Gobble, Gobble

GOBBLE, GOBBLE

As we sit at our Thanksgiving feasts, and ponder all that we are truly thankful, let’s not forget what truly makes us happy. Is it family? Your friends? Could it be your job? How about the fact that you are not one of those 10% of American’s that don’t have a job?

Getting to know my co-workers over the past months has been a fascinating experience. We have incredibly talented individuals, both at work and in their personal lives. Whether they are giving up their holiday to make sure that critical medical packages are being delivered, or they are volunteering in their local soup kitchens to feed those less fortunate, the American Expediting team has much to be proud.

In honor of my co-workers, I am making a $500 donation to a local charity. Your help is needed to determine the recipient, so anyone who reads this blog over the next 5 days, please email me your choice from the following; (1) Philabundance – Local Soup Kitchen, (2) Ronald McDonald House, (3) Make-A-Wish Foundation, (4) St.Judes, or (5) Equally Split amongst all four.

Thank everyone of you for your support and friendship!

Helping to Save Lives

This article was originally written 2 weeks ago, but has been delayed because I came down with the Swine Flu, which led to Bronchitis. There was a time that I was so sick that I felt like I wasn’t going to make it. In the back of my mind I knew about the experimental drug that is spoken about in this blog, which did give me a sense of comfort.

You can always tell the visitors to Manhattan, especially in the area of Times Square where flocks of tourists gawk bright-eyed at the glittering avenue of lights, stiff necks craning to see it all. It’s a fascination I understand. Even though I’ve lived in that city, I still find myself captivated by the spectacle, especially by two of the present-day signs of the times: The National Debt Counter and the Carbon Counter.

In my crazy mind, I see another disturbing tickers among those tracking the national debt and deadly carbon levels; a running tally of the numbers of victims from the H1N1 flu here and around the world.

With the arrival of the fall season and the subsequent onset of the much-feared H1N1 Flu virus, some of our more vulnerable citizens are finding themselves critically ill and unable to fight off the disease. On October 29th, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed over 1,170 deaths worldwide. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in the United States reports over 600 victims to date.

There is an expression stating that “if you saved one life, it is as if you have saved the world.” For those of you unfamiliar with American Expediting Company, this sums up a large percentage of the deliveries we’re called upon to do. As of November 9th, we have helped to save 36 lives this month alone. It is a task we perform on a routine basis.

Over the course of our 27 years of operation, we have carved a niche for ourselves in the “medical” transportation industry. Our portfolio of customers includes the country’s best known and most respected hospital systems, blood banks, medical equipment companies, and medical laboratories. We have rushed a replacement heart to a surgical center, as well as blood to avert a national crisis. And, much like an emergency room team, when we are called, we activate with speed to ensure a quick, secure delivery.

Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) agreed to the “emergency” use of a drug for certain hospitalized adult and pediatric patients with confirmed or suspected H1N1 influenza. This is an experimental antiviral drug to treat severe cases of H1N1 or Swine flu, and is being tested by the FDA for their approval.
So, how does American Expediting Company fit into this picture? How does it jibe with our slogan that “we help save lives?”
Along with our transportation partner, our offices in both Baltimore and Philadelphia are picking up this life saving medicine from health services facility in Perry Pointe, Maryland. We are required to either rush directly to the airport to get packages onto the next flight servicing hospitals across the country, or directly drive them to hospitals without immediate service from airports. Whether it be a late night drop off to Northern Rhode Island, or a remote West Virginia hospital not serviced by an airport, we deliver safely and as fast as is legally possible.
Next time you find yourself in the Big Apple, look up at those billboard counters, and imagine among them yet another tally board with ever increasing numbers counting the number of people saved, and the slogan beneath it proclaiming “AT AMERICAN EXPEDITING, WE HELP TO SAVE LIVES!”

Getting to know you, Getting to know all about you.

When meeting with our potential customers, the question inevitably arises, “so tell me about American Expediting.” I find this an incredibly difficult task, because we are so much more than a 26 year old company started by an entrepreneurial Wharton graduate. We are over 30 individual corporate owned offices with 100’s of individuals working hard to take care of our customers. To truly know AE would mean to delve into the hearts of each one of these individuals. The first person that I would like to introduce to you is Mr. Bob Caraballo, Operations Manager for our Orlando office.

Bob was born in Brooklyn (GO YANKEE’S), NY the youngest son of a Pastor and mother who worked for the NYC Board of Education. After graduating with a business degree from a local college, Bob began his career working in Transportation/Administration division of Polo/Ralph Lauren. This segued into an Operations Management opportunity in NYC, which he held for 10 years.

In 1994, after the passing of his father, he moved his family to Orlando in order to take care of his mother. With the experience he had in New York City, he easily landed a management position for a local courier. After 10 years of getting to know the local market, building relationships with customers, and drivers, he brought his expertise to American Expediting.

Upon his arrive at AE he quickly grew our fleet threefold and increased business enough to create a need for a larger warehouse facility. He currently manages over 30 drivers on a daily basis with the capacity to quickly deliver anything from a small package to the airport (TSA Approved), all the way up to straight truck deliveries moving 1000’s of pounds.

To truly understand Bob and why he is successful, we need to look into what exactly makes him tick. In addition to being a man with strong family values, raising his two children with his wife Karla, he has recently followed his father’s footsteps and has taken on part time Pastoral duties. In January of this year he was ordained into the ministry, and is now the Pastor of a church in Winter Springs Florida.

If you are looking for a man you can trust, whom always puts others needs in front of his own, and is truly grateful for your business, then Bob is your guy.