|
from: Internal Cardinal Logistics Newsletter: Birdseed
September 27, 2004
Facing unrelenting winds that reached 130 mph, hundreds of spawned tornados and torrential rains, the Gulf Coast and the Florida Panhandle braced for the fierce impact of Hurricane Ivan this past week. The third major hurricane to reach the U.S. in just over three weeks had many Floridians, Gulf Coast residents and businesses scrambling to recover from the vicious and deadly triple threat caused by these natural disasters.
Once again, Cardinal Logistics employees and drivers from across the country came to the aid of our Florida-based customers to assist their relief operations in the aftermath of Hurricanes Charley and Frances and help prepare their stores and communities for the imminent arrival of Hurricane Ivan. In this instance, one of our valued customers, Office Depot, needed critical loads of water, batteries and other supplies delivered to stores in Florida, Alabama and Mississippi all along the Gulf Coast in a very tight time window of less than 24 hours.
Between Buford, GA and Orlando, FL, Cardinal drivers picked up and delivered 50 loads of water and batteries and delivered to stores along the Gulf Coast in FL, AL, and MS. Management team members at Cardinal also worked with Office Depot officials to determine where the remaining loads would be delivered immediately after Hurricane Ivan made landfall during the early
morning hours Thursday, September 16.
Erik Milici, Senior Transportation Manager at Office Depot, expressed his sincere appreciation for efforts demonstrated by Cardinal employees during
an extremely stressful time.
"I can't thank our friends at Cardinal enough for how well you have responded to this situation," said Milici in a note to Cardinal Chairman, Vin McLoughlin. "Our replenishment managers have been under a great deal of pressure handling the volatile inventory positions created by this string of hurricanes. What Cardinal has been able to do for us has been nothing short of remarkable. We greatly appreciate your efforts and truly value the business relationship we've developed over the years. Your team has been solid as a rock in support of Office Depot's supply chain. Thanks again for all of your efforts!"
Cardinal's Chairman, Vin McLoughlin, pointed out several examples of extreme dedication demonstrated by Cardinal employees and managers at the Office Depot in Orlando.
"The hustle and reaction demonstrated by Jake Szymkowicz, Kevin Parnell, Mike Wells and their entire group on this project has been amazing," said
McLoughlin. "Their response time for one of our most valued customers
during an extreme time of need is exactly the type of performance that makes me proud to be a part of the Cardinal team."
| |
 |
| |
Claude Lamarre, Driver |
Extraordinary efforts delivered by Cardinal Logistics drivers throughout the past several weeks underscore how Cardinal is able to meet customer requests and community needs during extreme times of need, according to Bryan Alford with Hughes Supply in Orlando. He offered this account of dedication by driver, Claude Lamarre, a 19-month Cardinal employee with Hughes Supply/Orlando, who helped with clean-up efforts associated with Hurricane Charley and preparations for the onslaught of hurricanes that followed.
According to Alford, the day after Hurricane Charley hit, Claude arrived first thing and ran loads for fellow account Office Depot to get them cleaned up and returned very late that evening following a multi-stop delivery. On Sunday morning, as soon as his break was over, he went back to Hughes Supply and ran generators down to disaster areas that were hit the hardest. The rest of the week he was in Wildwood helping Progress Energy -- one of Hughes Supplies' Utilities Divisions' largest customers -- deliver transformers and other equipment and supplies to the areas of need. The following weekend, Claude spent time with other Cardinal drivers at the home of Helen York -- a Cardinal driver whose home sustained heavy tree damage following the storms.
"Not only did Claude do what his normal job required of him but he went well past that point and helped many other people with his time and efforts," said Alford. "He gave every hour he had to use and went well beyond the call of duty."
As clean-up efforts begin following the devastation wreaked along the Gulf Coast by Hurricane Ivan this week, Cardinal employees will once again be in front of the pack extending that helping hand to communities and customers
in need. |
