Move over PTO. Have you heard of VTO (volunteer time off)? Romaine Seguin is making sure it goes to good use. As CEO of Good360, a nonprofit with 38 years of purposeful giving under its belt, she’s creating partnerships with some of the world’s most successful enterprises to make sure goods get to where they’re needed most. Tune in to hear her chat with Scott and Enrique about her professional journey, delivering during a crisis, and where the organization is headed next.

Intro/Outro (00:03):

Welcome to supply chain. Now the voice of global supply chain supply chain now focuses on the best in the business for our worldwide audience, the people, the technologies, the best practices, and today’s critical issues. The challenges and opportunities stay tuned to hear from those making global business happen right here on supply chain now.

Scott Luton (00:31):

Hey, good morning, everybody. Scott Luton and Enrique Avarez with you here on supply chain. Now. Welcome to today’s show Enrique. How you doing? Hey

Enrique Alvarez (00:38):

Scott, how are you doing? It’s great. Always a pleasure being here with you and your interesting guest.

Scott Luton (00:43):

Well, you know, you hit the nail in the head. We have a fantastic guest. Uh, what, uh, I deem a supply chain rock and roll star with us here today. And, uh, by the way, Enrique, I love the great work you’re doing on so many fronts, all that embody your logistics with purpose mentality, it’s who you are. And along those lines, speaking of wonderful work for the greater good today, we’re speaking with, uh, the leader of an organization on a mission to close the need gap. So with no further do wanna welcome in Romaine Seguin CEO of good 360 remain. How you doing?

Romaine Seguin (01:16):

Oh, great. Scott. It’s so good to see you, you know, and I still owe you high barbecue.

Scott Luton (01:22):

<laugh> I’m gonna take you up. I’m gonna take you up on it. As soon as you get back to I’m

Romaine Seguin (01:26):

Gonna see I’ll be in Atlanta, October at two different times, maybe sooner.

Scott Luton (01:30):

Oh man. Wonderful. We can talk, uh, go to barbecue. And by that time, football really bad football in Atlanta in terms of the pros, but, uh, save that for another day. Um, so romaine, uh, I know you and Ricky already know each other. Uh, we’re all, we have been long time, big fans of good 360. We’re gonna dive into more into that story and all the really good things that you’re doing there, you and the team, but for starters, Enrique, we want to learn more about kind of remains where she grew up and her upbringing. So remain PHIS in, what do you call your hometown and, uh, give us some up, uh, anecdotes about your upbringing.

Romaine Seguin (02:09):

Yeah. Thanks. Born and raised. Thanks, Scott. Um, I was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, um, the gateway to the west and, uh, I’m the oldest of five children. Um, my father finished high school. My mother finished 10th grade. So when I was in high school, I came home. I was, I was brought up Catholic. I still am. It was there lent. The only reason I remember that, cause we were having peanut butter and toast, um, on a, on a, um, and I told them I was going to college and they looked at me and they go, why I go? Because I can continue to pitch a softball and hit a volleyball. So I looked in him, I go, by the way, you don’t have to pay anything. So I was very blessed and fortunate to get education by throw a softball, hitting a ball at William Woods university. I did not pay a dime for books. Wow. I did not pay a dime for room and board and I did not pay a dime for my education. Wow. Full, full circle come around. Um, I am a board of trustee Atwood university. I’m the chair. And I recently just hired our 13th president, Dr. Morelin, um, he’s 13th president of 152 year old, uh, institution. So it was a great experience. Um, I always tell people to challenge their inner so of something they’ve never done before.

Scott Luton (03:30):

Mm mm. So that, that is William Woods university in Fulton, Missouri. Yes. And what does the mascot remain?

Romaine Seguin (03:39):

An owl.

Scott Luton (03:40):

An owl. Okay, good, good, good. The, the hard hitting questions here, watch you now and really quick. Um, were you better at softball or volleyball?

Romaine Seguin (03:49):

Softball? I was pitcher. I taught myself knuckle ball. If I had a softball, I could show you, um, and I could have the same motion, but it’d take like 10 to 15 miles off. But, and that was my strikeout pitch.

Scott Luton (04:01):

Wow. Okay, man, we’re gonna have to compare notes. Um, I’ve got three kids, two of ’em have been playing softball. We’re getting back into ’em now, now that the world’s getting met together, so we know who to go to for a strikeout pitch, but you were that,

Romaine Seguin (04:14):

But Scott, Scott, and seriously, I would encourage your, your daughter to stay softball. And, and why do you think it’s so important? Especially with females, it gives them confidence. It gives them confidence to sit at a table with whatever decisions being made. So whatever you can do to encourage him, um, please do so. Mm.

Scott Luton (04:33):

It sounds like you were very good at it too, right?

Romaine Seguin (04:36):

Roma. Um, I, I was pretty darn good. How fast could you, uh, throw that? I could pitch it, you know, you see, ’em throw it now anywhere from 68 72, I could get mine up 65. Um, that was as fast as I can pitch, but like I said, my change up was my strike out pitch that way. It was just a, and I just got done watching the college world series with Oklahoma just smack in Texas. I mean, Oklahoma had a great team.

Scott Luton (05:02):

You’re right. They sure did. I think they set records with home runs if I’m not mistaken.

Romaine Seguin (05:05):

Yes they did. They, they, Ron home runs and everything, but that gal from Hawaii, Jo Lynn, Joe, something, she was fantastic. Mm.

Scott Luton (05:15):

Um, so you were about to con uh, so again, the big shout out to William Woods university and their new 13th president of all times. So that that’s really cool. Um, quick question, go back to food and growing up in, in St. Louis what’s, what’s one food dish that would be inseparable maybe from your, your childhood

Romaine Seguin (05:35):

Bar, none. And this is a big argument with Chicago, one and St. Louis. And it’s a pizza. I mean, Amos pizza. I I’m a pizza freak anyway, but there’s nothing. When I go home as the first thing I have is pizza. You can’t, but now you can order it. There’s this pot, uh, uh, gold belly that you can get different foods around the country. And when I was Atlanta, I ordered four emo pizzas

Scott Luton (05:59):

<laugh>. And was it, was it as, almost as good as it is a person?

Romaine Seguin (06:02):

Oh, almost as good. I mean, it was, it

Scott Luton (06:05):

Was so, Hey, shout out to our forensic gold belly who’s, uh, powering the supply chain of foods you can’t get locally. Right. Um, alright. So before we talk about a role model or two, anything else when it comes to your upbringing, that was really special that you’d like to share here.

Romaine Seguin (06:21):

You know, my mom and dad taught me to be very humble. My father was a high school janitor, and, you know, Scott, we were poor. I didn’t, I didn’t know I was poor. I mean, my, my mom and dad loved, loved all of us so much and a Testament to my father as he died young. Um, he died six months after he retired. He was 62 for, as a high school janitor. And I was in charge of setting up arrangements. And it was during when was good Friday, everything that you could have imagined going wrong in a Catholic upbringing. So everything said, and over 500 people showed up.

Scott Luton (06:59):

Wow.

Romaine Seguin (07:00):

And it was men’s former students. Wow. And the guy comes and finds me. And then the next day he had to pick up four tra bath trash bags of beer cans. So he wasn’t really happy about that. So it charge me another $50 for cleanup. And I said, sir, this is the best $50 of investment I’ll be spending with you. So that’s, I’ll just give that a little shout because it’s, you know, it was a Testament to my father, how he brought and my mother, how they brought us up to be just very humble.

Scott Luton (07:30):

Mm wow. Uh, Enrique that is really special. Uh, and the power of humility. Uh, that’s a, a key trait, I think, of the most successful leaders. Um, Enrique, why don’t you comment there? And I’m gonna ask, uh, a couple more questions romaine before I turn over to you.

Enrique Alvarez (07:45):

Yeah, no, I feel like it’s, uh, I mean, you had, it sounds like you had great, great, uh, examples. Uh mm-hmm <affirmative> with your parents and your dad in particular. Uh, I can’t imagine having 500 people show up right. At any of the events that I’m probably gonna be organizing attention. So it’s just, uh, as you said, a big Testament of how good of a person he was very well rounded event, uh, for sure. And, and I’m sure that he passed on a lot of those things to you, any couple, maybe one in particular, you think that you got from your dad that you wanna share with us?

Romaine Seguin (08:16):

Um, his sense of humor. Um, one 4th of July, he, he was a cracker and this was funny. He put firecrackers and he was, and he was this big smoker and the Ash dropped and it went in the cab and the firecrackers started going off. He was running around like a jumping me and, um, and he just loved having fun. And since sweet humor was just incredible, uh, he just walked in a place and he, he just split up the run. Cause he had always just was positive when they had just a great sense of humor.

Scott Luton (08:47):

Mm. I love that. Uh, and back to, uh, the custodian, you know, um, Willie and Mack were our elementary school custodians and they had such a deep impact on everyone at akin elementary, uh, because they, they were, they were almost like coaches and, and mentors, but then they could sing and they would sing together. And whenever, uh, sometimes let our teachers would let them pop in and sing together. And that would always stick with me. So you never know where you’re gonna get inspiration.

Romaine Seguin (09:19):

That just gave me goosebumps. Cause my father would always make sure the athletes would stay outta trouble. He goes, can’t be skipping this class son, get you backside in that room. He’d always make sure the kids stayed out trouble. Um, and so I, the Testament to Willie.

Scott Luton (09:35):

Yeah, absolutely Willie and his brother Mack, uh, two legends in a and South Carolina. Okay. So, um, and by the way, your dad’s name, your parents’ names were

Romaine Seguin (09:45):

Hubert and Tamara

Scott Luton (09:47):

Hubert and Tamara. Okay. Yeah. Uh, well, um, rest in peace, uh, Hubert, uh, gosh, uh, six months after retiring and, and you know, you never know there’s a greater plan in play for sure. Um, absolutely. So romaine, I wanna shift gears a little bit. It sounds like I’d love to just dive in for a couple hours of your upbringing, but for the sake of time, let’s talk about, uh, gears and talk about your professional background prior to your current role. Because as I alluded on the front end, you’re a bit of a supply chain rock and roll star, right? You were yeah. Leading supply chains before supply chain became. Cool. So tell us, uh, give us a little information about your, uh, background.

Romaine Seguin (10:24):

It was funny. I, I answered an ad in the paper and, um, I just graduated from college and I wasn’t, I thought it was gonna go and be a teacher. I was like half a semester of classes and then student teaching. So all year, all in a year away from getting my teacher certification. So I went to stay in shape. So I went and worked the S at three 30 in the morning, started on loan trailers in earth, city, Missouri, which is a suburb of St. Louis. And within six weeks of the job, they, these guys come to my trailer and they go, come here and I go, yes, they go, we want you to go into management. I go, I like doing this <laugh>

Scott Luton (11:03):

I’m training here. Come on.

Romaine Seguin (11:05):

I go, oh, but this, you don’t get to do this. Are you gonna train anywhere from 10 to 12 people to unload and sort like you? And I’m like, okay, well, hindsight window management. And I didn’t know it, they, they knew I had a degree and I think that’s when the pendulum started swinging at ups. They wanted educated people. Not that, that means everything. Trust me. I’m not saying that, but it was just the timing. And they found out I had a degree and it was, and they were right. I had, they put me on a sort with the highest, uh, seniority of Teamsters and oh boy, that was, that was fun. Let’s put it very fun. I learned, I learned the best swear words. Let’s put it best. <laugh>

Scott Luton (11:48):

Great challenge too. Well, Hey, I, I gotta, I gotta get this, this, uh, comment in, uh Inma. I bet you could write a book on just that segment of your career. You know, we’ve been watching the offer. I think it’s on Amazon. Have you seen this Roma in Enrique?

Romaine Seguin (12:04):

I’ve read about

Scott Luton (12:05):

No. Okay. So in a small nutshell, because it goes to that, that Teamsters comment, it’s all about the making of the movie, the godfather and everything that had to happen, uh, mountains were being moved to, uh, finally, you know, produce and, and, uh, roll out one of the greatest movies of all time. It is fascinating musty TV. So, so add that, the offer to your things to watch. We got it

Romaine Seguin (12:29):

Written

Scott Luton (12:29):

Down. Okay. So remain. Um, so you kind of talked there about your, the, your start to your

Romaine Seguin (12:35):

Career. Yeah, so I, yeah, and then I, I never said no to an opportunity. And, uh, I moved nine times with ups. Um, my first time was overseas. I didn’t even have a passport this 1989. I had to drive to Jeff city, which was the capital in Missouri to get a seal birth certificate, fly to Chicago. And that was back in the day when they could produce a passport in two day in two hours right now, now we gotta wait two months and you can’t go there and get it. Um, so it was different time, different era. Um, you know, and that was back. There was no internet, no Skype, no, no, nothing. I mean, when I left, my parents were going, where are you going? I was 28 years old. I go, I’m gonna go across the pond and work for ups. We acquired 12 companies in late 88 and I was supposed to be there six months and about being five years. And then the rest of <inaudible>, I just started getting promoted. I, I knew a lot about finances that, and, uh, I spent a lot of time in operations, so I was very blessed and fortunate to work for ups, great company. If you work hard and you treat people write, um, disguise your limit role. Mm.

Scott Luton (13:47):

Well, you also mentioned there, uh, two quick points and, uh, them coming your way, Enrique, that combination, powerful combination of operations and, uh, knowing finance. I mean, if you’ve got those two things, gosh, the world is your oyster. And then, but secondly, you’re very humble. Uh, clearly, uh, uh, Hubert and Tamara did a great job. Thank you. You became one of the presidents, uh, at the ups organization. So you hit the, the, the highest echelons.

Romaine Seguin (14:13):

Yes. I was very fortunate and blessed and, uh, I never took myself for granted or serious. Um, you know, I was no different than the individual that cleaned my office. The only difference is I might have put my right shoe on first and he, or she might have put their left shoe on first. That would’ve been the only difference,

Scott Luton (14:30):

You know, I love it, love it. Okay. There’s so much more there, but, but we got, we got an equally as, uh, interesting, uh, aspect of the story here with good 360. So Enrique, where are we going next?

Enrique Alvarez (14:42):

Yeah. So before we dive into what good 360 is, so that people that are listening to us now understand a bit more about the amazing organization that you’re currently leading. What was the little shift from ups being present to a non, for profit to an organization that’s a hundred percent purpose driven. How do you do that? And why? I guess

Romaine Seguin (15:01):

It great question. First of all, and, and I’m a firm believer training everything. So my last two years at ups was during COVID and I know this is gonna sound strange, but it was the best two years of my career, why it was bigger than any of us. It was bigger than our shield because we truly thought we were keeping the world moving by getting PPE equipment in folks’ hands by delivering the vaccines. I got to know employees better switching to zoom than I ever have had in my career, um, at any level. And it was just amazing. It was, that was the hardest thing to do. Leaving ups was the people, but I got a call, right? I was, I thought I was gonna retire at the end of 20 21, 22. I didn’t know what year and out of the blue, I get a call from these two individuals.

Romaine Seguin (15:55):

I, I didn’t know who they were, John den and Maria, uh, Martinez. And they go, we are on the board of good 360, and we are part of the search committee and your names come up. We’re looking for someone, um, to take over the he CEO. And I knew good 360 a bit, but I didn’t know, know where near the capacity of the amount of incredible work they do. So I started researching and I’m like, yeah, I’ll throw my name in out there. And so I went through the process and I was selected and I started March one and I, I couldn’t be at a better place of what I went through last year. The ups from totally Herma humanitarian. Although, you know, we, we’re a public traded company. Y’all all know that, but our business, you know, what we are doing of moving stuff around the world to keep the world moving. I really felt the purpose then. And I, and the employees felt a purpose and it was, it wasn’t, it wasn’t, it was an easy switch from what I went through. And, uh, it, it’s just, it’s, it’s just another step.

Enrique Alvarez (17:09):

It sounds like you’re the perfect fit for the organization. And of course, uh you’re right. I think that coronavirus came and made all of us a little bit more humble and, uh, maybe even a little bit more appreciative of what we have and what we need to do to help our community and our on the world. So before we deep dive into what good 360 is, could you give us a little bit more explanation as of what the organization does? When was it founded? What are you guys stand?

Romaine Seguin (17:35):

Here’s what surprising and everyone I talk to and they’re like, what? So we’ll be 38 years old in November 14th, largest nonprofit company. According to Forbes, that was 2020 when the 2021 comes out, we’ll probably be in the top 10 and Forbes based their rankings of nonprofits, like United waste, number one on fair market value. So United waste, like 3.4 billion. Um, and we came in like right at a billion when we were, uh, number 14. So we’ll jump up a, a few places when in 2021, we just finished our financials. And so now we’re, uh, filling out up the 9 94. Uh, so again, 38 years old in November, and you’re like, why does a people know good, 360? Right? I mean, why I

Scott Luton (18:32):

<laugh>? Right.

Romaine Seguin (18:34):

And it comes down to this U gang. We are a B2B company. We’re not a, B B to the end user. We allow our nonprofits to be the end user. But what we’re doing is partnering with, you know, I’ll give you some examples, uh, as we go on, we’re strategically partnering with our large donors on how can we cobrand, how can we get known? Just, just think probably 10 years ago, you didn’t know feeding America. Right. Um, you know, we’re, we’re mentioned in the Disney ESG report, and I can say their name cuz it’s out on site, three names are mentioned UNICEF American red cross, and good 360. Wow. So I adjunct you’re gonna like this Scott, I adjunct at Dar Moore, um, international business school of South Carolina.

Scott Luton (19:30):

That’s right. That’s right. So I was by the way, by the way. And, and um, you know, that is my Alma mater and their supply chain program at, uh, USC, the east coast, USC just came in Gartner ranked him either number two or number three.

Romaine Seguin (19:45):

Fantastic.

Scott Luton (19:46):

They have, they have come a long way. Uh, a lot of folks, I think kinda like good 360 doing massive, great work, but kind of under, you know, not visible enough and romaine add to your, a list of, um, uh, recognition or, or third party validation. Good. 360 is by charity navigator, which is probably the foremost mm-hmm <affirmative>, uh, credentialing organization, four outta four stars that give with confidence, they say, but you, you, as you were saying, remain.

Romaine Seguin (20:14):

Yeah. So I said to the students, I had two different classes that day when I had 27 when I had 19. So I was telling them about the 360 to transition from a corporate running, you know, wall street control to a nonprofit, you know, what’s the spectrums on that. So I, I, I said, raise your hand if you know, UNICEF and giving three words about it, correct. They help hunger. They’re global. I mean, they raise your hand, American red they’re Dar and disaster. Right. They collect broad. I mean, they’re just gone. I go, okay, good. 360 in both classes. And these are educated folks remind you 27 19. And that was my third into the job I already committed to. I would, uh, teach there for a day and I’m like, why are we not, no, so now I’m more into it. And it’s, I finally, it’s a B2B model. We got strategically partner with. I mean, we got some fantastic donors, corporate donors that everyone knows their name.

Enrique Alvarez (21:25):

Right. Could you

Romaine Seguin (21:26):

Just, could

Enrique Alvarez (21:26):

You share with us some of them yeah, I guess a couple others

Romaine Seguin (21:29):

It’s on website. So I have no problem Disney one, Amazon Walmart, bed bass and beyond, um, advanced auto parts. And you’re probably why advanced

Enrique Alvarez (21:40):

That’s the big company

Romaine Seguin (21:41):

Too. Yeah. But they, what we helped them with is they don’t throw parts in landfills and we find strategic nonprofits that have vehicles that need parts. So, you know, so that, that was the win-win Bombas. I love Bombas. I’ve known Bombas since the guys founded the company, um, Mattel, um, you know, American do. So we have, you know, we have over 400 partners and we can leverage together because they’re getting a lot ask about their ESG, their environmental, uh, sub uh, governance report. And, and it’s, it’s just the tidal wave now. Y’all I think the, the, not the Southeast conference, let’s not get

Romaine Seguin (22:33):

Security exchange commission is starting to lay parameters for D ESG reporting. Um, I I’m on a call tomorrow and I know California’s a little ahead finding out how far ahead they are with requirements for doing business in the state of California. So I, I think there’s an opportunity for us to partner to get our name more recognized. So that’s, that’s what we’re trying to do. So 38 years, um, we’re based in Oldtown, Alexandria, um, you know, 65 employees. Um, we do some time, uh, third party, um, with different partners on warehousing, depending if it makes sense. Uh, but we really like to try to find nonprofits that have a bit of room, um, cause that’s done a win-win for all.

Enrique Alvarez (23:29):

No, it’s an amazing organization with very good partners. And, uh, of course you’re very humble and you’ve always been, but you guys are literally changing the world and helping so many communities out there that it’s really refreshing and inspiring. So thank you. And the whole team and, uh, something I’m really passionate about is just culture and speaking a little bit about your team. What, what makes good 360 such a vibrant place to work? I mean, in your time that you’ve been with them, what, what makes it unique? And, and I guess broading that question, what makes a good team, uh, successful?

Romaine Seguin (24:05):

Yeah, so being around 38 years, um, we, we do have, uh, someone there has been 25 years. Um, but I would say we have probably 16% of our people who have been there more than 10 years. And then you got from 10 to five, about 20%. The rest is less than five. And here’s what I, I found surprising when I went there, the number of folks that wanna come to work for nonprofits, that that’s just a different, the, the, the folks that’s coming up through college. Now they have a different mindset. They demand more. What an employer does. They demand more of how you treat communities, they demand more how you’re gonna treat the environment. That’s the given they demand more on how you, how you fiscally report. I mean, they all are about fairness and, and equity across all perspectives. Um, and I, I found that I’m like, people wanna come work for nonprofit.

Enrique Alvarez (25:07):

<laugh>

Romaine Seguin (25:09):

I’m not saying that’s a bad,

Enrique Alvarez (25:10):

Right? No, you’re right.

Romaine Seguin (25:12):

Oh, that’s kinda cool. And then I started digging into it, you know, we don’t pick top dollar, obviously. I mean, Kay’s okay. I mean, um, for a nonprofit, but we get ’em involved with a lot of different parts of good 360. Um, we let you know, some of them are right, right with our donors. Um, we have volunteer events. We have, um, uh, we have VTO and I love that a lot of companies don’t have that volunteer the time off.

Scott Luton (25:42):

Oh, I was about to ask, so VTO volunteer time off. That’s a new acronym for me.

Romaine Seguin (25:46):

Yeah. Well, it’s, you know, I encourage it, applaud it. Um, obviously it’s easy with our, our organization cuz we work with so many nonprofits, right? So the culture is, you know, really finding the nonprofit that can really serve that right. Individual. Um, and it’s everyone wants to do the right thing.

Scott Luton (26:09):

Right. I love that. Hey Roma, me and you gotta get, gotta help Enrique out and give him a chance to pick up the pin. He just dropped on the floor. He’s

Enrique Alvarez (26:17):

<laugh> well, cause I didn’t think that you guys noticed

Scott Luton (26:20):

He’s AMA he’s a fast and furious note taker. Everywhere. Enrique goes, he takes a, uh, a, uh, uh, a bound notebook of all of his key learnings from every conversation. And I know he is gonna have seven pages from this one, so I wanna make sure you’re well,

Enrique Alvarez (26:35):

I can’t, I can’t believe you heard it and then recognize that it was the pen dropping. I’m super impressed with you Scott.

Romaine Seguin (26:41):

So am I,

Enrique Alvarez (26:42):

I was trying to pick it up with my feet and whatever I’m like, I’ll forget about it.

Scott Luton (26:46):

Oh no. I know that catch killing you. Good catch Soma. Just kind of wrapped on some of really special things as it relates to culture and team and, and I love what she ended there with Enrique. Yeah. Everyone wants to do the right thing. Right. And you can feel, this is palpable when you’re on a team that’s, that’s built like that with that type of kindred spirits, it truly is palpable, palpable, and can guide you hour to hour in your, in your day. So Enrique, what, um, where are we going next with remain?

Enrique Alvarez (27:14):

Well, I wanted to talk a little bit about your, uh, role as CEO. You come in, you have a long experience in corporate America. You come in, what are your priorities? What’s the organizational goals for you? Not only this year after the very two challenging years that we have all experienced, um, what’s uh, what are your priorities?

Romaine Seguin (27:33):

Yeah, so one, I just name is really cold branding with key donors to, to have good 360, at least. So at least five kids can raise their hand and say, they know good, 360. I mean immediate goal. I mean on people, we, we gotta get our name out there. Um, data management, you know what I mean by that we’re, we’re working with different systems now, you know, the key to, to working with a corporate donor is understanding their mission, whether it’s bed, bath and beyond, who’s a partner with us that wants to serve women. Non-profits whether it’s battered women, whether it’s, uh, women needed financial help, so forth. So the more data we can give them to help them make decisions in their board meetings or whatever. I truly believe we’ll get more support because every organization has their niche on who they wanna serve when they give dollars from their foundation.

Romaine Seguin (28:34):

I mean, I, I certainly know. Yes. Does, you know, so, right. So we’re working on, on getting is the, the data’s there, but in a more organized way to tell the story in their board reports in their executive leadership reports. Um, so they can really say, yes, we’re match. We’re matching up with our mission, our, you know, of our organization, that that’s one, the brandings too. And then really, uh, people development, especially with the, the type of talent we have coming outta college. And I told, I said, whether you’re gonna be with good 360 for 10 years, two years a should have the best experience ever. And when you go to another organization, ask them about PE their people development process. So I, you know, I brought that from, you know, my experience at ups and they absolutely loved it. Um, so those are my three immediate, um, goals just coming in mm-hmm <affirmative> um, after that it’s really working in network, which, um, it, it could be complex for a lot of folks, but that’s what I grew up in. And so it’s network network network. So, um, that’s right behind those

Scott Luton (29:46):

Three. Yeah. You know, it has a lot in common Enrique, those three priorities, uh, uh, global supply chain, you know, we’re seeing, uh, a time where folks are branding and marketing their supply chain. Prowes unlike ever before, it’s a little different, good 360, but similar, uh, of course, uh, data and the power of data and how can we leverage it in a, in a instantaneous, um, but, but, uh, instantaneous, but also selecting the right signals and not all the noise. Right. Um, and putting all that data, uh, at fingers at the finger tips of folks that are making decisions so they can make, make them timely and, and, and also solid dis uh, informed decision making. And then of course, people development and Enrique, I know, uh, uh, that’s really a, a big, um, part of your approach, right? Giving folks opportunities, uh, helping them to find skillset that they may or may not know they have, and then, you know, fine tune them. But, uh, what’s your reaction to those three parties in Kay?

Enrique Alvarez (30:47):

Yeah, no, I think, uh, you’re absolutely right. Scott. I think that these are the, I mean, if you were to ask 10 CEOs, I think those three top topics would come around, uh, over and over, right. Just people development, which I think it’s incredibly important right now, especially as romaine, you were saying that, uh, there’s a lot of people that, uh, that are driven by purpose, right. They’re they want to do the right thing. Right. They’re not only chasing whatever job is going to paycheck to pay them the more amount money. Right. So it’s, uh, so I think if, if you have people that are caring and purpose driven, then you have to match it with some people development, giving them opportunities to grow the ones that you’ve had yourself and then data. Yeah. That’s, that’s something we’ve seen over and over, right. Scott it’s, everyone’s investing a lot of money into technology, uh, tracking, tracing, uh,

Scott Luton (31:37):

It’s no longer why it’s no longer why it’s, how do I do it? It’s no longer why I need visibility. It’s how do I get it?

Enrique Alvarez (31:44):

And the easier the data flows, especially with the partners that you have, like the Bumba Mattel of the world than the easier it’ll be for them to continue supporting good 360. And, and I think, yeah, this is definitely something a lot of companies are going through right now.

Scott Luton (31:58):

Excellent point. Okay. So romaine, thank you for sharing, by the way, uh, this, this is, this is as good. Uh, I knew I was looking forward to a great conversation here today, and you’re surpassing that bar.

Enrique Alvarez (32:10):

It’s a good masterclass for a long time. It

Scott Luton (32:11):

Is a masterclass

Enrique Alvarez (32:13):

Again, I’m taking a load of notes.

Scott Luton (32:15):

<laugh> all right. So let’s switch gears for a minute. Uh, and I wanna talk about, um, going back to, you know, all your time at ups prior to good, 360, you called it bigger than the shield. I love that phrase by the way. Um, so given, you know, your, your expertise, uh, international supply chain expertise, what’s one aspect of the industry today that you find most intriguing.

Romaine Seguin (32:42):

I find it that the networks keep changing. Um, it used to just be one simpler, simple network. And now you’re starting to see partners, whether it’s a nonprofit, our profit world that are looking to partner with networks in the supply chain that do you have to control the whole supply chain, or can you partner with someone that’s really good in whatever area that you want to go to market that would’ve never happened probably 10, 15 years ago? Uh, know, uh, I think expense expense on assets driven. It certainly the, you know, the pandemic we’re coming out, people are thinking differently on how you do your network, how you move goods. Is there a priority in goods? So the, the, the other thing I, I wanna say about the supply chain that, that I think is very intriguing and for all the listeners out there, the senior VP or the VP, whatever their title is on supply chain, they’re sitting right next to the CEO.

Romaine Seguin (33:48):

Now, mm-hmm, <affirmative>, I’m telling you, I had to talk to more CEOs than the two years during the pandemic than I ever had to in my life. I usually had, I would go just to the supply chain and, and they’d go, can you get in front of my CEO with me? I’d go. Absolutely. And it was, it was major companies that I was in front of, and sometimes they were, they were hot seat, you know, discussions. Um, but you know, I can’t change the ocean phrase <laugh> right. I mean, I can’t prioritize you over another 10,000, 40 foot containers. So I mean, it just it’s really elevated it because of what we went through. Um, and you know, it’s just in time, I think people are starting to look at it starting to question it that used to be a big buzz phrase a decade ago. Yeah. Um, I think it’s now more strategic partners, um, more about people you work with, whether they’re vendors, whether they’re your employees that wasn’t like that 10 years ago, just since time, just since time cut costs, cut costs, you know, and, uh, I think it just kind of, it went full circle.

Scott Luton (34:56):

Agreed. And, and on that partnership note, I think, um, the amount of partnering and the willingness to partner with startups, uh, today, even the biggest of companies partnering with startups 10 to 15 years ago, that also wasn’t the case. It wasn’t that same appetite for whatever degree of risk that, um, folks deem that is. So that’s a, you know, just in the last couple of minutes in your response to that question, uh, remain, gosh, I’ve got tons of thoughts going through my, uh, brain, but, uh, Enrique your quick comment on what she shared.

Enrique Alvarez (35:26):

Yeah, absolutely. I think it’s about the people and the partnerships. And, uh, now are, again slowly starting to think that just in time was a good idea, kind of probably stretched too far. Mm-hmm <affirmative>, uh, to the point where if something happened, then we became the mess that we all experienced and continued to experience. There’s still it’s way better, but there’s still 30 vessels outside long beach. Right. Right. So <laugh>, there’s a hundred now, but, uh,

Scott Luton (35:51):

There’s 29 outside of Savannah today. Yeah. S Savannah, I think that’s an all time record for the Savannah point. Yeah. Um, but the hits still keep on coming and they are gonna keep coming, uh, based on, you know, things aren’t gonna go back to what they were in 2018. Um, you know, you take, we take just one challenge. We have the, the computer chips, you, it’s starting now to impact the latest and greatest, you know, the, the, the most powerful chips are now, um, you know, uh, they go into some of the machines that power, the most modern factories, you know, the lead time for those machines are getting bigger and bigger. Um, so, but global supply chain will persevere and the best of the best and brightest across the globe in the industry. And, uh, that what is also what makes it to use your term remain one of the most intriguing times ever to be in global supply chain. Um, okay. So I wanna talk key Eureka moments. It’s one of our favorite questions around here. So remain, I bet you’ve got plenty to fill Enrique’s, uh, book. He just held up <laugh>, uh, but over the last couple years, especially as you touched on one of your favorite times cause of the purpose and cause of the mission that, that not only at ups, but now at good 360, what’s been one Eureka moment from the last couple years, it really sticks with you.

Romaine Seguin (37:12):

Um, when we were going through moving the PPE equipment, um, I got a call from FEMA, March 23rd, 2020. And I worked with FEMA in new Orleans, in Miami. That’s where I worked at ups and it was easy cuz we were moving generators within a state or two. Well, when I got the call, they said we’ve partnered with Airbridge who was with partnered with the federal government, the fund getting as much PPE equipment in this country. And I’m like, okay. So I picked my three best and brightest and I said, you’re, you’re completely outta your job. I had procurement, I had operations and I had, uh, business development and it was a cluster the first week <laugh> it was where moving some equipment around, but we soon got ourselves wrapped together. So that, that quarter typically we moved pre pandemic, we moved a hundred fifty seven, four seven, uh, freighters. And that holds about a hundred thousand times.

Romaine Seguin (38:21):

And one quarter with PPE equipment, um, March, April, our, our April, may June two Q2, we moved 324 chart. Wow. So we were all working around the clock and I still have this here and my team was incredible. And I said, I wanna give some the, uh, a pen to everyone who made this happen. And it says saving the world when COVID call at a time 2020. And it has a mask, it has ups shield and a laptop. And it was a time that, you know, cause we all could relate to it. I had a sister who’s who’s, uh, a heart nurse at a major hospital in St. Louis. She was washing her mask for three weeks cause she didn’t have, you know, I had a kid on the team who, uh, brother was an ER doctor in, uh, Austin. I mean, everyone had something, you know, whether they were going to the doctor, whether, whether they’re working at a grocery store, our ups drivers, the essential workers didn’t sometimes have the, the equipment. And that was when I think back at those days, I just, that it wasn’t our field. It wasn’t any one of us. It wasn’t our CEO. It was about keeping the world moving by protecting them. Whether they’re a doctor, a nurse, a grocery store worker, a ups driver, or a postman, the world had to keep moving or, you know, education. We are delivering laptops out crazy though. Um, you know, we teach some school kids going so that I won’t remember like yesterday

Scott Luton (40:04):

And, and rightly so

Enrique Alvarez (40:07):

Long one song heroes, right? I mean the, uh, delivery drivers and all those people that were more than essential, uh, to keep the world running as you mentioned. So

Romaine Seguin (40:17):

Yeah,

Scott Luton (40:17):

Absolutely. And, and uh, and bravely. So, you know, even absolutely, you know, we still don’t have all the answers that all of us would like. And two years ago we didn’t a year ago we had even more, uh, questions. Those folks just kept showing up, kept delivering. And I love how, uh, organizations like yours at the time and part of good 360 at the time as well. Mm-hmm, <affirmative> equipped them, protected them, um, got stuff where it needed to be so that they could to your point remain, keep the world moving forward.

Romaine Seguin (40:46):

Yeah. I I’ll switch to 360. So we have a Omaha facility where we have several different models and, and good 360, but one of the models as far, your small nonprofits, cause small nonprofits can get a full truckload or even a Gaylor. And, and if I’m saying something you think I need to explain to folks, let me know, um, our pallet of good. So we there’s donations constantly coming in. That’s not a full pallet or, or maybe might be, but we break it down so they can order. We put it on a website. And you know, when I, I went up there, it was my very first trip was to Omaha, why they worked every day. They came in every day to the warehouse. Um, and I just thanked them. And I, I was only there for, uh, four weeks and I thanked them. I said, you guys kept the nonprofits going.

Romaine Seguin (41:43):

So what kind of items did they order? Whatever, whatever come comes in. They, there was when I was there, there was some really nice polo shirts. Um, I think I named Tommy hill polo shirt, but at the end of the day, all in, even with shipping, they work out to like $2 and 37 cents to the nonprofit. I mean, so, so every $50 of the fair market value, it costs the dollar to either, you know, manage it, move it it’s most of transportation, especially with the lovely gas crisis. Um, so, so what’s that mean? So for 5 million worth of market value costs, a hundred thousand dollars to get ’em throughout the United States wow. To, to, to give to their communities. So, um, you know, there’s just books where we move books, we move books. Some of the more popular items as mattresses are huge. Tempurpedics is a partner of ours. They give two truckloads, full two truckloads to, uh, a breast cancer in October, um, every month a charity. So, you know, every model with our donors is different and we, we, we try to partner with them on what they want, again, back to their mission statement, back to how they want their people to work in the communities.

Enrique Alvarez (43:07):

All right, Enrique, uh, your comment and then take us on where we’re going next. No, well, at the end of the day, we could probably keep talking with you for <laugh> for hours and hours, but we’re coming, coming to the end of the interview. We’ll love to have you back for sure. Uh, my only comment there is that, um, I have so many good quotes from you. Like, uh, never say no to an opportunity, for example, is the, the one that comes to mind when you were talking about the coronavirus and what good 360 is doing and, and you, you truly have an amazing organization. I’m pretty sure you’ll be very, very successful. And we, we cant wait to, to hear from all the good things they’re gonna do with them. So thank you for, I guess, accepting the position and <laugh> and uh, where can people find more about?

Romaine Seguin (43:55):

Yeah, so I did give you all my information, but you can, um, if, uh, WW dot good, three sixty.org, you can reach me romaine, just my first name, romaine life and lettuce, real easy.

Enrique Alvarez (44:09):

<laugh>

Romaine Seguin (44:12):

Good. Three sixty.org. That’s my personal email. I welcome all emails. Um, I’ll give you my cell number 3 0 5 8 1 5 9 0 4 9. And you know what? I have it on my card. I gotta tell you funny story here. So at ups, a lot of my peers, like why do you have your cell number on there? They’re gonna call you. I’m like, because I, I want ’em to call me, you know, I want ’em to call me instead of gonna social media. Wow. So it was during the pandemic. It was in may, the first in may of 20. And I just saw this customer out in Los Angeles called chubby gorilla <laugh> I can’t make that name up. Um, four brothers owned, it made the dispensers that were FDA approved for the vape shops, the vape shops shut, cuz they were considered non

Scott Luton (45:09):

Right 90 subject.

Romaine Seguin (45:09):

Right. So they flipped it and got this, the, uh, suspense, uh, Spencer for hand sanitizer.

Scott Luton (45:19):

Love that. So

Romaine Seguin (45:19):

There was, they were so, I mean we saw a lot of companies do that, you know? So he calls me at four 40 my time, Saturday morning, Eastern time, one 40, his time I go, am I crazy for answer? Are you crazy for calling? I need your help. I go, what do you got going on? He goes, I got 2, 2 40 foot containers out in Shanghai. I go, hang on, ding, ding, ding, I get sub Chan on. I go, I need you involved brother. Um, so he got involved immediately and within an hour we hadn’t resolved, but you know, I, I, I felt good that he called me, but then it was kind of an inside joke with my, you know, some of my folks saying like really all yelled him couldn’t have got the call before I did. And so it was, it was kinda funny. <laugh> I love trouble, girl. Tell me, never forget those guys.

Scott Luton (46:11):

We’re gonna have to look ’em up. Um, you know, one last question before we let you go and then Ky, I’ve got a surprise question for you perhaps. Um, for folks out there that may be in position to support, uh, a new nonprofit and add to the, um, you know, what they already do. Um, and, and, and there may not be a specific answer, but what, what is good? 360 looking for today from a potential new partner and donor or supporter? What, what will be a think? Something you could point to there? Great,

Romaine Seguin (46:38):

Great question, Scott. So we have, if you go on our website, there’s uh, you just go in and say, look, I have this to donate. Now you can’t, we, we do not take residential donations. Okay. This they’re they’re proper companies. And every, every morning we have a called a huddle call to see what comes in. And I’ll just tell you something funny. It came in, it was like three weeks ago. Lidos Lidos is a grocery store. Some similar to all, all these they’re based in Europe. They’re trying to get in the us car in the east coast. They they’re

Scott Luton (47:12):

A few in Atlanta. I think Aren gone.

Romaine Seguin (47:15):

They gave us, are you ready for this? 174 helium tanks.

Scott Luton (47:20):

Wow. Wow.

Romaine Seguin (47:21):

So I’m on the call and I go, Hey, I’m with the general far toys for touch, they have their pre coming up. Maybe they can use ’em for balloon. So I met with the general that night and he goes, no, it says the barracks, the barracks are all button up. He goes, you’ll see, he goes, you’ll have to get vetted to go in. I’m like, okay. So I report back to the team. I go, boy, cops can’t use them of all things we got rid of them. The next day we found a nonprofit clown company.

Enrique Alvarez (47:49):

No, that’s amazing. That’s amazing.

Romaine Seguin (47:54):

And I’m like research. I’m like, look, I need to know the weight of them. How many balloons do they feel per and what do they do with them when they’re gone? I mean, it’s just, you know, basic logistic questions you gotta get. So that’s how if people get on our website, half our small medium, it doesn’t matter. We will help you figure out where to get the goods where you want ’em to go. Some people are like, I want ’em to stay in the United States. I want ’em to go outside the United States and so forth,

Scott Luton (48:21):

Whatever it is that creative problem problem solving, uh, from the robust team over at good 360, helping a ton, many folks, uh, many, many folks in need. So I appreciate what you do romaine and your team. And again, good, 360. Those are numerals good, three sixty.org, more information like Roma said, Hey, jump on the site, see, uh, how you can get plugged in and help. And

Romaine Seguin (48:45):

For if there’s any nonprofits out there you can join. You have to be a 5 0 1 C three. Okay. Um, and part, we do that all of ’em, um, because we commit that to the donors that we have legit, you know, we have a compliance department to make sure it gets to the community, not, um, eBay or so forth. So, um, any nonprofit please get on the website and, um, apply to be one of our partners,

Scott Luton (49:10):

Love that, uh, remain, uh, a S CEO of good 360 remain a pleasure enough tie. Barbecue may be coming up in October. Next time you’re in Atlanta, you got your fan club here, Enrique and I are co-chair, uh, chairpersons of your fan of, of the remain fan club here in Atlanta. So, uh, hopefully we can reconnect soon, but don’t go anywhere just yet. Cause romaine, I think you’re gonna, uh, really dig. One of the things that, um, uh, in Enrique and his team have been leading and our supply chain team have been, have been, uh, just tickled and honored to help support. And that is just one project that we could be all day. If we talk about all of, uh, the vectors involved in, but leveraging logistics for Ukraine. So Enrique in a nutshell, tell us about this and how can folks get involved.

Enrique Alvarez (49:56):

Yeah. So this is an initiative that’s part of our vector global giving initiative. We were very big in leveraging logistics, uh, and logistics with purpose. And so when the war exploded, we felt that it was our responsibility to do something about it. So, uh, we started communicating with different organizations, uh, around the world, some really good agents and partners we have in Europe in particular in Poland, uh, mold Doba and some other countries. And the need was huge. There’s 4 million refugees in Poland right now. There’s 2 million and there’s six or seven inside the Ukraine. Uh, what they’re going through is horrible. We feel, uh, upholded that a dictator could do things like this in 2022. So long story short, this is something that we, we take very, very seriously. And so, um, talking to everyone, we now have, uh, it started as weekly coordination calls that Scott and the team at supply chain now helped us coordinate.

Enrique Alvarez (51:00):

And we started gathering different organizations similar to the story that romaine just told about the, the clowns looking for helium, right? So we’re matchmaking. So there’s people that want to donate. There’s people that have sleeping bags, people that have, uh, PPE people that have things that they can send to Paul. And then we were very, very, uh, humbled and thankful for PAC Lloyd, the steamship line. They came back, they joined the calls and they said, we want to be part of this. And, and they’re basically just helping us ship some of these containers at cost and sometimes for free. So, uh, so it’s been a, an amazing experience. Uh, the need is still there. We’ve gone from like the weekly calls to biweekly to now it’s gonna be monthly. The next one’s going to be in July 12th. And if you go to our website at www dot vector, gl.com, you’ll see like a window popping up, uh, click on that.

Enrique Alvarez (51:56):

It’ll be information about the Ukraine and what we’re doing there. And of course sign up for, uh, our next conversation. Um, we would love to have everyone, uh, a lot of people actually have joined Bombas. You spoke about them before, uh, KAK some other companies, uh, they’re all help trying to help. So it’s really just talking about how we can all come together and push harder. Unfortunately, this where we’ll, we’ll continue to, I guess, evolve for a lot longer than we would have hoped for. Uh, and the people in that region are going to, to continue needing our support. It kind of feels Scott and remain correct me if I’m wrong, but it feels like it’s from like a new cycle. The war in Ukraine has come to a second or third kind of priority. But if you talk to people there, they’re at war, they’re still at war. So, so we need to make sure that we keep helping them.

Romaine Seguin (52:53):

We still a good 360. We we’ve moved four 14 million at, uh, fair market value of good to wow. Poland, Ukraine, Germany. Yeah. So gap gave us 90,000 jackets. We moved, um, we’re working with, uh, the, uh, UN of us United nations, uh, refugee coalition. Um, we’re moving goods for them. Anyone we have donors specifically saying we want this moved over to support. So I, I think that I, I I’m with you Eureka it’s it’s 22. It’s just horrible. It’s heartbreaking. Yeah. What these people are going through, it’s just, you know, and the children and women have moved out what happens to these? I mean, it’s just some of these young men, that’s 18, can’t go because they have to spend their country. I mean, it’s just, and, and for the news in this country to take it, third level is just great. It’s

Scott Luton (53:54):

Yeah,

Enrique Alvarez (53:55):

It’s unbelievable. But, uh, but at the same time, it’s actually been very, uh, inspiring too, because there’s so many people willing to help individuals that are donating containers to organizations. There’s so many books for Africa, tons of them, good, 360 and some others. So it’s, uh, it’s been inspiring to see how many people are trying to help

Scott Luton (54:14):

Out. So agreed. Agreed. So folks, uh, check out vector gl.com. If you want to find, learn more about this initiative and Hey, you don’t have to, uh, have big deep pockets or wherewithal. You can sign up and join and just sit back and learn what’s being done and learn about the need the market Intel. We will take that those are kindred spirits. This are very valuable. So check that out next. Meeting’s coming up in July big. Thanks. Good, good. 360 14 million, uh, and market value donated to folks in need, uh, there, in, in that region, um, that’s, that is logistics with purpose that’s leadership with purpose. Uh, that is deeds. Not words. I really appreciate both of y’all wired like that and you live it and you’ll model it. And that, you know, that’s been part of the silver lining here, right? The, the, the make it happen, leadership that has really shown, um, how we can change the world and address things while hoping, especially in Ukraine that the atrocities and cooler heads prevail and, and the, uh, not gonna be too dramatic, but the evil subsides, uh, so we can, we can get to, uh, folks in suffering.

Scott Luton (55:19):

Okay. So big. Thanks, romaine big. Thanks, you and a good 360 team. Thanks so much for being here with us. Uh, look forward to, to sharing all the great things y’all doing, uh, with our supply chain now, global listen, audience Enrique, always a pleasure to do these episodes. I’ll tell you what y’all are. I think romaine and Enrique y’all are maybe separated birth. You’re like cousins. <laugh> I think y’all see the

Enrique Alvarez (55:41):

I’m sure we are.

Scott Luton (55:43):

You see the world very closely.

Romaine Seguin (55:45):

Okay. Well,

Enrique Alvarez (55:45):

As long as you invite me to the bar,

Romaine Seguin (55:47):

I will invite you the book. The of you have a super take care.

Scott Luton (55:54):

Hey, thank you so much romaine Enrique. And, uh, we will talk with you soon. So we’re gonna wrap here just in two seconds, cause we gotta challenge folks, be like romaine Enrique, do good. Give forward. Be the change that’s needed on that note. We see next time, right back here at Sache now. Thanks everybody.

Intro/Outro (56:12):

Thanks for being a part of our supply chain. Now community check out all of our programming@supplychainnow.com and make sure you subscribe to supply chain. Now anywhere you listen to podcasts and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram. See you next time on supply chain. Now.