Experienced manager, results driven third party logistics professional specializing in US Customs Brokerage. New business ventures, strategic planning, development and evaluation of the operations team and overall growth of branch offices.

______________________________________________________________________

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Cole International USA, Inc. Pembina North Dakota

Director and Manager of Operations April 2007 - October 2012

• Opened the first USA operations for a Canadian owned customs brokerage company from the ground up to successful operations.

• Organized, planned, and coordinated all start up requirements including brokerage permits and national permit approvals. Including the Software selection, testing approvals and office design.

• Managed operations at primary location and two additional offices with their respective managers. Hired mentored and coached staff, provided leadership to the operations team and support, continuous improvement and feedback.

• Accountable for daily operations to ensure trade compliance expertise and high quality customer service on all levels of the organization.

• Created spreadsheet tools and reports for tracking startup, sales targets, bonds, post entry corrections, temporary imports and foreign trade zone movements.

• Active participation in department meetings (sales, account management, transportation and accounting).

• Communicated and consulted with clients, assisting with all concerns and legal requirements for importing and exporting.

• Identified potential areas of compliance vulnerability and risk.

• Developed and implemented corrective action plans to resolve problematic issues and provided expert guidance to avoid and prevent future concerns.

• Negotiated the mitigation of penalties on behalf of clients directly with U.S. Customs.

• Conducted and coordinated annual reviews of all Free Trade Agreements and maintained records.

• Managed transactional volumes of over 60,000 annually representing revenues in excess of $1.5 million.

• Drove annual importer bond sales to over 300 annually with an annual gross profit of more than $100K.

• Maintained relationships with customs brokers in other ports to expedite the clearing of cargo.

A.N. Deringer Inc. Pembina, North Dakota

Branch Manager Pembina & Portal ND April 2002 - March 2007

• Hired to turnaround two failing branch offices for both Customs Brokerage and warehousing.

• Directed cost saving measures, account management programs and employee coaching that brought the branches stability, profitability, client retention and into compliance within two years.

• Oversaw sales representatives in Manitoba and Saskatchewan and assisted with meetings and presentations.

• Increased client satisfaction, secured additional lines of business resulting in increased profitability and profit margins for each customer.

• Implemented realistic project plans, executed and successfully met or exceeded plan expectations while building strong relationships.

GHY USA, Inc. Pembina North Dakota

Branch Manager / Vice President Operations January 1995 - February 2002

• Started the operation for the first U.S. office for GHY.

• Held the corporate license.

• Demonstrated immediate results and exceeded corporate expectations.

• Championed an incredibly competent, highly driven team, developed succession planning to allow continued growth of team members.

• Created a management account review program to ensure operations staff met with clients to drive satisfaction and loyalty. This program is still in use today.

CH Robinson International Eden Prairie, Minnesota

Branch Manager – Seattle, WA (December 1990 - December 1995)

LCB/Manager (October 1984 - December 1990)

• Promoted to branch manager in Seattle and coordinated the purchase of an existing bonded freight forwarding and container freight station.

• Coordinated efforts that initiated trade routes from the Far East to the Midwest through the gateway port of Seattle.

• Coordinated all ocean freight containers transported to the warehouse upon release, unloaded and shipped inland via FTL.

• Grew operation from a 4000 sq. foot warehouse to a to a 35,000 sq. foot warehouse within five years.

• Cleared goods through customs and coordinated local delivery to the clients’ destinations.

• Processed import documentation according to customs regulations, laws, or procedures.

• Advised customers on import and export restrictions, tariff systems, insurance requirements, quotas, importer bonds and all customs-related concerns.

• Calculated duty and tariff payments invoiced on shipments. Determined the classification of goods according to the tariff coding system.

• Conferred with officials in various agencies to facilitate the clearance of goods through customs and government agencies.

• Recommended ways importers and exporters could reduce duties and taxes.

• Paid or arranged for payment of taxes and duties on shipments.

• Oversaw required import documentation, customs invoices, certificates of origin and cargo-control documents.

• Advised best practices for packaging or labeling products.

• Signed documents on behalf of clients via powers of attorney.

EDUCATION

University of Minnesota Minneapolis, Minnesota BSB

St. Cloud State University St. Cloud, Minnesota

CERTIFICATIONS

Certification Licensed Customs Broker 1990 U.S. Department of the Treasury

CCS – National Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders

ACTIVITIES

Enjoy fishing, hunting, men’s hockey league, coaching youth sports, church volunteer and spending time with family.

Contact this candidate