Army. Today, Fort Collins is no longer a military base, but that hasn’t slowed down the mid-sized college city. With a  population of approximately 161,000 people,  Fort Collins is home to a long list of household name manufacturing operations, like Anheuser-Busch, Hewlett Packard, Eastman Kodak and Waterpik, just to name a few. The city’s target industries include biotech, clean energy, and computer programming.

CoreBrace, LLC – West Jordan, Utah

CoreBrace LLC has the honor of being the first President’s Export Award winner to hail from the State of Utah. Designers and manufacturers of custom-built Buckling Restrained Braces (BRB’s) for use in the construction of buildings which need additional protection from cyclical later loadings, such as loadings caused by earthquakes. CoreBrace was recognized for its efforts in increasing employment by over 300 percent to support its booming export business.

About West Jordan: The fourth-largest city in Utah, the rapidly-growing city of West Jordan has a population of over 103,000 and is home to the headquarters of companies like SME Steel, Cypress Credit Union and Mountain America Credit Union. Conveniently located near several major transportation corridors, West Jordan is less than a half-day’s drive to Las Vegas, Nevada, Denver, Colorado, and Los Angeles and San Francisco, California respectively. The 32-square-mile city also has light rail and commercial freight rail service, and is just 15 minutes from Salt Lake International Airport. The city is also home to a second general aviation airport which acts as a base for the 211th Aviation Regiment of the Utah Army National guard to fly Black Hawk and Apache helicopters.

EXEPRON- Lafayette, Louisiana

When Daniel Walsh and John Thompson developed the EXEPRON project management platform, they did so to solve a problem they themselves faced frequently in their20-plus years of management consulting. Using a cloud computing platform, Walsh and Thompson developed EXEPRON, a “collaborative scheduling solution,” which allows users to seamlessly manage resources using what they describe as “virtual, real-time global collaboration.” EXEPRON was honored with the “E” award due to its impressive export sales and dedication to increasing export expansion- both of which help to create American jobs.

About Lafayette: The fourth largest city in Louisiana, Lafayette is known as Louisiana’s “Hub City,” thanks to its effortless access to a variety of infrastructure options. The historic city is located at the crossroads of I-10 and I-49, with access to 114 miles of L&D railroad rack. The city also has its own large regional airport (LFT), with daily flights to Houston and Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, and Atlanta, Georgia, and is 70 miles or less from six different seaports. Deemed one of Realtor.com’s “10 Smaller Cities Poised to Skyrocket” in May of 2018, Lafayette has been affectionately dubbed “silicon bayou,” thanks to its rapidly increasing tech and innovation industry.

Flexo Concepts – Plymouth, Massachusetts

Manufacturers of doctor blades used in offset and flexographic printers, Plymouth, Massachusetts-based Flexo Concepts received an “E” award for their contribution to the export job market following their rapid global-growth. Since its acquisition in 2001, CEO Kevin Howell and President Greg Howell have worked tirelessly to introduce Flexo’s TruPoint line to foreign markets. The President’s E Award is Flexo Concepts’ second exporting so far in 2018.  This past April, the Massachusetts Small Business Association named Flexo Concepts the “2018 Exporter of the Year,” thanks to the company’s support and dedication to increasing exports and supporting state-generated export marketing programs.

About  Plymouth: One of the most famous towns in American history, Plymouth Massachusetts’ claim to fame is the landing of the ship The Mayflower in November of 1620 at Plymouth Rock. Though some of the details of this story have been disputed and disproven over the years, it is tale that has now been permanently woven into the tapestry of American folklore.

Today, Plymouth is modern town, where new literally meets old. A popular tourist destination, the city still honors its heritage while offering a highly workforce and modern amenities. Some of the town’s largest employers include Entergy Nuclear Generation, Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital, and yes, even the not-so-modern tourist hot-spot Plymouth Plantation.

Fortune Products, Inc. – Cedar Park, TX

Manufacturers of the Accusharp line of knife and tool sharpeners, the privately-owned Fortune Products, Inc. Is based in the Austin, Texas suburb of Cedar Park. Founded in 1984, Fortune Products received the “E” award for their impressive export sales which span multiple industries across 64 countries. Fortune Products stunning sales growth has expanded employment at the business by 65 percent, and the company’s increase in export activities has also generated an increase in export-related American jobs.

About Cedar Park: Approximately 16 miles southeast of Austin, Texas the modest sized city of Cedar Park, Texas offers something for everyone, from sports fanatics to history buffs. Home of the world-famous 400-year-old Heritage Oak Tree, the industries supported by the community of Cedar Park are anything but ancient. Some of Cedar Park’s more notable businesses include Voltabox, Firefly Aerospace, and pc-based embedded board manufacturer Corvalent. But Cedar Park’s number one source of pride isn’t an ancient tree: it’s the Cedar Park workforce. A highly educated community more than half of all Cedar Park residents have at least a four-year degree, and a full sixty percent of Cedar Park’s skilled commuter workforce would be willing to leave their current position to accept one closer to home in Cedar Park.

Global Airtech – Van Nuys, California

Founded in 1989, aviation and aerospace company Global Airtech provides the commercial aviation industry with supply chain logistics, asset management, and round-the-clock AOG (aircraft on ground) support. Based in Van Nuys, California, Global Airtech has client support offices in the US, China, Thailand and India. A full-service aircraft parts supplier with an extensive collection of on-hand inventory, spare parts are available at Global Airtech’s Los Angeles, Miami, Singapore, and London locations. Furthermore, Global Airtech’s support staff is trained extensively in dealing with Global Delivery Couriers, Freight Forwarders, and Customs Clearance Associates to assist in supply logistics.

About Van Nuys: Located in the famed San Fernando Valley area of Southern California, Van Nuys, California is the only neighborhood in ‘The Valley’ with a population of over 100,000. At just under 9 square miles, the densely packed district is home to a total of 2.1 million residents and over 70,000 businesses. Recently designated by the United States chamber of commerce as a manufacturing community, Van Nuys and the rest of the valley have been granted VIP access to $1.3 billion dollars in federal funding for manufacturing operations. The Valley is already leading the way in advanced manufacturing, with companies like Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, Aerojet Rocketdyne, and many more.

GT Mfg., Inc. – Clay Center, KS

Since their humble beginnings in 1953, GT Mfg., Inc. has become a leader in the batch grain dryer manufacturing industry and continues to dominate the marketplace. Now widely-considered to be the gold standard in grain dryers, today, you can find GT dryers in 83 different countries, and on six different continents around the world. But that didn’t happen by accident- it was a lot of hard work on behalf of the entire GT Mfg. team, -something that the company’s president, Dennis Pederson is quick to confirm. But it almost didn’t happen for this 2018 export award recipient. You see, several decades ago, when GT’s owner, Jim Sampson was ready to throw in the towel on his self-made business, he decided instead to aggressively pursue exporting his products around the world- a move that paid off big time for the small Kansas operation. GT’s “E” award isn’t the first professional accolade the company has won- in fact, this year’s E award is the third export bestowal, Sampson, Pederson and the team have earned in the past four years- including the Kansas SBA Exporter of the Year in 2014, and the State of Kansas exporter of the year in 2016.

About Clay Center: Clay Center, Kansas holds the unique distinction of being the exact geographic midpoint between the United States’ two biggest cities – New York City, New York, and Los Angeles, California- poising Clay Center just 1,224 miles from each. Though this Midwestern city houses a population of just 4334, what the workforce lacks in quantity it more than makes up for in quality. A recent workforce study by the Docking Institute found that more than half of Clay Center’s available workforce is willing to work second shift, third shift, weekends or a rotating shift, and the majority of workers cited on-the-job training as the second most important benefit after salary.

GTX Technologies LLC – Amarillo, TX

Founded by the Ghanaian-born Dr. Norbert Chirase in 2007, GTX Technologies LLC specializes in the development and distribution of humic (organic) substances for use in organic products like cattle feed, lawn and garden food and soil remediation. With a staff of less than ten employees, Chirase has been able to expand his sales of GTX Technologies products around the globe, raising his sales and boosting the US export industry in the process.

About Amarillo: The largest city in the ‘Texas Panhandle,’ Amarillo, Texas is the state’s 14th largest city, with a population of over 201,000. Often referred to as the ‘yellow rose of Texas,’ (Amarillo means ‘yellow’ in Spanish) Amarillo is home to some of the most diverse industries in the state of Texas, including a V-22 Osprey hybrid aircraft assembly plant (which has unofficially garnered Amarillo the nickname “Rotor City USA,”) to the CNS Pantex nuclear weapon assembly/disassembly plant- the only one of its kind in America. However, despite this influx of niche businesses, Amarillo is still best known for being one of the largest meat-packing regions in the entire United States. In fact, approximately 25% of the country’s beef is processed at Amarillo plants, and the city’s second largest employer is Tyson Foods.

Helicopter Tech, Inc. – King of Prussia, Pennsylvania

A woman-owned small business (WOSB) Helicopter Tech, Inc. was founded in 1995 by company President and CEO Rachel Carson. Carson began Helicopter Tech, Inc. to fill a gap in the aviation industry, providing thousands of aircraft parts to customers who may not have a lot of time to wait for a special order. To do this, Carson and Helicopter Tech work with subcontractors to create the parts and deliver them to the customer through Helicopter Tech’s integrated supply-chain management process. For Helicopter Tech, Inc., exporting provides a means to stay busy during the off season. In a recent interview with the International Trade Commission, Carson explained that the ability to export parts to places like Australia during the slower months in the US has enabled Helicopter Tech to maintain steady work when normally there might be a lag.

About King of Prussia: King of Prussia, Pennsylvania is a rapidly-growing Philadelphia suburb. With just under 20k residents, King of Prussia is home to the largest shopping mall in America,  King of Prussia (or KOP) is not an officially incorporated town, but a ‘census designated place’ in Upper Merion Township, Pennsylvania. In 2016, the area began working on a $1.2 billion dollar expansion of King of Prussia mall, as well as the creation of new single family housing, luxury apartments and office space- including a 300,000 square foot distribution center.

iTEP International, LLC – Canoga Park, California

The creator of the globally renown International Test of English Proficiency (iTEP), iTEP International earned the President’s “E” award for its suite of online language assessment products. Founded in 2008, iTEP testing has quickly become a leader in English-language assessment examinations. Today iTEP tests are used in 51 countries at by schools, businesses and even governments. Though the iTEP test is available around the world, its biggest international market is China, which currently has over 100 iTEP testing centers in addition to partnerships with numerous educational institutions.

About Canoga Park: Canoga Park, California is a San Fernando Valley neighborhood in Los Angeles with a population of around 60,000. The Canoga Park area is known for its aerospace technology industry, as the neighborhood is home to aerospace companies like Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Atomics International, Hughes Aircraft, Boeing and numerous others.

Jeppesen – Englewood, Colorado

A leading publisher of flight navigation charts since 1934, Jeppesen charts are now so widely used in the aviation industry that they are affectionately referred to as “Jepp charts.” Founded by a pilot named Elrey Borge Jeppesen, Jeppesen’s earliest charts were made on paper. Though Pilot Jeppesen never intended to sell his handmade navigation charts, colleagues began to take notice of the detail and accuracy and requested Jeppesen make them a copy. As legend has it, Jeppesen began selling copies of his personal flight book for just $10 dollars, and Jeppesen the company was born.

Today, despite paper navigation charts falling by the wayside in favor of electronic charts, Jeppesen is still considered the gold-standard in flight charts.

About Englewood: A “Home Rule Municipality,” Englewood, Colorado is located just 20 minutes south of Denver. With a population of just under 32,000, Englewood’s top industries are healthcare, education and retail. Englewood is also home to privately owned German-based cleaning system manufacturer Kärcher North America, Inc, and a local Dean Foods plant. Englewood boasts a business-friendly climate and a variety of housing and business site options ideal for small-to-medium sized businesses.

Kira Labs Inc – Pompano Beach, Florida

Founded by David Rosen in 2003, Kira Labs, Inc. is an all-natural, cruelty-free skincare line based in Pompano Beach, Florida. Today the company manufactures and vertically markets more than 15 skincare brands around the world. But Kira Labs wasn’t always the powerhouse it is today- it wasn’t until Rosen started thinking globally that the business really took off. Armed with a detailed export marketing plan, he was able to grow Kira Labs from a modest ten employees to over 60 within a few short years. Today Kira Products are available as far away as Russia and Korea, and Kira Labs is racking up the accolades- including Florida Exporter of the Year in 2017.

About Pompano Beach: Pompano Beach, Florida boasts three-miles of pristine coastline along Florida’s east coast. Best  known for its beautiful beaches and wondrous coral reef, the city of Pompano Beach has been designated an All-America city, an honor only bestowed upon cities where all sectors exhibit the ability to work together to address issues that face the community.

Maxxess Systems – Yorba Linda, California

Yorba Linda, California based Maxess Systems manufactures adaptable security management systems that meet the unique security needs of modern businesses. The company prides itself on being able provide customers with peace of mind by offering operational management systems at reasonable prices. Maxess Systems can be customized to meet most business needs right out of the box, and allow for third-third party integration solutions.

About Yorba Linda: Picturesque Yorba Linda, California is just 37 miles southeast of Los Angeles in Orange County, California. The Southern California town is known for its love of horses and has over 100 miles of horseback riding trails. The top industries in Yorba Linda are healthcare, retail and manufacturing.

Micronova Manufacturing, Inc. – Torrance, California

The woman-owned Micronova Manufacturing, Inc., designs, manufactures and sells medical cleanroom supplies. Founded in 1984 by Audrey Reynolds, started Micronova Manufacturing to address the needs of the rapidly growing biotech, aerospace and semiconductor facilities that were springing up in area.

Today, Micronova Manufacturing, Inc. produces a variety of cleanroom supplies, including cleanroom tapes, the MicroDispenser, wipes, detergents and more.

About Torrance: Regularly topping the list as one of the safest cities in America, the suburban city of Torrance, California is home to a variety of diverse businesses and business headquarters -from the United States headquarters of the American Honda Motor Company to Alpine Electronics of America and Honeywell Aerospace, Torrance has a highly skilled manufacturing workforce, moderate year-round climate, and a variety of logistics options, Torrance is centrally located for business.

Mercury Medical – Clearwater, Florida

A veteran-owned small business (VOSB), Clearwater, Florida-based Mercury Medical was founded by Stanley G. Tangalakis in 1963. Since then, Mercury Medical has earned a reputation for delivering and manufacturing innovative airway management devices and exporting them to nearly 80 countries around the world. Mercury Medical was recognized with a Presidential “e” Award for expanding their operations globally, and notably cultivating lifesaving, legal business relations with customers in Iran.

About Clearwater: Designated one of the “Ten Best Places to Retire” by CBS Money Watch, Clearwater Florida offers residents the opportunity live, work and play all in the same place. The third largest city in Pinellas County, Florida, Clearwater is home to the pristine Clearwater Beach and boasts a year-round subtropical climate. Tourism is a major industry in Clearwater, attracting 5 million visitors each year, and Clearwater Beach recently won the 2018 TripAdvisor Travelers Choice titles “Number One Beach in America” and the seventh-best beach in the entire world. The State of Florida was ranked second-best business climate in America. Clearwater has already invested millions of dollars to improve its downtown area, and plans to continue renovations and new zoning and development standards along the city’s US 19 corridor have helped make this area a highly desirable site for both commercial and industrial businesses.

PDI Ground Support Systems – Solon, Ohio

Founded in 1962 as Prototype Development Incorporated, Inc., PDI Ground Support Systems has earned a global reputation for designing and manufacturing weapons handlings systems and ground support equipment for United States Military establishments and 45 allied forces around the globe. PDI Ground Support specializes in munitions handling, assembly, shipping and counter-measure transport modules, and often works with manufacturers of electronic smart-weapon test systems. In addition to being a 2018 President’s “E” award winner, PDI Ground Support Systems is the 2017 United States Small Business Association Exporter of the Year for Region V. The suburban Ohio company continues to grow through strategic acquisitions of weapons and armament handling systems.

About Solon, Ohio: Solon, Ohio is a suburb of Cleveland Ohio, and part of the fifteenth-largest metropolitan area -the Cleveland-Akron-Canton metropolitan area- in America. Solon’s industrial roots began in 1929 with the Bready Cultimotor tractor factory, and manufacturing has been booming in the city ever since. Today, Solon is still a stronghold in the manufacturing industry, producing everything from electronic and electrical equipment, machinery, measuring and controlling instruments, chemicals and metal products. Thanks to its innovative zoning plan (one of the first of its kind) Solon has successfully grown its manufacturing industry while keeping industrial sites away from residential.

Phenix Technology, Inc. – Riverside, California

When Ronny Coleman and Ray Russell founded Phenix Technology, Inc. in 1972, they were already passionate about fire helmets and fire safety. The two men had become friends four years earlier after forging a bond over their shared-hobby of collecting antique fire helmets from around the globe. But for Coleman and Ross, fire helmets were more than just for fun – they were the difference between life and death. That’s because both Ross and Coleman were fire chiefs. As firemen, Russell and Coleman understood the importance of safety gear, but they also understood that the helmets available for use at the time left a lot to be desired. So, the two invested in an injection molding unit, and began building a better helmet. Forty-two years later, Phenix Technology Inc. still manufactures fire helmets right here in the USA, but thanks to their strategic export growth plan, Phenix Technology products are now available to protect first-responders around the world. Always putting others ahead of themselves, the team at Phenix Technology has even helped other businesses develop their own export growth plans to expand into foreign markets.

About Riverside, California: Seated along the Santa Ana River, Riverside, California is just 60 miles east of Los Angeles. With a population of just over 303,000, Riverside is where the United States citrus industry began. Today, Riverside’s key industries include advanced manufacturing, food and agriculture, health and medical, food and retail, technology and entrepreneurship and professional services. With lower utility rates and strategic access to highway, rail, air and seaports, Riverside is an ideal location for a variety of industries.

Santa Monica College – Santa Monica, CA

Santa Monica College is a public community college located in Santa Monica, California. Founded in 1929, a total of 153 students comprised the entire student body. Today, Santa Monica College boasts 30,000 students annually- with notable alumni including former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and legendary actor James Dean. The esteemed community college earned a President’s “E” Award for its achievements in expanding international student recruitment and creating opportunities for underserved students.  Nationwide, Santa Monica College has the second-highest amount of international community college students, with 3,400 students hailing from over 100 countries around the globe. School leadership credits these expanded recruitment efforts with helping make Santa Monica College a community of global citizens, without ever having to leave campus.

About Santa Monica: Boasting a moderate Mediterranean climate, Santa Monica, California is probably best-known for its famous Santa Monica Pier, a popular tourist destination since 1909. Tourism is one of the city’s main industries, but its also home to numerous video game development studios, Universal Music Group, TOMS Shoes, and a rapidly increasing tech-center that has earned the city the nickname ‘Silicon Beach.’

Technologent – Irvine, California

Technologent serves Fortune 1000 companies, providing enterprise-class technology solutions that are custom fit to each business’s individual needs- and using American-made products in the process. Technologent provides client solutions to issues like data center infrastructure, automation, security and cloud computing. Technologent currently has over ten locations around the United States and provides services to clients in 25 countries around the world.

About Irvine: At 66 square miles, Irvine, California is no small city. With an estimated population of 276,000, Irvine businesses provide over 200,000 jobs at over 20,000 businesses. In fact, Irvine’s jobs-to-population ratio of 94.8 percent isn’t just good- it’s the best in America. Not just good for business, Irvine is an extremely livable city. Home to the University of California at Irvine, this planned Orange County suburb has been voted ‘Best Run City’ by the Wall Street Journal, and the ‘Safest Big City in America.’

United Franchise Group – West Palm Beach, Florida

For over 30 years, United Franchise Group has been offering unique franchising business opportunities to entrepreneurs around the world. Today, they have helped over 1400 franchisees in 17 global markets achieve their financial goals through United Franchise Group’s leadership and guidance.  CEO Ray Titus began his franchising career in 1987, with the Farmingdale, New York business Signarama. Today, Signarama is the world’s largest sign franchise, with over 800 locations in 62 countries. In 2006, Signarama became the first franchise to receive an “E” award.

About West Palm Beach: West Palm Beach, Florida offers a pro-business environment which includes no state or local income tax, shorter commutes, lower cost of doing business, diverse, highly-educated workforce, unprecedented access to infrastructure, including rail and seaports, relocation incentives. In fact, Forbes Magazine ranked West Palm Beach the number one city in Florida for business and careers. All this amidst a tropical climate, breathtaking scenery, and one of the most walkable business areas in the State of Florida.

WorldBusiness Capital, Inc. – Hartford, Connecticut

A regulated commercial finance Company, World Business Capital, Inc. (WBC) provides flexible term loans to small-to-midsize businesses to help them stay competitive with other businesses on a global scale. WorlBusiness Capital, Inc. was founded in 2003 in Hartford, Connecticut and today has helped businesses in 14 markets across the globe, successfully closing loans in the United States, Mexico, Europe, Asia and more.

About Hartford: Known as the Insurance Capital of the World, Hartford Connecticut is no stranger to big business. Founded in 1635, Hartford may be one of the oldest cities in America, but it’s refreshingly modern -with tech companies like Infosys planning a new technology hub in the city. The establishment will generate upwards of 1000 new jobs in the next four years, and focus on manufacturing, healthcare and insurance. Hartford is already home to the world headquarters of Aetna Insurance, The Hartford Financial Services Group, and United Technologies. The city is also working hand-in-hand with residents and businesses to revitalize and redevelop 14 key areas within the city.

“E” Awards for Export Service

Alabama Department of Commerce – Montgomery, Alabama

With the help of the Alabama Department of Commerce, the state of Alabama has seen their exports grow by an impressive 50 percent over the past ten years. Working in conjunction with the Export Alabama Alliance, the Alabama Department of Commerce has worked tirelessly to seek out new Alabama-made products to export to the global marketplace.

About Montgomery: With a rich history in the American Civil Rights movement, Montgomery, Alabama blends history with modernity. The second-largest city in Alabama, a major renovation of downtown Montgomery has been underway since the 2000’s. With just over 200,000 people, Montgomery Alabama provides a wide pool of talent (pulling an additional 172,000 plus workers from the broader metropolitan area) and extremely low unionization rates (just 4.9 percent of employees are in unions). With a diverse workforce skill-set, some Montgomery’s largest employers include Gunter Air Force Base, Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama and ALFA Insurance.

CohnReznick LLP – New York, New York

Founded in 1919, CohnReznick LLP is now the eleventh-largest public accounting firm in the United States, employing more than 2,400 people in 26 offices around the United States and the world. CohnReznick earned a 201 President’s “E” award for Export Service for its dedication to protecting its clients’ assets when exporting to foreign markets. CohnReznick was also selected for providing clients with additional support and education about recognizing export opportunities.

About New York: A city as famous as New York City, New York needs no real introduction, but that can also make starting a business in ‘The Big Apple’ somewhat intimidating. Thankfully the New York City Economic Development Corporation has your back and is there to walk you through the entire site selection process from start to finish. A city the size of New York City needs more than just a few people, though, so the NYCEDC has formed teams of skilled experts who know New York City, know business, and know how to get your business started on the best foot possible.

The NYCEDC’s goal is to promote the job market for every New Yorker in every borough, by investing in infrastructure, innovation and human capital, and by using the bountiful tools available to them through the city to help new businesses take off and older businesses continue to thrive.

Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce – Irvine, California

The team of experts at the Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce were recognized by the President’s Export Awards for Export Service because of their direct support to exporters in their community of Irvine, California. The Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce even developed an International Development Committee to specifically assist exporters. They also facilitated trade opportunities between member-businesses within Orange County, California, the United Kingdom and Canada.

The Chamber also provides export services for small to medium sized businesses in their jurisdiction by generating Certificates of Origin as well as Certificates of Free Sale, and offers export counseling and member education for exporters.

About Irvine: This year’s second winner from the City of Irvine, California, (neighbor Technologent won an “E” award for exporting), The Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce is one of the most influential Chamber of Commerce offices in the entire United States- but that’s no accident. The City of Irvine was literally designed to be an “economic powerhouse” in Southern California. With over 15,000 businesses and an impressively high residents-to-job ratio, Irvine is home to a diverse array of industries, including aerospace, advanced manufacturing, information technology, life sciences and digital arts and media.

Coupled with unprecedented access to highway, rail and some of the largest seaports in America, importing and exporting from Irvine has never been easier.

First American Bank – Elk Grove Village, Illinois

The privately-owned First American Bank is headquartered in Elk Grove Village Illinois and operates within the state of Illinois. Dedicated to increasing exports for its customers, First American Bank provides education and resources to both customers and even competing lenders to help them make informed decisions in the export field. First American Bank’s Trade Finance Division provides investors a suite of loan, document and foreign exchange services, and works tirelessly to increase its use of Trade Finance loans to customers.

About Elk Grove Village: With just over 33,000 residents, the Northeast Chicago suburb of Elk Grove Illinois does some big business- in fact, its home to the largest industrial park in North America, the Elk Grove Business Park. The Elk Grove Business park is home to 3,600 businesses which generate 80 percent of Elk Grove Village’s tax revenue.  Located just 20 minutes from Illinois’ largest airport, Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, Elk Grove Village is conveniently located near interstate highway, rail, and even inland water ports. Elk Grove Village’s top employers include Alexian Brothers Medical Center, ADP and Harvard Maintenance.

First National Bank – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

One of just two banks to receive the President’s “E” Award for Export Service, First National Bank of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was founded in 1864, and serves both individual and business customers.  First National Bank was recognized for its efforts to increase its international finance portfolio via exports, as well as its ability to track its customers employment growth in correlation to their export growth. The bank prides itself on its ability to help customers expand their growth through exports via a comprehensive suite of international banking services. Owners of the proprietary FXOnline, this platform allows customers to always have real-time foreign exchange information at their fingertIPS.

About Pittsburgh: The city of Pittsburgh manufactures many things- from ships to glass to aluminum and steel, in fact Pittsburgh has so many steel plants (over 300) it’s been affectionately dubbed “The Steel City.” But manufacturing isn’t the only industry in town. Pittsburgh’s 1.2 million-strong labor force is also skilled in healthcare (the city’s number one industry), professional services, retail, government and hospitality. Plus with a lower-than-average cost of living and cost of doing business, Pittsburgh really is what The Economist recently called “The most livable city in the continental United States.”

FTC Commercial Corp. – Los Angeles, California

FTC Commercial Corporation was founded over ten years ago by entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs- specifically to fund startups in the fashion and consumer products industries. Today, in addition to those businesses, FTC Commercial Corp. also finances public entities and global businesses, teaming up with the International Trade Commission to promote exports among United States businesses. To date, FTC has sponsored businesses that have gone on to gross over $30 million in sales.

About Los Angeles: The city of Los Angeles, California is the second-largest city in the United States. Los Angeles is different from most US cities in many ways, but most notably that its second largest industry is entertainment, followed by aerospace, tech, petroleum, fashion / apparel and tourism. The city of Los Angeles is also the manufacturing hub of the West Coast, and with GMP of $866 billion, it is the third-largest economic metropolitan area in the entire world.

National Marine Manufacturers Association – Chicago, Illinois

Since 1979, the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) has been a staunch advocate of the marine manufacturing, sales and service in the United States. The NMMA also acts as a public policy advocate at both the state and federal levels, promotes recreational boating, and seeks opportunities for overseas business, including facilitating overseas business with members- helping those businesses protect themselves from a shifting economy.

About Chicago: The third-largest city in America, Chicago, Illinois has a population of 2.7 million, and the greater Chicago, or ‘Chicagoland’ area boasts a staggering 10 million. The City of Chicago offers economic development incentives to businesses which retain or create jobs for the local economy, as well as those that revitalize local neighborhoods.

Phillips Lytle LLP – Buffalo, New York

Based in Buffalo, New York, Phillips Lytle LLP is a law firm which assists clients in many aspects of financial law, including export services for small and medium sized businesses. This includes joint ventures, international tax issues, mergers and acquisitions, entity formation, intellectual property and compliance counseling. But Phillips Lytle LLP stood out from the pack for the “E” awards committee because of its dedication to participating in and providing exporter education programs for local businesses.

About Buffalo: Buffalo is New York’s second largest city by population with nearly 260,000 residents. Once a bustling facto town, this Northeastern New York city is part of the area of the United States now known as the ‘rust belt,’ due to its sharp decline in manufacturing in the 1980’s. Today, Buffalo’s economy is once again on an upward trend thanks to increased jobs and economic development under Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Silicon Valley Venture Capital Corp DBA Global4PL– Milpitas, California

Located in the Silicon Valley city of Milipitas, California, DBA Global4PL is a leading fourth-party logistics supply-chain solutions provider. Global4PL works with tech companies in Silicon Valley and beyond to break into emerging markets and simplify global operations. Global4PL works hand-in-hand with clients, helping them to avoid common pratfalls the client may see coming-  and those they may not. Globa4PL earned an “E” award for their dedication to protecting their clients’ best interests, but also to educate exporters so that they are empowered to learn the laws and protect themselves.

About Milpitas: Though you may never have heard of the small city of Milpitas, California, this city of nearly 67,000 is home to some of the most name-recognizable technology companies in the world, including SanDisk, Maxtor, Adaptec and FireEye. Located on the far-east side of Silicon Valley, Milpitas has the largest population of people employed in the computer and electronics industry in the United States. With more infrastructure options than the rest of Silicon Valley as well as lower costs than the rest of Silicon Valley and the Bay Area, Milpitas offers incoming businesses the Silicon Valley zip code without the Silicon Valley price tag.

The President’s Export Star Award for exports and the President’s Export Star Award for Export Service are granted to previous Export and Export Service award winners who have maintained an increase in business volume for four consecutive years following their initial “E” award win. The following winners received these prestigious additional awards at the 2018 Presidential Export Awards:

“E” Star Award for Exports

Allied Wire & Cable, Inc. – Collegeville, Pennsylvania

American Trading International, INC. – Los Angeles, California

Durbin USA – Ocean Springs, MS

Heavy Equipment Resources of Florida, Inc. (HERO FL) – Jacksonville, Florida

Gamber-Johnson, LLC – Stevens Point, Wisconsin

Hydro-Thermal Corporation – Waukesha, Wisconsin

Kuder, Inc. – Adel, Iowa

Orgill, Inc. – Collierville, Tennessee

“E” Star Award for Export Service

Specialty Equipment Market Association (SMEA) – Diamond Bar, California

In keeping with the spirit of President Trump’s pro-business, pro-job agenda, the 43 businesses and organizations honored at this year’s Presidential Export Award ceremony truly do represent the best the export industry has to offer. The 2018 winners of the Presidential Export Awards have not just increased their own revenue and the revenue of their clients, but they have created new jobs to help meet the demands of their export needs- and what’s more pro-job than that?

The president gave awards to companies for their shipments of export cargo and import cargo in international trade.

PUTTING THE “E” IN EXPORTS

United States Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross commenced the nation’s annual World Trade Week on May 21 by honoring 43 top American companies and organizations that either export American goods and services or assist other businesses in selling goods abroad.

Recognition of the honorees at the 49th annual President’s Export Awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., marked a victory for President Trump and his administration, as the Commander-in-Chief campaigned heavily on job creation back in 2016. In May–the same month of the Export Awards ceremony—the jobless rate tumbled from 4.1 percent to 3.9 percent, the lowest numbers since December 2000.

This year’s award recipients contributed toward exporting more than $2 trillion of American goods and services in 2017 alone—and those exports subsequently supported nearly 11 million U.S. jobs. According to the Brookings Institute, a record 85 percent of economic growth over the next five years is expected to come from exports. Leaders like those selected for the President’s Export Awards can hopefully help lead the way for other businesses.

Introduced by President John F. Kennedy in 1961, the President’s Export Awards (or “E” awards, the “E” being for exports) have become a longstanding tradition in Washington.

2018 “E” AWARDS FOR EXPORTS

Applied Membranes Inc.

The Vista, California, company manufactures reverse-osmosis water filtration systems, membranes and components for use in commercial and residential applications. Founded in 1983 by Dr. Gil Dhawan, Applied Membranes systems have been used in 20,000 installations around the globe. Applied Membranes prides itself on its ability to offer flexible, customized solutions to suit even the most complex water treatment needs.

Automated Packaging Systems

With locations around the globe, including 10 in the U.S., Streetsboro, Ohio-based Automated Packaging Systems currently has more than 30,000 packaging systems in operation across the planet. Inventors of the original Autobag brand pre-opened bag, the company was founded in 1962 in a modest garage in Queens, New York. Today, it manufactures more bags-on-a-roll bagging systems than all of its competitors combined.

Beekley Medical

Founded by F. Cheney Beekley in 1934, the company began as a printing and lithograph press in Hartford, Connecticut. Today, Beekley Medical and two related companies fall under the Bristol-based Beekley Corp. umbrella. In the 84 years since Beekley first opened his business, it has become an innovator in the medical products field, helping doctors and patients have more positive clinical outcomes.

Colorado Mesa University, International Student Admissions and Programs

The Grand Junction, Colorado, university’s International Student Admissions and Programs department was honored with a President’s Export Award thanks to its tireless efforts to attract international students to the campus founded in 1925 that boasts 11,000+ students. With programs ranging from technical certificates all the way up to master’s degrees, CMU offers nearly 100 undergraduate programs and more than 40 associates degree and certificate programs, including Business/Commerce, Biology/Biological Sciences and Criminal Justice/ Safety Studies.

Colorado State University

The Fort Collins, Colorado-based university also received an “E” Award for emphasizing exporting education and ramped-up recruitment of international students. That population’s enrollment has increased for the past 11 years straight, increasing by 126 percent in the past decade. Currently, CSU has 1,995 international students, who President Tony Frank credits with helping to expand the cultural and intellectual lexicon on campus.

CoreBrace LLC

The West Jordan-based company has the honor of being the first President’s Export Award winner from Utah. Designers and manufacturers of custom-built Buckling Restrained Braces (BRBs) for use in the construction of buildings which need additional protection from cyclical later loadings, such as loadings caused by earthquakes, CoreBrace was recognized for increasing employment by more than 300 percent to support its booming export business.

EXEPRON

Daniel Walsh and John Thompson developed the EXEPRON project management platform to solve a problem they faced frequently in their 20-plus years of management consulting. Using a cloud-computing platform, the pair created a “collaborative scheduling solution” that allows users to seamlessly manage resources using “virtual, real-time, global collaboration.” Lafayette, Louisiana-based EXEPRON was honored with the “E” Award due to its impressive export sales and dedication to expanding exports, thereby creating American jobs.

Flexo Concepts

Manufacturers of doctor blades used in offset and flexographic printers, the Plymouth, Massachusetts-based company received an “E” award for rapid global growth that contributed to the export job market. President Greg Howell and CEO Kevin Howell have worked tirelessly to introduce to foreign markets the TruPoint line, which Flexo acquired in 2001. In April, the Massachusetts Small Business Association named Flexo Concepts the “2018 Exporter of the Year,” thanks to the company’s exporting prowess.

Fortune Products Inc.

Manufacturers of the Accusharp line of knife and tool sharpeners, the company based in the Austin, Texas, suburb of Cedar Park was founded in 1984. The “E” Award comes for the company’s impressive export sales to multiple industries across 64 countries. That has helped expand employment at the business by 65 percent.

Global Airtech

Founded in 1989, the company provides the commercial aviation industry with supply chain logistics, asset management and round-the-clock AOG (aircraft on ground) support. Based in Van Nuys, California, Global Airtech has client support offices in China, India, Thailand and elsewhere in the United States. The full-service aircraft parts supplier’s support staff is trained extensively in dealing with freight forwarders, global delivery couriers and customs clearance associates.

GT Mfg. Inc.

Since their humble beginnings in 1953, the Clay Center, Kansas-based company has become a leader in the batch grain dryer manufacturing industry, a market it continues to dominate. You can now find GT grain dryers in 83 different countries and on six different continents. That’s amazing when you consider that, several decades ago, GT’s founder and owner Jim Sampson was ready to throw in the towel before throwing a hail Mary, aggressively pursuing the export of his products around the world. The move that paid off big time for the small operation that was named the Kansas SBA Exporter of the Year in 2014 and State of Kansas Exporter of the Year in 2016.

GTX Technologies LLC

Founded by the Ghana-born Dr. Norbert Chirase in 2007, the Amarillo, Texas-based company develops and distributes humic (organic) substances for use in such organic products as cattle feed, lawn and garden food and soil remediation. With a staff of fewer than 10 employees, Chirase has been able to expand GTX Technologies product sales around the globe, raising the U.S. export industry in the process.

Helicopter Tech Inc.

President and CEO Rachel Carson founded the woman-owned small business (WOSB) in 1995 to fill a gap in the aviation industry, providing thousands of aircraft parts to customers who may not have a lot of time to wait for special orders. To do this, the King of Prussia, Pennsylvania-based company works with subcontractors to create the parts and deliver them to customers through Helicopter Tech’s integrated supply-chain management process. In a recent interview with the International Trade Commission, Carson explained that the ability to export parts to places like Australia during the slower months in the U.S. has enabled Helicopter Tech to maintain steady work when normally there might be lags.

iTEP International LLC

The creator of the globally renown International Test of English Proficiency (iTEP), the Canoga Park, California-based company earned the “E” Award for its suite of online language assessment products. Founded in 2008, iTEP testing has quickly become a leader in English-language assessment examinations as it is now used in 51 countries by schools, businesses and even governments. The biggest international market for iTEP is China, where there are more than 100 testing centers and additional partnerships with numerous educational institutions.

Jeppesen

A leading publisher of flight navigation charts since 1934, the Englewood, Colorado-based company’s charts are now so widely used in the aviation industry that they are affectionately referred to as “Jepp charts.” Founded by pilot Elrey Borge Jeppesen, the company’s earliest charts were made on paper. Though he never intended to sell his handmade navigation charts, colleagues began to take notice of the detail and accuracy and requested Jeppesen make them copies. As legend has it, Jeppesen began selling copies of his personal flight book for just $10, and a company was born. Despite paper navigation charts falling by the wayside in favor of electronic charts, Jeppesen is still considered the gold-standard in flight charts.

Kira Labs Inc.

Founded by David Rosen in 2003, the Pompano Beach, Florida, company today manufactures and vertically markets more than 15 all-natural, cruelty-free skincare brands around the world. But Kira Labs wasn’t always a powerhouse; it wasn’t until Rosen started thinking globally that the business really took off. Armed with a detailed export marketing plan, he was able to grow from a modest 10 employees to more than 60 within a few short years. Products from Florida’s 2017 Exporter of the Year are currently available as far away as Russia and South Korea.

Maxxess Systems

The Yorba Linda, California-based company manufactures adaptable security management systems that meet the unique needs of modern businesses. The company prides itself on being able provide customers with peace of mind by offering operational management systems at reasonable prices. Maxxess Systems can be customized to meet most business needs right out of the box, allowing for third-third party integration solutions.

Mercury Medical

A veteran-owned small business (VOSB), the Clearwater, Florida-based company was founded by Stanley G. Tangalakis in 1963. Since then, Mercury Medical has earned a reputation for delivering and manufacturing innovative airway management devices that are exported to nearly 80 countries around the world. The “E” Award recognizes Mercury Medical’s expanded operations globally and notably cultivating lifesaving, legal business relations with customers in Iran.

Micronova Manufacturing Inc.

The Torrance, California-based, woman-owned business designs, manufactures and sells medical cleanroom supplies. Founder Audrey Reynolds started Micronova Manufacturing in 1984 to address the needs of the rapidly growing biotech, aerospace and semiconductor facilities that were springing up in the area.

Today, her company produces a variety of cleanroom supplies, including cleanroom tapes, the MicroDispenser, wipes, detergents and more.

PDI Ground Support Systems

Founded in 1962 as Prototype Development Incorporated, the Solon, Ohio-based company has earned a global reputation for designing and manufacturing weapons handlings systems and ground support equipment for U.S. military establishments and 45 allied forces around the globe. PDI Ground Support Systems specializes in munitions handling, assembly, shipping and counter-measure transport modules, often working with manufacturers of electronic smart-weapon test systems. The suburban Ohio company was the 2017 U.S. Small Business Association Exporter of the Year for Region V.

Phenix Technology Inc.

When Ronny Coleman and Ray Russell founded Phenix Technology Inc. in 1972, they were passionate about fire helmets and fire safety. They had become friends four years earlier after bonding over their shared hobby of collecting antique fire helmets from around the globe. But Coleman and Ross had something else in common: Both were fire chiefs who understood the importance of safety gear. They decided to build a better fire helmet, together investing in an injection molding unit. Forty-two years later, the Riverside, California-based company still manufactures fire helmets not only for U.S. clients but for first-responders around the world. The Phenix Technology team also helps other businesses expand into foreign markets.

Santa Monica College

The public community college was founded in Santa Monica, California, in 1929, when 153 souls comprised the entire student body. Today, Santa Monica College boasts 30,000 students annually, with notable alumni including former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and legendary actor James Dean. The “E” Award recognizes the junior college’s international student recruitment and opportunities created for underserved students. The 3,400 students from more than 100 countries ranks Santa Monica College second for the most international community college students in the nation.

Technologent

The Irvine, California, company provides Fortune 1000 companies with enterprise-class technology solutions that are custom fit to each business’ individual needs, using American-made products in the process. Technologent provides client solutions to issues such as data center infrastructure, automation, security and cloud computing. From 10 locations around the U.S., Technologent provides services to clients in 25 countries around the world.

United Franchise Group

For over 30 years, the West Palm Beach, Florida-based company has offered unique franchising business opportunities to entrepreneurs around the world. It has helped more than 1,400 franchisees in 17 global markets achieve their financial goals through United Franchise Group’s leadership and guidance. CEO Ray Titus began his franchising career in 1987 with the Farmingdale, New York, business Signarama, which is now the world’s largest sign franchise with more than 800 locations in 62 countries. In 2006, Signarama became the first franchise to receive an “E” Award.

World Business Capital Inc.

The Hartford, Connecticut-based regulated commercial finance company provides flexible term loans to small-to-midsize businesses to help them stay competitive with other businesses on a global scale. Founded in 2003, WBC has gone on to help businesses in 14 markets across the globe, successfully closing loans in the U.S., Mexico, Europe, Asia and elsewhere.

2018 “E” AWARDS FOR EXPORT SERVICE

Alabama Department of Commerce

With the help of the Alabama Department of Commerce, the state has seen its exports grow by an impressive 50 percent over the past 10 years. Working in conjunction with the Export Alabama Alliance, the Montgomery-based Department of Commerce has worked tirelessly to seek out new Alabama-made products to export to the global marketplace.

CohnReznick LLP

Founded in 1919, CohnReznick LLP is now the 11th-largest public accounting firm in the U.S., employing more than 2,400 people in 26 offices around the world, including its New York City headquarters. CohnReznick earned an “E” Award for Export Service for its dedication to protecting its clients’ assets when exporting to foreign markets. CohnReznick was also selected for providing clients with additional support and education about recognizing export opportunities.

Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce

The chamber’s team of experts were recognized for their direct support to exporters in Irvine, California. The Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce even developed an International Development Committee to specifically assist exporters. It also facilitated trade opportunities between member-businesses within Orange County, California, the United Kingdom and Canada. The Chamber also provides export services for small to medium-sized businesses in their jurisdiction by generating Certificates of Origin and Certificates of Free Sale, as well as offering export counseling and member education for exporters.

First American Bank of Elk Grove

The privately-owned bank headquartered in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, is dedicated to increasing exports for its customers, providing education and resources that extend even to competing lenders so they may make informed decisions in the export field. First American Bank’s Trade Finance Division provides investors a suite of loan, document and foreign exchange services.

First National Bank of Pittsburgh

One of just two banks to receive the “E” Award for Export Service, First National Bank of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was recognized for its efforts to increase its international finance portfolio via exports, as well as its ability to track its customers’ employment growth in correlation to their export growth. The bank, which was founded in 1864, takes pride in helping customers expand their growth through exports via a comprehensive suite of international banking services. First National Bank owns the proprietary FXOnline platform that allows customers to always have real-time foreign exchange information at their fingertips.

FTC Commercial Corp.

FTC Commercial Corp. was founded more than 10 years ago in Los Angeles, California, by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs—specifically to fund startups in the fashion and consumer products industries. Today, in addition to those businesses, FTC Commercial Corp. finances public entities and global businesses, teaming up with the International Trade Commission to promote exports among American businesses. To date, FTC has sponsored businesses that have gone on to gross more than $30 million in sales.

National Marine Manufacturers Association

Since 1979, the National Marine Manufacturers Association has been a staunch advocate of marine manufacturing, sales and service in the United States. The Chicago, Illinois-based advocates also act as public policy experts at the state and federal levels, promoting recreational boating and seeking opportunities for overseas business, including helping members protect themselves from a shifting economy.

Phillips Lytle LLP

The Buffalo, New York, law firm assists clients in many aspects of financial law, including export services for small and medium-sized businesses. This includes joint ventures, international tax issues, mergers and acquisitions, entity formation, intellectual property and compliance counseling. But Phillips Lytle LLP stood out from the pack for the “E” Awards committee because of its dedication to participating in and providing exporter education programs for local businesses.

Silicon Valley Venture Capital Corp.

Located in the Silicon Valley city of Milpitas, California, and doing business as Global4PL, the leading fourth-party logistics supply-chain solutions provider helps tech companies break into emerging markets and simplify global operations. Global4PL works hand-in-hand with clients, helping them to avoid common pratfalls. The “E” Award recognizes Global4PL’s dedication in protecting clients’ best interests and educating exporters so that they are empowered to learn the laws and protect themselves.

 

The President’s Export Star Award for Exports and Export Star Award for Export Service are granted to previous Export/Export Service award winners who have maintained an increase in business volume for four consecutive years following their initial “E” Award wins. What follows is a rundown of 2018 winners.

“E” STAR AWARD FOR EXPORTS

  • Allied Wire & Cable Inc. of Collegeville, Pennsylvania
  • American Trading International Inc. of Los Angeles, California
  • Durbin USA of Ocean Springs, Missouri
  • Heavy Equipment Resources of Florida Inc. (HERO FL) of Jacksonville, Florida
  • Gamber-Johnson LLC of Stevens Point, Wisconsin
  • Hydro-Thermal Corp. of Waukesha, Wisconsin
  • Kuder Inc. of Adel, Iowa
  • Orgill Inc. of Collierville, Tennessee

“E” STAR AWARD FOR EXPORT SERVICE     

  • Specialty Equipment Market Association (SMEA) of Diamond Bar, California
Seaports are important for shipments of export cargo and import cargo in international trade.

GLOBAL TRADE MAGAZINE’S TOP 50 POWER PORTS

Ever since the first commercial transaction was conducted by sea at Florida’s Port of Jacksonville in 1562, Americans have relied on seaports to help move merchandise around the globe. Today, ports don’t just include sea ports, but airports and river ports, too. Between these three modes, importing and exporting goods has become faster and more reliable than ever. Plus, with a vast network of on-site and third-party logistics (3PL) providers serving our ports, goods can get to their end user in record time.

But not all ports are created equal. Some ports, like our Top 50 Power Ports, soar above and beyond others. Whether its processing more TEU’s of cargo than neighboring ports, collaborating on state-of-the-art port tracking software, or investing hundreds of millions of dollars into upgrades designed to accommodate anticipated future growth, these 50 ports all bring something unique to the logistics industry.

Port of South Louisiana – TOTAL TONS: 261,898,079

The Port of South Louisiana earns the number one spot in the Top 50 Power Ports. The largest tonnage port in the entire western hemisphere, the Port of South Louisiana handled nearly 307 million short tons of cargo in 2017 alone.  In fact, the port handles nearly 60 percent of the exports leaving Louisiana, and about 15 percent of all total US exports. The port spans an impressive 54 miles and holds 40 liquid and dry bulk terminals. Its also home to the most active Foreign Trade Zone in America- FTZ 124.

Port of Houston TOTAL TONS: 247,981,663

The biggest port in Texas and the largest port on the Gulf Coast, the Port of Houston. The number two port in tonnage in the United States, the Port of Houston is the number one port in imports in the United States, handling an estimated 2.4 million containers in 2017, a 14 percent increase in volume since 2016.  Because of this growth, the Port recently announced plans to invest hundreds of millions of dollars into expanding its capacity, and to improve its two existing container terminals.

Ports of New York and New Jersey TOTAL TONS: 133,396,832

The Ports of New York and New Jersey have been operated together by the New York Port Authority since 1948. The third-largest port in the nation, the port authority has invested $2 billion dollars in both ports since the year 2000 to handle anticipated growth. In 2017, the ports set a cargo volume record, increasing volume by 5.3 percent over their 2015 record. The busiest port on the East Coast, the Ports of New York and New Jersey handle nearly 30 percent of the East Coast market share.

The Port of New Orleans TOTAL TONS: 90,270,859

Officially created in 1896, the Port of New Orleans is now the fourth-largest port in the United States. In 2017, the port set a record for number of cruise passengers, marking the fourth year in a row that the port exceeded a million cruise passengers in a calendar year. Exports increased by $2.27 billion dollars in 2017.  According to the Port Authority, the Port of New Orleans moves enough commodities annually to brew 20 million cups of coffee and bake 660 million chicken pot pies- just to name a few.

Port of Beaumont, Texas TOTAL TONS: 84,528,063

The Port of Beaumont isn’t just the fifth-largest port in tonnage in the United States, it’s also the number one strategic military outload port in the entire world.  With two terminals in separate counties, the port supports $1.8 billion dollars of economic output each year.

Port of Corpus Christi TOTAL TONS: 81,981,061

The Port of Corpus Christi is the self-proclaimed Energy Port of the Americas. Strategically located between the Permian Basin and Eagle Ford, the port serves as an energy hub as well as a gateway to the Gulf of Mexico and the rest of the United States. But oil and gas aren’t the only energy products the port is accustomed to handling. In recent years they have also experienced an increase in the volume of wind turbine cargo they have processed as well.

The Port of Long Beach TOTAL TONS: 81,981,061

The 3200-acre Port of Long Beach not only handles an impressive 6.2 million TEU’s each year, it is also a popular cruise hub, having recently completed a $4 million-dollar expansion in its cruise terminal, which will increase passengers by about 40,000 a year. The port also holds the title of the second-busiest port in America, and the twentieth-busiest container cargo port in the world.

Port of Baton Rouge TOTAL TONS: 72,998,561

The Port of Baton Rouge is a strategic gateway linking the Gulf of Mexico to the Mississippi river and 15,000 miles of Inland water. The port also offers a unique trait that you don’t see often: it is both a deep-water port (45’) as well as a shallow draft port.

The Port of Los Angeles TOTAL TONS: 62,615,644

The number one container port in all North America, the Port of Los Angeles broke its own cargo movement record in 2017. That’s the most cargo moved in 110 years! The port covers 43 miles of waterfront, covering 41 percent of the West Coast market share. It is also proud to assist in the creation of the GE Transportation Port Optimizer information portal, which was designed to streamline operations and increase efficiency within the port.

The Port of Mobile TOTAL TONS: 58,024,317

The Mobile, Alabama-based Port of Mobile spans 4000 acres across its five properties for a combined economic impact of $22.4 billion dollars. The only deep-water port in the State of Alabama, the port also holds the distinction of being the largest break-bulk forest products port in America. An extremely modernized port, the Port of Mobile has received $500 million dollars in improvements since 2000.

Plaquemines Port TOTAL TONS: 56,780,632

Located just 20 miles south of the Port of New Orleans, Plaquemines is the closest port to open water along the Mississippi river. It is also the closest energy port to the Eastern Gulf of Mexico and is well equipped to handle petroleum products and oilfield supply vessels.

Port of Lake Charles TOTAL TONS: 56,045,838

Located in Lake Charles, Louisiana, the Port of Lake Charles was recently named the seventh-fastest growing port in the country by Forbes Magazine. To accommodate that growth, the port recently underwent an extensive traffic study which found that PLC was able to easily handle twice its current volume, and even expand further. In fact, an estimated $85 billion dollars in investments are scheduled to locate along the Calcasieu Ship Channel to take advantage of the port’s explosive growth.

Port of Virginia TOTAL TONS: 54,047,937

The deepest port on the East Coast, the Port of Virginia is considered a hub port, which provides direct connections to 30 international shipping lines with over 200 connections around the globe. The port is the fifth-largest container port in the nation, and fully authorized for future expansion. A 2065 master plan anticipates that the port will grow from around 2 million lifts to around 6 million in the next 47 years.

Port of Cincinnati / Northern Kentucky TOTAL TONS: 43,050,399

The Port of Cincinnati is a 16-acre port which specializes in the loading and unloading of breakbulk. The 136-year-old port is a tri-modal facility which uses a conveyor system to quickly transfer cargo from ship to rail without it ever touching the ground. The Port’s location provides easy access to the Midwest, Canada and the Gulf of Mexico. Currently the port has over 100,000 square feet of indoor storage space but can easily accommodate more upon request.

Port of Texas City TOTAL TONS: 41,260,475

Primarily used to import crude oil and export fuels, chemicals and petroleum products, the Port of Texas City is in Galveston Bay. It is currently the ninth-largest deep-water port in America with a depth of 40-feet, but the port will soon begin expanding that number to 45 feet. The privately-owned port is also the fourth-largest port in the state of Texas, and due to its strategic location can save up to two days of travel time over other ports along the Houston Ship Channel.

Port of Baltimore TOTAL TONS: 38,837,979

In 2017 alone, the Port of Baltimore handled 10.7 million tons of cargo, setting a record for the 62-year-old port. This comes after the port purchased an additional 70 acres of land in 2017 to accommodate current and future growth.

Port of Huntington Tri-State TOTAL TONS: 37,401,755

The Port of Huntington Tri-State is the largest inland port in America.  Located along the Ohio River, the Huntington, West Virginia port also has the distinction of being the sixth-largest port in the country. Located in coal country, the port processes roughly.

Port of Savannah TOTAL TONS: 36,443,795

The Port of Savannah is home to the single largest container port in North America. In fact, it’s the second-busiest container in the United States and the overall fourth-busiest port in the United States.  Currently the Port of Savannah is undergoing an expansion that will bring its depth to approximately 50 feet. The project is estimated to be complete by the year 2020.

Port of Tampa TOTAL TONS: 35,318,559

The largest port in the State of Florida, the Port of Tampa is largest in terms of both size and volume. The most diversified port in Florida, the port is equipped to handle all major categories of cargo. The port is also strategically located along Florida’s I-4 Corridor, which houses the largest concentration of distribution centers in the country. It also is responsible for nearly 40 percent of exports to Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Port of Port Arthur TOTAL TONS: 35,198,425

Located in Port Arthur, Texas, the Port of Port Arthur is located just 19 miles from the Gulf of Mexico and can handle almost any commodity. Expanded in the year 2000, the Port of Port Arthur paid close attention to the needs and wants of the maritime industry and the many industries that use the port.

Port of St. Louis / Illinois TOTAL TONS: 32,150,906

The port of St. Louis spans 70 miles along both sides of the Mississippi River, and is served by six Class One railroads, seven interstate highways, and two international airports. It also boasts access to two separate foreign trade zones. The port is the northernmost port on the Mississippi River that is bot port lock and ice-free year-round.

Port of Duluth-Superior TOTAL TONS: 30,277,995

The largest and farthest-inland freshwater port in America, the Port of Duluth-Superior is the self-proclaimed bulk capital of the Great Lakes, the port is located at on the western end of the Great Lakes / St. Lawrence Seaway. Based in Duluth, Minnesota, the full-service multimodal port spans 49 miles and is home to 20 private docks, a main terminal, tug and barge services, a fueling station and two dry docks.

Port of Valdez TOTAL TONS: 27,652,208

Located in Valdez, Alaska, the port of Valdez is the northernmost ice-free port in the United States. Strategically positioned at the base of the trans-Alaska pipeline (TAPS), the port provides easy access to the interior of Alaska, Canada, the Pacific Rim, the United States Pacific Northwest.

Port of Pascagoula TOTAL TONS: 26,876,394

The largest port in the state of Mississippi, the Port of Pascagoula is located on the state’s southeastern coast. Hosting a mix of public and private terminals, the port deals mostly in forest products, crude oil and chemicals. The 188-year-old port offers both 42’ and 38’ channels to handle a wide variety of vessels and cargo.

Port of Tacoma TOTAL TONS: 25,711,848

The Port of Tacoma recently announced they have joined forces to become the Northwest Seaport Alliance, a strategic move that helps both ports better manage marine cargo operations.  The third-largest cargo gate in North America, the Port of Tacoma handles everything from breakbulk to Automobiles, and even liquid bulk like molasses!

Port of Richmond TOTAL TONS: 24,679,148

The Port of Richmond is the number-one ranked port in the San Francisco bay for both liquid bulk and automobile tonnage. In 2010, the port underwent a $40-million-dollar renovation, enabling the port to load cars directly onto the rail without leaving the terminal- a move which better enabled the port to fulfill its agreement with Honda to import upwards of 180,000 Honda vehicles into the port each year.

Port Everglades TOTAL TONS: 24,227,425

One of the busiest cruise ports in the world and one of the busiest container ports in Florida, Port Everglades spans from the cities of Fort Lauderdale to Hollywood, Florida. The 90-year-old port is Florida’s number-one seaport for petroleum imports. Currently the port is planning a channel-deepening and widening that will bring it from 42-feet-deep to 48-feet-deep.

Port of Seattle TOTAL TONS: 24,204,009

The Port of Seattle includes both the marine port and the Sea-Tac airport. Managed by a government agency, the port joined forces with the Port of Tacoma in 2015- forming what is now known as the Northwest Seaport Alliance. Together, the two ports have formed the third-largest cargo gateway in America.

Port of Charleston TOTAL TONS: 23,015,503

South Carolina’s Port of Charleston is currently undergoing a harbor deepening that when complete in two years will make the port the deepest on the entire East Coast, at 52-feet-deep. This expansion will easily accommodate New-Panamax vessels at any tide. The most productive port in North America, the Port of Charleston has received $10 billion in investments in the past four years.

Philaport TOTAL TONS: 22,973,188

Now known as Philaport, the port of Philadelphia is more than 300 years old. But don’t let its age fool you- Philaport has recently undergone numerous improvements, including a channel deepening (to 45’) slated for completion later this year. Philaport has received a $300 million-dollar investment and will be getting two Post-Panamax cranes in early 2019, allowing the port to increase TEU’s from 500,000 to 900,000 per year.

Port of Pittsburgh TOTAL TONS: 22,467,462

The Port of Pittsburgh spans 12 counties and 200 miles of Pennsylvania waterways, and over 200 river terminals.  The second-busiest inland port in America, the Port of Pittsburgh connects to over 10,000 miles of waterways throughout the country.

Port of Portland TOTAL TONS: 20,474,462

The Port of Portland encompasses Portland, Oregon’s Portland International Airport, as well as the city’s marine ports. The marine port is home to the state’s only deep-draft container port and contains three airports. The port also owns seven business parks around the greater Portland area. The port is the second largest exporter of wheat in the nation, and the fifth-largest auto import gateway in America as well.

Port Freeport TOTAL TONS: 19,635,949

Located in Freeport, Texas, Port Freeport will soon expand from 45’ deep to 55’ in coming years. One of the nation’s fastest growing ports, Port Freeport also has plans to build two additional berths, increasing their berthing space to 2,200 linear feet. This addition will allow the port to accommodate Panamax to Post-Panamax class vessels. The expansion will also increase the port’s TEU capacity to 800,000 TEU’s.

Port of Oakland TOTAL TONS: 19,051,970

Officially established in 1927, operates both a bustling maritime port and the Oakland International Airport. In 2009, the port completed its expansion to 50’ deep to remain competitive with other major California ports. Today, the Port of Oakland is the fifth-busiest container port in the United States. The port recently implemented an online shipping portal called Oakland Portal, which allows cargo owners and freight haulers single-point access to seaport operations.

Port of Jacksonville TOTAL TONS: 18,519,505

Known as Jaxport, Florida’s Port of Jacksonville is the state’s largest container port. Jaxport has recently undergone almost $1.5 billion dollars in improvements, with another $1 billion dollars on the way.  These improvements include deepening the channel to 47,’ making the port the first East Coast port available to Panamax-class vessels. A soon-to-be complete automobile terminal will increase the port’s capacity to handle vehicles by 25 percent. Jaxport also has over 120 million square feet of available distribution center and warehousing space.

Port of Paulsboro TOTAL TONS: 18,469,855

The first marine terminal to open in 50 years along the Delaware River, the Port of Paulsboro officially opened on March 1, 2017. Located in Paulsboro, New Jersey, the 190-acre port will soon have a deep water omniport, capable of processing both bulk and breakbulk cargo.

Port of Boston TOTAL TONS: 17,183,060

The largest port in the State of Massachusetts, the Port of Boston falls under the Massport umbrella, which includes the Conley Terminal, Logan Airport, Flynn Cruise Terminal, Hanscom Field and Worcester International Airport.  Conley terminal boasts a state-of-the-art, 10-lane gate facility, complete with a computer tracking system. The port is strategically positioned near several major highways, including I-95, which runs up and down the entire east coast.

Port of Chicago TOTAL TONS: 16,423,651

The Port of Chicago is an inland port positioned along the Calumet River. The 8,930,000 square foot port offers 3,000 linear feet of ship berthing. Spanning 1,600 acres, the port also has storage along Lake Calumet and Lake Michigan.

Port of Marcus Hook TOTAL TONS: 15,692,302

The port of Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania has some interesting history. Once a popular stop for 18th century pirates, the port is said to have been frequented by the infamous pirate Edward Teach, aka Blackbeard. Situated along the Delaware River, the Port of Marcus Hook sits at the very southeastern corner of the state. A deep-water port, the chief export of the port is crude oil.

Port of Two Harbors TOTAL TONS: 15,431,524

Located along Lake Superior’s northern shore, Minnesota’s Port of Two Harbors is a deep draft commercial harbor. Initially developed as an iron ore processing establishment, today Two Harbors still deals primarily in iron ore and taconite, though they have added timber to their exports as well.

Port of Kalama TOTAL TONS: 15,370,094

Washington’s Port of Kalama is situated just 30 minutes north of Portland, Oregon, along the Columbia River. The port has a 43’ deep draft navigation channel and encompasses five miles of riverfront space. Additionally, the Port of Kalama has ample shovel ready and move-in ready facilities, as well as an office park, and easy access to a variety of transportation modes, including rail, highway and river.

Port of Honolulu TOTAL TONS: 13,727,392

The Port of Honolulu handles over 80 percent of Hawaii’s required goods. A popular cruise spot, the port processes 11 million tons of cargo each year. It is also the only harbor in the United States to combine a visitor’s attraction, retail and restaurant outlets and working commercial harbor facilities in a single location.

Port of Detroit TOTAL TONS: 13,266,629

The largest seaport in Michigan, the Port of Detroit is located along the Michigan River. The 80-acre port’s number-one commodity is steel, and its number-one commodity by tonnage is ore, thanks to the city’s auto industry.  The Port of Detroit sees over 1300 vessel arrivals annually.

Port of Longview TOTAL TONS: 13,147,350

The Port of Longview, Washington is located along the deep-draft Columbia River, just 66 miles inland of the Pacific Ocean. The port is currently set up to process both bulk and breakbulk cargo, and specializes in handling everything from fertilizer to steel, paper and lumber. In 2010, the port purchased an additional 280 acres of land at Barlow Point. The land is currently on phase-two of a multi-phase study to test its viability as a port.

Port of Cleveland TOTAL TONS: 13,147,350

The third-largest port in the Great Lakes, the Port of Cleveland is also the first major port of call in the great lakes. The port sits at the mouth of the Cuyahoga River on Lake Erie and has a full seaway depth of 27’ at all times. The port has a 45-acre bulk terminal, as well as an 80-acre general cargo operation. It deals primarily in iron ore, steel, limestone and wind energy and other large pieces of machinery and equipment.

Port of Indiana – Burns Harbor TOTAL TONS: 12,216,800

Located 18 nautical miles from Chicago, the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor is located in Portage, Indiana. The port handles international cargo which is sent through the St. Lawrence Seaway and on to the Atlantic Ocean. Offering multimodal connections, onsite healthcare and round-the-clock security, the port is a popular spot for onsite warehousing. The Port of Indiana-Burns is dredged to a minimum 27’ feet, and the port’s Burns Waterway Small Boat Harbor is dredged to a depth of 6 feet, to accommodate small vessels.

Port of Memphis TOTAL TONS: 12,184,332

The fifth-largest inland port in America, Tennessee’s Port of Memphis is the second-largest inland port on the shallow draft section of the Mississippi River. The port is amply equipped to handle heavy intermodal transportation and covers both the Tennessee and Arkansas sides of the Mississippi River. The port spans 15 miles and is home to 68 water-fronted facilities.

Port of San Juan TOTAL TONS: 10,686,817

The Port of San Juan is comprised of 16 piers situated around San Juan Bay in Puerto Rico. Of those, eight piers are cargo piers, and the other eight are passenger piers used for cruise ships. Currently, the Port of San Juan has more than 500,000 sf available for loading an unloading cargo. The Port of San Juan’s six navigational channels range in depth from 42’ feet to 32’ feet. Recently, the port integrated a state of the art security system which has 153 cameras and spans 11 miles of bay.

Port of Anacortes TOTAL TONS: 10,682,558

Located in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Washington’s Port of Anacortes is positioned halfway between Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia. With two piers and one wharf, the port has depths of 23’ feet, 37.6’ and 24’ respectively. The port also includes Anacortes Airport, which serves approximately 5,000 passengers each year. The 12th busiest airport in Washington State, Anacortes Airport has earned praise from the FAA for its impeccable grounds and facilities.

Port of Wilmington TOTAL TONS: 10,595,745

Delaware’s Port of Wilmington is North America’s top port for imports of fresh fruit and juice concentrate. The port boasts the largest dockside cold storage facility in the country, and thanks to the presence of Dole, the Port of Wilmington is also America’s largest banana port. The 308-acre port is strategically located at the crossing of the Delaware and Christina Rivers.  It is also minutes from the New Jersey Turnpike, as well as interstates I-495, I-95, and I-295.

As America and the rest of the world become an increasingly global marketplace, the reliance on ports to import and export goods and materials has become an integral part of doing business. Shipping via sea is often more cost-effective, can accommodate larger volume shipments, and has a lower rate of accidental cargo loss than via other modes of transportation. Plus, with many businesses trying to reduce their carbon footprint, cargo ships are a greener, eco-friendlier option than both road and air transportation.

If your business imports or exports goods and materials from elsewhere on earth, utilizing seaports to process your valuable cargo can be a financially and environmentally viable option.  If ports are a deciding factor in your site selection process, each of these Top 50 Power Ports offer something unique to their customers. With so many choices, there’s ‘shore-ly’ a port that meets your business’s diverse needs.

The Global Trade Power 50 Overall Weighted Ranking Explained

We thought it would be useful to see where each of our Power 50 Ports ranked in each category and take a cumulative score of their rankings to come up with an overall weighted ranking.  We took each ranking for each port and combined them into a total weighted score.  This gave them a total weighted score based on their ranking in each category.  By adding each of these score we came up with their GT Overall Weighted Ranking which gave a slightly different perspective of each port.  The diversity a port offered gave it a lower cumulative score.  Just another way to look at the ports and get a quick reference on the diversification of each port.  The lower the score… the better the diversification it offers.

Leveraging Visibility to Gain Control of Your Supply Chain

As an increasing number of business and consumer products are now being sourced globally, supply-chain visibility management has become an undeniably vital tool for any business to have at their disposal. Knowing where your product is at any stop along the supply chain not only keeps you aware of potential roadblocks that could arise, but it also allows you to adapt and make changes to your supply chain in real-time to avoid those roadblocks.

With so much global competition vying for your customer’s dollar, the last thing your business wants to do is drop the ball over poor visibility – but how do you give customers an inside view when so many parties are involved in the supply chain? The answer – according to Steve Williamson, Director, Solution Consulting at BluJay Solutions – is leveraging that visibility with the use of mobile technology. BluJay is a provider of supply chain software and services including MobileSTAR, an app that works with both Android and iOS mobile devices to provide real-time tracking, proof of delivery and last-mile routing solutions.

“When you look at a global supply chain or placing orders, you want to know the ‘immediates,’” says Williamson. “You want to know all the things going on with your order, but when you’re manufacturing globally there’s no way to get that kind of visibility on your own. There are a lot of different systems and parties involved, and no one company is in control of it all. Providers like us are in the marketplace to bring all of those pieces together.”

But getting those pieces to fit together neatly is no small task. While BluJay offers a single technology platform with a constant flow of new features and solutions, many companies still manage supply chain execution with point solutions or manual processes.

“The challenge is, does one tool do it all? The quick answer is no. There’s no perfect recipe. Vendors are looking to pull all these technologies together and try to get the visibility from say, an RFID provider or get the visibility of an ocean container, and it’s that ‘try to get’ that is always challenging,” says Williamson.

And that challenge can be just as frustrating for end-consumers and business-to-business (B2B) customers, too.

“As a solution provider, we’re always looking at that – what would our customer’s customers experience be? Depending on what you’re moving within your supply chain, the importance of that could be tenfold – it could be that someone’s waiting on that part to do something else, so subsequently that little piece could be a domino that knocks down all the other dominoes in a bad way or in a good way.”

And that’s where apps like MobileSTAR really prove their worth. To be able to view where a shipment is at any stage in the supply chain – right from your mobile device – can really save the day for that ‘customer’s customer.’  Delayed shipments can be re-routed, or re-sourced, damaged shipments can be re-ordered, and if lost shipments cannot be found, your customer can easily notify their customer about potential delays – all from the information provided by one easy-to-use app. It’s not a perfect solution – but it’s pretty close.

“When you look at visibility, the question really comes down to ‘what kind of business are you?’ Are you a proactive business or a reactive business? Are you waiting for something to happen in your supply chain… or are you monitoring your supply chain and see a disruption and reacting to it?”

According to Williamson, the reactive provider – while still most-likely reacting appropriately to the problem – is inefficient. A proactive provider could have potentially stopped the problem earlier along in the supply chain and avoided a lot of subsequent problems along the way. Thankfully, mobile apps like BluJay’s MobileSTAR are designed to do the proactivity legwork for you. So even if you fall into the reactive category, you can be proactive with minimal effort, before the problem has a chance to get worse.

The solution, according to Williamson is called Control Tower. Control Tower monitoring allows your business to be able to “drive and react” to problems along the way by providing visibility and connectivity to supply chain partners, from origin to delivery. Information you once had to hunt down from multiple sources, and at a great cost to your time, is now streamlined and available from one platform that connects many participants.

“Solution providers like ourselves are really partners. And I think that’s the way that the supply chain will ultimately be solved. There will be strong partnerships with all the potential parties involved in a supply chain movement to be able to give the companies themselves – and then their end users – visibility.”

Who’s Who – Third Party Logistics

With global worldwide e-commerce sales set to nearly double in volume between now and 2021, third-party logistics (3PL) providers are set to play an integral role in this explosive growth. In fact, the United States already boasts the second largest e-commerce markets in the world, with $340 billion dollars in annual online sales- and that’s just online! Third-party logistics providers are still in high demand for everything from bricks-and-mortar retail to B2B operations and everything in between. But with so many new players in the 3PL game, it’s hard to know who you can rely on to keep your product moving and deliver the ultimate customer experience.

If your business is searching for a 3PL solution but you’re not sure where to turn, get acquainted with these 3PL industry executives and the vast array of services they strive to deliver to customers just like you every single day.

Tony Boemi, Vice President of Growth and Development – Port of Montreal

For Tony Boemi, the Vice President of Growth and Development for the Port of Montreal, his dedication to his job is evident the first time you speak to him. Boemi himself admits he’s done a lot of jobs, but he’d rather talk about the port than his past careers.  As VP of Growth and Development, Boemi is in charge of all areas of business development, including cruise ships, liquid bulk, break bulk and of course new business.

It’s easy to see why Boemi is so enthusiastic about the Port of Montreal. The port stands apart from the other ports on the East Coast, because it does things a little differently- namely, when vessels enter the Port of Montreal, they get discharged completely.

Says Boemi “When a vessel goes to Montreal, it gets discharged completely, 100 percent. It’s not like where you have multiple stops. We have a very linear port.”

The port also has its own rail with over 60 miles of track, and its own locomotives. When a vessel comes in, its loaded onto the track and evacuated.

According to Boemi, what many people don’t realize about the port is that roughly 25 percent of their business comes from Asia, something unique for an East Coast port.

“A lot of carriers are mitigating their risks because the West Coast ports are overcrowded,” explains Boemi “We won’t replace the West Coast, but we will have a very measured growth and take a portion of their business. We’re already seeing a lot of it.”

The port also benefits from a free trade agreement between Canada and Europe, which according to Boemi is their core market.

In fact, the Port of Montreal is already experiencing a growth rate of about four percent a year, despite the fact that they don’t take mega-vessels.  Last year alone the port processed almost 30 million tons of cargo.

“When people talk about deep water and big ships, the depth of the water is the least challenging part. Infrastructure, market access, and fluidity is really what makes or breaks a port.”

To prepare for this growth, the port is already gearing up for an expansion to Greenfield, a site that is currently in use as a bulk port, and which already has much of its infrastructure in place, including rail and access to a major highway.

As Boemi sees it, the Port’s location and size is “a bit of a blessing in disguise,” he explains “We are large enough to compete with big international ports, but not so large that we can’t offer some of the value-added services we provide.”

Larry Felix – Carlile Transportation

With more than 30 years of transportation industry experience on his resume, Larry Felix, Vice President of Pricing and Business Administration for Carlile Transportation has spent most of his career in the transportation industry. After graduating with a business degree from Boise State, Felix began his career as a consolidator, and has spent the past four years as one of the senior leaders at the Tacoma, Washington branch of the Anchorage, Alaska-based company.

According to Felix, Carlile is primarily an LTL (less than truckload) and truckload carrier, but they also specialize in heavy haul, louvers and bulk operations. Carlile even has a warehousing operation for customers who need storage.

“We offer a multitude of transportation solutions,” says Felix. “In fact, we’re not just a logistics provider, we’re a solutions provider.”

Though they are based in Anchorage, Carlile has customers from as far south as Texas to the North Shore of Prudhoe Bay, Alaska.

“We hire carriers for pick-up, long-haul, rail and water, all the way to delivery in Alaska, says Felix.

Carlile is well-known in the Alaska communities they serve, not just for making deliveries, but for their charitable efforts, too. The company sponsors and cares for program called Carlile Outreach, which helps benefit underprivileged youth in Alaska.

With 11 terminal locations throughout Alaska and the lower 48 states, Part of the Saltchuk family of companies, Carlile is one of 28 transportation companies in the family, which also includes TOTE Maritime, Foss Maritime, and Tropical Ocean Liners, which serves the Caribbean.

Despite their numerous locations and services, Felix says what really makes Carlile such a successful company is its workers.

“The strength of our organization is in our people, and our focus is on safety.”

Jake Holzscheiter – A.N. Deringer

As the third-generation leading the nearly 100-year-old A.N. Deringer, President and CEO Jake Holzscheiter has been working for the company since he was “old enough to shovel snow” at the company’s St. Albans, Vermont headquarters. Founded by Holzscheiter’s great uncle, Alfred Neel Deringer in 1919, A.N Deringer is the largest privately-owned customs company in the United States, and the fifth-largest customs company overall.

Holzscheiter has worked in nearly every department of the family business, learning the ins and outs of each position as he worked his way up. Today, as President and CEO, he still stays as involved as possible.

“I’m very hands on in my approach to the business,” says Holzscheiter. “I spend a great deal of time working with the customers and securing new business.”

Holzscheiter says A.N. Deringer breaks down to two main areas- customs brokerage services and distribution services. The company also has what he describes as “a really strong niche” in international freight services and cross-border trucking.

A.N. Deringer is licensed by the United States Customs Service to help companies deal with all the regulations surrounding importing or exporting goods through United States Customs. The company keeps current on all laws and duty rates and makes sure every shipment is handled properly as it enters or exits the country.

It’s kind of like hiring a CPA to do your taxes,” says Holzscheiter.

Customs brokerage is yet another area where A.N. Deringer’s size comes in handy, as their smaller size allows them to work faster than their larger competitors

“Speed is critical,” says Holzscheiter. “Our customers don’t want delays. It will affect their supply chain.”

Deringer combines its customs brokerage services with the myriad other services they offer, including sending cargo to distribution centers, or directly to the customer.

“We deal with some of the largest companies in North America, to the smallest retail start-ups on Amazon. Our focus is to provide old-fashioned values and highly flexible customer service solutions. We have a very flexible IT infrastructure. It removes a lot of the internal barriers that some of the larger companies have.”

Says Holzscheiter , “What makes us unique is that we develop customized, very flexible customer service and electronic solutions for our clients. We do a lot of one-offs. A lot of our competitors are large, national companies, and we thrive in the area of doing things our large competitors won’t. Our customers are looking for flexible unique solutions. We fit into them, instead of making them fit into us.”

Marty Wadle – Ruan Transportation

For Ruan Transportation Management Systems Senior Vice President of Supply Chain Solutions Marty Wadle, Iowa State University is a family affair. So much so that three of Wadle’s five children attend the university, where Wadle earned his bachelor’s degree in transportation and logistics.

That degree has served Wadle well. Following graduation, he began working at Martin Brothers Distribution, where he served as a routing specialist. He then transferred to LTL for a year at Central Transport, before joining Ruan as an analyst. From there, he worked his way through the ranks from Director of Pricing and Design, to Vice President of logistics, to his current role as SVP of supply chain solutions.

The Des Moines, Iowa-based Ruan Transportation specializes in everything from dedicated transportation, managed transportation, warehouse management and brokerage- just to name a few. But according to Wadle, it’s the “Three p’s” that really set Ruan apart from its competitors

“People, process, platform,” says Wadle “We’ve invested in the best platform from a tech standpoint, but we’ve invested in people and process, so we can be as flexible as possible to meet our customers challenges.”

Wadle says Ruan also places a high value on safety – for both their employees and every driver they encounter on the road.

“We bring a wide range of knowledge that includes safety, driver hiring and retention. We have over 4000 drivers in our fleet, so we need to be up to speed on VELD mandates and safety modernization mandates,” explains Wadle.

In fact, Ruan is known as being a pioneer when it comes to safety regulations

“We set up a safety program in the 1960’s before it was even mandated, and that really set us apart from our competitors,” says Wadle.

As for Ruan’s secret for finding such high-quality talent, it goes back to Wadle’s alma mater, Iowa State.

“Not only is it difficult to hire drivers, but its difficult to hire the right logistics people. That’s why we’ve partnered with Iowa State and Oracle Transportation Management (OTM) to develop a logistics training program.”

The OTM training program is the only one of its kind in the nation- and has already trained about 500 students on cutting-edge OTM logistics software, giving them a competitive edge in the job market- and helping Ruan Transportation Systems recruit quality talent right out of Iowa State.

“We find some great candidates from Iowa state university. We are creating our own pipeline, so to speak,” says Wadle.

Randy Tutor – Approved Freight Forwarders

Vice President of Approved Freight Forwarders Randy Tutor has been in the logistics, supply chain and transportation distribution field for his entire 30-plus years career.

 

“I’ve worked both sides of the desk,” says Tutor “Working on the shipper side at Rockwell International and Hilti Fastening, and I’ve spent the past 25 years working for shipping companies. I understand logistics from both sides of the equation.”

Tutor began his career in public warehousing, working for several manufacturing distribution companies. He then moved on to a nationwide distribution company, before coming to Approved Freight Forwarders in 2011.

Approved Freight Forwarders has been providing consolidation and freight forwarding services to the Hawaiian Islands for over 20 years, and to Guam for nearly 30 years. The company also provides third-party logistics (3PL) for many different clients seeking services like warehousing, distribution, and management.

“One of our major focuses is handling projects, so if you had a construction site, a hotel renovation, a new store build-out- any type of project work in Hawaii or Guam, we have a dedicated department that helps manage the logistics of that project throughout the life of the project, and we also focus on retail- the final delivery, providing a consistent and dependable supply chain.”

Services like the ones Approved Freight Forwarders provides are crucial to the economies of Hawaii and Guam, because as Tutor explains it, “Hawaii is a consuming state. Every piece of everything on the island has to be brought in,”

Based in San Diego, California, Tutor works from Approved Freight Forwarders’ 110,000 square foot City of Industry, California location.

“We bring the freight into Southern California, take it to port, and send it to Hawaii. Then we go to the port, get the containers, deconsolidate, put the freight on small vehicles and distribute it to stores,” says Tutor. “We are the only consolidator in Hawaii that has their own dedicated staff. We can control our service, and we can control our cost.”

Approved Freight Forwarders also offers reverse logistics heading back from the Hawaiian Islands, and their City of Industry warehouse is available for a variety of transportation services.

“We have a very strong local transportation presence here in Southern California,” says Tutor. “We are between the port of Los Angeles and Long Beach- that puts us next to one of the largest ports in the world.”

Ultimately, Tutor believes the reason Approved Freight Forwarders is so successful in both Hawaii and beyond is because they can provide a dependable supply chain to their customers.

“There are three of us that personally manage the company every day,” Tutor explains. “my job is uncovering new opportunities with new air freight, and new opportunities for our existing import / export customers. I’m always looking for new ways to expand the services we already provide them.”

James J. White – Port of Baltimore

A graduate of Wagner College in Staten Island, New York, Director of the Maryland Port Administration (MPA) James J. White first began working for the MPA in 1993 as a director of operations and executive vice president of Maryland International Terminals (MIT). Six years later, in 1999, White was appointed Executive Director of the port, where he served another six years until 2005. In 2005, White briefly left the MPA to serve as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of stevedoring and terminal operations company Ceres Terminals in New Jersey. In 2007, after two years with Ceres, White returned to Maryland and the MPA, resuming his role as executive director, where’s he’s been ever since.

It’s easy to see why White would want to return to the MPA and the Port of Baltimore. Originally built as an access point in for the tobacco trade in the 17th century, the historical port is located in the deepest harbor of the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. It is the closest port on the east coast to the Midwest and is within an overnight drive to one-third of the United States population.

“The Port of Baltimore is a very diverse port,” explains White. “Its public marine terminals handle autos, farm and construction machinery, forest products, containers and project cargo.  Its private marine terminals handle coal, sugar, salt, gypsum and many other bulk commodities.”

The port is also responsible for generating almost $3 billion dollars in annual wages and salary, as well as over $310 million dollars in taxes. The port itself employs over 13,000 workers and is responsible for an additional 127,000 supporting jobs.

The Port of Maryland stays competitive by actively engaging with commercial real estate developers and brokers and developing strong working relationships with those entities.

“By doing this, we help them understand increased international freight demand, key components that drive our mutual customers’ needs, and regulatory/logistical issues that may impact site selection,” White explains. “Conversely, they are part of our extended sales organization and can articulate our value proposition when new potential customers are examining their next location.”

This team effort has proven to be a beneficial partnership for both the Port of Baltimore and the developers and brokers they work with, having yielded millions of square feet of DC space, with millions more coming on-line in the future.

texas cities grow businesses with shipments of export cargo and import cargo in international trade.

Meet the Elite: Say Howdy to the Texas Elite Cities for Business

They say everything is bigger in Texas: the horizon, the hearts and even the salsa bowls! But it’s Texas’ business climate that has really caught the eye of industry leaders and site selectors around the globe.

It has been said that if Texas were a country, its economy would rank 10th in the world in GDP. The exceedingly business-friendly, right-to-work state also boasts top-10 rankings in job growth, business friendly regulations and smart, effective litigation reform. Maybe that’s why so many rankings find Texas No. 1 for Best Business Climate in America.

But while you can pretty much drop a pin anywhere on a map of the Lone Star State and find a city or town with everything your business needs to succeed, here in Texas there are an elite few that go above and beyond the rest when it comes to attracting, welcoming and retaining businesses. They’re called the Texas Elite, and these communities and business parks stand above the rest in terms of incentives, workforce, overhead, infrastructure, quality of life and cost of living. These communities should serve as a starting point when filtering through your choices of communities you want on your shortlist. Get ready to meet the elite!

BOWIE

Rumored to be named for Texas Revolutionary War hero James Bowie, the north Texas town of Bowie is just 25 miles from the Oklahoma border. It is home to the World’s Largest Bowie Knife–a more than 14-foot-long steel tribute to the knife made famous by James Bowie in the Sandbar Duel. A statue that rests in Bowie’s Pelham Park has become a popular destination for tourists and residents.

Aside from its giant cutlery, the small city of just 5,700 is well known for its manufacturing workforce, with such businesses as Bowie Industries, WL Plastics, Energy Services Co. and Brindle Products.

Home to Bowie Municipal Airport, the city is just 74 miles from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). The city is also served by two active rail lines: Union Pacific and BNSF. Bowie is easily accessed via highways 287 and 81 and is less than an hour’s drive to Interstate 35 that runs from Kansas to Mexico.

In 2000, the city of Bowie and the Bowie Economic Development Corp. (BEDC) worked with local businesses, government and educators to help develop a 16,000-square-foot, $2.196 million North Central Texas College branch, to help train residents in a variety of skilled trades. An 8,750-square-foot vocational expansion is under way and scheduled to open in 2018. The new center will help train Bowie residents in HVAC, machine welding and oil and gas production.

With its lower-than-average cost of living and housing, the city of Bowie offers your business a high-quality workforce for a minimal investment. And you won’t have to go it alone, either, because in addition to their support, the BEDC offers new and relocating businesses a wealth of incentive opportunities, from 380 agreements to freeport exemptions, rural business enterprise grants (RBEGs), fee waivers and fast-track permitting.

BRENHAM

Seated about halfway between Austin and Houston, Brenham offers upscale amenities at a fraction of the cost of their big-city neighbors. From arts and dining to Brenham’s breathtaking bluebonnet viewing and numerous winery offerings along the Washington County Wine Trail, the scenic town has a little something for everyone.

In addition to its notoriety as the heart of the bluebonnet region of central Texas, Brenham is known for something else blue: Blue Bell Creameries, the iconic Texas ice cream brand that was founded in 1907. What started as a means to use excess cream now is a $680 million enterprise with a product line of more than 250 frozen treats.

Thanks to Blue Bell’s presence in Brenham, the city has a solid food manufacturing workforce. Other major employers in the city are global mattress brand Tempur Sealy International, precision machining company MIC Group (which supports industries from defense to energy and aerospace) and steel pole structure manufacturer Valmont Industries.

For businesses looking to relocate to Brenham, the city of just under 17,000 has openings at the Class-A business park Brenham Business Center as well as the 96-acre Southwest Business Park, which is conveniently located off U.S. Highway 290.

Brenham-area workers and students can receive a top quality education at several area schools, including the A.W. Hodde Jr. Technical Education Center and the Blinn College Workforce Education Program. Both educational facilities offer specialties in such areas as healthcare, HVAC, machining, CDA and many industry-required courses, including forklift certification, CMA refresher courses and OSHA training.

The Brenham Economic Development Foundation is eager to work with new and expanding businesses to coordinate site selection trips, assist with incentive applications and provide prospective businesses with demographic data as needed, all at no cost and no obligation.

BROWNFIELD

With just under 10,000 residents, Brownfield may be small in population but what it lacks in people, it makes up for in infrastructure options. Just ask a company like Halliburton Energy Services, one of Brownfield’s most prominent businesses.

With Halliburton, you’d think they’d want to be closer to the Permian Basin,” says David Partlow, director of the Brownfield Industrial Development Corp. (BIDC). “But their site locators determined that we were a better place to relocate to because of the infrastructure.”

According to Partlow, the same thing happened when Sanders AG was searching for a site to house its agricultural chemicals.

Sanders came here for the rail access. They use Brownfield rail as their distribution center, so all of their chemicals come into Brownfield and then get distributed to their local branches from here.”

In addition to rail, Brownfield also has unprecedented highway access for a small town.

We actually have five U.S. highways and two of those are four-lane highways,” says Partlow. “Unlike most small towns nearby, our roads actually lead to markets. We are really situated for companies to take advantage of our infrastructure.”

According to Partlow, companies who do business in Brownfield also benefit from a cheaper, small-town location, while still having an easy reach to markets in eastern New Mexico and the Central South Plains.

We are in a location in a rural community that is less expensive, but basically a suburb of Lubbock,” says Partlow.

Brownfield is home to two industrial parks, and the BIDC can customize incentives to fit whatever options your business needs.

Every town has incentives, but what we do is ask what you want; what would be best for your business? Do you need incentives for job creation? We can do that!”

CONVERSE

Located 15 miles northeast of San Antonio, Converse is home to just over 18,000 people. Though the small city may not be a household name, it was instrumental in the Apollo 11 spaceflight mission in 1969 and played a major role in the modern space medicine and space biology programs.

Today, Converse is known for its construction and materials markets. It is home to such major employers as Ingram Readymix, Meadow Burke and Featherlite Building Products, but the city also has a workforce that is skilled in everything from information technology to manufacturing, biomedical and healthcare.

Converse offers a wide variety of incentive options for new or expanding businesses, including real estate infrastructure investments, Freeport Tax Exemptions and capital investment reimbursement grants. The city also has foreign trade zone designations for businesses importing or exporting goods out of the country.

Boasting lower-than-average costs of living and especially housing, Converse has a small-town feel while being just a short drive to the big city (San Antonio).

Located under seven miles to both Interstates 10 and 35, Converse is also under 250 miles from all major Texas seaports and under 300 miles from four international airports, the closest being San Antonio International Airport, which is just 12 miles away.

Kate Silvas, executive director of the Converse Economic Development Corp., says that in addition to a highly skilled workforce and central location, what makes Converse unique is the city’s desire to see businesses succeed.

What businesses recognize about Converse is this:we have a can-do attitude,” she says. “We work aggressively to remove obstacles to make things happen here. One example is our building permit turn-around time is 30 days or less. We know that time is money and we do our best not to waste it.”

DUMAS

Are you looking for a business site in an “Affordable Small Town Where You Would Actually Want to Live?” Then look no farther than Dumas, which earned the No. 10 spot on Realtor.com’s 2015 rankings of the same.

Located in Northern Texas, the small town has also earned the distinction of being the No. 6 micropolitan economy in Texas, the 60th best economy in America and the winner of the Texas Workforce Excellence Award for the Best Workforce Development Project in the state. For businesses reliant on rail transportation, Dumas is home to the largest rail car park in North America. The city is even home to the world’s largest dairy and the world’s most-automated beef processing plant.

So what makes doing business in Dumas so unique? It comes down to the people. The small town’s residents are known for their strong work ethic and willingness to get the job done no matter what.

What Dumas lacks in quantity, we more than make up for in quality,” explains Mike Running, executive director of the Dumas Economic Development Corp. (DEDC). “Our workforce has amazing work ethic, our cost of living is low, our access to markets is great and business support, incentives and minimal business restrictions will increase profits.”

As strong as the Dumas workforce is, the DEDC is equally as dedicated to helping new and expanding businesses come to town.

Dumas is unique in that we will not only pay for a business to visit us and make sure our community is the right fit, but we will also help with a gradual, cost effective relocation and expansion program,” says Running.

We are a ‘can-do’ community. We are hands on and support our businesses from beginning to end. If we do not have the answer, we will create one—but we never say no.”

GAINESVILLE

With a population of just 16,800, Gainesville has earned a name for itself—as well as a title courtesy of Rand McNally/USA Today: “Most Patriotic Small Town in America.” Each year the North Texas town that is just six miles from the Oklahoma border invites new and past Medal of Honor recipients to the town to speak to high school and middle school students, followed by a parade and banquet in their honor. The city even plants a tree for each honoree along its Medal of Honor Walking Trail.

Many honorees come back and visit the people in the community and check on their tree,” says Arleene Loyd, executive director of the Gainesville Economic Development Corp. “Some deep friendships have been developed over the years.”

As dedicated as Gainesville is to U.S. military veterans, the city is equally devoted to the many businesses that call the small town home. The city recently opened the Gateway Industrial Park, which is situated off Interstate 35 and has many shovel-ready sites available for new or expanding businesses. Gainesville has also developed plenty of new housing to accommodate employees, including a 240-unit apartment complex and a new, farm-themed “agrihood” housing community that is currently under way.

Due to its adjacency to an Interstate, Gainesville is a prime location for hotels, retail and dining. Just six miles from the Winstar Casino—and not far from the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers stadiums—Gainesville is becoming a destination of its own.

As for labor, 22 percent of Gainesville’s workforce is skilled in manufacturing. Gainesville is already home to world renown businesses such as Zodiac Seats, the largest commercial manufacturer of long-haul airline seats, and Molded Fiber Glass Companies, a manufacturer of blades for wind turbines and truck body parts.

You create wealth when you bring a manufacturer to your community,” says Loyd. “Here in Gainesville, there’s not a corner where dirt’s not turning.”

GIDDINGS

Just an hour’s drive from Austin and 90 minutes from Houston, Giddings is a small town with the diversity of a big city.

We have an interesting mix of entrepreneurs here from all over the world, who have been exposed to different industries and cultures,” explains Tonya Britton, executive director of the Giddings Economic Development Corp. “For a small town of 5,000, we have a lot of diversity within our labor force.”


But don’t let Giddings’ small size fool you. The town may not have many residents, but it still has access to a vast labor pool.

Our location is at the heart of Central Texas,” Britton notes. “We have 110,000 people within 30 miles of our city, as well as schools, colleges and universities nearby.”

Another benefit to living and working in Giddings is that it draws water from the Edward Aquifer instead of from a reservoir.


“We have no restrictions to water access,” Britton says, “so if your business depends on a constant supply of water, Giddings has that.”

For businesses that are hesitant to move to the southern part of Texas following the inclement weather of the past year, Giddings offers a strategic advantage there, too.

We are on high ground—some of the highest ground between Austin and Houston, so we have access to the port without being vulnerable from a weather standpoint,” Britton explains.

The city currently owns a 150-acre, shovel-ready site and is hoping to attract everything from call centers to warehouse and distribution centers, logistics companies and food processing and manufacturing plants.

Giddings has a highly technically skilled workforce, and we want business,” Britton says. “We’re very business friendly. Half the battle is being somewhere that actually wants diversity.”

JACKSONVILLE

If you ever find yourself driving along Highway 69 North into the small, east Texas city of Jacksonville, you’ll probably see a sign that reads “Home of the World’s Largest Salsa Bowl.” That’s because the city with a population of 14,544 holds the Guinness World Record for the world’s largest bowl of salsa, prepared back in 2010 during the city’s annual Tomato Fest.

Best known for its tomato crops, Jacksonville once held the title of “Tomato Capital of the World,” but today it is known for much more. Namely, according to Sherri McDonald of the Jacksonville Economic Development Corp., the small town is regarded for “the people.”

Our strong, skilled workforce is comprised of residents who embody a fervent work ethic while cherishing our rich heritage and honoring our traditions,” says McDonald. “You’ll find a sense of pride and ownership in our community unique to any other town I’ve ever encountered.”

That pride shines through in everyone from the caring and dedicated healthcare workers at Cardinal Health to the hardworking warehouse employees at the nearly 500,000-square-foot Stage Stores distribution center, and even among the skilled manufacturing workforce at Jacksonville’s many thriving injection molding plants.

Despite its small-town feel, the close-knit agricultural community is well connected to the rest of Texas. Seated at the intersection of Highways 69, 79 and State Highway 175, Jacksonville is about two hours from Dallas and DFW. For businesses that utilize rail transport, the city is also served by the Union Pacific Railroad.

But the city isn’t just a great place to work, according to McDonald: “Jacksonville is an excellent place to raise a family. Among many other amenities, we offer highly awarded schools, a private junior college, ATV parks, zip lining, a unique 30-mile scenic lookout park and the best kept secret in the state, Lake Jacksonville.”

LIBERTY

Incorporated in 1831, the city of Liberty is the third-oldest city in Texas. Located halfway between Houston and Beaumont via Highways 90 and 10, Liberty’s central location shares all the connections of its larger neighbors. George Bush International Airport (IAB) is an hour’s drive away, and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) and the Port of Houston are just 45 minutes away, but Liberty boasts much less traffic and cost-of-living expenses than most neighboring communities.

Liberty’s largest employer, Boomerang Tube, employs 500 people. Boomerang supplies tubing to the oil industry, and many of Liberty’s other businesses are oil and gas related as well. With a highly skilled oil-and-gas adjacent workforce, Liberty workers are prepared to work in many facets of the oil and gas industry.

The town is also hoping to attract big-box retail businesses such as home improvement, sporting goods and automotive supply stores.

In addition to skilled workers, Liberty has many other qualities desirable to new or expanding businesses. The city is included in a foreign trade zone (FTZ No. 171) and, according to City Manager Gary Broz, Liberty can easily establish an FTZ within the city upon request. Liberty also handles all its own utilities, and Broz notes that it is the only city east of Houston with a Freeport Tax Exemption.

Liberty also has many educational opportunities for workforce training. “We have an arm of Baytown’s Lee College right here in Liberty,” Broz notes. “They teach everything from welding to electrical and mechanical engineering. And if your business needs employees trained with a specific skill set, Lee College is happy to help.

If someone needs a program developed, Lee College will work with them. They can do the training right there.”

As it turns out, Liberty has a long history of being an excellent site for businesses. According to Broz, the famed war hero-turned-politician Sam Houston once had a law office in Liberty.

MEXIA

With a population just short of 7,500, Mexia (pronounced muh-HAY-uh) offers a prime location with a high quality of life and low cost of living. Situated between Interstates 45, 35 and U.S. Highway 84, Mexia is in the heart of the “Texas Triangle,” one of 11 “megaregions” in America, which in this instance includes Dallas, Austin and San Antonio. Mexia is just three hours from the Port of Houston and is so well-connected you can reach 93 percent of the U.S. population within 48 hours via a tractor trailer.

Our location really does lend itself well to the DFW Metroplex,” says Susan Cates, executive director of the Mexia Economic Development Corp. “As DFW continues to sprawl, Mexia becomes increasingly attractive. The draw is really the accessibility of getting to any of the major cities within three hours.”

As for businesses already thriving in Mexia, local branches for Carry-On Trailer Corp., Martin Marietta and agricultural-adjacent manufacturing companies such as Kioti Tractor, Swarco Manufacturing and Rogers Manufacturing call the tiny town home.

According to Cates, Mexia’s target industry is distribution

We do have the workforce capacity for manufacturing and distribution, because Mexia is part of a 40-mile labor-shed,” she explains. “We’re drawing employees from as far away as Waco, Fairfield and Buffalo. That allows us to fill a large variety of jobs.”

PALESTINE

With a population of just over 18,000, the eastern Texas city of Palestine (pronounced Pala-STEEN) values the past as much as it does the present. With a beautiful historic downtown, the city is home to 1,800 historic markers—the second most in the state outside of Galveston. But don’t let Palestine’s nod to history fool you: The city is also surprisingly modern and even has its very own NASA balloon base, the Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility, which launches weather balloons for research purposes.

Palestine also has its hand in the aerospace manufacturing arena, with Aerospace Fasteners headquartered right in town. You may not know this business by name, but chances are that if you’ve flown on an airplane, it had an Aerospace Fastener product on it. That’s because at any given time, 98 percent of all planes in the air have at least one Aerospace Fastener on them.

The city has a strong logistics presence, with not one but two Walmart distribution centers in town, as well as a Ben E. Keith Beverage distribution center. The Results Co. recently opened a 585-workstation capacity call center in Palestine, and the city is home to a 1,376-employee processing plant for Sanderson Farms, an all-natural chicken brand sold throughout the Southeast.

Palestine also boasts an unbeatable location.


“Logistically, you can enjoy all the major markets—Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Austin and Shreveport—all without dealing with traffic,” explains Palestine Economic Development Corp. Director Tom Manskey.

As for what really makes Palestine special, Manskey offers two word: the people.


“We have a very loyal and dedicated, hardworking workforce, which we’re working to increase all the time,” says Manskey. “We also have great quality of life and excellent educational opportunities.”

ROCKWALL

For businesses seeking a site not far from the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex with all the conveniences of a metropolitan location but with all the charm of a small town, Rockwall is the place to be.

This small, lakeside city has a population of just under 44,000, but it continues to grow in both residential and business presence. In fact, Rockwall has been called “The Best U.S. City for Job Growth,” by CNN Money and the “Fastest Growing City in Texas” in the 2010 United States Census.

Conveniently located along Interstate 30, the city is just a 30-minute drive to Dallas and an hour’s drive to Fort Worth. Situated along the eastern shore of the breathtaking Lake Ray Hubbard, Rockwall is also home to the popular destination Rockwall Harbor, a thriving waterfront entertainment district.

The city currently has vacancies in its very own Rockwall Technology Park, which already hosts such businesses as L-3 Technologies, Bimbo Bakeries USA and Pratt Industries. Outside of the park, companies like SPR Packaging, Whitmore Manufacturing and Channell Commercial call Rockwall home.

The city offers incentives and grants to new and expanding businesses as well as unsurpassed quality of life at an affordable price for employees of those businesses.

One of the best things about Rockwall is that its far enough from the big cities but close enough to easily get to them when needed,” says Shara Fleming, executive assistant with the Rockwall Economic Development Corp. “Rockwall EDC is actively recruiting businesses, and businesses are growing and prospering here.”

TEXAMERICAS CENTER, TEXARKANA

The TexAmericas Center is a 12,000-acre, 3-million-square-foot industrial park in Texarkana that is among the largest in the United States. It is on the former grounds of the Red River Army Depot and the Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant.

Though the TexAmericas Center is no longer used as a military base, the niche there remains ammunition and energetics, according to Marketing Assistant Ashley Byrd.

We still have the bunkers, and there are businesses here that use them for ammunition and energetics, like Expal USA,” says Byrd. “So we’re a unique find for those kinds of businesses.”

The TexAmericas Center can streamline many of the processes that might slow expansion in another location.

We are a municipality that functions as a real estate development,” explains Byrd. “So we are able to do our own zoning and permit processing.”

Byrd says it’s that municipality-as-a-real-estate-development feature that enables TexAmericas to provide resident businesses with major savings on overhead, too.


“We have the fifth-lowest cost electricity in the United States, and the lowest tax rates available in Texas,” she informs. “We also don’t charge a city tax, because we aren’t affiliated with the city.”

Currently, the TexAmericas Center employs about 1,200 workers throughout its numerous businesses, as well as a staff of 10 employees to help operate the industrial park itself. But TexAmericas also has access to a 400,000-person workforce within a 60-mile radius.

As for what the TexAmericas Center “can do” for your business?


“We have a can-do attitude, and we’re willing to go extra mile for you,” says Byrd. “We will apply for grants for infrastructure for you, or do whatever we can to help. We go the extra mile to get businesses here.”

WILLIAMSON COUNTY

Just north of Austin sits a county with more than 545,000 residents. It spans all or parts of 16 cities and towns, including part of Austin itself. Williamson County is, according to Ben White, vice president of the Williamson County Economic Development Partnership, “One of the youngest, safest, most-educated and healthiest counties in the United States.”

Known for its highly educated workforce, Williamson County is home to numerous colleges and universities, including Southwestern University, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Texas State University at Round Rock and Austin Community College.

Williamson County’s presence as a center of education lends well to its enormous technology presence. The county is home to such tech giants as Emerson Process Management and Dell, as well as bioscience firms, including Texas Life Sciences. But Williamson County isn’t all technology, either.

Known historically for its cotton ginning industry, Williamson County city Taylor, Texas, is still a major cotton-producing city. Many cities within the county are well known for cattle ranching operations.


Other industries within Williamson County include education, manufacturing, advanced manufacturing, construction, real estate and health care.

For businesses reliant on infrastructure access, Williamson County is served by both Interstate 35 and tollways such as 183/183A. The county boasts regional and municipal airports, and it is less than an hour’s drive from the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS).

We are centrally located in the Central Time Zone, and we’re on the trade corridor,” notes White.

Other businesses well-suited to Williamson County’s workforce include back offices and corporate headquarters, but ultimately any business looking to relocate would be a great match for the county, to hear White tell it.

If a business wants to relocate into a stable political and business community that is fast growing and forward thinking,” he says, “Williamson County is that place.”

WANT TO CONNECT?If you’d like to learn more about these elite Texas communities and how they can help you establish your business in the Lone Star State, visit www.choose-texas.com for more information. While you’re there, you can confidentially register your project, free of charge. Registering is your direct connection to exclusive information and VIP attention from representatives of Choose Texas and the Texas Elite. Choose Texas can also be reached by calling (469)- 778-2606

Chossing mslaler locations for retail distribution of shipments of export cargo and import cargo in international trade.

OUT OF THE BIG BOX THINKING

With a population of just over 133,000, Visalia, California, isn’t what many would call a big city. Located halfway between Fresno and Bakersfield, Visalia may seem like an unlikely place to set up a retail distribution center, but it’s working well for such businesses as Joann Fabrics, VWR and Hilti USA. Why?

Geographically, we’re in the sweet-spot, so to speak,” says Devon Jones, the city’s Economic Development manager. “We have a high quality industrial area with infrastructure in place.”

Visalia currently has 1,000 acres of land “zoned and ready to go,” according to Jones, who also boasts about one of the most streamlined permitting processes in the Golden State, a sizeable investment in roads over the past few years and a “very efficient connection” to Highway 99 and the rest of California.

For businesses looking to serve the central part of the country, a central location is imperative. That’s what makes Joplin, Missouri, such an ideal location for retail distribution.

Joplin is very centrally located in the Midwest, with very good transportation access,” explains Rob O’Brian, president of the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce and Joplin Regional Partnership. “We also have a foreign trade zone, which can be very helpful for companies bringing product into the United States from other countries.”

Joplin is currently home to distribution facilities for nationally and internationally known brands such as Blue Buffalo and the newly formed Newell Brands, a merging of the Newell Rubbermaid and Jarden companies. Newell Brands ships everything from consumer appliances and electronics to camping equipment from Joplin to retail locations across the county.

Joplin and Visalia demonstrate that big cities may not always be the best fit for retail distribution centers. Smaller cities are often a far better value, offering all of the same technology as bigger cities but with less traffic on the lines. As for workers, smaller cities often have just as many qualified workers as big cities do, but they often require lower wages than equally qualified workers in larger metropolitan areas.

Small is Beautiful

Location is arguably the most crucial factor to consider when searching for a site for your retail distribution center. You want to be close to your customers, but you also must avoid high overhead and oppressive taxes. You’ll also need to consider infrastructure and logistics. Working with an economic development (ED) team in your desired region of the country can help yield many options you may not have considered, such as build-to-suit locations or local buy-ins.

A “central but suburban” location helps alleviate a big headache many retail warehousing businesses face: traffic.

Smaller cities make it easier to pick up and drop off loads and be back on the highway really quickly,” O’Brian says. “In bigger metro areas, sitting in traffic costs time and money. Here in Joplin, almost every location is within minutes to a major state or Interstate highway. That means more productive transportation time, more time spent in motion, getting things to the customer or getting things in from retail distribution center.”

A good rule of thumb is positioning your warehouse within a two-days drive to your farthest customer. Keep in mind that this varies by business. For some retailers, two days’ transit is more than enough time, but for others (such as medical or fresh produce suppliers) two days may not be fast enough. Proximity to airports and third-party logistics hubs for services such as UPS, FedEx and DHL also must be considered. The closer you are to a hub, the faster your turnaround should be.

Reducing truck traffic benefits employees who commute to Joplin’s warehousing businesses,” according to O’Brian. “Because traffic congestion is very light here, 30 minutes is 25 miles,” he explains. “In a larger city, you may not get very far in 30 minutes. This really expands the workforce opportunities.”

Workers of the Burbs Unite

For Nancy Lockwood, executive director of the Visalia Economic Development Corp., it is the people of Visalia that make the city such a draw to retail distribution businesses.

Executives appreciate the fact that this is a very welcoming community, their employees can afford to buy a home, there’s a downtown, lots of restaurants, live entertainment. You don’t have to go out of town to hear a symphony. They appreciate … that they can be in Los Angeles in two-and-a-half hours or San Francisco in four hours.”

But it is important to consider whether there is a surplus of available, local logistics workers in smaller cities. Not that it’s a problem in Joplin, to hear O’Brian tell it.

People here have a strong work ethic,” he says, “and they’re looking for good job opportunities.”

Visalia boasts having the lowest cost of labor in California. “We have an available workforce; people here want to work, and they’re hard workers,” Lockwood says. “When they need to work overtime, they work overtime and are glad to do it.”

In addition to the low-cost labor, Visalia also has one of the lowest costs of living in the state, according to Jones. “We may not be considered a first glance by many retailers,” he says, “but they really need to drill down and consider smaller locations.”

Where to Warehouse

Joplin has a solid reputation in particular for its warehousing workforce, according to O’Brian.

We have a workforce in the Joplin region that understands warehousing and distribution,” he explains. “We have a lot of transportation and trucking companies here. Some places contract to trucking firms, but we have people here that can do both.”

O’Brian believes Joplin has a competitive edge thanks to numerous partnerships with local schools, such as nearby Missouri Southern State University, which has a logistics program in its business school.

They have partner relationships with universities in Germany, Ukraine and a few countries in Asia,” O’Brian says of the MSSU program. “They have worked hard to teach logistics on not just a national scale but on a global scale.”

The Joplin area is home to a number of technical schools that work with local businesses to custom build curriculum and training programs for students looking for employment at local logistics businesses following graduation.

They learn to run automated retail distribution equipment, forklifts, packaging—there’s a wide array of training opportunities,” says O’Brian.

From Small Town to Big World

These days, parent companies of retail distribution centers serving North American consumers are not always headquartered on this continent. Economic development teams not only extol the benefits of warehouses in smaller cities to U.S.-based retailers but to international clients as well.

That can take some convincing due to perceptions that big cities are filled with more potential low-cost workers. Smaller cities across the country must dispel such notions while playing up the advantages of newly arriving companies becoming big fish in small ponds.

Sometimes, international companies might wonder what kind of reception they might get in a smaller metro area, but the door is really open here,” O’Brian says of Joplin. “There’s a lot of diversity for being a smaller metro area.”