Supply Chain Now en Espanol
Episodio 3

Resumen del Episodio

En este episodio de Supply Chain Now en Español, los conductores Enrique Alvarez y Demo Pérez dan la bienvenida al podcast a Juan Carlos Croston, presidente de la Caribbean Shipping Association.

Transcripción en Español

[00:00:38] Muy buenos días y bienvenidos a otra sesión más de su programa Supply Chain Now en español El día de hoy tengo el gusto y el placer de estar platicando con un muy buen amigo colaborador y va a ser Micó anfitrión el día de hoy. Demóstenes Pérez, mejor conocido como Demos. Vemos qué tal? Cómo estás? Cómo? Cómo te va?

 

[00:00:59] Bueno, Enrique, muy contento de estar aquí. Muy emocionado. De verdad que estas son oportunidades que yo valoro muchísimo. Y bueno, listos para una tremenda entrevista al día de hoy.

 

[00:01:10] Sí, bueno, la verdad nadie sabe esto, pero si yo tuvimos una plática muy muy amena hace un par de semanas, la cual incluso se convirtió en una entrevista y por aras de la tecnología, después de que acabamos la entrevista resulta que no se grabó nada en la computadora. Entonces vamos a tener que tenemos una cita pendiente otra vez para platicar en algún futuro.

 

[00:01:33] Cuando quiera, hermanos, cuando quieran.

 

[00:01:36] Bueno, y ahora cuéntanos a quién? A quién tenemos el día de hoy?

 

[00:01:39] Mira, el día de hoy vamos a entrevistar a, tengo que decirlo, a un gran amigo de muchos años y colega otro, otro entusiasta de esta industria, Juan Carlos Croton. Juan Carlos, eh? El trabaja para una organización portuaria e internacional también, y hoy por hoy es el presidente de la Asociación de Embajadores del Caribe de Caribe Chipping Association. Así que más allá de ser un gran amigo, como te digo de muchos años, es un gran profesional reconocido en Panamá, en América Latina. Y ahora? Pues hace unos años, con una presencia muy fuerte en el área del Caribe, así que creo que tendremos una tremenda inyección de información el día de hoy. Perpectiva no sólo a nivel personal, sino profesionales y el futuro de nuestra región latinoamericana.

 

[00:02:34] Sí, de hecho estamos muy contentos y le agradecemos a Juan Carlos Croton que nos acompañe el día de hoy. Juan Carlos se describe a sí mismo como una persona positiva, apasionada, disciplinado y bueno. Obviamente estamos muy contentos de tenerlo aquí. Juan Carlos Quetal. Muy buenos días!

 

[00:02:52] Día Enrique hoy en día debemos tener hijos, es decir, el tema de la inyección es apropiado con el tema de la vacuna andando, pero vamos a ver como Гl, como, como fluye la conversación, toma. Gracias por la invitación Enrique.

 

[00:03:07] Cómo está el tema de la vacuna? Es un proyecto logístico a nivel global, como nunca antes se había visto. Hablando de la vacuna. Cómo está en Panamá? Tú estás ahora en Panamá, cierto?

 

[00:03:18] Con Carlos? Yo estoy en Panamá. Yo nací y he crecido aquí en Panamá y he estado fuera del país. No por temas de estudio. Y trabajé también a bordo barco. Pero ahora lo haremos después con el tema de la vacuna hasta Olimpo. Creo que las excepciones con los países que van adelantados y creo que es como Tequila, por ejemplo. Y Los Mohs tenía idea de hacer no sé cuánta cantidad de carro. Siempre he estado por detrás porque se dan cuenta que la producción es muy difícil y cuando ves charlatán, por ejemplo, cada vez que alguien va Chaltén, dicen tú vas a fabricar, no, no, no, no te metas en esto. Y nadie sabe porque la fabricación, la producción es súper complicada. Entonces, bueno, los farmacéuticos se han dado cuenta de que eso también el la cadena tiene el arranque desde la fábrica. Es súper complicado y me pueden imaginar también que la gente trabajando allí y cae enferma, cae la producción, así que es un círculo que tienes allí andando. Vamos a ver cómo se establece en Panamá. Estaba esperando recibir 40000 vacuna en enero y solamente llegaron 12000. Y bueno, me imagino que ir andando. Ven a Europa las peleas que están habiendo entre la Unión Europea y la farmacéutica, así que no podemos esperar menos acá en Panamá

 

[00:04:32] Si no va a ser definitivamente algo que va a marcar este año. Tanto como la pandemia marcó el año pasado y esperemos que a través de las diferentes empresas logísticas y la cadena de suministro obviamente logremos. Lo más pronto posible. El. El ofrecer esto a las personas que realmente lo necesitan y empezar a vacunar a todo el mundo. De hecho este platiquemos un poco de ti al principio, Juan Carlos, nos encantaría conocerte un poco más como persona. Cuéntanos un poco más de ti, de tu personalidad, de cómo? Cómo? Cómo llegaste a esta industria? La logística?

 

[00:05:14] Yo crecí básicamente con mi mamá y mi mamá. Me pasó muchas cosas. Ella es una ávida lectora. Le gusta leer de todo y no se haya escuchado. Un actor, un autor que se llama Erich von Däniken. El tipo creía en que Machupichu era un un control extraterrestre de nave espacial. Y esto lleva tenía todos los libros de él que leía el rider de Seleccione. Entonces, bueno, esa parte de la lectura me la pasó mi mamá de un corazón así de grande. Y bueno, esto funciona porque es muy dada a la gente, pero también es muy emocional. Se venía todo ese paquete junto y bueno, yo crecí en mi familia. Hay varias personas que han trabajado en barcos anteriormente y cuando yo iba saliendo de la secundaria mi mamá le le mencionaron que hay futuro en Panamá porque en el año 2000 revertida el Canal de Panamá de manos estadounidenses al gobierno de Panamá. Así que se perfilaba un futuro para eso y mi mamá y mi papá me dijeron y pensamos que deberías meterte. Yo me fui a estudiar a la Escuela Náutica de Panamá que una escuela de marina mercante. Y estudia y cuatro años y luego me embarqué. Un año yo trabajé abordo un barco de contenedores. Íbamos alrededor del mundo literalmente, porque salía de Panamá. Iba a Los Ángeles, cruzaba el Pacífico, llegaba a Tokio, Japón e Tokio Osaka, en Japón. Luego hacia el Pusan, en Corea. Qué Kachunes en Taiwán, Hong Kong, Singapur. Luego atravesaba el Océano Índico o llegaba a una isla al sur de India que se llama Giri Lanca Trubia. El Mar Rojo atraviesa el canal de TV. Mar Mediterrani subía a Europa y entonces iba.

 

[00:07:07] Cuántos años tenía? En este momento de tu vida

 

[00:07:10] 21

 

[00:07:12] A haber sido. Me dijeron que había sido una experiencia increíble para para ti. 21 años. Y el barco cuenta. O sea, qué hacías en el barco? Se me hace una historia sumamente bueno.

 

[00:07:24] Yo, yo, yo estaba practicando para ser oficial, así que en ese tiempo estaba de cadete y hacíamos de todo. Estamos aprendiendo el tema de la navegación, el tema del mantenimiento del barco, el tema de las cartas náuticas, el tema de la guardia, eh? Y bueno, hago un paréntesis aquí porque eso mi corazoncito sigue estando. No tiene escuchado el tema de luz de lo de los tripulantes en los barcos con el tema de la pandemia? Bueno, el personal, los tripulantes y barcos suben con un contrato y entonces, después de cierto tiempo, seis, ocho o diez meses sin otra persona y da rotación por el tema de la pandemia, ha hecho muy difíciles los cambios que actualmente ahí se estima más de 400000 tripulantes que han estado trabajando más de un año en el barco. Y bueno, esto nunca.

 

[00:08:12] Ni siquiera me lo he imaginado. Obviamente, como no estoy tan involucrado en esa parte de la industria, ni siquiera imaginé que era un problema. Pero ahora que lo mencionas, pues bueno, eso hace sentido. Cómo pueden? Hay alguna forma de ayudarle a estas personas? Virtualmente nada más. Es esperar a lo bueno.

 

[00:08:33] Ojalá hubiera más acción. Quizá ha sido un problema de nosotros en la industria no visibilizar a esta gente, eh? Porque que tú no lo sepas no es un problema de nosotros, no el no decirle así como los online workers de las enfermeras y los doctores así, eh? La sociedad en general debería estar consciente de 1.2 millones de tripulantes en barco que hacen que nosotros podamos estar en esta llama en su hub. Tengamos nuestros zapatos, nuestra ropa, nuestros juguetes, nuestra mancuerna, hacer ejercicio. Y bueno, el tema es que es muy complicado porque no están visibilizado y los gobiernos no le dan prioridades para hacer los cambios. Entonces para los agentes que se encargan de esto es le resulta muy complicado porque hay mucho cambio. Me decía uno por ejemplo mira, te tengo que mandar a un a un filipino a Filipinas desde Panamá y lo mandaba vía Holanda. Pero qué pasó? El primer viaje que mandó el cuando llegó el filipino a Holanda filipina había cerrado la frontera. Entonces se tuvo que quedar allá cuando pueda mandar al siguiente filipino le dijeron No, no, no, no, Utrilla mándame una carta de Filipinas, de nosequién, del Ministerio, para que me asegure de que cuando él pase por acá en tránsito en Holanda, el va a llegar a su destino filipino. Así que las regulaciones van cambiando constantemente y hay un tema con esta gente, el tema psicológico de tema mental no visto con su familia y tiene a 400000 tripulantes a bordo de los barcos y tienes a 400 mil personas que están en tierra esperando a montarse, a poder trabajar por.

 

[00:10:09] Como lo dices, es algo que realmente no se dimensiona. No es un problema de proporciones importantes y no se menciona tanto como debería. Entonces eso puede ser uno de nuestros llamados a acción ahora en este, en este episodio contigo. Ya lo tomé aquí como nota. Y bueno, creo que les debemos una sincera agradecimiento a todas estas personas, porque como tú dices, como los las personas que están en la parte de los camiones o las bodegas o la distribución, esta gente está arriesgando su vida literalmente y está quedándose incluso atorada en diferentes partes del mundo por tratar de ayudarnos en esta, en esta pandemia y a lo largo de estos años. Totalmente, muy buen punto.

 

[00:10:56] Y menos mal que vengan a aportar ahí a dale, dale, dale que dale.

 

[00:11:00] Yo quería aportar, que definitivamente es un tema que sólo se ha tratado en medios especializados del mundo marítimo. He visto alguna que otra noticia relacionada en los medios que digamos que son mucho más abiertos en la industria, pero es muy poquito lo que se habla de este tema y definitivamente es un tema supremamente importante. Todo lo que tenemos relación con alguien en el mundo naviero o el mundo marítimo. Conocemos el impacto, pero no ha sido atendido de la manera en la que debería. Producto de esta misma falta de visibilidad, no?

 

[00:11:39] Y naturalmente, el tema de puert e ir a sus casas, sino que hay un tema romántico que uno tiene en la cabeza del marino que llega al puerto y se va. Tiene su novia y todo esto. Y la realidad es que ya no es así. Los barcos, por ejemplo contenedores, se quedan 24 horas en puerto. Entonces 24 le toca trabajar al tripulante 12 horas. Y ahora con la pandemia, las restricciones para viajar son muchas. Así que esta persona básicamente está en el barco. Los doce o catorce o 16 o diez meses que ha estado, ha estado en el barco. No se puede bajar para comprar. Tiene que pedirle a alguien que le lleve las cosas súper complicado.

 

[00:12:17] Súper. Sí, claro, eso es bastante. La vida de esas personas a final de cuentas es algo muy interesante que normalmente no conocemos, inclusive gente que ha estado en la industria muchos años. Entonces es algo que me da mucho gusto que menciones. Creo que es un tema en el que podríamos hacer un episodio completo, el entrevistar a lo mejor a alguien que como tú ha pasado esta experiencia. Pero volviendo a ti, no estabas diciendo entonces tuviste esta increíble experiencia? Yo diría única en la vida de estar arriba de un barco y yendo a todos estos puertos alrededor del mundo. Estuviste haciendo eso por cuánto tiempo?

 

[00:12:58] Juan Carlos Estuvo un año porque estuve. He tenido muchas personas que me han guiado positivamente en la vida. Entonces una de esas personas me recomendó y siga estudiando. Y entonces yo apliqué a una universidad en Suecia que se llama Di World Maitane University e apliqué para una beca porque no teníamos los recursos y una idea para la universidad con la plata de mi mamá. Mi amor, tengo que vivir en la calle. Afortunadamente salió esa beca. Así que ya te podrás imaginar lo que yo pienso del tema de la educación y el tema de del apoyo económico a las personas. Pero bueno, me fui hace un año y medio, he cogido una maestría en asuntos marítimos y regresé a Panamá. Yo ya llegué en septiembre, en octubre del 2001, justo después del ataque de septiembre, así que también la economía. Y bueno, yo estuve trabajando en una compañía de importación exportación por un año y pienso mientras conseguí una oportunidad para trabajar en en el operador portuario que trabajo hoy en día, que se llama Manzaneda Internacion Terminal con el que tengo 17 años trabajando

 

[00:14:03] Oyesen, que es muy interesante y bueno, demos que está de vuelta con nosotros, nos va, nos va a llevar un poco de la mano a través de tu carrera profesional, pero antes de platicar de eso, volviendo un poco a tu infancia o a tu juventud, has mencionado a tu mamá en varias ocasiones. Me imagino que es un ejemplo importante en tu vida. Alguna. Algún tipo de enseñanza? Consejo? Qué es lo que más? Qué es lo que aprendiste de tu mamá cuando cuando hablas de ella con tanto orgullo? Qué es lo que te dejó tu mamá y tu papá? Me imagino.

 

[00:14:40] No, mi mamá tenía un refrán que me lo repetía hasta el cansancio y no sabía cuánto. Y si era ella decía estudia y no serás cuando crecido el juguete vulgar de las pasiones, ni el esclavo servil de lo tiramos.

 

[00:14:55] Hoy está basta. Vas a tener que volver. Vas a tener que volver a decirlo porque es muy, muy profundo y muy, muy real.

 

[00:15:04] Si es lo que decía amenté estudia. Y no será cuando crecido el juguete vulgar de las pasiones, ni el esclavo servil de los tiranos.

 

[00:15:15] Muy poético también.

 

[00:15:16] Si no te vas, te lo leyó ella, pero lo repetía constantemente en la caja. Eh? No, y el tema de la educación para mí me mata. Hubo mucho sacrificio en la casa. Pero siempre con la constancia, el estudio, el estudio y el estudio, eh? Y bueno, yo veía a gente en mi hemi barriada, en mi comunidad, que hacía cosas que yo no estaba. No, no podía hacer por. Por mi mamá. Y bueno, en ese tiempo era mucha frustración por mamá. Ellos lo pueden hacer y que ellos tienen otra mamá. Tú tienes tu mamá aquí? Y mi mamá me decía que mi mamá me decía que las cosas que ella hacía yo no las iba a entender hasta que tuviera hijos. Y efectivamente, ahora entiendo muchas de las cosas que hacía, ya que mi mamá y yo, por ejemplo, el tema, lo que tú decías de Irma embarcado, yo era yo soy hijo único de mamá. Y ahora si me con una emitido me dice papá, me voy a ir embarcado a traer un barco. O sea, yo le prendería velas a 500 tanto para que no se vaya, por ejemplo, a pique. Me pongo a pensar en lo que tuvo que pasar allá para decir oye, si anda embarcado y voy, voy a escuchar de Tita cada mes o cada quince días,

 

[00:16:30] Si otro no teníamos la tecnología que tenemos ahora, con las facilidades que tenemos del feisty email o el teléfono alser no muy harta, muy valiente y me dejó un gran, gran ejemplo a seguir. Estoy seguro marcó la persona que eres ahora. Y bueno, muchos de tus éxitos también pudieron venir de esa esa etapa de tu vida. Algo más de algún momento en el que dijiste me dijeron que esta experiencia que nos contaste del barco fue muy importante para encaminarte hacia la logística. Pero tienes algún otro momento, algún otro recuerdo de tu de tu vida, el cual indicará que la logística va a ser tu pasión y algo importante los puertos en particular.

 

[00:17:13] Bueno. La. La. En la universidad. En la escuela náutica donde estábamos estudiando. En la. En ese momento, como te explicaba, estábamos pre. Transición del Canal de Panamá. Entonces el enfoque del 99 por ciento de los estudiantes a la escuela náutica era poder coger experiencia para aplicar para hacer un piloto en el Canal de Panamá y el trabajo de piloto en el Canal de Panamá. Aquí en Panamá tiene un nivel muy muy alto por la paga y porque son 300 pilotos en un aire 4 millones de personas y que el piloto gana muy, muy bien. Y el trabajo en el Canal de Panamá en ese tiempo, hace 20 años era muy bien visto la paga eran 3 y 4 veces lo que te pagaba aquí en Panamá en general. Entonces me acuerdo cuando una profesora fue a preguntar cuando quiénes quieren trabajar en el canal, cuando se gradúan y todos les levantaron la mano menos yo, porque yo quiero trabajar en puertos, porque me había gustado una clase que habían dado anteriormente sobre puerto. Y bueno, gracias a Dios me mantuve en esa línea y pude. Tuve la oportunidad para trabajar en Puerto Rico y creo que ahorita mismo estoy. Estoy viviendo el sueño que tuve hace 20 o 25 años de poder trabajar en.

 

[00:18:33] Qué bien y bueno, muchas felicidades por cumplir esa meta, ese sueño que alguna vez tuviste en la plática antes de que estuviéramos al aire. Me platicas también que te gusta el futbol americano, pero ya no te pude preguntar quién es tu equipo de futbol americano?

 

[00:18:49] Y yo soy un perdedor empedernido jajajaja

 

[00:18:53] A mi me pasa con los halcones de Atlanta como yo. No, no,

 

[00:18:56] No, no, no bueno, pero estuvieron en el Super Bowl hace poco y

 

[00:18:59] Visto lo que pasó.

 

[00:19:01] Si Íbero, pero no vamos a hablar de este tema porque es el que estaba del otro lado, el que va a estar este año acá, así que a mi me gusta. Y Las Vegas Raider antiguo o Clean raido

 

[00:19:13] Los raiders es un maloso de un maloso de los Raiders

 

[00:19:17] Y yo vi el juego te tenemos tenemos al teniamos al antiguo dueño. El tipo Taba tenía su idea diferente de como manejar el equipo, pero Top Daigo. Yo Vivi iremos morirÃ. Colo Colo Ridder con el parche en el ojo.

 

[00:19:34] Por suerte esta suerte los Raiders y ahora le dejaré a demos que platique un poco mas sobre tu trayectoria profesional de más adelante.

 

[00:19:43] Gracias, gracias. Bueno, yo también estoy bueno, no tan tan eterno, pero yo soy virgen, así que tenemos ropa que no vemos nada bueno,

 

[00:19:52] Ustedes han ganado ya unas 20 veces super

 

[00:19:55] Jajaja. Pero bueno, mira, yo conocí a Juan Carlos E de último unos 18 años atrás en la empresa para la que yo trabajaba. Tenía una relación comercial con la terminal, con el cuerpo y eh, mejor. Por esta relación comercial decidimos comenzar a invitar a los clientes potenciales de centro de distribución regional y que venían a Panamá a conocer los affect logísticos que llamamos de la plataforma logística. Logramos desarrollar con Juan Carlos y el equipo del Puerto de Manzanillo. Esta esta rutina en la que los clientes iban a terminal a conocer cómo funcionaban un terminal portuario en esta parte del mundo. Afortunadamente, y producto de todas las inversiones que la empresa realizó, el puerto de Manzanillo es el puerto más moderno que hay en Panamá, eh? Y Juan Carlos tiene una actitud muy comercial. Entonces hacíamos que estos clientes globales vieran que en este pequeño país, aparte de la conectividad y aparte el canal, también habían eh, eh, eh. Terminales portuarias no sólo seguras, sino muy avanzadas tecnológicamente. Entonces eso nos generaba una confianza del otro genera porque todavía hoy funciona una confianza de los clientes globales en traer su producto Panamá y no sólo cruzar el canal, sino también moverlo, pues acepten retribución. Así que esta relación se ha ido desarrollando y obviamente se generó una buena amistad. Tenemos muchas cosas en común. Eh, tomó, eh, eh, eh, eh. Asiduos fanáticos de aprender a través de podcast y audiolibros y los moh digitales. Ambos vivimos en la ciudad Panamá, en el Pacífico de Panamá y nos tenemos que trasladar hacia hacia la ciudad de Colón todos los días o casi todos los días para nuestro trabajo. Por ende, gastamos mucho tiempo en el computing o transitando, así que hemos desarrollado esta estrategia de aprendizaje a través de los medios digitales de hoy en día. Así que creo que hoy te resumo rapidito un poco la experiencia y yo no estoy. JuanCarlos, si quieres agregar algo más sobre estos años que llevamos de conocernos como amigos y obviamente hemos trabajado muchísimo juntos también.

 

[00:22:27] L Y yo creo que hay mucho complemento de hace la parte fashion, la parte de la logística, lo que se habla, tú sabes, no? Yo estoy aquí tuyen dibujando contenedores y es la parte más aburrida. Pero siempre ha habido ese enfoque del big picture de que Panamá, el centro de distribución e la plataforma de servicios. Había una persona que de afuera. Generalmente la gente afuera tiene más esa percepción. Así les decía Panamá es una plataforma de distribución de gente, plata y carga. Pero a la gente con el aeropuerto, la la plata, con el centro bancario y la carga con los. La guía es de valor agregado y servicios logísticos y eso es lo que Panamá siempre ha hecho y lo que tenemos que hacer. Ahora esto viene con cosas buenas y con cosas malas, entonces tenemos que hacer las cosas lo más eficiente posible, tratando de tener también filtros para asegurarnos que las cosas malas podamos agarrarla la mayor cantidad de veces posible. Y bueno, como dije, tenemos esta pasión por querer aprender y hacer cosas aparte parte que lo tomó bien, bien, bien parecido. P Pero eso ya es tema de naturaleza.

 

[00:23:42] Oye, este hablando un poco de tu carrera profesional y bueno, sobre todo de tu empresa ahora. Cuéntanos un poco más. Yo aquí tenía este apuntado que es el presidente del bien Chipping Association y bueno, y si nos puedes contar un poco más de lo de tu empresa en la cual llevas ya varios años, como nos dijiste al principio, qué es lo que hacen? Por qué se reconocen? Para que la gente que nos está escuchando pueda realmente entender un poco más de tu empresa y también de la Asociación del Caribe, que se oye muy interesante.

 

[00:24:16] En Panamá hasta 1993 todos los puertos en Panamá eran operados por el Estado y Panamá en el principio de los 90 pasó por un proceso de descentralización muy fuerte entre lo que tuvo el otorgar concesiones operadores portuarios para que manejaran estos puertos o desarrollaran instalaciones portuarias. La primera concesión que se poder otorga Panamá a un operador estadounidense que se llama Ese ese Amorín F y Marín e i f t a Marín comenzó a operar la terminal de Manzanillo, que se llama Manzaneda Internacional Terminal. Yo ellos comenzó las operaciones en Manzanillo transfronterizo que comenzaron en abril del 95. Yo comencé a trabajar con ellos en marzo del 2004. Yo comencé en operaciones en la parte del patio de los contenedores y bueno, o sea, es muy muy interesante el tema de la tecnología, porque claro, yo el trabajo que yo hacía hace diecisiete años era manejar un pico con una hoja viendo la posición de los contenedores y copiando las escribiéndolas para herror, regresar a una terminal, a una computadora y a Haití y confirmar la posición y около actualizarla. Hoy en día esa posición no existe y en la terminal porque total el inventario se lleva en tiempo real. Cuando se mueve un contenedor está este movimiento se actualiza en tiempo real en el sistema, así que eh. Sabe? Es un tema de tener que reaprender las cosas, claro, porque si me hubiera quedado en eso, estoy listo para la foto.

 

[00:25:58] Ese es por un lado y el otro el tema de de el avance. Pues porque lo que se busca. Yo estaba manejando viendo los contenedor donde estaban y escribió te imagina el peligro eh proporcional en el patrón? Entonces lo que se busca es sacar a esta gente las operaciones y ponerla en un lugar más seguro usando tecnología. Así que yo soy un ejemplo de que sí que existe el, el y el marco donde la persona se puede entrenar y la persona tiene la madera para entrenarte. La tecnología no es una amenaza, sino una oportunidad. Pero Perotti tiene que haber el marco para que la persona se pueda re entrenar y no simplemente sacarla del sistema para traer otra persona. Así que bueno, yo comencé allí y después me dieron oportun en la parte comercial y ahora estoy manejando la parte comercial y la parte de asuntos corporativos, la parte de responsabilidad social empresarial en la que la compañía y también la compañía, tiene un tema social muy fuerte, no solamente en apoyo a la comunidad, sino también de participación en la sociedad, en políticas públicas. Entonces, por ejemplo, yo represento, representé a la compañía a Manzanillo Internacional Terminal, en la Cámara Marítima de Panamá. Yo fui presidente de la Cámara Marítima de Panamá, eh? Y ahora estoy representando a la compañía. Bueno, tengo un par de años.

 

[00:27:25] En el Carbon Shipping Association y tengo la presidencia desde el 2018, mi presidencia a determinar ahora en octubre del 2021, hay algunos algunas ventajas como poder ir al Caribe dos veces al año. Claro que trae, a la gente le cuesta mucho trabajo porque le digo Ay Enrique, sabes que me tengo que ir a de trabajo para Santa Lucía o para Guadalupe, o para Jamaica, para Punta Cana. Entonces la gente dice no, no, no, no, tú te vas de vacaciones, no te echanove noventera, pero si la en en el Caribe todavía mucho. El negocio se hace en el bar y todavía se ve que se cierran negocios de un cuarto de millón de dólares en una hoja de servilleta. Por ejemplo, tú firma aquí y firma aquí y ya vendimos do dos montacargas que valen un cuarto de millón de dólares y listo. Pues vamos para adelante. Todavía existe esa jovialidad y esa y ese ambiente en el que se puede hacer negocio con un apretón de manos. Pero todavía Jet también se siente el tema de que viene la tecnología, que viene en las plataformas, que vienen las multinacionales. Entonces estamos en una transición bien interesante en la región, viendo como esos dos mundos no choquen, sino que se puedan consolidar o se puedan complementar. El tema de la familiaridad con el tema de la MA, la más formalidad y la tecnología

 

[00:28:51] Que soy yo creo que es algo que vemos y vivimos todos en Latinoamérica en general. No creo que eso que describes es algo que está pasando por nuestra región muy seguido. Cuál es la finalidad? Cuál es el objetivo de la asociación? Qué es? Qué es lo que busca esta asociación del Bien? Shipping Association?

 

[00:29:09] La general principal es promover un sector marítimo sostenible y eficiente en la región. Como te podrás imaginar, el Caribe depende mucho más del sector transporte marítimo que otras regiones, porque son islas. Así que es muy importante para las economías de los países que el sector marítimo sea eficiente y te a responsable. Entonces tienes por un lado el Caribe, en el que uno de cada tres cruceristas a nivel mundial va allá. E Es el destino más grande en tema de cruceros, pero cuya participación ha habido ido bajando al año. Hace 15 años era uno en dos cruceristas que iban para el Caribe, ahora uno en tres. Hay mucha competencia, entonces tiene que haber mucho cuidado del ambiente, porque lo que se vende es playa, eh, experiencia y destino. Pero ahora también tienes un cruceristas que piensa mucho más y se para que. Yo quiero ir para la playa, quiero vivir la experiencia. Entonces ahora, por ejemplo, un cruceristas que va en un barco, baja en una isla y no va directamente a la playa, sino que él quiere ir a cocinar con la familia de la isla. Entonces hay paquetes donde se traen al cruceristas y se lo lleva a casa de familia para que vaya a cocinar y viva la experiencia auténtica de El Destino. Entonces estamos en esa. En esa cuestión. Pero también está el tema de la carga. Y cómo es ese balance entre el sector marítimo de carga? Cómo convive con este sector marítimo de cruceros de pasajeros? El que este sector de pasajeros también trae mucha demanda porque hay que subir al barco de comida, provisiones, víveres e equipo para el barco. Así que hay lo que buscamos en la situación para contestar. Tu pregunta es que estos dos mundos coexisten de una manera sostenible y eficiente,

 

[00:31:16] Excelente y bueno. Al final de nuestra entrevista vamos a poner todas las ligas para todos los las asociaciones y tu contacto y todo. Pero si la gente que nos está escuchando apenas ahorita quisiera saber un poco más del bien Shipping Association, a donde deberían ir? Cuál es? Cuál es una buena forma de saber más del bien?

 

[00:31:35] Shipping Association Si estamos en la web Care Bien Chipping Punto o RG es la página web y estamos también en LinkedIn Carinen Chipping Association. Así que ahí pueden aprender un poquito más sobre lo que estamos tratando de hacer. Como todas las asociaciones a nivel mundial, pasando mucho trabajo estos últimos años por el tema de los ingresos menguados como entregarle valor al miembro en esta época virtual y digital e reinventando mucho el fabela, hicimos una. La reunión general anual la hicimos en en noviembre del año pasado y la queja de todos los miembros era oye tú y quisimos hablar más. Queríamos verlo más tarde, pero nosotros buscamos una. Plataforma de reunión general anual, que quedará todo bien documentado y estas plataformas tratan de restringir la participación de las personas. Este era un tema, pero la gente quiere ese calor, quiere. El dice que podía al bar y tomarse el trago y hablar con la gente y sabe como está el negocio. Lo extraña muchísimo. Extraña mucho, mucho, mucho. Y estamos viendo como hacemos que la generación siga relevante para esa gente que necesita ese calorcito del Caribe.

 

[00:32:55] No, yo creo que todo el mundo necesita y es importante tener ese tipo de relación humana, ese toque personal. Cuando estás tratando de hablar de negocios o tratando de cualquier otra cosa, entonces esperemos que pronto, pronto logremos, logremos hacer esto. Creo que debemos. Tú tenías un par de preguntas al respecto.

 

[00:33:15] Si no más que preguntas. Enrique Yo quería aprovechar la experiencia de Juan Carlos, ya no en la asociación, sino en su trabajo, porque el la compañía para la que trabaja terminales portuarios en Colombia, en México, como él mencionó en el Chile, inclusive en Asia. Yo quisiera preguntarle a Carlos cuál es cuál cree que son las mayores diferencia de operaciones portuarias en estos países, siendo el caso de que Colombia el terminal de ustedes está en el Caribe y obviamente en Chile, en el Pacífico. Bueno, nos cuentan un poquito cómo es la diferencia de trabajar en la misma industria, pero en estos países que son tan diferentes culturalmente hablando. Creo que ya era mucho valor para audiencia en América Latina.

 

[00:34:05] Mira, esa pregunta es súper interesante porque el operador portuario internacional, como cualquier multinacional, busca estandarizar procesos. Pero tú quieres que sea como un MacDonalds, que la hamburguesa salga igualita. Si la compras en Estados Unidos y la compras en Brasil, si la compras en Panamá o la compra Jenin. Pero si no hay, no hay duda que la operación de tiene una relación muy simbiótica con la comunidad. Entonces, las comunidades portuarias generalmente son comunidades que son de menos estrato económico que el resto de la población. Uno y dos son un gran proveedor de plaza de empleo en esa comunidad. Entonces la la la dependencia de la comunidad con el operador portuario y operador portero con la terminal hacen que esa dinámica sea súper importante. Hay países en la región, por ejemplo, que son más de tendencia del trabajador, de que tenemos que cuidarlo. Entonces ahí el sindicato, por ejemplo, es mucho más fuerte y hay más demanda. Entonces el tema de la pandemia ha hecho también de que se visibilice. Esa es la terminal portuaria, porque ahí donde entran el equipo de protección personal entra en la comida o salen las exportaciones e Suramerica, por ejemplo, la costa oeste, Perú, Chile y Ecuador se han beneficiado mucho del apetito que hay en Estados Unidos, Europa por comida natural y comida saludable e guineo, banana e arándanos e alcaparras.

 

[00:35:55] Todos estos productos perecederos han han han sido de mucha demanda. Durante este entonces estos países han visto disparado la demanda. Sigue la. Pero también está en el contexto de que el trabajador en general y el trabajador portuario en particular tiene temor de salir a trabajar porque está la pandemia. Entonces el empleador, el operador portuario, ha tenido que hacer mucho esfuerzo en darle esa tranquilidad al trabajador en la medida que se pueda de que venga a trabajar, porque es necesario para el país, pero también ahí puedes venir a trabajar porque estamos cuidando tu salud. Así que, eh, eh. Hay un balance bien importante en las medidas que ha encontrado en el médico. La disparidad de medida en nuestros países, en la región, y eso es un reflejo de el, la el pensamiento de los gobiernos con relación a la pandemia, a la salud y a la seguridad económica del país. Así que si el contexto en el que se opera es súper importante para estos puertos, porque son, son, están muy metidos en la economía, no solamente el país, pero más importante de la comunidad portuaria, en la que están

 

[00:37:12] Muy de referencia y e infalible. Pero estamos ustedes que tienen operaciones también en Vietnam, digamos, o tuvieron claro como es la es igual a nivel de la relación con la comunidad es igual y obviamente culturalmente son como muy distintos, pero que son las similitudes y las mayores diferencias.

 

[00:37:33] Cuando en Vietnam tengo que recordar que hay un un, un gobierno mucho más centralizado, gobierno comunista y por ejemplo allá el todos los la las empresas privada tienen que estar en sociedad con el gobierno, llámese ministerio o autoridad o el que sea, tienen que ser socio. Así que la la relación con la comunidad se da a través de ese agente del gobierno. Y hay mucho menos porque sabes? El gobierno quiere controlar el mensaje que la comunidad recibe y me imagino que el gobierno quiere que la comunidad perciba que hay otro benefactor más allá del gobierno. Así que toda la comunicación se hace a través de estas entidades del gobierno y dependes mucho de ellos para seguir trabajando. Vietnam, por ejemplo, ha sido uno de los grandes beneficiados del tema de la pandemia. La han controlado? Creo que ha habido un muerto en Vietnam de Cubby. Y ahora está bueno. Ahora están batallando con una ola de cuestión, pero están teniendo 500 e positivo por día en Panamá para que tengan un día. Somos 2500 positivo por día. Y además de eso, la gente trata de diversificar su cadena. Saliendo de China, Vietnam ha sido el principal receptor de producción, así que a Vietnam le ha ido muchísimo bien. Tanto así que el año ahora principios de este año, comenzó a trabajar una terminal que comenzó a construcción hace diez años y que se había parado porque no había demanda y justo ahí. Bueno, el año pasado e reiniciaron trabajo para comenzar a hasta operaciones y comenzaron operaciones hace dos o tres semanas por el nivel de volumen que está preparando Vietnam de exportación.

 

[00:39:28] Si la congestión ahora en a nivel mundial y en Asia es impresionante. Pero si Vietnam ha sido uno de los puertos, este es bueno. Hoch Mixer y varios de sus puertos han sido los puertos más. Beneficiados en cuanto al tráfico y al incremento de la. De los transportes de ahí. Juan Carlos En esto, comparando todos estos diferentes países y todo este tipo de terminales y operaciones y bueno, en tu trabajo te permite tener acceso a toda esta información y hacer comparaciones en tu en tu opinión. Tomando en cuenta la competencia y tu experiencia y obviamente tu empresa. Qué tres características son las necesarias que hacen a un operador portuario exitoso? Cuál sería si tú tuvieras que resumirlo en tres características muy claras para la gente que está escuchando? En tu opinión, qué hace a un operador portuario como tú y como tu empresa exitoso?

 

[00:40:32] La primera es entender el ambiente en que uno trabaja, porque la uno como lo llaman en la televisión, cada vez que tú tienes los comerciales enlatados, los comerciales que ves ahí. Pero ahora más y más edad que el locutor es el que habla el comercial porque quiere. Quiere modular el mensaje. Entonces el operador tiene que modular este mensaje sabiendo de que viene con una operación enlatada, pero tienes que modular la almitas. En el caso de nosotros diríamos que quieres tropical izar el mensaje y no puedes traer una operación 100 por ciento para el Caribe que para Europa. Por ejemplo, en el caso de nosotros traemos una grúa e Enrique que son un robot talÃn. Las grúas hacen el 98 por ciento de los despachos. Automáticamente entonces la grúa, cuando viene un transportista a buscar un contenedor, viene el transporte. Enrique Álvarez de buscar el contenedor, etc. Cuando pasas por un lector las grúas que están en el patio detectan que tú estás entrando. Dicen a Tuina buscar el contenedor se comunican con nuestro sistema operativo para preguntarle dónde está el contenedor. Luego la máquina que está más cerca selecciona automáticamente esa es la orden de trabajo, se ubica en el lugar. Busca el contenedor. Mueve los contenedores que tenga que mover. Saca el contenedor y cuando tú te ubicas abajo, el detecta que tú estás abajo y pon el contenedor. Eso fin. Ninguna persona.

 

[00:42:10] Eso es en Panamá o en todas sus terminales.

 

[00:42:13] Esto es en Panamá, es en Panamá. El operador con el que yo trabajé en Panamá, fuimos los primeros en Latinoamérica en implementar. Ahora hay otras terminales que ya tienen esa tecnología. Pero mi punto es que para lograr esto tuvimos que tropical fijar mucho los procesos, porque esto venía de Europa, por ejemplo. Y tú dependía que el transporte tuviera su equipo en buen estado. Y lamentablemente en nuestro países no sucede generalmente así. O necesitas que el transportista se ubique en su posición 100 por ciento de las veces y sabe que no es así en el 100 por ciento de las veces. Así que te toca ser mucho más flexible en la formulación de los procesos para poder ser exitoso, porque sin ti no tienes esa flexibilidad que ojalá no tuviera que existir. Vas a vivir con un infarto todos los días que vas a comer e disrupciones y exepciones todos los días. Esa es la primera, poder entender el contexto en el que trabajo, pero el segundo es tener disciplina. Tienes que tener esa constancia de que yo quiero lograr esto y vamos a tener 75000 razones por las cuales no hacerlo. Pero si tú sabes que eso es lo correcto para traer más beneficios a la operación, que le va a redundar beneficios al transportista, la línea naviera, los usuarios tienes que lograrlo. O sea. La disciplina es sumamente importante. Y la tercera, yo diría que tener un poquito de humildad porque sabes? La realidad es que nosotros movemos el 90 por ciento de todo lo que llega a los países y al momento podemos decir bueno, si nosotros no trabajamos duro, vamos y se para todo el país. Pero hay que tener un poquito esa humildad para decir bueno, yo soy parte de un engranaje y tengo que seguir trabajando y tengo que seguir moldeando el sistema para que sigamos todos adelante. Así te diría que estas son las tres.

 

[00:44:09] Gazel con excelente mensaje y bueno, yo creo que lo puedes extrapolar para mucho más que solo la logística. Digo leyéndolos ahora darte cuenta de tu contexto y el ambiente. Disciplina y humildad. Casi, casi podría ser la receta para cualquier negocio e incluso cualquier persona en la vida personal también. No es, valga la redundancia, con algo de. Vemos la reacción de esto.

 

[00:44:40] Si no definitivamente que Carlos ha dado con un puntos muy específicos y al final mencionó un poco lo que son las disrupciones. Nuestro negocio vive de las instrucciones o básicamente es nuestro diario vivir? Estos cambios que se dan y la aceleración de los cambios e hágalos mencionó Fin sin decirlo directamente. Esa evolución tecnológica, este crecimiento que nosotros como como profesionales tenemos que tener como como estar constantemente aprendiendo e lo que sabemos no? Y creo que mucho de lo que él ha transmitido el día de hoy se basa justo en eso. Y creo Enrique, que que el propósito de este programa es justamente alertar de alguna manera o compartir con o con la audiencia esa necesidad imperante que tenemos todos de crecer día a día, de aprender. No me ha gustado muchísimo los puntos que ha tocado Juan Carlos el día de hoy. Creo que añaden un tremendo valor a todos nosotros, como como funciona esta industria que ha cambiado mucho, eh? Cambia mucho y va a seguir cambiando mucho en los días que vienen.

 

[00:45:59] No, claro, no, totalmente de acuerdo. Y definitivamente una una plática sumamente interesante con una persona muy exitosa tanto profesionalmente como personalmente. Juan Carlos ha sido ha sido un placer conocerte. Muchísimas gracias. Creo que tu mensaje es un mensaje de unión para todas las regiones de Latinoamérica. Es un mensaje bastante amplio para cualquiera que nos esta escuchando lo pueda aplicar. Y nuevamente te agradecemos mucho el que pudieras tomar un par de minutos para platicar con nosotros. Antes de irnos y despedirnos te quería preguntar dónde pueden conseguirte? Dónde? Donde la gente que nos está escuchando. Si quieres saber un poco más, ya sea de tu empresa ahorita de la Terminal Internacional de Manzanillo o del CAR Bien Shipping Association, donde pueden conseguir a Juan Carlos Colostomía.

 

[00:46:55] Youtube, LinkedIn e Juan Carlos, Croton, Twitter, el andele JC, rayita abajo Croton y ahí bueno, ahí pueden leer un poquito. El año pasado, bueno, leyendo en línea lo que sea. Demo. Me tocó también hacer otras cosas. Colaboré en un libro sobre digitalización en el sector marítimo. Se llama Mary Candid, Tito Hammerstein e también comenzamos a escribir. He escrito sobre digitalización marítima porque verdad Enrique, que eso es un tema, eh? Para va para el Caribe. Primero estábamos hablando de cómo se iba a sacar a la gente. La gente, el agente marítimo es un broker y decía bueno, que hay una plataforma en la que se ofrezcan los servicios, el tipo está fuera, el café. El tema ahora no es decirle te vas a salir, no? Cómo te montas en esa ola para que la ola no te vaya a llevar. Y estamos tratando de enseñarle que debemos invertir el tema y para ello creo que casi todos. Y esto como hablamos? Esto aplica casi para todos los emprendedores en nuestra región. Saben qué tienen que hacer esto? Saben que tienen que invertir en digitales. El tema es uno, cómo lo hacen también que tienen que hacer? Es como la NASA o como le meto el diente a esto y como pago por eso creo que con las dos barrerá súper grandes que nos encontramos en que nos encontramos ahorita mismo y en las que estamos tratando de educar a la gente en cómo hacerlo. Porque bueno, la el libro y los escritos van en línea a tratar de explicarle a la gente cómo hacer esto y a través de las asociaciones como el Crain Chipping Association, Auteuil, un pool para que el frente común de ellos se pueda ir a buscar financiamiento de una manera más accesible para ellos y poder traerle el Noja o en dos o tres opciones que no sea como cuando vas al supermercado y te encuentras en el pasillo 150 cereales y no sabes cuál escoger. Hacerle dos o tres a tu medida y que ellos puedan.

 

[00:49:03] No está excelente? Y bueno, esto que acabas de abrir es un un tópico de conversación muy, muy amplio. La digitalización de los agentes. Cómo van a estar cambiando en Latinoamérica, en el Caribe? Muy probablemente esto sea suficiente para otra entrevista. O a lo mejor un panel. Nos encantaría a lo mejor armar algo así para discutir un poco más esto que estás mencionando. Nuevamente, muchas gracias. Demos muchas gracias por acompañarnos también. Un gusto tenerte y bueno para todos los que nos están escuchando. Muchas gracias por ser parte de estas conversaciones en su Chain Now en español. Por favor, si les gustó la plática, si les interesa el tema de logística, no dejen de subscribirse a Supply Chain OWW! Nos pueden buscar también en la página de internet Supply Chain o Dotcom y estén en LinkedIn también al Supply Chain Now. Por favor suscríbase es gratis y no deben perderse este este tipo de episodios y entrevistas tan interesantes como las que tuvimos el día de hoy con Juan Carlos Toston Juan Carlos. Unas últimas palabras para despedir el programa. Algo que le quieras decir a nuestra audiencia para mejorar en este 2021? Algún reto que les quieras proponer para todos los colegas y gente de cadenas de suministro que nos están escuchando?

 

[00:50:28] Bueno, te voy a decir lo que yo estoy en lo que yo estoy trabajando, eh? Piensa que nosotros le dedicamos mucho tiempo al al crecimiento profesional y en la parte personal lo vamos a labraba aprendiendo. Qué vamos a hacer entonces, eh? Le estoy metiendo un poquito de tiempo. Ah, también como hacer mejor papá y como ser mejor esposo. Y creo que va mucho por el tema de la paciencia, eh? Yo tengo cuatro hijos, tres chicos quieren que la paciencia es un commodity de alta escasez. El todo verdadera

 

[00:51:02] Rectitud.

 

[00:51:03] Sí, totalmente. Más en tiempos de pandemia, teniendo todo el mundo en la casa.

 

[00:51:08] Ajíes y bueno, eh. Mi esposa es una santa y yo tratando de recordar cada vez que hay un problema en la casa, que yo soy un un profesor para mis hijos y que cada vez que pasa algo que no me gusta, en un momento quizás no de castigar o de regañar que en un momento enseñar. Así que mi prioridad para este 2021 es trabajar en mi paciencia para poder enseñar en vez de regañar o de castigar. Allí en la casa. Fíjese, yo no sé si los otros a la otra persona quieran trabajar en esto, pero me parece que algo en lo que podría yo crecer mucho mejor.

 

[00:51:50] Pues bueno, ya lo tienen. Este excelente mensaje y excelente propósito de año nuevo. Yo creo que para todos los próximos años que nos quedan de vida. Paciencia, paciencia este y vuélvanse un buen maestro de sus hijos para que el mundo siga mejorando. Juan Carlos Muchas gracias nuevamente demos muchas gracias. Hasta la próxima. Salud.

Episode Summary

In this episode of Supply Chain Now en Español, hosts Enrique Alvarez and Demo Pérez welcome Juan Carlos Croston, president of the Caribbean Shipping Association, to the podcast.

Episode Transcript

[00:00:38] Very good morning and welcome to another session of your Supply Chain Now program in Spanish. Today I have the pleasure and the pleasure to be talking with a very good friend of mine and he is going to be Micó host today. Demosthenes Perez, better known as Demos. Let’s see how it goes? How are you? How? How are you doing?

 

[00:00:59] Well, Enrique, very happy to be here. Very excited. These are truly opportunities that I value very much. And well, ready for a tremendous interview today.

 

[00:01:10] Yeah, well, no one really knows this, but I did have a very, very nice talk a couple of weeks ago, which even turned into an interview, and for the sake of technology, after we finished the interview it turns out that nothing was recorded on the computer. Then we’ll have to make another appointment to talk again in the future.

 

[00:01:33] Whenever you want, brothers, whenever you want.

 

[00:01:36] Well, now tell us who? Who do we have today?

 

[00:01:39] Look, today we are going to interview, I have to say, a great friend of many years and another colleague, another enthusiast of this industry, Juan Carlos Croton. Juan Carlos, eh? He works for a port and international organization as well, and is currently the president of the Caribbean Chipping Association’s Caribbean Ambassadors Association. So beyond being a great friend, as I have been telling you for many years, he is a great professional recognized in Panama, in Latin America. And now? Well, a few years ago, with a very strong presence in the Caribbean area, so I think we’re going to have a tremendous injection of information today. Perspective not only on a personal level, but also on a professional level and the future of our Latin American region.

 

[00:02:34] Yes, in fact we are very happy and we thank Juan Carlos Croton for joining us today. Juan Carlos describes himself as a positive, passionate, disciplined and kind person. Obviously we are very happy to have him here. Juan Carlos Quetal. Good morning!

 

[00:02:52] Day Henry today we must have children, that is, the theme of the injection is appropriate with the theme of the vaccine walking, but let’s see how Гl, how, how the conversation flows, take. Thanks for the invitation Enrique.

 

[00:03:07] What’s the status of the vaccine? It is a global logistics project, the likes of which has never been seen before. Speaking of the vaccine. How are you in Panama? You’re in Panama now, right?

 

[00:03:18] With Carlos? I am in Panama. I was born and raised here in Panama and have been out of the country. Not for study purposes. And I also worked on board ship. But now we will do it later on the subject of the vaccine up to Olympus. I think exceptions with countries that are ahead of the curve and I think it’s like Tequila, for example. And Los Mohs had an idea to make I don’t know how much cart. I have always been behind because they realize that production is very difficult and when you see charlatan, for example, every time someone goes to Chaltén, they say you are going to manufacture, no, no, no, no, don’t get into this. And nobody knows why the manufacturing, the production is super complicated. So, well, pharmacists have realized that that too the chain has the boot from the factory. It’s super complicated and I can imagine also that people working there and fall sick, production drops, so it’s a circle that you have there going on. Let’s see how it is set up in Panama. I was expecting to receive 40000 vaccine in January and only 12000 arrived. And well, I imagine walking. They see in Europe the fights that are going on between the European Union and pharmaceuticals, so we can expect no less here in Panama.

 

[00:04:32] If not it’s definitely going to be something that’s going to mark this year. As much as the pandemic marked last year and hopefully through the different logistics companies and the supply chain we will obviously achieve. As soon as possible. El. To offer this to the people who really need it and start vaccinating everyone. In fact, let’s talk a little bit about you at the beginning, Juan Carlos, we’d love to get to know you a little bit more as a person. Tell us a little more about yourself, your personality, how you? How? How did you get into this industry? The logistics?

 

[00:05:14] I basically grew up with my mom and my mom. A lot of things happened to me. She is an avid reader. He likes to read everything and not be heard. An actor, an author named Erich von Däniken. The guy believed that Machupichu was an extraterrestrial spaceship control. And this bears had all the books of him that the rider of Select was reading. So, well, that part of the reading was passed down to me by my mom from a heart that big. And well, this works because she’s very given to people, but she’s also very emotional. That whole package came together and well, I grew up in my family. There are several people who have worked on ships before and when I was coming out of high school my mom mentioned to her that there is a future in Panama because in the year 2000 the Panama Canal reverted from American hands to the Panamanian government. So it was shaping up to be a future for that and my mom and dad told me and we thought you should get in. I went to study at the Panama Nautical School which is a merchant marine school. And I studied and four years and then I embarked. One year I worked on board a container ship. We were literally going around the world, because I was leaving Panama. It went to Los Angeles, crossed the Pacific, arrived in Tokyo, Japan and Tokyo Osaka, Japan. Then on to the Pusan, in Korea. What Kachunes in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore. Then it crossed the Indian Ocean or reached an island in the south of India called Giri Lanca Trubia. The Red Sea crosses the TV channel. Mar Mediterrani went up to Europe and then I went.

 

[00:07:07] How old were you? At this moment of your life

 

[00:07:12] To have been. I was told it was an incredible experience for you. 21 years old. And the boat counts. So, what were you doing on the boat? It makes for an extremely good story.

 

[00:07:24] I, I, I, I was practicing to be an officer, so at that time I was a cadet and we did everything. We are learning the subject of navigation, the subject of boat maintenance, the subject of nautical charts, the subject of the watch, eh? And well, I digress here because that’s still in my little heart. Haven’t you heard the light theme of the crewmembers on the ships with the pandemic theme? Well, the staff, the crew and ships come up with a contract and then, after a certain time, six, eight or ten months without another person and gives rotation by the issue of the pandemic, has made it very difficult changes that currently there are estimated more than 400,000 crew members who have been working more than a year on the ship. And well, this never.

 

[00:08:12] I haven’t even imagined it. Obviously, since I’m not that involved in that part of the industry, I didn’t even imagine it was an issue. But now that you mention it, well, that makes sense. How can they? Is there any way to help these people? Virtually nothing else. It’s waiting for the good stuff.

 

[00:08:33] I wish there was more action. Maybe it’s been a problem of us in the industry not making these people visible, eh? Because you not knowing it is not a problem of us, not telling you as well as the online workers of nurses and doctors so, eh? Society at large should be aware of the 1.2 million boat people who make it possible for us to be in this flame at its hub. Let’s have our shoes, our clothes, our toys, our dumbbell, exercise. And well, the issue is that it is very complicated because they are not visible and governments do not give priorities to make changes. So for the agents who are in charge of this it is very complicated for them because there is so much change. One would tell me for example, look, I have to send a Filipino to the Philippines from Panama and I would send him via Holland. But what happened? The first trip he sent when the Filipino arrived in Holland the Philippine had closed the border. So he had to stay there when he could send the next Filipino, they told him No, no, no, no, no, Utrilla, send me a letter from the Philippines, from whoever, from the Ministry, to make sure that when he passes through here in transit in Holland, he’s going to get to his Philippine destination. So the regulations are constantly changing and there is an issue with these people, the psychological issue of mental issue not seen with their family and you have 400,000 crew members on board the ships and you have 400,000 people who are on land waiting to get on, to be able to work for.

 

[00:10:09] As you say, it’s something that doesn’t really add up. It is not a problem of major proportions and is not mentioned as much as it should be. So that can be one of our calls to action now in this, in this episode with you. I’ve already made a note of it here. And well, I think we owe a sincere thank you to all these people, because as you say, like the people who are in the trucks or the warehouses or the distribution, these people are literally risking their lives and are even getting stuck in different parts of the world to try to help us in this, in this pandemic and throughout these years. Totally, very good point.

 

[00:10:56] And it’s a good thing that they come to contribute there to dale, dale, dale que dale.

 

[00:11:00] I wanted to contribute, that it is definitely a topic that has only been discussed in the specialized media of the maritime world. I’ve seen some related news in the media that is, let’s say, much more open in the industry, but there is very little talk about this topic and it’s definitely a supremely important topic. Everything that we have a relationship with someone in the shipping world or the maritime world. We know the impact, but it has not been addressed in the way it should be. Product of this same lack of visibility, isn’t it?

 

[00:11:39] And naturally, the theme of port and going to their homes, but there is a romantic theme that one has in the head of the sailor who arrives in port and leaves. He’s got his girlfriend and everything. And the reality is that this is no longer the case. Ships, e.g. containers, stay 24 hours in port. Then 24 is the crew member’s turn to work 12 hours. And now with the pandemic, travel restrictions are many. So this person is basically in the boat. The twelve or fourteen or sixteen or ten months he’s been on the boat, he’s been on the boat. You can’t download to buy. You have to ask someone to carry the super complicated stuff for you.

 

[00:12:17] Super. Yeah, sure, that’s pretty much it. The lives of these people at the end of the day are something very interesting that we don’t normally know about, even people who have been in the industry for many years. So that’s something I’m very glad you mentioned. I think it’s a topic that we could do a whole episode on, maybe interviewing someone like you who has gone through this experience. But back to you, weren’t you saying then you had this incredible experience? I would say once in a lifetime to be on top of a ship and going to all these ports around the world. You’ve been doing that for how long?

 

[00:12:58] Juan Carlos was there for a year because I was there. I have had many people who have guided me positively in life. Then one of those people recommended me to continue studying. And then I applied to a university in Sweden called Di World Maitane University and I applied for a scholarship because we didn’t have the resources and an idea for the university with my mom’s money. My love, I have to live on the street. Fortunately that scholarship came through. So you can imagine what I think about the issue of education and the issue of financial support for people. But well, I left a year and a half ago, took a master’s degree in maritime affairs and returned to Panama. I already arrived in September, in October 2001, right after the September attack, so also the economy. And well, I was working in an import export company for a year and I think while I got an opportunity to work in the port operator that I work today, which is called Manzaneda International Terminal with which I have 17 years working with.

 

[00:14:03] Hey, that’s very interesting and well, let’s say you’re back with us, you’re going to, you’re going to take us a little bit by the hand through your professional career, but before we talk about that, going back a little bit to your childhood or your youth, you’ve mentioned your mom on several occasions. I imagine it’s an important example in your life. Some. Some kind of teaching? Advice? What’s the most? What did you learn from your mom when you talk about her with such pride? What did your mom and dad leave you? I can imagine.

 

[00:14:40] No, my mother had a saying that she repeated to me ad nauseam and I didn’t know how much. And if it was she said study and you will not be when grown up the vulgar toy of passions, nor the servile slave of the thrown.

 

[00:14:55] Today it is enough. You’re going to have to come back. You’re going to have to say it again because it’s very, very deep and very, very real.

 

[00:15:04] If that’s what I said, then study. And it will not be when grown up the vulgar plaything of passions, nor the servile slave of tyrants.

 

[00:15:15] Very poetic too.

 

[00:15:16] If you don’t leave, she read it to you, but she kept repeating it in the box. Eh? No, and the issue of education kills me. There was a lot of sacrifice in the house. But always with constancy, study, study, study and study, eh? And well, I saw people in my neighborhood, in my community, who were doing things that I wasn’t doing. No, I couldn’t do for. For my mom. And well, at that time it was a lot of frustration for mom. They can do it and they have another mom. Do you have your mom here? And my mom would tell me that my mom would tell me that the things she did I wouldn’t understand until I had kids. And indeed, now I understand many of the things that I did, since my mom and I, for example, the theme, what you were saying about Irma embarked, I was I’m mom’s only child. And now if I with an emitted one tells me dad, I’m going to go embarked to bring a boat. In other words, I would light candles at 500 so that it doesn’t go down, for example, to the ground. I start to think about what had to happen there to say hey, if he’s on board and I go, I’m going to hear from Tita every month or every two weeks,

 

[00:16:30] If another we did not have the technology we have now, with the facilities we have of feisty email or phone alser not very fed up, very brave and left me a great, great example to follow. I’m sure it shaped the person you are now. And well, many of your successes could also come from that stage of your life. Something else about some time when you said you told me that this experience that you told us about the boat was very important to get you on the path to logistics. But you have some other moment, some other memory of your of your life, which will indicate that logistics is going to be your passion and something important ports in particular.

 

[00:17:13] Good. La. La. At the university. At the nautical school where we were studying. In the. At that time, as I was explaining, we were pre. Panama Canal Transition. So the focus of 99 percent of the students at the nautical school was to be able to get experience to apply to do a pilot in the Panama Canal and pilot work in the Panama Canal. Here in Panama it has a very, very high level because of the pay and because there are 300 pilots in an air of 4 million people and the pilot earns very, very well. And the work in the Panama Canal at that time, 20 years ago was very well regarded, the pay was 3 and 4 times what you were paid here in Panama in general. Then I remember when a teacher went to ask who wanted to work in the canal, when they graduated, and everyone raised their hand except me, because I wanted to work in ports, because I had liked a class they had given earlier about ports. And well, thank God I stayed on that line and I was able to. I had the opportunity to work in Puerto Rico and I think I am right now. I’m living the dream I had 20 or 25 years ago of being able to work in.

 

[00:18:33] Well, congratulations on accomplishing that goal, that dream you once had in the talk before we were on the air. You also tell me that you like football, but I couldn’t ask you who your football team is?

 

[00:18:49] And I’m a sore loser hahahahahaha

 

[00:18:53] It happens to me with Atlanta Falcons like me. No, no,

 

[00:18:56] No, no, no, not good, but they were at the Super Bowl a little while ago and

 

[00:18:59] Seeing what happened.

 

[00:19:01] Yes Íbero, but we’re not going to talk about this topic because it’s the one that was on the other side, the one that’s going to be here this year, so I like it. And Las Vegas Raider old or Clean raido

 

[00:19:13] Raiders is a badass of a badass of a badass Raiders

 

[00:19:17] And I saw the game we have you we have the former owner. The Taba guy had his different idea of how to run the team, but Top Daigo. I lived will die. Colo Colo Ridder with the eye patch.

 

[00:19:34] Luckily the Raiders are lucky and now I’ll let demos talk a little bit more about your career path later on.

 

[00:19:43] Thank you, thank you. Well, I’m hot too, not so eternal, but I’m a virgin, so we have clothes that we do not see anything good,

 

[00:19:52] You have already won 20 times super

 

[00:19:55] Hahaha. But well, look, I met Juan Carlos E last about 18 years ago at the company I worked for. I had a business relationship with the terminal, with the body and uh, better. Because of this business relationship we decided to start inviting potential customers from regional distribution center and coming to Panama to know the logistics affect that we call the logistics platform. We were able to develop with Juan Carlos and the team at the Port of Manzanillo. This is this routine in which customers would go to the terminal to learn how a port terminal in this part of the world worked. Fortunately, and as a result of all the investments made by the company, the port of Manzanillo is the most modern port in Panama, eh? And Juan Carlos has a very commercial attitude. So we made these global customers see that in this small country, apart from the connectivity and apart from the channel, there were also eh, eh, eh, eh. Port terminals that are not only safe, but also technologically advanced. So that generated a confidence in the other generates because even today there is still a confidence of global customers to bring their product Panama and not only cross the channel, but also move it, because they accept retribution. So this relationship has been developing and obviously a good friendship has developed. We have a lot of things in common. Hey, he took, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey. Regular fans of learning through podcasts and audiobooks and digital mohs. We both live in Panama City, on the Pacific coast of Panama and we have to commute to the city of Colon every day or almost every day for our work. As a result, we spend a lot of time computing or commuting, so we have developed this learning strategy through today’s digital media. So I think today I’ll summarize the experience a little bit quickly and I’m not here. JuanCarlos, if you want to add anything else about the years we’ve known each other as friends and obviously we’ve worked a lot together as well.

 

[00:22:27] L And I think there’s a lot of complement to do the fashion part, the logistics part, what you talk about, you know, right? I’m here drawing containers and it’s the most boring part. But there has always been that big picture approach that Panama, the hub and the service platform. There was a person from the outside. Generally people on the outside have more of that perception. So I was telling you Panama is a distribution platform for people, money and cargo. But the people with the airport, the silver, with the banking center and the cargo with the. The guide is value added and logistical services and that is what Panama has always done and what we have to do. Now this comes with good things and bad things, so we have to make things as efficient as possible, trying to also have filters to make sure that the bad things we can catch as many times as possible. And well, like I said, we have this passion for wanting to learn and do things aside that took it well, well, well like that. P But that is a matter of nature.

 

[00:23:42] Hey, I’m talking a little bit about your career and well, especially your company now. Tell us a little more about it. I had this one here who is the president of the good Chipping Association and well, and if you can tell us a little more about your company in which you have been for several years, as you told us at the beginning, what do you do? Why do they recognize each other? So that people who are listening to us can really understand a little bit more about your company and also about the Caribbean Association, which sounds very interesting.

 

[00:24:16] In Panama until 1993 all ports in Panama were operated by the State and Panama in the early 90’s went through a very strong decentralization process among which was the granting of concessions to port operators to manage these ports or develop port facilities. The first concession that Panama granted to a U.S. operator called Amorín F y Marín e i f t a Marín began operating the Manzanillo terminal, which is called Manzaneda International Terminal. I them began operations at Manzanillo Cross Border which started in April 95. I started working with them in March 2004. I started in operations in the container yard and well, I mean, it’s very interesting the issue of technology, because of course, the work I did seventeen years ago was to handle a pick with a sheet of paper looking at the position of the containers and copying and typing them for error, go back to a terminal, to a computer and to Haiti and confirm the position and update it. Today that position does not exist and in the terminal because total inventory is carried in real time. When you move a container is this movement is updated in real time in the system, so eh. You know? It’s a matter of having to relearn things, of course, because if I had stayed with that, I’m ready for the photo.

 

[00:25:58] That is on the one hand and the other the issue of advancement. Because what you are looking for. I was driving around watching the dumpsters where they were and wrote you can imagine the danger eh proportional in the pattern? So the goal is to get these people out of the operations and put them in a safer place using technology. So I am an example that yes there is the, the and the framework where the person can be trained and the person has the wood to train you. Technology is not a threat, but an opportunity. But Perotti has to have the framework in place so that the person can be retrained and not just taken out of the system to bring in someone else. So well, I started there and then I was given the opportunity to work in the commercial part and now I’m managing the commercial part and the corporate affairs part, the corporate social responsibility part in which the company and also the company, has a very strong social theme, not only in support of the community, but also in participation in society, in public policies. So, for example, I represent, I represented the company, Manzanillo International Terminal, at the Panama Maritime Chamber. I was president of the Panama Maritime Chamber, eh? And now I’m representing the company. Well, I’m a couple of years old.

 

[00:27:25] In the Carbon Shipping Association and I have the presidency since 2018, my presidency to be determined now in October 2021, there are some some some advantages like being able to go to the Caribbean twice a year. Of course it brings, people have a hard time because I tell them Ay Enrique, you know I have to go to work in Santa Lucia or Guadeloupe, or Jamaica, or Punta Cana. Then people say no, no, no, no, no, you go on vacation, you do not echanove you noventera, but if the in the Caribbean still very much. Business is done at the bar and you still see quarter million dollar deals being closed on a napkin sheet. For example, you sign here and sign here and we’ve already sold two forklifts worth a quarter of a million dollars and that’s it. Well, let’s go ahead. There is still that joviality and that atmosphere where you can do business with a handshake. But Jet also still feels the theme that technology is coming, that technology is coming in platforms, that multinationals are coming. So we are in a very interesting transition in the region, seeing how these two worlds do not clash, but can consolidate or complement each other. The issue of familiarity with the subject of MA, more formality and technology.

 

[00:28:51] Which I think is something that we all see and experience in Latin America in general. I don’t think that what you describe is something that is happening in our region very often. What is the purpose? What is the aim of the association? What is it? What does this association of the Good seek? Shipping Association?

 

[00:29:09] The main overall objective is to promote a sustainable and efficient maritime sector in the region. As you can imagine, the Caribbean is much more dependent on the maritime transport sector than other regions, because they are islands. So it is very important for the economies of the countries that the maritime sector is efficient and responsible. Then you have the Caribbean, where one out of every three cruise passengers worldwide goes there. It is the largest cruise destination, but its participation has been declining year by year. Fifteen years ago it was one in two cruisers going to the Caribbean, now one in three. There is a lot of competition, so there has to be a lot of care for the environment, because what is sold is beach, eh, experience and destination. But now you also have a cruiser who thinks a lot more and I know what for. I want to go to the beach, I want to live the experience. So now, for example, a cruiser who goes on a boat, gets off on an island and doesn’t go directly to the beach, but he wants to go and cook with the family on the island. Then there are packages where the cruisers are brought to a family’s home to cook and live the authentic experience of El Destino. So we’re on that one. On that issue. But there is also the issue of charging. And how is that balance between the maritime cargo sector? How do you coexist with this maritime passenger cruise sector? This passenger sector also brings a lot of demand because food, provisions, groceries and equipment for the boat have to be brought on board. So there is what we look for in the situation to answer. Your question is that these two worlds coexist in a sustainable and efficient way,

 

[00:31:16] Excellent and good. At the end of our interview we will put all the links for all the associations and your contact and everything. But if the people who are listening to us just now would like to know a little more about the good Shipping Association, where should they go? What is it? What is a good way to learn more about the good?

 

[00:31:35] Shipping Association If we are on the website Care Bien Chipping Punto or RG is the website and we are also on LinkedIn Carinen Chipping Association. So there you can learn a little bit more about what we’re trying to do. As all associations worldwide, going through a lot of work these last few years because of the issue of dwindling revenues how to deliver value to the member in this virtual and digital age and reinventing a lot of the fabela, we made one. The annual general meeting was held in November last year and the complaint from all the members was hey you and we wanted to talk more. We wanted to see it later, but we were looking for one. Annual general meeting platform, which will be well documented and these platforms try to restrict people’s participation. This was a theme, but people want that warmth, they want it. He says he could go to the bar and have a drink and talk to people and he knows how business is. She misses him terribly. He misses very, very, very much. And we’re looking at how we keep the generation relevant to those people who need that Caribbean warmth.

 

[00:32:55] No, I think everyone needs and it’s important to have that kind of human relationship, that personal touch. When you’re trying to talk about business or trying to talk about anything else, then hopefully soon, soon we’ll get, we’ll get this done. I think we should. You had a couple of questions about that.

 

[00:33:15] If not more than questions. Enrique I wanted to take advantage of the experience of Juan Carlos, not in the association, but in his work, because the company for which he works port terminals in Colombia, in Mexico, as he mentioned in Chile, even in Asia. I would like to ask Carlos what he thinks are the biggest differences in port operations in these countries, being the case that Colombia your terminal is in the Caribbean and obviously in Chile, in the Pacific. Well, they tell us a little bit about the difference of working in the same industry, but in these countries that are so different culturally speaking. I think it was already a lot of audience value in Latin America.

 

[00:34:05] Look, that question is very interesting because the international port operator, like any multinational, seeks to standardize processes. But you want it to be like a MacDonalds, you want the burger to come out the same. If you buy it in the United States and you buy it in Brazil, if you buy it in Panama or if you buy it in Jenin. But if there is, there is no doubt that the operation has a very symbiotic relationship with the community. So, port communities are generally communities that are of lower economic status than the rest of the population. One and two are a major provider of employment in that community. So the dependence of the community with the port operator and gatekeeper operator with the terminal make that dynamic super important. There are countries in the region, for example, that are more inclined towards workers, that we have to take care of them. So there the union, for example, is much stronger and there is more demand. So the issue of the pandemic has also made it visible. That is the port terminal, because that’s where the personal protective equipment enters the food or exports out of South America, for example, the west coast, Peru, Chile and Ecuador have benefited greatly from the appetite in the United States, Europe for natural food and healthy food and bananas, bananas and blueberries and capers.

 

[00:35:55] All these perishable products have been in high demand. During this time these countries have seen demand soar. Follow the. But it is also in the context that the worker in general and the dock worker in particular is afraid to go out to work because of the pandemic. So the employer, the port operator, has had to make a lot of effort to give the worker peace of mind as far as possible to come to work, because it is necessary for the country, but also there you can come to work because we are taking care of your health. So, uh, hey, hey. There is a very important balance in the measures you have found in the doctor. The disparity of measurement in our countries, in the region, and that is a reflection of the, the thinking of the governments in relation to the pandemic, to the health and economic security of the country. So if the context in which they operate is super important for these ports, because they are, they are, they are, they are very much in the economy, not only the country, but more importantly the port community, in which they are.

 

[00:37:12] Very reference and and infallible. But we are you who have operations also in Vietnam, let’s say, or you had clear as it is the is the same at the level of the relationship with the community is the same and obviously culturally they are like very different, but what are the similarities and the major differences.

 

[00:37:33] When in Vietnam I have to remember that there’s a much more centralized, a much more centralized, communist government and for example there the all the private companies have to be in partnership with the government, call it ministry or authority or whatever, they have to be a partner. So the relationship with the community is through that government agent. And there’s a lot less because you know? The government wants to control the message the community receives and I imagine the government wants the community to perceive that there is another benefactor beyond the government. So all the communication is done through these government entities and you depend a lot on them to keep working. Vietnam, for example, has been one of the great beneficiaries of the pandemic issue. Have they controlled it? I think there’s been a death in Cubby’s Vietnam. And now it’s good. Now they are struggling with a wave of issue, but they are having 500 e positive per day in Panama so they have a day. We are 2500 positive per day. And on top of that, people try to diversify their chain. Coming out of China, Vietnam has been the main recipient of production, so Vietnam has done very, very well. So much so that the year now early this year, began to work a terminal that began construction ten years ago and had stopped because there was no demand and right there. Well, last year they restarted work to start up operations and they started operations two or three weeks ago because of the level of volume that Vietnam is preparing to export.

 

[00:39:28] Yes the congestion now in globally and in Asia is impressive. But if Vietnam has been one of the ports, this is a good one. Hoch Mixer and several of its ports have been the most. Benefited in terms of traffic and increased traffic. From the transports there. Juan Carlos On this, comparing all these different countries and all these different types of terminals and operations and well, in your job allows you to have access to all this information and make comparisons in your in your opinion. Taking into account the competition and your experience and obviously your company. What three characteristics are necessary to make a successful port operator? What would it be if you had to sum it up in three very clear characteristics for the people who are listening? In your opinion, what makes a port operator like you and your company successful?

 

[00:40:32] The first is to understand the environment in which you work, because the one as they call it on television, every time you have the canned commercials, the commercials that you see there. But now more and more age that the announcer is the one who speaks the commercial because he wants to. He wants to modulate the message. So the operator has to modulate this message knowing that it comes with a canned operation, but you have to modulate the soul. In our case we would say that you want to tropicalize the message and you can’t bring an operation 100 percent for the Caribbean than for Europe. For example, in the case of us we bring a crane and Enrique who are a robot talÃn. Cranes make 98 percent of the dispatches. Automatically then the crane, when a carrier comes to pick up a container, the transport comes. Enrique Álvarez of looking for the container, etc. When you pass a reader the cranes in the yard detect that you are entering. They tell Tuina to look for the container and communicate with our operating system to ask it where the container is. Then the machine that is closest automatically selects that is the work order, it is placed on the spot. Search for the container. Move the containers you have to move. It takes the container out and when you place yourself down, it detects that you are down and puts the container in. That’s it. No person.

 

[00:42:10] That is in Panama or in all its terminals.

 

[00:42:13] This is in Panama, this is in Panama. The operator I worked with in Panama, we were the first in Latin America to implement. Now there are other terminals that already have this technology. But my point is that in order to achieve this we had to tropically fix the processes a lot, because this was coming from Europe, for example. And you depended on the transport having its equipment in good condition. And unfortunately in our countries this is not generally the case. Or you need the carrier to be in position 100 percent of the time and you know it’s not 100 percent of the time. So you have to be much more flexible in formulating the processes in order to be successful, because without you you don’t have that flexibility that I wish didn’t have to exist. You’re going to live with a heart attack every day that you’re going to eat and disruptions and exceptions every day. That’s the first, to be able to understand the context in which I work, but the second is to have discipline. You have to have that consistency that I want to accomplish this and we’re going to have 75,000 reasons why not to do it. But if you know that this is the right thing to do to bring more benefits to the operation, that it will bring benefits to the carrier, the shipping line, the users, you have to do it. In other words. Discipline is extremely important. And the third, I would say have a little bit of humility because you know? The reality is that we move 90 percent of everything that arrives to the countries and at the moment we can say well, if we don’t work hard, we go and stop the whole country. But you have to have a little bit of humility to say well, I’m part of a gear and I have to keep working and I have to keep shaping the system so that we can all move forward. So I would say these are the three.

 

[00:44:09] Gazel with excellent message and well, I think you can extrapolate it to much more than just logistics. I say by reading them now you realize your context and environment. Discipline and humility. It could almost, almost be the recipe for any business and even anyone’s personal life as well. It is not, let’s be redundant, with some of. We see the reaction to this.

 

[00:44:40] If not definitely that Carlos has hit on some very specific points and at the end he mentioned a little bit what the disruptions are. Does our business live by instructions or is it basically our daily life? These changes that occur and the acceleration of changes and make them mentioned Fin without saying it directly. This technological evolution, this growth that we as professionals have to have as we are constantly learning what we know, right? And I think a lot of what he has conveyed today is based on just that. And I think Enrique, that the purpose of this program is just to alert in some way or share with or with the audience that imperative need we all have to grow day by day, to learn. I didn’t like the points Juan Carlos made today very much. I think they add tremendous value to all of us, how this industry has changed so much, huh? It changes a lot and will continue to change a lot in the days to come.

 

[00:45:59] No, of course, no, I totally agree. And definitely a very interesting talk with a very successful person both professionally and personally. Juan Carlos it has been a pleasure to meet you. Thank you very much. I think your message is a message of unity for all the regions of Latin America. It’s a pretty broad message for anyone who is listening to us to apply. And again, thank you very much for taking a couple of minutes to talk with us. Before we go and say goodbye I wanted to ask you where they can get you? Where? Where the people who are listening to us. If you want to know a little more, either from your company right now from the Manzanillo International Terminal or from the CAR Bien Shipping Association, where you can get Juan Carlos Colostomía.

 

[00:46:55] Youtube, LinkedIn e Juan Carlos, Croton, Twitter, the andele JC, rayita below Croton and there well, there you can read a little bit. Last year, well, reading online whatever. Demo. I had to do other things as well. I collaborated in a book about digitalization in the maritime sector. Her name is Mary Candid, Tito Hammerstein and we also started writing. I have written about maritime digitization because truth Enrique, that’s a topic, eh? Para goes to the Caribbean. First we were talking about how people were going to be taken out. People, the shipping agent is a broker and said well, that there is a platform on which services are offered, the guy is out, the cafe. The point now is not to tell him you’re getting out, is it? How do you ride that wave so the wave won’t carry you away. And we’re trying to teach him that we should reverse the issue and for that I think almost everyone. And how do we talk about this? This applies to almost all entrepreneurs in our region. You know what you have to do this? They know they have to invest in digital. The issue is one, how do they do it too that they have to do? It’s like NASA or how do I get my teeth into this and how do I pay for that I think with the two super big sweeps that we find ourselves in right now that we’re trying to educate people on how to do it. Because well, the book and the writings go in line to try to explain to people how to do this and through the associations like the Crain Chipping Association, Auteuil, a pool so that the common front of them can go to seek funding in a more accessible way for them and be able to bring them the Noja or in two or three options that is not like when you go to the supermarket and you find in the aisle 150 cereals and you do not know which one to choose. Make two or three to suit you and they can.

 

[00:49:03] Isn’t it great? And well, this is a very, very broad topic of conversation that you just opened up. The digitization of agents. How are they going to be changing in Latin America, in the Caribbean? This is probably enough for another interview. Or maybe a panel. We’d love to maybe put something like this together to discuss a little more of what you’re talking about. Again, thank you very much. Let us give many thanks for accompanying us as well. Nice to have you and good for all who are listening. Thank you so much for being part of these conversations on your Chain Now in Spanish. Please, if you liked the talk, if you are interested in logistics, don’t forget to subscribe to Supply Chain OWW! You can also look for us on the Supply Chain or Dotcom website and you can also find us on LinkedIn at Supply Chain Now. Please subscribe it’s free and you should not miss this kind of episodes and interviews as interesting as the one we had today with Juan Carlos Toston Juan Carlos. A last word to say goodbye to the program. Anything you would like to tell our audience to improve in 2021? Any challenges you would like to propose to all the colleagues and supply chain people listening to us?

 

[00:50:28] Well, I’ll tell you what I’m working on, huh? He thinks that we dedicate a lot of time to professional growth and on the personal side we are going to work on it by learning. What are we going to do then, eh? I’m putting in a little bit of time. Oh, also how to be a better dad and how to be a better husband. And I think it’s a lot about patience, eh? I have four children, three boys want patience is a commodity of high scarcity. The real everything

 

[00:51:02] Righteousness.

 

[00:51:03] Yes, absolutely. More in times of pandemic, having everyone in the house.

 

[00:51:08] Chili peppers and good, eh. My wife is a saint and I try to remember every time there is a problem in the house, that I am a teacher to my children and that every time something happens that I don’t like, in a moment maybe not to punish or scold but in a moment to teach. So my priority for this 2021 is to work on my patience so I can teach instead of scolding or punishing. There in the house. Look, I don’t know if the other person wants to work on this, but it seems to me that something I could grow into much better.

 

[00:51:50] Well, you’ve got it. This excellent message and excellent new year’s resolution. I believe that for all the next few years of our lives. Patience, patience this one and become a good teacher of your children so that the world will continue to improve. Juan Carlos Thank you very much again, thank you very much. See you next time.

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Dando Visibilidad a la Cadena de Suministro Marítima: Entrevista a Juan Carlos Croston

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Juan Carlos Croston es presidente del consejo general de la Caribbean Shipping Association, el órgano rector de la asociación. El Sr. Croston también es vicepresidente de marketing y asuntos corporativos de Manzanillo International Terminal – Panamá (MIT-Panamá).

El Sr. Croston trabajó a bordo de embarcaciones tipo panamax antes de unirse al MIT-Panamá en marzo de 2004. Fue presidente de la Cámara Marítima de Panamá y actual presidente de la Asociación Naviera del Caribe. Actualmente también se desempeña como miembro del comité de partes interesadas global de la Red MTCC de la Organización Marítima Internacional. El Sr. Croston ha coescrito artículos sobre temas relacionados con la digitalización en el transporte marítimo y contribuyó al libro Maritime Informatics (2020). En julio de 2014, el Sr. Croston recibió el Premio al Alumno Distinguido de la Universidad Marítima Internacional de Panamá y, en mayo de 2015, fue incluido por Lloyd’s List en su lista de líderes marítimos mundiales “Next Generation 2015”, la única de América Latina.

El Sr. Croston tiene un B.S. Licenciada en Ingeniería Náutica de la ex Escuela Náutica de Panamá y M.Sc. Licenciado en Asuntos Marítimos de la Universidad Marítima Mundial, Malmö, Suecia. Está muy felizmente casado y tiene 4 hijos maravillosos. Conéctese con Juan Carlos en LinkedIn.

Demo Perez started his career in 1997 in the industry by chance when a relative asked him for help for two just weeks putting together an operation for FedEx Express at the Colon Free Zone, an area where he was never been but accepted the challenge. Worked in all roles possible from a truck driver to currier to a sales representative, helped the brand introduction, market share growth and recognition in the Colon Free Zone, at the end of 1999 had the chance to meet and have a chat with Fred Smith ( FedEx CEO), joined another company in 2018 who took over the FedEx operations as Operations and sales manager, in 2004 accepted the challenge from his company to leave the FedEx operations and business to take over the operation and business of DHL Express, his major competitor and rival so couldn’t say no, by changing completely its operation model in the Free Zone. In 2005 started his first entrepreneurial journey by quitting his job and joining two friends to start a Freight Forwarding company. After 8 months was recruited back by his company LSP with the General Manager role with the challenge of growing the company and make it fully capable warehousing 3PL. By 2009 joined CSCMP and WERC and started his journey of learning and growing his international network and high-level learning. In 2012 for the first time joined a local association ( the Panama Maritime Chamber) and worked in the country’s first Logistics Strategy plan, joined and lead other associations ending as president of the Panama Logistics Council in 2017. By finishing his professional mission at LSP with a company that was 8 times the size it was when accepted the role as GM with so many jobs generated and several young professionals coached, having great financial results, took the decision to move forward and start his own business from scratch by the end of 2019. with a friend and colleague co-founded IPL Group a company that started as a boutique 3PL and now is gearing up for the post-Covid era by moving to the big leagues.

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Enrique Alvarez

Host, Logistics with Purpose

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Demo Perez

Host, Supply Chain Now en Espanol

Demo Perez started his career in 1997 in the industry by chance when a relative asked him for help for two just weeks putting together an operation for FedEx Express at the Colon Free Zone, an area where he was never been but accepted the challenge. Worked in all roles possible from a truck driver to currier to a sales representative, helped the brand introduction, market share growth and recognition in the Colon Free Zone, at the end of 1999 had the chance to meet and have a chat with Fred Smith ( FedEx CEO), joined another company in 2018 who took over the FedEx operations as Operations and sales manager, in 2004 accepted the challenge from his company to leave the FedEx operations and business to take over the operation and business of DHL Express, his major competitor and rival so couldn’t say no, by changing completely its operation model in the Free Zone. In 2005 started his first entrepreneurial journey by quitting his job and joining two friends to start a Freight Forwarding company. After 8 months was recruited back by his company LSP with the General Manager role with the challenge of growing the company and make it fully capable warehousing 3PL. By 2009 joined CSCMP and WERC and started his journey of learning and growing his international network and high-level learning. In 2012 for the first time joined a local association ( the Panama Maritime Chamber) and worked in the country’s first Logistics Strategy plan, joined and lead other associations ending as president of the Panama Logistics Council in 2017. By finishing his professional mission at LSP with a company that was 8 times the size it was when accepted the role as GM with so many jobs generated and several young professionals coached, having great financial results, took the decision to move forward and start his own business from scratch by the end of 2019. with a friend and colleague co-founded IPL Group a company that started as a boutique 3PL and now is gearing up for the post-Covid era by moving to the big leagues.

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Mary Kate Love

VP, Marketing

Mary Kate Love is currently the VP of marketing at Supply Chain Now focused on brand strategy and audience + revenue growth. Mary Kate’s career is a testament to her versatility and innovative spirit: she has experience in start-ups, venture capital, and building innovation initiatives from the ground up: she previously helped lead the build-out of the Supply Chain Innovation Center at Georgia-Pacific and before that, MxD (Manufacturing times Digital): the Department of Defense’s digital manufacturing innovation center. Mary Kate has a passion for taking complicated ideas and turning them into reality: she was one of the first team members at MxD and the first team member at the Supply Chain Innovation Center at Georgia-Pacific.

Mary Kate dedicates her extra time to education and mentorship: she was one of the founding Board Members for Women Influence Chicago and led an initiative for a city-wide job shadow day for young women across Chicago tech companies and was previously on the Board of Directors at St. Laurence High School in Chicago, Young Irish Fellowship Board and the UN Committee for Women. Mary Kate is the founder of National Supply Chain Day and enjoys co-hosting podcasts at Supply Chain Now. Mary Kate is from the south side of Chicago, a mom of two baby boys, and an avid 16-inch softball player. She holds a BS in Political Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

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Joshua Miranda

Marketing Specialist

Joshua is a student from Institute of Technology and Higher Education of Monterrey Campus Guadalajara in Communication and Digital Media. His experience ranges from Plug and Play México, DearDoc, and Nissan México creating unique social media marketing campaigns and graphics design. Joshua helps to amplify the voice of supply chain here at Supply Chain Now by assisting in graphic design, content creation, asset logistics, and more.  In his free time he likes to read and write short stories as well as watch movies and television series.

Donna Krache

Director of Communications and Executive Producer

Donna Krache is a former CNN executive producer who has won several awards in journalism and communication, including three Peabodys.  She has 30 years’ experience in broadcast and digital journalism. She led the first production team at CNN to convert its show to a digital platform. She has authored many articles for CNN and other media outlets. She taught digital journalism at Georgia State University and Arizona State University. Krache holds a bachelor’s degree in government from the College of William and Mary and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of New Orleans. She is a serious sports fan who loves the Braves. She is president of the Dave Krache Foundation. Named in honor of her late husband, this non-profit pays fees for kids who want to play sports but whose parents are facing economic challenges.

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Vicki White

Controller

Vicki has a long history of rising to challenges and keeping things up and running. First, she supported her family’s multi-million dollar business as controller for 12 years, beginning at the age of 17. Then, she worked as an office manager and controller for a wholesale food broker. But her biggest feat? Serving as the chief executive officer of her household, while her entrepreneur husband travelled the world extensively. She fed, nurtured, chaperoned, and chauffeured three daughters all while running a newsletter publishing business and remaining active in her community as a Stephen’s Minister, Sunday school teacher, school volunteer, licensed realtor and POA Board president (a title she holds to this day). A force to be reckoned with in the office, you might think twice before you meet Vicki on the tennis court! When she’s not keeping the books balanced at Supply Chain Now or playing tennis matches, you can find Vicki spending time with her husband Greg, her 4 fur babies, gardening, cleaning (yes, she loves to clean!) and learning new things.

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Katherine Hintz

Creative Director, Producer, Host

Katherine Hintz, MBA is a marketing professional who strives to unite her love of people with a passion for positive experiences. Having a diverse background, which includes nonprofit work with digital marketing and start-ups, she serves as a leader who helps people live their most creative lives by cultivating community, order, collaboration, and respect. With equal parts creativity and analytics, she brings a unique skill set which fosters refining, problem solving, and connecting organizations with their true vision. In her free time, you can usually find her looking for her cup of coffee, playing with her puppy Charlie, and dreaming of her next road trip.

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Kim Reuter

Host, The Freight Insider

From humble beginnings working the import docks, representing Fortune 500 giants, Ford, Michelin Tire, and Black & Decker; to Amazon technology patent holder and Nordstrom Change Leader, Kimberly Reuter has designed, implemented, and optimized best-in-class, highly scalable global logistics and retail operations all over the world. Kimberly’s ability to set strategic vision supported by bomb-proof processes, built on decades of hands-on experience, has elevated her to legendary status. Sought after by her peers and executives for her intellectual capital and keen insights, Kimberly is a thought leader in the retail logistics industry.

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Kristi Porter

Host, Logistics with Purpose

Kristi Porter is VP of Sales and Marketing at Vector Global Logistics, a company that is changing the world through supply chain. In her role, she oversees all marketing efforts and supports the sales team in doing what they do best. In addition to this role, she is the Chief Do-Gooder at Signify, which assists nonprofits and social impact companies through copywriting and marketing strategy consulting. She has almost 20 years of professional experience, and loves every opportunity to help people do more good.

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Sofia Rivas Herrera

Host, Supply Chain Now en Espanol

Sofia Rivas Herrera is a Mexican Industrial Engineer from Tecnologico de Monterrey class 2019. Upon graduation, she earned a scholarship to study MIT’s Graduate Certificate in Logistics and Supply Chain Management and graduated as one of the Top 3 performers of her class in 2020. She also has a multicultural background due to her international academic experiences at Singapore Management University and Kühne Logistics University in Hamburg. Sofia self-identifies as a Supply Chain enthusiast & ambassador sharing her passion for the field in her daily life.

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Katherine Hintz

Sales and Marketing Coordinator

Katherine is a marketing professional and MBA candidate who strives to unite her love of people with a passion for positive experiences. Having a diverse background, which includes nonprofit work with digital marketing and start-ups, she serves as a leader who helps people live their most creative lives by cultivating community, order, collaboration, and respect. With equal parts creativity and analytics, she brings a unique skill set which fosters refining, problem solving, and connecting organizations with their true vision. In her free time, you can usually find her looking for her cup of coffee, playing with her puppy Charlie, and dreaming of her next road trip.

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Kim Winter

Host, Supply Chain Now

The founder of Logistics Executive Group, Kim Winter delivers 40 years of executive leadership experience spanning Executive Search & Recruitment, Leadership Development, Executive Coaching, Corporate Advisory, Motivational Speaking, Trade Facilitation and across the Supply Chain, Logistics, 3PL, E-commerce, Life Science, Cold Chain, FMCG, Retail, Maritime, Defence, Aviation, Resources, and Industrial sectors. Operating from the company’s global offices, he is a regular contributor of thought leadership to industry and media, is a professional Master of Ceremonies, and is frequently invited to chair international events.

He is a Board member of over a dozen companies throughout APAC, India, and the Middle East, a New Zealand citizen, he holds formal resident status in Australia and the UAE, and is the Australia & New Zealand representative for the UAE Government-owned Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA), the Middle East’s largest Economic Free Zone.

A triathlete and ex-professional rugby player, Kim is a qualified (IECL Sydney) executive coach and the Founder / Chairman of the successful not for profit humanitarian organization, Oasis Africa (www. oasisafrica.org.au), which has provided freedom from poverty through education to over 8000 mainly orphaned children in East Africa’s slums. Kim holds an MBA and BA from Massey & Victoria Universities (NZ).

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Adrian Purtill

Host, Logistics with Purpose

Adrian Purtill serves as Business Development Manager at Vector Global Logistics, where he consults with importers and exporters in various industries to match their specific shipping requirements with the most effective supply chain solutions. Vector Global Logistics is an asset-free, multi-modal logistics company that provides exceptional sea freight, air freight, truck, rail, general logistic services and consulting for our clients. Our highly trained and professional team is committed to providing creative and effective solutions, always exceeding our customer’s expectations and fostering long-term relationships. With more than 20+ years of experience in both strategy consulting and logistics, Vector Global Logistics is your best choice to proactively minimize costs while having an exceptional service level.

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Kevin Brown

Host, Logistics with Purpose

Kevin Brown is the Director of Business Development for Vector Global Logistics.  He has a dedicated interest in Major Account Management, Enterprise Sales, and Corporate Leadership. He offers 25 years of exceptional experience and superior performance in the sales of Logistics, Supply Chain, and Transportation Management. Kevin is a dynamic, high-impact, sales executive and corporate leader who has consistently exceeded corporate goals. He effectively coordinates multiple resources to solution sell large complex opportunities while focusing on corporate level contacts across the enterprise. His specialties include targeting and securing key accounts by analyzing customer’s current business processes and developing solutions to meet their corporate goals. Connect with Kevin on LinkedIn.

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Jose Miguel Irarrazaval

Host, Logistics with Purpose

Jose Manuel Irarrazaval es parte del equipo de Vector Global Logistics Chile. José Manuel es un gerente experimentado con experiencia en finanzas corporativas, fusiones y adquisiciones, financiamiento y reestructuración, inversión directa y financiera, tanto en Chile como en el exterior. José Manuel tiene su MBA de la Universidad de Pennsylvania- The Wharton School. Conéctese con Jose Manuel en LinkedIn.

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Nick Roemer

Host, Logistics with Purpose

Nick Roemer has had a very diverse and extensive career within design and sales over the last 15 years stretching from China, Dubai, Germany, Holland, UK, and the USA. In the last 5 years, Nick has developed a hawk's eye for sustainable tech and the human-centric marketing and sales procedures that come with it. With his far-reaching and strong network within the logistics industry, Nick has been able to open new avenues and routes to market within major industries in the USA and the UAE. Nick lives by the ethos, “Give more than you take." His professional mission is to make the logistics industry leaner, cleaner and greener.

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Allison Giddens

Host, Logistics with Purpose

Allison Krache Giddens has been with Win-Tech, a veteran-owned small business and aerospace precision machine shop, for 15 years, recently buying the company from her mentor and Win-Tech’s Founder, Dennis Winslow. She and her business partner, John Hudson now serve as Co-Presidents, leading the 33-year old company through the pandemic.

She holds undergraduate degrees in psychology and criminal justice from the University of Georgia, a Masters in Conflict Management from Kennesaw State University, a Masters in Manufacturing from Georgia Institute of Technology, and a Certificate of Finance from the University of Georgia. She also holds certificates in Google Analytics, event planning, and Cybersecurity Risk Management from Harvard online. Allison founded the Georgia Chapter of Women in Manufacturing and currently serves as Treasurer. She serves on the Chattahoochee Technical College Foundation Board as its Secretary, the liveSAFE Resources Board of Directors as Resource Development Co-Chair, and on the Leadership Cobb Alumni Association Board as Membership Chair and is also a member of Cobb Executive Women. She is on the Board for the Cobb Chamber of Commerce’s Northwest Area Councils. Allison runs The Dave Krache Foundation, a non-profit that helps pay sports fees for local kids in need.

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Billy Taylor

Host of Dial P for Procurement

Billy Taylor is a Proven Business Excellence Practitioner and Leadership Guru with over 25 years leading operations for a Fortune 500 company, Goodyear. He is also the CEO of LinkedXL (Excellence), a Business Operating Systems Architecting Firm dedicated to implementing sustainable operating systems that drive sustainable results. Taylor’s achievements in the industry have made him a Next Generational Lean pacesetter with significant contributions.

An American business executive, Taylor has made a name for himself as an innovative and energetic industry professional with an indispensable passion for his craft of operational excellence. His journey started many years ago and has worked with renowned corporations such as The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (GT) leading multi-site operations. With over 3 decades of service leading North America operations, he is experienced in a deeply rooted process driven approach in customer service, process integrity for sustainability.

A disciple of continuous improvement, Taylor’s love for people inspires commitment to helping others achieve their full potential. He is a dynamic speaker and hosts "The Winning Link," a popular podcast centered on business and leadership excellence with the #1 rated Supply Chain Now Network. As a leadership guru, Taylor has earned several invitations to universities, international conferences, global publications, and the U.S. Army to demonstrate how to achieve and sustain effective results through cultural acceptance and employee ownership. Leveraging the wisdom of his business acumen, strong influence as a speaker and podcaster Taylor is set to release "The Winning Link" book under McGraw Hill publishing in 2022. The book is a how-to manual to help readers understand the management of business interactions while teaching them how to Deine, Align, and Execute Winning in Business.

A servant leader, Taylor, was named by The National Diversity Council as one of the Top 100 Diversity Officers in the country in 2021. He features among Oklahoma's Most Admired CEOs and maintains key leadership roles with the Executive Advisory Board for The Shingo Institute "The Nobel Prize of Operations" and The Association of Manufacturing Excellence (AME); two world-leading organizations for operational excellence, business development, and cultural learning.  He is also an Independent Director for the M-D Building Products Board, a proud American manufacturer of quality products since 1920.

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Lori Sofian

Marketing Coordinator

Lori is currently completing a degree in marketing with an emphasis in digital marketing at the University of Georgia. When she’s not supporting the marketing efforts at Supply Chain Now, you can find her at music festivals – or working toward her dream goal of a fashion career. Lori is involved in many extracurricular activities and appreciates all the learning experiences UGA has brought her.

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Chantel King

Social Media Manager

My name is Chantel King and I am the Social Media Specialist at Supply Chain Now. My job is to make sure our audience is engaged and educated on the abundant amount of information the supply chain industry has to offer.

Social Media and Communications has been my niche ever since I graduated from college at The Academy of Art University in San Francisco. No, I am not a West Coast girl. I was born and raised in New Jersey, but my travel experience goes way beyond the garden state. My true passion is in creating editorial and graphic content that influences others to be great in whatever industry they are in. I’ve done this by working with lifestyle, financial, and editorial companies by providing resources to enhance their businesses.

Another passion of mine is trying new things. Whether it’s food, an activity, or a sport. I would like to say that I am an adventurous Taurus that never shies away from a new quest or challenge.

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Trisha Cordes

Administrative Assistant

Trisha is new to the supply chain industry – but not to podcasting. She’s an experienced podcast manager and virtual assistant who also happens to have 20 years of experience as an elementary school teacher. It’s safe to say, she’s passionate about helping people, and she lives out that passion every day with the Supply Chain Now team, contributing to scheduling and podcast production.

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Clay Phillips

Business Development Manager

Clay is passionate about two things: supply chain and the marketing that goes into it. Recently graduated with a degree in marketing at the University of Georgia, Clay got his start as a journalism major and inaugural member of the Owl’s football team at Kennesaw State University – but quickly saw tremendous opportunity in the Terry College of Business. He’s already putting his education to great use at Supply Chain Now, assisting with everything from sales and brand strategy to media production. Clay has contributed to initiatives such as our leap into video production, the guest blog series, and boosting social media presence, and after nearly two years in Supply Chain Now’s Marketing Department, Clay now heads up partnership and sales initiatives with the help of the rest of the Supply Chain Now sales team.

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Amanda Luton

Vice President, Production

Amanda is a production and marketing veteran and entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience across a variety of industries and organizations including Von Maur, Anthropologie, AmericasMart Atlanta, and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Amanda currently manages, produces, and develops modern digital content for Supply Chain Now and their clients. Amanda has previously served as the VP of Information Systems and Webmaster on the Board of Directors for APICS Savannah, and founded and managed her own successful digital marketing firm, Magnolia Marketing Group. When she’s not leading the Supply Chain Now production team, you can find Amanda in the kitchen, reading, listening to podcasts, or enjoying time with family.

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Constantine Limberakis

Host

Constantine Limberakis is a thought leader in the area of procurement and supply management. He has over 20 years of international experience, playing strategic roles in a wide spectrum of organizations related to analyst advisory, consulting, product marketing, product development, and market research.Throughout his career, he's been passionate about engaging global business leaders and the broader analyst and technology community with strategic content, speaking engagements, podcasts, research, webinars, and industry articles.Constantine holds a BA in History from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and an MBA in Finance & Marketing / Masters in Public & International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh.

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Mary Kate Soliva

Host, Veteran Voices

Mary Kate Soliva is a veteran of the US Army and cofounder of the Guam Human Rights Initiative. She is currently in the Doctor of Criminal Justice program at Saint Leo University. She is passionate about combating human trafficking and has spent the last decade conducting training for military personnel and the local community.

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Kelly Barner

Host of Dial P for Procurement

Kelly is the Owner and Managing Director of Buyers Meeting Point and MyPurchasingCenter. She has been in procurement since 2003, starting as a practitioner and then as the Associate Director of Consulting at Emptoris. She has covered procurement news, events, publications, solutions, trends, and relevant economics at Buyers Meeting Point since 2009. Kelly is also the General Manager at Art of Procurement and Business Survey Chair for the ISM-New York Report on Business. Kelly has her MBA from Babson College as well as an MS in Library and Information Science from Simmons College and she has co-authored three books: ‘Supply Market Intelligence for Procurement Professionals’, ‘Procurement at a Crossroads’, and ‘Finance Unleashed’.

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Enrique Alvarez

Host of Logistics with Purpose and Supply Chain Now en Español

Enrique serves as Managing Director at Vector Global Logistics and believes we all have a personal responsibility to change the world. He is hard working, relationship minded and pro-active. Enrique trusts that the key to logistics is having a good and responsible team that truly partners with the clients and does whatever is necessary to see them succeed. He is a proud sponsor of Vector’s unique results-based work environment and before venturing into logistics he worked for the Boston Consulting Group (BCG). During his time at BCG, he worked in different industries such as Telecommunications, Energy, Industrial Goods, Building Materials, and Private Banking. His main focus was always on the operations, sales, and supply chain processes, with case focus on, logistics, growth strategy, and cost reduction. Prior to joining BCG, Enrique worked for Grupo Vitro, a Mexican glass manufacturer, for five years holding different positions from sales and logistics manager to supply chain project leader in charge of five warehouses in Colombia.

He has an MBA from The Wharton School of Business and a BS, in Mechanical Engineer from the Technologico de Monterrey in Mexico. Enrique’s passions are soccer and the ocean, and he also enjoys traveling, getting to know new people, and spending time with his wife and two kids, Emma and Enrique.

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Kevin L. Jackson

Host of Digital Transformers

Kevin L. Jackson is a globally recognized Thought Leader, Industry Influencer and Founder/Author of the award winning “Cloud Musings” blog.  He has also been recognized as a “Top 5G Influencer” (Onalytica 2019, Radar 2020), a “Top 50 Global Digital Transformation Thought Leader” (Thinkers 360 2019) and provides strategic consulting and integrated social media services to AT&T, Intel, Broadcom, Ericsson and other leading companies. Mr. Jackson’s commercial experience includes Vice President J.P. Morgan Chase, Worldwide Sales Executive for IBM and SAIC (Engility) Director Cloud Solutions. He has served on teams that have supported digital transformation projects for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the US Intelligence Community.  Kevin’s formal education includes a MS Computer Engineering from Naval Postgraduate School; MA National Security & Strategic Studies from Naval War College; and a BS Aerospace Engineering from the United States Naval Academy. Internationally recognizable firms that have sponsored articles authored by him include CiscoMicrosoft, Citrix and IBM.  Books include “Click to Transform” (Leaders Press, 2020), “Architecting Cloud Computing Solutions” (Packt, 2018), and “Practical Cloud Security: A Cross Industry View” (Taylor & Francis, 2016). He also delivers online training through Tulane UniversityO’Reilly MediaLinkedIn Learning, and Pluralsight.  Mr. Jackson retired from the U.S. Navy in 1994, earning specialties in Space Systems EngineeringCarrier Onboard Delivery Logistics and carrier-based Airborne Early Warning and Control. While active, he also served with the National Reconnaissance Office, Operational Support Office, providing tactical support to Navy and Marine Corps forces worldwide.

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Tyler Ward

Director of Sales

Tyler Ward serves as Supply Chain Now's Director of Sales. Born and raised in Mid-Atlantic, Tyler is a proud graduate of Shippensburg University where he earned his degree in Communications. After college, he made his way to the beautiful state of Oregon, where he now lives with his wife and daughter.

With over a decade of experience in sales, Tyler has a proven track record of exceeding targets and leading high-performing teams. He credits his success to his ability to communicate effectively with customers and team members alike, as well as his strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.

When he's not closing deals, you can find Tyler on the links or cheering on his favorite football and basketball teams. He also enjoys spending time with his family, playing pick-up basketball, and traveling back to Ocean City, Maryland, his favorite place!

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Chris Barnes

Principal, Supply Chain Now
Host of Supply Chain is Boring

Talk about world-class: Chris is one of the few professionals in the world to hold CPIM-F, CLTD-F and CSCP-F designations from ASCM/APICS. He’s also the APICS coach – and our resident Supply Chain Doctor. When he’s not hosting programs with Supply Chain Now, he’s sharing supply chain knowledge on the APICS Coach Youtube channel or serving as a professional education instructor for the Georgia Tech Supply Chain & Logistic Institute’s Supply Chain Management (SCM) program and University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Center for Professional Education courses.

Chris earned a BS in Industrial Engineering from Bradley University, an MBA with emphasis in Industrial Psychology from the University of West Florida, and is a Doctoral in Supply Chain Management candidate.

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Greg White

Principal & CMO, Supply Chain Now
Host of Supply Chain Now and TECHquila Sunrise

When rapid-growth technology companies, venture capital and private equity firms are looking for advisory, they call Greg – a founder, board director, advisor and catalyst of disruptive B2B technology and supply chain. An insightful visionary, Greg guides founders, investors and leadership teams in creating breakthroughs to gain market exposure and momentum – increasing overall company esteem and valuation.

Greg is a founder himself, creating Blue Ridge Solutions, a Gartner Magic Quadrant Leader in cloud-native supply chain applications, and bringing to market Curo, a field service management solution. He has also held leadership roles with Servigistics (PTC) and E3 Corporation (JDA/Blue Yonder). As a principal and host at Supply Chain Now, Greg helps guide the company’s strategic direction, hosts industry leader discussions, community livestreams, and all in addition to executive producing and hosting his original YouTube channel and podcast, TEChquila Sunrise.

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Scott W. Luton

Founder, CEO, & Host

As the founder and CEO of Supply Chain Now, you might say Scott is the voice of supply chain – but he’s too much of a team player to ever claim such a title. One thing’s for sure: he’s a tried and true supply chain expert. With over 15 years of experience in the end-to-end supply chain, Scott’s insights have appeared in major publications including The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and CNN. He has also been named a top industry influencer by Thinkers360, ISCEA and more.

From 2009-2011, Scott was president of APICS Atlanta, and he continues to lead initiatives that support both the local business community and global industry. A United States Air Force Veteran, Scott has also regularly led efforts to give back to his fellow veteran community since his departure from active duty in 2002.

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