|
from: Internal Cardinal Logistics Newsletter: Birdseed
August 20, 2004
Picking up the pieces after a massive natural disaster
is more than a daunting task. But an often overlooked
direct result of these disasters is the ‘coming together’ and
teamwork that occurs when tragedy strikes. Following
the devastation wreaked by Hurricane Charley last
week in Florida, Cardinal employees proved once again
that their level of commitment goes far beyond just
the accounts for which they are responsible.
Members of the Cardinal team didn’t hesitate to lend a hand on Cardinal’s major accounts in Florida, including The Home Depot and Hughes Supply, say Cardinal Dedicated RVP Mike Wells and SVP of Delivery Bud Workmon.
“Two days before the Hurricane made landfall, I reached out for help from Cardinal team members across the country,” explains Workmon who heads up The Home Depot delivery business. “Not one person batted an eye when I asked for help. Even though they didn’t necessarily have a stake in my account and had troubles of their own to worry about, they jumped in, helped me secure drivers, trucks, cross-dock space, supplies – you name it, they did it.”
Key players in this collaborative effort such as John Earwood, Jay Evans, Russ Marzen, Zeyad Kudsi, Roy Syzmkowicz, and the many drivers who jumped in to help were described by Workmon as nothing short of ‘phenomenal’.
Another example of above and beyond the call of duty was exemplified by Cardinal Operations Manager, Bryan Alford, according to Andrew Yarem, Director of Logistics for Hughes Supply in Orlando, FL.
“The day after the hurricane hit our area and even the following day Bryan Alford was right in the thick of things helping Hughes Supply,” explains Yarem. “But Bryan wasn’t just managing. He was there loading and unloading trucks, right there on the FDC docks. Whatever it took, he was there.”
Operations Supervisor Joe Lockey and driver Lewis Johnson, all of the Hughes Supply Orlando, FL account, spent the entire weekend mobilizing drivers to help Office Depot, Home Depot and their local branches get product to their customers. The Hughes Supply Distribution Center in Florida sustained heavy damage and these Cardinal employees were there to help put back the pieces.
Yarem said he’s proud to see Cardinal employees like Alford, Mike Wells and other Cardinal team members maintain the ‘Timex’ way of transportation management. “They take a licking and keep on ticking - so to speak,” Yarem says.
Operations Manager Jacob Szymkowicz and Operations Supervisor Paul Lymburner, with the Office Depot Orlando, FL account camped out at Office Depot the entire weekend rounding up any available resources to get more than 30 loads delivered that were scheduled for Saturday. With only sparse cell coverage, no land lines or power, they were able to find a way to pull it off.
Other examples of outstanding customer service were shown by Kate Volk, Operations Supervisor for the CHEP account in Florida. Kate single handedly kept CHEP together through the storm by pulling together resources to cover all weekend loads and lining up resources for what turned out to be a normal Monday delivery schedule. CHEP is a 30 driver operation with locations in Jacksonville, Pompano, Lakeland and Davenport.
Operations Manager Chad Poindexter at the Georgia Pacific Lake Placid, FL account had no power or phone, but found a way to keep Georgia Pacific humming by driving to the Davenport area to find a place to work and coordinate the efforts.
Many Cardinal drivers in the area left families at home with no power and water to come to work and take care of Cardinal customers. Additionally, a number of Hughes Supply drivers worked their off weekends at Office Depot, CHEP and Home Depot and made Cardinal look like heroes. Runs that usually take three hours, took more than eight hours due to hurricane traffic and other problems.
“These are the guys that made it happen and cannot be thanked enough,” said VP of Operations Mike Wells. “ It is times like these that make me realize what a truly special group of folks we have working with us at Cardinal.”
Vin McLoughlin, Cardinal’s Chairman, said he is overwhelmed at the dedication and teamwork that Cardinal employees showed to communities hit by the hurricane and to the accounts who desperately needed Cardinal’s assistance to carry out their disaster response.
“I am incredibly proud and humbled to work with such an incredibly talented and resourceful group of professionals,” said McLoughlin. “It shows that Cardinal’s bonds go well beyond state lines. This is an incredible example of teamwork!” |
