WELCOME MESSAGE

The first days of January now seem like the distant past given the speed in which this year has taken off. However, while the first few days of the new year were still a bit quiet, we had a chance to think about our plans for 2013.  
 
We achieved very solid results in 2012, and a number of our core activities continued to strengthen. Our ocean business, both export and import, enjoyed strong growth in FCL volumes. We believe focusing our business on a small group of core carriers was a significant contributor to these positive results. This year, we will include more of our global FCL volume under contract with strategic steamship line partners. This increased focus will provide greater access to capacity, stronger pricing leverage, and more efficient operations. At least one new domestic office will open this year, and our organizational development abroad will continue. Our IT platform will emphasize customized solutions and expanded Supply Chain capabilities.
 
Our motto, “Customized Global Logistics”, truly describes our total commitment to understanding and supporting our customers’ needs. We will work hard to listen better, ask more questions, and see global logistics from our customers' point of view. With this focus, we’re confident we can continue to deliver best-in-class  value.
 
We wish for all of you a year of healthy results and positive growth.
 
Kind regards,
 
Olen Wood
President

EMO Trans Manila Moves 33-Ton Air Shipment

Over the recent holiday season, EMO Trans Manila (shown above: Nick Rolle, Rupert Pagtalunan, Anna Marrizz Diquit, and Gloria Legaste) partnered with Sky Freight to successfully move a 33-ton air shipment from Shanghai to Manila for one of southeast Asia’s largest conglomerates. The project was the biggest shipment handled by this office to-date, paving the way for future large-scale projects.

FEATURED BRANCH: CLEVELAND
 

EMO Trans Cleveland opened for business in March 2004 with two employees, and the office has grown steadily ever since. In fact, with 17 full-time staff and a full service operation that includes customs brokerage, the office recently moved to a 4,600-square-foot facility. “At 2,900 square feet, we had simply maxed out our space,” explains Branch Manager Scott Vranic. He attributes EMO Trans Cleveland’s operational success to a solid client base and the staff’s collective years of experience. “We have highly capable people here who’ve been in the industry a long time. Everyone brings a sense of care and dedication to their work and are in it for the long haul,” Scott says.

Key clients include Timken, Valspar Paints, Shearer’s Foods, and Vana – a supplier of specialty tins to one of the world’s most famous cookie makers. The most unusual shipment they’ve handled? A 180,000-ton anvil that was successfully transported for a Department of Defense project. “This was a 19-axle move that arrived in Philadelphia and was delivered to Cleveland. It involved about a dozen Cleveland police and Ohio highway patrol to manage traffic!” Scott says.
 

The EMO Trans Cleveland team, left to right:
Dave Gibbs (warehouse), Tom Etchell (import
manager), Kim Zemanek (ocean export
manager), Hillary Robinson (data analyst),
Scott Vranic (branch manager), Cheryl Botkins (ocean export), Melissa Lines (sales), Melissa Walton (ocean export), AJ Lammers (import),
Lisa Veneskey (air export/accounting), Arlene Palkovic (ocean export), Lenore Crauthamel (import), and Bruce Wagner (operations manager). Not pictured: off-site employees
Tom Butler, Audrey Sullinger, Scott Mann,
and Debbie Fostyk.


EMO Trans Cleveland moves 180,000-ton
anvil

SPOTLIGHT ON SUCCESS

LA Employees Celebrate Milestones

This month, EMO Trans News profiles two Los Angeles employees who’ve been with the company for the long haul. Congratulations on a job well done!

Gisela Spees, Accounting

Milestone: Retired in April 2012 after nearly 30 years of service

“I was the second employee hired by the start-up Los Angeles office in 1983. In the early days, I loaded containers and did everything,” Gisela says. “The thing I have liked about working for EMO Trans is that you’re not a number; you’re a person.” While there have been many memorable projects through the years, she remembers fondly the times that humor saved the day. “One time, Hardy [Zantke, the office’s original manager] told me that I absolutely had to fit all of these boxes into a container. After packing and unpacking three times, I was frustrated that three boxes still would not fit. I finally gave up and called Hardy. He said, ‘Well done, Gisela. I didn’t think you’d get nearly that many boxes in!’” she laughs.

Gisela celebrated her retirement by traveling for a month to her native Germany and then on to Italy. Now in semiretirement, she works two afternoons a week in Accounting and enjoys swimming and yoga. She also has taken up kayaking and water paddling off the coast of Long Beach. “I tried it, and I love it!” she says.

Carola Kendrick, Special Accounts

Milestone: 25th anniversary in October 2012

“I’m originally from Germany, where I studied and worked in international business for a few years before I came to the U.S.,” Carola says. “My first job here was at a local German deli. I used to see this woman all the time…we talked and became good friends.” Turns out, her new friend was Gisela Spees who learned of Carola’s business background and encouraged her to interview with EMO Trans. “I was hired the same day that I came in for the interview!” she says. You could say that Carola got off to a bumpy start on her first day of work in October 1987. “I was driving on the freeway when the Northridge earthquake hit. I had no idea what was happening!” she recalls. “However, I made it to work safely and have been coming back for 25 years.” Carola has enjoyed her career with EMO Trans, “because it’s like a family. I’ve never once come to work hating my job…it’s a very supportive work environment,” she says. Outside of work, she hikes some of Southern California’s most breathtaking mountain vistas. “I usually hike at least 10-20 miles on the weekends…it’s like therapy to me.”

EMO Trans Observes the Holidays

EMO Trans Atlanta celebrates fun and friendship

Over the course of a week, EMO Trans Atlanta enjoyed gingerbread house building, tacky sweaters, a decorating contest, and lots of yummy treats. Cheryl Harper notes that the office also collected items on behalf of area homeless and women’s shelters. “I am pleased to announce that EMO Trans Atlanta exceeded its goal of 200 cans of food (awesome)!  I don’t have a total because I stopped counting at 217!  We also received enough coats to fill four boxes,” Cheryl says. “Thanks to everyone for participating. I know it will be greatly appreciated by those on the receiving end and hopefully made their holiday a little brighter and warmer!”