The following is a reprint of a guest post that was written for and appeared on the ICIC.org Blog yesterday
Logistics Plus Inc. is a small but growing company in the $700 billion global logistics industry. The company has continued to grow since it appeared on the 2007 Inner City 100 list: just last year Logistics Plus was recognized by Inc. magazine as one of the fastest-growing transportation and logistics companies in the United States. The company was founded in 1996 by Erie, Pennsylvania entrepreneur Jim Berlin, and today it has over 350 employees in 36 offices and 20 countries around the world.
Despite international success, Berlin has not forgotten his roots in northwestern PA and continues to drive local community development. In 2004, he purchased the historic Union Station in downtown Erie and established it as the firm’s global headquarters (left image in the photo above). In his quest to create a diverse and vibrant inner-city community, he made additional retail space available in the building which now houses a restaurant, wine room, and hair salon, among other businesses. Just a year ago, Berlin acquired the old ‘Skinner Engine Warehouse’ – now the home to an airsoft recreational business and other business tenants.
Downtown Erie, PA– once a vibrant hub for manufacturing and transportation in the Midwest – was hit hard during the past two U.S. economic recessions. Hard times simply renewed Berlin’s commitment to Erie. “We thought this was a cool place to be; it fit our style, our character, and the logistics angle,” Berlin says. “I always said if downtown Erie comes back, I’ll look like a genius, but at the time I bought the building, I looked like the dumbest guy in town. I find it’s hard to get people in Erie excited about Erie. It seems we have an inferiority complex with people saying, ‘Erie’s not that bad.’ Why not just go out and make it something? Why be apologetic about it? Make something happen.”
The enthusiasm Berlin has for Erie can also be seen in the various paintings and murals he has commissioned, including ‘Welcome to Erie’ messages on the city’s Peach Street and Sassafras Street bridges, and a large mural on a Bayfront warehouse depicting the historic ‘Battle of Lake Erie’ to commemorate Erie’s proud heritage (right image in the photo above). The mural includes the copy ‘DON’T GIVE UP THE SHIPMENT,’ which is a logistical wink to the iconic “Don’t give up the ship” motto sewn on the flag adopted by the American fleet prior to the famous battle.
Still, Berlin’s inner-city development efforts would not be possible if it weren’t for his successful logistics and supply chain management business. At the heart of that business are very talented professionals that help companies around the world with project cargo and project management, import/export services, air, and ocean freight forwarding, warehousing and distribution, global trade compliance services, LTL and truckload transportation, rail and intermodal services, and logistics and technology solutions. “We consider ourselves ‘a solutions company’ first and foremost with a reputation for handling all aspects of logistics from cradle-to-grave,” says Berlin.
As Logistics Plus nears its 20th anniversary, what lies ahead for the company and the community in which it resides? “I always joke that I don’t know for sure what’s going to happen today, no less a year or two from now, but our overall motto is to grow, and we will continue to do that because of our talent, our energy, our passion and our continued record of success,” says Berlin. “Growth equals opportunity – and more fun – so that is our mantra.” Growth and success are also the cornerstones of Mr. Berlin’s development efforts in downtown Erie. “I believe that now we are beginning to see a renaissance take hold, and I do predict that a couple of years from now, the Union Station Square neighborhood will be a vibrant community — a long way from where it was when we first got here.”
About Logistics Plus Inc.
Logistics Plus Inc. provides freight management, global logistics, and business solutions through a worldwide network of talented and caring professionals. Founded in Erie, PA by local entrepreneur Jim Berlin nearly 20 years ago, Logistics Plus has been repeatedly recognized as one of the fastest-growing transportation and logistics companies in the country. With a strong passion for excellence, its 350+ employees put the “plus” in logistics by doing the extra little things needed to ensure its customers’ success. For more information, visit http://www.logisticsplus.com or follow @LogisticsPlus on Twitter.
DevelopErie presents award to Logistics Plus CEO for its non-manufacturing category
ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA, January 23, 2015 – Logistics Plus Inc., a worldwide provider of transportation and logistics services, is proud to announce that it was recognized as the 2014 Employer of the Year by DevelopErie in its non-manufacturing category. The award, which was presented on Thursday, January 22nd at DevelopErie’s annual awards dinner at Erie’s Bayfront Convention Center, confirms Logistics Plus as a leading employer of choice in northwestern Pennsylvania and within the highly competitive transportation and logistics industry.
“It’s an honor for Logistics Plus to be considered as the employer of the year, and great to be in such special company as the other awards finalists. I’d also like to congratulate Viking Plastics who won the employer of the year award in the manufacturing category,” said Jim Berlin, founder, and CEO of Logistics Plus. “I love how our team has taken our business idea and created something special. It creates jobs, provides services to the community, and provides a home for people to come and work and live and raise a family. That’s pretty much what this is all about, and so we’ll keep doing what we do.”
Nominees for the awards were submitted by the community and voted on by the DevelopErie Board of Directors. The Employer of the Year award is given to an Erie-region company in recognition of their investment in the community during 2014, whether it is an investment in product development, buildings, and equipment, or investment in people through job creation or educational training. Additionally, the company must exhibit a sincere and deep commitment to the Erie region and its employees.
“Logistics Plus began providing its services nearly two decades ago and the company has become one of the fastest-growing transportation and logistics companies in the country,” said Glenn “GT” Thompson, Member of Congress for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in a letter to the company. “Not only has the company provided 350 challenging jobs, but it has also grown to efficiently handle all types of freight services as well as global trade compliance services. I thank them for making significant contributions to the local economy. It’s easy to see why Logistics Plus was selected for this prestigious recognition.”
Highlights of the awards dinner and Mr. Berlin’s acceptance speech is available on YouTube at http://youtu.be/Hzy4osi8OJw
About DevelopErie
DevelopErie, formerly the Economic Development Corporation of Erie County, serves as the lead economic development agency for the Erie, Pennsylvania region. DevelopErie is a private-public partnership comprising seven organizations with one staff and one mission to: “Develop Our Region’s Economy and Increase Our Region’s Prosperity.” DevelopErie works to create partnerships that provide our region’s businesses and organizations the programs, products and services they need to be successful. Visit them online at www.developerie.com
About Logistics Plus Inc.
Logistics Plus Inc. provides freight management, global logistics, and business solutions through a worldwide network of talented and caring professionals. Founded in Erie, PA by local entrepreneur Jim Berlin nearly 20 years ago, Logistics Plus has been repeatedly recognized as one of the fastest-growing transportation and logistics companies in the country. With a strong passion for excellence, its 350+ employees put the “plus” in logistics by doing the extra little things needed to ensure its customers’ success.
The Logistics Plus® network includes offices located in Erie, PA; Fresno, CA; Los Angeles, CA; San Francisco, CA; Evansville, IN; Kansas City, MO; Lexington, NC; Cleveland, OH; Charleston, SC; Greensville, SC; Nashville, TN; Dallas, TX; Fort Worth, TX; Laredo, TX; Houston, TX; Australia; Bahrain; Belgium; Canada; Chile; China; Colombia; France; Germany; India; Indonesia; Kazakhstan; Libya; Malaysia; Mexico; Poland; Saudi Arabia; Singapore; Turkey; and additional agents around the world. For more information, visit www.logisticsplus.com or follow @LogisticsPlus on Twitter.
WICU-12-WSEE-TV, an Erie, PA-based news affiliate, recently aired the following feature on Logistics Plus. The segment was part of the station’s coverage of the DevelopErie’s Employer of the Year finalists announced in December. There are six area companies that are finalists for the top award. The 2014 Erie County Employer of the Year will be unveiled by DevelopErie at the Annual Awards Dinner on January 22, 2015, at the Bayfront Convention Center in Downtown Erie.
In addition to freight management and global logistics services, Logistics Plus® provides a variety of specialized and unique business solutions – just another way we put the “plus” in logistics to help our customers be successful. One of our more unique business solutions is delivered through our National Truck Load (NTL) division in Erie, Pennsylvania.
Serving nearby businesses in Northwest PA, Northeast OH, and Southwest NY, our NTL facility provides industrial painting services, heavy vehicle maintenance, and repair, and customized crating solutions (in addition to routing and dispatching our NTL truckload delivery services).
The facility is big, clean, and is uniquely designed for large, heavy machinery and equipment. At this facility, we have painted everything from railroad train cars to truck trailers, to engines, to wind turbines. One piece of equipment that allows us to make this all happen is our industrial-sized forklift (see inset picture in the bottom left) that can pick up and move equipment weighing up to 65,000 pounds!
When we’re not moving and painting large equipment, we’re providing maintenance services for our own NTL equipment and other customers in the area. Our experienced crew has a reputation for outstanding work, great rates, and superb reliability. And, as mentioned earlier, we also have a section of the building that is dedicated to custom crating services.
The NTL facility is located at 2311 West 15th Street, in Erie, PA 16505. If you’re company or business is located in any of the surrounding “tri-state” areas (e.g., Erie, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, etc.), and if you have big equipment that needs to be painted or maintained, give us a call at 814-833-2771. We promise you’ll receive the Logistics Plus trademark extra attention and care!
Erie, PA, August 13, 2014 – Big things are happening at Union Station! Hotheads Hair Design will be relocating to the historic 87-year-old train station on September 1st, joining fellow newcomers Logistics Plus Linguistic Solutions and Habibi Restaurant. They, of course, join established favorites Hookah Café, Mazany Office Interiors, Urarrao Gallery and Penn Shore Wine Shop, Paradigm, Erie Makerspace, the Concourse of Union Station, and the Brewerie. Union Station was purchased by Logistics Plus in 2003 to house their global headquarters, restoring the station to its original glory and adding the flagpoles which are a familiar sight at W 14th and Peach Streets.
Logistics Plus Inc. is a small but growing company in the $700 billion global logistics industry. The company has continued to grow since it appeared on the 2007 Inner City 100 list: just last year Logistics Plus was recognized by Inc. magazine as one of the fastest-growing transportation and logistics companies in the United States. The company was founded in 1996 by Erie, Pennsylvania entrepreneur Jim Berlin, and today it has over 350 employees in 36 offices and 20 countries around the world.
ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA, January 23, 2015 – Logistics Plus Inc., a worldwide provider of transportation and logistics services, is proud to announce that it was recognized as the 2014 Employer of the Year by DevelopErie in its non-manufacturing category. The award, which was presented on Thursday, January 22nd at DevelopErie’s annual awards dinner at Erie’s Bayfront Convention Center, confirms Logistics Plus as a leading employer of choice in northwestern Pennsylvania and within the highly competitive transportation and logistics industry.
