Happy 26th Birthday25 CustomYears Companies!! VOL V No. 1 Apr. 2011 / May 2011 VOL V No. 6 Feb. 2012 / Mar 2012 Hello Readers Can you believe that Custom is Custom Global Logistics Rolls Out New Software Enhancements 26 years old? (and doesn’t Custom looks great for its by Matt Foley and Mark Schiele age!) We’ve reached this mile- stone because of everyone’s hard work and dedication. Custom Global Logistics, the air freight and expedited arm of The Your commitment to always, always, always, put the Custom Companies has recently transitioned to a new operating system that allows us more ‘Customer First’ is the major flexibility to meet our customer’s ever expanding transportation needs. Under the leadership of reason for our success. Let us all keep the high energy going Adam Baltz, Executive Vice President of Logistics and Supply Chain, and Bernie Boudrow, Assis- and make 2012 the best year ever! tant Vice President of Air Freight, Custom Global is poised to have a banner year in 2012. Bernie And don’t forget to “Find returns to CGL after stints with two other expedited transportation companies and brings a Perry’s Moustache” hidden fresh perspective to a system and business model that he is intimately familiar with. To take within. Make sure to forward your answer to CGL to the next level, Adam and Bernie have spearheaded a project to build a robust operating [email protected] no software from the ground up that encompasses all of the positives of the previous system, while later than Friday, February 17th for your chance to win a $50.00 integrating more fluidly with the other divisions of our company. Custom Global’s new system is gift card. based on the CLI framework that underpins the local cartage, less-than-truckload (LTL) and HAPPY 26TH ANNIVERSARY truckload computer system(s). By integrating both systems, Custom Global will have increased CUSTOM FAMILIES!! efficiencies that will allow the ability to maintain the high level of service they are renowned for Sincerely, and continue to grow their business into the future. NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE In both Chicago and Los Angeles, Custom Global has a few new faces. In case you have not met everyone, take a moment to introduce yourself. Marie Podolak, who has been with the com- CGL Enhancements 1 & 4 pany for 18 years, remains the cornerstone of the night operation in Chicago. Marie handles the CDN Driver Appreciation 2 - 3 routing of all shipments that come back to our dock and ensures timely, cost effective and expe- Black Gold & Green 5 ditious movement to maintain Custom Global’s stellar service. William Ehrl oversees the CGL Sports Corner 6 - 7 dock operation and has been with the company for 3 years. William maintains a critical position Bears Future 8 of constantly monitoring the air freight “cage” which segregates air cargo from non air cargo. If Retire Where? 9 you have been on the dock in the last year, you may recognize an expansion to the cage. Now Sleep Apnea Testing 10 all Custom Global freight is segregated, and a cage within the cage further protects freight that Safety Bill 11 will be travelling on passenger aircraft. Lucas Hills, one of the new faces you may have seen Lift Trucks in LA 12 around, works a split shift to bridge the day and night shifts. Lucas joins the company with HR Corner 13 many years of expedited transportation experience and assists the day operation with opera- Treasure Hunt 14 tions, quoting and trade show opportunities. Lucas further assists Marie and William with the Isn’t Love Grand 15 Continued on page 4 Coupons and More 16 The Custom Companies, Inc. - 317 W Lake Street Northlake, IL 60164 - www.customco.com DID YOU KNOW… VOL V No. 6 Feb. 2012 / Mar. 2012 That more than 100 Page 2 million roses, the majority red, will be CDN DRIVER APPRECIATION WEEK by Carol Guarino sold and delivered CDN started 2012 off by honoring our team of Over-The-Road drivers with daily lunch- within a three-day eons and raffle prizes to show our appreciation for their hard-work and dedication. period ending on Valentine’s Day. California produces 60% of American roses. George Washington was the only found- ing father to free his slaves. The badger was the original ‘spring ba- rometer’ but the job was reassigned to the groundhog when the German’s immi- grated to Pennsyl- vania in the 18th cen- tury. Before they became famous, these peo- ple all worked as truck drivers: Stephen J. Cannell, Robert Conrad, k.d. lang, Gregory Peck, Sidney Poitier, Desi Arnez, James Cam- eron and Elvis Presley. Pittsburgh is the only city where all major sports teams Larry Charnot and Don Weiner hosted the daily events and we have the same col- ors: BLACK and wish to thank them for making this a success! GOLD. The Custom Companies, Inc. - 317 W Lake Street Northlake, IL 60164 - www.customco.com VOL V No. 6 Feb. 2012 / Mar 2012 Page 3 Leap Year 2012 by Lisa Ludwikowski This year will have an extra day in February due to it being a Leap Year. Leap Years are needed to keep our calendar in alignment with the earth’s revolutions around the Sun. They occur every four years and without them after 100 years we would be more than 24 days ahead of the season, which is not desirable or accurate. February 29, the leap day, has been associated with age-old tradi- tions, superstitions and folklore: Leap Year has been the traditional time that women can propose marriage. In many of today's cultures, it is okay for a woman to propose marriage to a man. Society doesn't look down on such women. It is believed this tradition was started in 5th century Ireland when St. Bridget complained to St. Patrick about women having to wait for so long for a man to propose. According to English law, February 29th was ignored and had no legal status. So a crime on the day is no crime at all. There is a Greek superstition that claims couples have bad luck if they marry during a leap year. Apparently one in five engaged couples in Greece will avoid planning their wedding during a leap year. A law once existed in Scotland forbidding a man to refuse a proposal made to him on February 29th. Punishment for such an of- fense was a large fine. In Scotland it is thought unlucky to be born on a Leap Years Day. According to astrologers, those born under the sign of Pisces on February 29 have un- usual talents and personalities reflecting their special status. The following rules decide which years are leap years: Every year divisible by 4 is a leap year. But every year divisible by 100 is not a leap year Unless the year is also divisible by 400, then it is still a leap year. This means that year 1800, 1900, 2100, 2200, 2300 and 2500 are not leap years, while year 2000 and 2400 are leap years. This actually means year 2000 is kind of special, as it is the first time the third rule is used in many parts of the world. The longest time between two leap years is 8 years. Last time was between 1896 and 1904. The next time will be between 2096 and 2104. The Custom Companies, Inc. - 317 W Lake Street Northlake, IL 60164 - www.customco.com VOL V No. 6 Feb. 2012 / Mar.2012 Page 4 Custom Global Logistics Rolls Out New Software Enhancements Continued from page 1 night routing operations. Anthony Roldan, who has been with Custom Global for one year assists in day operations and also handles several dedicated accounts. Another new face is Dan Lanzito, who also joins CGL with many years of expedited transportation experience. In addition to general opera- tions, Dan has been trained and appointed as Custom Global’s security coordinator and liaison with the TSA. Dan works closely with The Custom Companies’ security team to ensure the safety of all employ- ees, associates, customers, and their valuable cargo. Angy Guarino, who has also been with CGL for a year is involved in tracking and tracing and assists Marie Huff with charges and billing. Marie Huff has been with The Custom Companies for 9 years, spending the last few with Custom Global. Marie has experience in several departments within the company, most notably working with our largest cus- tomers as a dedicated customer service rep and liaison. Ignacio Molina 2-1 Darrell Nelson 2-1 In Los Angeles Mark Schiele manages all aspects of the Sales and Operational responsibilities for Cus- tom Global’s Carson California Office. Mark brings 30+ years of transportation management experi- Joe Klikas 2-2 ence to Custom Global. In addition to Mark’s Custom Global responsibilities, he also manages the John Villescas 2-2 Sales efforts for all the various service products that are available to our Los Angeles CA clients. Roger Tom Mroz 2-3 Peralta is the Night Air Freight Operations Manager. Roger brings many years of air freight operations Adalberto Franco 2-4 experience to our Los Angeles team. Roger manages the physical movement of all Custom Global Lo- German Melendez 2-5 gistics Los Angeles clients’ shipments. Roger has both international and domestic air freight experi- Christopher Moran 2-7 ence. Petra Gumieniak is in air freight operations and pricing. Petra also develops pricing and costing Aroldo Velazquez 2-7 models for large customer roll outs and distributions.