CEG Webinar Series, Part 1: 3 Questions on COVID-19 for Tom Valentine

CEG is hosting a free, six-part webinar series offering insight on the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on business and how we can move past it.  To familiarize you with the presenters and their unique perspectives on the crisis, CEG has asked them to respond to three questions.

Webinar 1: COVID-19: A Supply Chain Perspective

Wednesday, April 22 | 8:30 – 9:30am | Tom Valentine, VP, Transport America, Mainfreight USA

Q1. When was the last time you saw this much disruption in a supply chain?

1. A. I have been in logistics for 35 years. I have been working in major logistics cities during significant events: the stock market crash in 1987, the 9/11 terrorist attacked, the global financial crisis of 2008/2009, port shutdows in Long Beach and U.S. East Coast locations during ILWU strikes. I have never seen an event deliver such force and disruption speed to global supply chains.

Q2. What is the biggest challenge to rebuilding/re-shoring the supply chain in the United States, particularly New York?

1. A. We are already seeing the “restart” challenges in the in-elastic composition of supply and demand with relation to capacity. This specific dynamic is the greatest challenge now for the global economy and will be the greatest challenge in restart for New York.

Q3. Is there anything positive you can see in this crisis, in terms of the supply chain?

1. A. Yes, we are optimistic about the potential of a few outcomes: First – the clinical/commercial/industrial outcome. There will be a strengthening of supply chain management providers to the commercial community. Companies that were already injecting “unseen” risk into supply chains through network weakness, carrier and capacity relationships and undercapitalized financial positions – may not be around in the future. Second – the human outcome. I believe there will be strengthened bonds in community, family, faith and connectivity that will make us better people, better leaders and better participants in our everyday lives.

About the CEG Webinar Series

The series runs from April 22 to May 6. Topics include supply chain (April 22), sales strategies (April 28), disaster and business continuity planning (April 29), strategic focus (April 30), alternative healthcare funding (May 5), and implicit bias (May 6). Participants include Mainfreight, Sandler Sales Training, Relay Integrated Logistics and Solutions, Stragility, Jaeger & Flynn Associates and Tangible Development. There is no cost to attend the CEG Webinar Series. Please RSVP for each webinar you are interested in attending. If you are unable to join, select webinars will be recorded and available on our website.

About Thomas J. Valentine

Thomas Valentine founded his own freight forwarding group in New York and managed that business as CEO for nearly 20 years. In 2007 he sold the company and joined the Mainfreight Group. Tom has held roles from Regional Director to VP of Sales and now serves as the VP of the Transport Group for North America. With a primary focus on growth, Tom is considered a branch turn-around specialist within the group. The Transport P&L reaches in excess of $250mm with more than 60 commercial focused members on the team.

Tom is recognized as an industry leader in global supply chain, transport logistics and compliance strategies with extensive import and export experience. He has been called on to present to state and federal agencies content specific to international trade practices for global companies. Tom currently serves, by appointment from the US Commerce Secretary, as a board member with the New York District Export Council. He is also serving as a board member and youth mentor with Saratoga Sponsor a Scholar.

The Mainfreight Group (NZX: MFT) is publicly listed on the New Zealand stock exchange. Recent year trading volume was $3.0bn with 260 branch locations and 8500+ team members around the world. Mainfreight provides global supply chain solutions across Air, Ocean, Domestic and 3PL service sectors. 

Click here to visit Tom’s LinkedIn page. Contact Tom at tom.valentine@mainfreightusa.com