While he has had the opportunity over the years to have personally known many of the pioneers in the industry, it is good to know there are still many around. After 43 years, he is still in the industry having spent 38 of those years with Danzas AEI, as it is now known, and God willing he will retire from the company where it all began for him.

By 1956, Adrian immigrated to the United States and shortly thereafter began his career in the aviation industry.

1958 -1962 - Lanica Airlines-Miami, Florida. Passenger Service Representative/ Operations Representative. General customer service and flight operations related position.

1963-1967 - APSA Peruvian Airline- Miami, Florida. Senior Passenger Service Representative. .Passenger Service Representative lead worker position. Responsible for general customer services, as related to the position.

1967-1970 - Caribair-San Juan, Puerto Rico, Station Manager. Responsible for all aspects of routine operation and day-to-day functions of the Miami Station.

1970-1979 - Air Florida / Air Sunshine / AAT Airlines-Miami, Florida. Staff Vice President. Began as General Manager, advanced to Executive Vice President, and finally to Staff Vice President. Responsible for reorganization of a commuter air taxi into a successful regional air carrier, development of interline program, creation of a comprehensive marketing plan, establishing and administrating all new stations.

1979-1981 - Lone Star Airways- Dallas, Texas. Senior Vice President of Operations. Responsible for all pending matters concerning the federal Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB). Gave comprehensive testimony before the CAB and successfully obtained authority for the company’s operation.

1981-1984 – AeroSun International, Inc. – Tampa, Florida. VP and General Manager. Responsible for overseeing all phases of operations for regularly scheduled flights, charter passenger service, freight flights, commuter carrier services, and supervised approximately 150 employees.

1985-1992 - Ryder Systems.Inc. / Aviation Sales Company- Miami, Florida..Director of Aircraft Programs. Began as a Marketing Representative, advanced to Manager of Aircraft Sales & Leasing, and Finally to Director of Aircraft Programs. Responsible for a $250 million commercial aircraft portfolio, customer relations, contract negotiation and preparation, development and implementation of a sales marketing plan.

1985-1992 - Deca Resources Corporation – Miami, Florida. President. Founder and President of a professional organization dedicated to the re-marketing of used commercial aircraft and Aviation Industry consulting. Served as a contractual consultant to several major airlines regarding the development and application of industry related marketing plan.

1994 – Present - Aviation Sales Company – Miami, Florida. Vice President of Sales, Latin America & Caribbean. Responsible for the development, implementation and maintenance of a marketing and sales strategy for a multi-million dollar portfolio of aircraft parts and components in the Latin American and Caribbean markets, client development, all aspects of customer relations, and contract negotiation and preparation.

Personal

Awards: Paul Harris Fellow – Rotary International: Special Appreciation Award – Big Brother.

Interests: Sports, baseball, football and basketball.

He rejoined the industry in 1968 and worked for Reedy Forwarding Company for a number of years. He joined Canadian Gulf Line of Florida in 1972 until the company was sold and then went to work for Eller & Company, Inc. as Assistant Vice President representing Kirk Line’s service to the Caribbean among others.

In 1988 he became co-founder of Antilles Freight Corporation, an NVOCC, where he served as the company Executive Vice President for a number of years. This culminated with his appointment as President of Anchor Worldwide Inc.

His shipping career began as a freight forwarder and expanded into the area of ocean carrier operations when he worked for Shaw Company, Trans-Caribbean Maritime, and as District Manger of Mediterranean Shipping Company.

Mr. Naranjo has done work as a Maritime Arbitrator; and has been a member of the Propeller Club. He served as Vice President of the South Florida NVOCC Association and other trade organizations.

At the present time, he is a Maritime/Shipping Consultant.

1987 Retired/Nistal International, Inc., Consultant

1953-1961 Agencia de Aduanas Ruiz-Nistal, Havana, Customhouse Brokers & Forwarding Agents, General Manager-Owner
1958-1961 Customhouse Brokers Association of Cuba & Customhouse Brokers Association of Havana, officer.
1953-1961 Compania Comercial y Arrendadora, S.A., Havana, President/Treasurer
1961 Arrived at Miami International Airport on May 31, 1961 with wife and two sons
1962 Centro Asturiano Hospital, Tampa, FL, Accts. Receivable Clerk
1963 US Army, Honorable Discharge
1963-1966 Chase Manhattan Bank, New York, NY, International Commercial letters of Credit Dept., Documentary Checker
1964-1966 American Institute of Banking, New York Capter, Foreign Banking Special Program Certificate, graduated 1966
1965 First National Bank of Miami, International Commercial Letters of Credit Dept., Assist. Supervisor
1967-1973 Topp Import & Export, Inc., Miami, FL, International Dept. Manager & In-House Customhouse Broker
1970 Customhouse Broker License, Miami, FL October 7, 1970
1974-1978 Kendale Technology Corp., Miami, FL, Domestic & International Operations, Vice-President/In-House Customhouse Broker
1978-1981 Topp Electronics, Inc., Miami, FL, Domestic & International Operations, Vice-President/In-House Customhouse Broker
1981-1983 National Electronics, Inc., Miami, FL, International Dept. Manager/In-House Customhouse Broker
1983-1986 Ram’s Cargo Brokers, Inc., Miami, FL Vice-President
1987 Ros Forwarding, Inc., Miami, FL, Bonded Warehouse Operations & IBEC program/Consultant & In-house Customhouse Broker
1987 Cosmo Communications Corp., Miami, FL, Bonded Warehouse Oper./Consultant & In-House Customhouse Broker
1987-1997 Nistal International, Inc., Miami, Fl, President

Mr. Novela Began working at Miami International Airport, in 1963, for Aviateca Airlines as a cargo Agent. In 1965, he became Cargo Manager.

1968 - 1977 General Manager for Passenger and Cargo for Aviateca Airlines.

1977 - 1985 US General Manager for ANDES Airlines

1985 - 1990 Cargo Manager for AESA

1990 - 1993 Cargo Manager for Florida West (until his retirement in 1993)

Mr. Novela was member of Miami Air Cargo Association (MACA), from 1971-1990, and he served on the Board of Directors for MACA from 1979-1980.

He spent a total of 30 years of service at Miami International Airport.

In the mid-50's, he acquired a transport carrier, Expresso Aereo Interamericano, that had 4 planes that shuttled to Cuba several times a day. Later, having learned fluent Spanish he bought farm land and sent machinery

to Cuba to grow, harvest and import pineapples and plantains for the US market, however, this was all lost with the Castro regime.

Florida Freight Terminals was started using the warehouse space in the original MIAD, buildings C-1, C-2, and C-3. This company continued to load cargo on airplanes destined for Central America.

In 1966, he acquired the rights to a dormant freight forwarder authority owned by Sea-land. Florida - Texas Freight was the new carrier that would bring LTL freight from the Northeast and Ohio into Florida and Texas. This southbound-only carrier grew quickly in the market, utilizing the cost-saving efficiency of the rail service. Time critical services were brought into the market by loading the trailers of his long time associate, Armellini Express. Mr. Armellini needed to get his empty trailers back south for more flower loads and this combination provided 2-3 day service into Florida, which had not been previously achieved.

After retiring as the CEO of Florida - Texas Freight in 1984, he remained active by continuing to explore new food product opportunities, concentrating on importation in the seafood market.

Mr. Parker was President of Florida Motorships from 1970-1974.

From 1974-1987, Mr. Parker was Vice-President and partner at Caribbean Agencies/Mayan Line. He represented Commodore Cruise Line, a cargo operation to Haiti and Jamaica. He helped establish Nopal Caribe Lines to Aruba, Curacao, and Panama, and assisted Napal in expanding into the eastern Caribbean and Venezuela.

From 1983-1986, Mr. Parker was Vice-President, National Sales, Concorde Napal, and from 1986-1989, he was Vice-President at SeaXpress/Seaboard Marine. In that capacity he assisted The Maduro Group in creating SeaXpress service to the Bahamas. In 1992, Mr. Parker was Director of Sales for Nopal Caribe Line, and General Manager of Lorentzen Shipping Agency. He was then promoted to Vice-President Sales. The Company was sold to Caribbean Container Line in 1993. In 1995, Radio Brothers purchased SeaXpress from the Maduro Group, and later that year it was sold to Seaboard Marine. In August 1996. Seaboard eliminated his position.

The company moved him from Cap-Haitien to Port Au Prince. He stayed with them for a year, and then went to work at Pan American Airways. In 1957, Pan Am transferred him from Port Au Prince to Los Angeles, California. He was with Pan Am for ten years and during that time met Rick Sellentia who was with AEI. Later Rick left AEI to open a Los Angeles office for Circle Airfreight. Only one other office existed in Portland, Oregon. Rick hired him and that was the beginning of his freight forwarding career. He helped Rick open many other US offices for Circle. He traveled all over Europe visiting new agents and making joint sales calls; soon Circle was one of the leading airfreight forwarding companies. Nine years later he and many top Circle management left to join Novo, Int’l. They sent him to Miami in 1972.

Mr. Pasquis started traveling again only this time instead of Europe it was the Caribbean, and Central and South America. A couple of years later Novo started a new joint venture in Brazil. He was the designated person to head the new airfreight office in Brazil. Two years later he moved back to Miami, only to find out that Novo was closing their doors. Three weeks later he was hired by Fritz Companies in 1978, where he met a fabulous lady, got married and a couple of years later they opened their own business. First, they opened a branch office for Pacheco Int’l. until they were able to purchase a company that wanted to close, Phoenix Int’l. That is when the hard work really began, and thanks to Gisele and a group of loyal dedicated people they put Phoenix on the map. They are recognized in the industry and take great pride in servicing their clients.

Jack was active for many years in he National Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association (NCBFAA), and he was also a member of the board of Cargo Network Systems (CNS).

In March 1973, Mr. Perez joined All Americas Forwarding Company as Vice President and part owner, and remained there until July 1989. At that time, he started Cargamericas Forwarding Services, Inc., as President and owner, and it is with this company where he currently remains.

Mr. Perez considers himself to be extremely lucky to have started his career in the shipping business during this period where he was able to share and participate along with so many fine people like Gene Rodriguez, Cesareo Llano, Oscar de Tuya, Jorge de Tuya, Jr., Julio Suarez, Mario Rodriguez, Ed Bacallao, Fred Ramirez, Esteban Miranda, Ralph Puga, Jorge Medina, and many others.

In 1960, Sonneborn Chemical Co., an oil company based in NYC, offered him a job as Assistant Manager of their International Traffic Department, which he quickly accepted, as he had just been graduated from T.M.I. School of Transportation with a degree in Foreign Export Trade.

For family related reasons, he had to move back to Cuba in December of 1962, where he remained until 1969, when he was able to leave the island.

On arrival in Miami, he began working as an ocean Traffic Manager for Suarez Shipping Services Inc. (his brother-in-law’s forwarding company). In 1978, Mr. Jaume and his wife, Nora, established their own company, Seaflet, Inc., where he remained until his retirement last September.

Mr. Perez-Jones’ experience in the Maritime Industry dates back to 1967, beginning with CHESTER, BLACKBURN & RODER, INC. / Pan Atlantic Lines, where he reached the position of Corporate Sales Manager. In 1983, he was one of the founding members of SEABOARD MARINE, LTD., the largest ocean carrier through the Port of Miami. He reached the title of Vice President of Sales and Marketing, developing all sales to and from the United States, Central/South America, the Eastern Caribbean and the Intra-Regional cargo between these countries. His most recent accomplishment after more than 33 years of ocean transportation service is being promoted to the title of Senior Vice President. Mr. Perez-Jones is an active member of the local shipping community where trade and commerce continues to be his life and passion.

Membership in the following organizations:

• Caribbean Central American Action (CCAA)- Chairman, Washington, DC
• DR- Central American Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA)- Coalition Co-Chairman, Washington, DC
• World Trade Center Miami- Chair-Elect
• Florida Free Trade Area Americas (Florida FTAA)- Board Member
• Florida Foreign Trade Association (FFTA)
• Transportation Pioneers Program- Member and Award Recipient
• Hall of Fame- Chairman
• Customs, Finance and Trade Symposium- Director
• Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce- Trustee.

A U.S. citizen and a native of Cuba, Mr. Perez-Jones immigrated to the United States in his early childhood.

Rudy Pineda has been married for 37 years to his wonderful wife Vivian, and they have a son and daughter, and thanks to them they are the proud grandparents of two beautiful granddaughters, Kaitlin, 4 years old, and Jaqueline, 2 years old.

His first International Cargo experience was from 1964 to 1974 when he worked for Cargo Development, Inc./Lacsa Airlines. Here he began in the warehouse working with the cargo and acquired experience passing from one position to the next. There he managed various countries’ cargo until he became the District Cargo Manager for Lacsa Airlines. This he considers his "School in the Cargo Industry."

From 1971 to 1978 , Hector got involved in a project to develop a company for "Cargo Handling" (ConoSur Cargo Services), as its Director. At the same time, he began working at T.A.T Airfreight as a Salesman, where he later became the Manager of Stations and Vice-President. Always missing the airline business and the smell of the airport, he got to Ecuatoriana de Aviacion.

From 1978 to 1982, he became the Manager of Cargo for North America at Ecuatoriana de Aviacion. Under his supervision, they increased their sales and increased the frequency of cargo flights between Miami and Ecuador from 3 to 6 a week.

From 1982 to 1983, wanting to become independent and have his own business he created a handling company, "Speedair Cargo Service," soon realizing how difficult it was to run the business and, he did not have sufficient capital. He shared this with Jose Armas (who has since passed away), his cargo partner. They both had great courage and honor, but without the capital it was not possible to continue.

From 1983 to 1989, Speedair helped open the door to meeting Bill Spohrer, who at that time was trying to keep "Challenge Air Transport" (which later became Challenge Air Cargo), afloat. Here, Hector reached levels such as Senior Vice- President and Vice-President for Latin America, being responsible for opening business in Central and South America and at the same time coordinating the sales in Miami, and the documentation of flights. During this time he was nominated as treasurer of the "The Miami Cargo Association." He did this for a period of time and then had to excuse himself due to the growing responsibilities he had at work.

From, 1989 to 1994 Hector became General Manager of Interamericana de Aviacion. Since he had acquired a lot of experience he was able to develop an operation in Venezuela with organization, planning, strategy and sales. He began dominating the transportation market in cargo to Venezuela. He incremented his flights using DC-8, Series 55 and DC-8-61; by up to 10 to 11 flights weekly to Maiqueta and Maracaibo, Venezuela. This is one of Hector’s triumphant life accomplishments. During this time he made many contacts and friends in this great country which he considers of great value. At the same time, he brought a Peruvian Cargo Company (Export Air Del Peru), to the market.

From 1994 to 1997, while serving as Vice-President and General Manager of Fine Airlines, Inc., he created and developed the Latin American market, including traveling to meet the foreign local authorities, hiring personnel, and organizing the operation and administration of the foreign stations. At the same time, he heads up the sales and traffic department in Miami.

From 1997 to 1998, he worked with his good friend from the Airline Cargo Industry, Jorge Arias, where they both shared in many activities and triumphs at SER-JOBS (a non-profit organization) Employment Specialist.

Since 1998, Hector has been a Vice-President of Mario’s Air/Southeast Airfreight, Inc., where he associates himself with regional cargo operations and enjoys his daily work with the Bahamas and the Florida Keys. Now in his early 60’s, he continues to have the enthusiasm in planning the growth of this company.

Hector Ponte is married to Gloria and has made Miami his home since 1961. He has two adult children, Hector J. and Lourdes and five grandchildren.

In 1961 he was forced to leave Cuba and came to Miami. A few weeks after arriving, he began working as an export clerk at Florida International Forwarders. In 1969, Mr. Puente left FIF and started working at Tuya International, as a clerk in the Ocean Freight Department. A few months later he was promoted to Ocean Freight Manager.

He was in charge of all ocean shipments and ocean consolidations to Panama, El Salvador, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Honduras, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Ecuador, Argentina, and Uruguay.

Ricardo Puente, with so many years of experience in the industry, is an expert in the interpretation and handling of Letters of Credit. He was in charge of establishing the Ocean Freight Tariffs for all destinations served by Tuya International, and making the corresponding filing of tariffs at the Federal Maritime Commission.

In 1979, he was promoted to Vice-President-Ocean Freight. In 1986 when Tuya International was sold to the Swiss Danzas group, he remained at the then Danzas Tuya International as head of the Ocean Freight Department, until his retirement in 1993.

Mr. Puente’s penchant for service and his profound knowledge of all aspects of the ocean freight export services made him a real asset to the local Freight Forwarding and NVOCC industry

From 1974 to 1976, Ralph joined Aeromar Airlines as Operations Manager, Miami-Santo Domingo, D.R., and from 1976 to 1981, he served as Sales Manager, Cargo Consolidations Operations in Alas Iberoamericana, the first air cargo consolidations serving the freight forwarding industry

From 1981 to 1994, he started Aero American Cargo Transport an NVOCC, and Air Cargo Consolidation. In 1981, he established World Consolidators & Forwarders Warehouse, Inc. a US Customs Bonded Warehouse and Distribution services for the freight forwarding industry. In 1996, he merged his business with World Terminal Distributing Corp. where he is presently the Executive Vice-President.

In 1985, together with a group of prominent businessmen and women they formed the Miami Foreign Trade Association, a non-profit trade association. Ralph was the first President with the following officers: 1^st Vice-President: Harvey Sykes, Adams Inter-America Corp., 2^nd Vice-President: Tony Descalzo, Intercontinental Corp, 3^rd Vice-President: Len Albert, L.B.A. Associates, Treasurer: Felix de Armas, Air France, Secretary: Tom Lamp'l, Airborne Express, and Membership Committee Chairman: Esteban Miranda, King Ocean Steamship Lines. He served as President from 1985 to 1987 and Chairman of the Board from1987 to 1998. In October 1994, it became the Florida Foreign Trade Association, reflecting the expansion of trade-related activity throughout the State. He has been the President from 1998 to present.

Ralph is the Vice-President of P&R Investments and Management, a company that owns and manages commercial real estate. He was selected this year to serve as the Miami Geographic Chairman, 2001 US Savings Bonds Campaign, one of 21 business leaders nationwide to be so named. He is a board member of the International Trade Board, City of Miami and member of the Port of Miami Seaport Alliance.

Personal circumstances then required that he seek shore-side employment and he "came ashore" in 1953,joining a large general agency in New York. He became Vice-President of Operations in that company in 1959.

In 1968, Luckenbach Steamship Company purchased Shaw Brothers in Miami. Shaw had operations not only in Miami but in Port Everglades, West Palm Beach and Port Canaveral. He accepted Luckenbach’s offer to head this newly acquired firm and with his family, moved to Miami in mid-1969.

Following the untimely death of the owner of Luckenbach Steamship Company in 1976, his widow sold the firm to Lavino Shipping Company and he remained as head of Lavino East Coast Florida operation until 1977 when he resigned and formed his own company…Oceanic Steamship…then, later, Oceanic Stevedoring Company and Anchor Repair Services.

It was then that he really learned the difference between working for someone else and running your own Company in a highly competitive South Florida!

They started a small ro-ro Liner Service and found themselves up against guys like Al Chester and his excellent staff (among others, Jerry Chester, John Lynch, etc.) Not to mention Barton Kirkconnel and his Kirk Line. And how about Hector Calderon and Ray Espino and CCT?

They went into the Stevedoring business and faced Neil Harrington, Del White, the Rovirosa family and the Lavino group that he had just left. It was a battle to get their own stevedoring permit because, at that time, there were, shall we say, some bureaucratic complications.

They fared a little better in the agency business. For example, he feels that they played a valuable roll in bringing Lykes Lines to South Florida and, by the mid-80’s their company was probably the largest independent agency company operating with about 70 people in the agency department alone.

This has been a great city to in which to work and there have been so many truly fine and interesting people here to have worked with…not only within his own company but in all areas. For example, who can forget Joey Teihebaum? How about Frank Rovirosa who arrived here with so little and founded a company that prospers to this day? And two of his favorites: Port Directors Admiral I. J. Stevens and Carmen Lunetta. There were Gerry Lesnik and Joe Luchese and Jack MCGovern and so many other good friends and hard-nosed competitors (He shouldn’t have started naming names…it won’t end).

In closing, he would like to set a forth a thought that the Florida Foreign Trade Association might find acceptable and worth working for: Both the Port of Miami and Port Everglades are effectively run by political entities…Miami-Dade County and Broward County. These two ports are highly competitive with each other. Both ports are, to a large extent, bureaucratic. Each port has distinctive strengths and weaknesses…railroad problems, tank farms, highway congestion, etc. When you drive from Miami-Dade to Broward you travel through one large metropolitan area and, if there are no signs, you wouldn’t know what city you were in.

In terms of airports and seaports we are now very much like the New York Metropolitan area: JFK Airport, Newark Airport, La Guardia, Port Elizabeth, Port Newark, New York Marine Terminals…all operated by a Port Authority overlooking facilities in 2 states and several counties.

Has the time come for our ever-growing communities to consider a single South Florida Port Authority to plan and oversee and operate our vast South Florida transportation facilities for what they are: Commercial areas completely unlike traditional urban service departments such as the Parks Departments, the School Systems, Water Departments, Police, Fire Department or the Health & Welfare?

In April 1966, she began working for Coordinated Caribbean Transport (CCT) as an accounting clerk. Shortly after and working under the management of Hector Calderon as president, she was transferred to the Traffic Department. This is where her career in the shipping industry truly began.

Throughout the years, she held various positions within the department; Line Manager for Costa Rica and Panama and Assistant Traffic Manager. In 1975, Amalia was promoted to the Sales Department under Juan Cambo. In Sales, she worked as Account Executive and eventually Sales Manger for the Central American Northern Zone, a position that she held until 1986 when CCT was bought by Crowley Maritime Corporation.

At that time, she decided to stay with the new organization. She successfully handled both Sales Manager positions assigned to her, initially as a North Bound Department manager and later as Central American South Bound Department Manager.

Later, she was offered the position of General Traffic Manager, which she gladly accepted, returning to the department where she began her career in the industry. She held that position working from the Port Everglades Office, until she retired in April 2001.

Amalia was very dedicated to her professional life and enjoyed every minute of it.

At the present time, she is enjoying spending time with her children, Maria Amalia (who lives in Denver), Carmen Maria, her son in law, Humberto and grandchildren, Claudia and Javier. Attending a Major League Baseball game is still her favorite pastime.

In 1986 started with Yellow Freight Systems as a Sales Representative handling the International traffic in Miami until January of 2003 when I retired from the Transportation industry.

Eric Rath was an innovator who had a great impact on South Florida and worldwide transportation by starting two important companies -- thus making him a true Pioneer.

After 4 years with the company, Redlhammer accepted an offer to become sales manager of Chester, Blackburn & Roder, Inc., a ship owner, operator and agency company that operated 16 ships in the Caribbean.

In, 1970, after having been made general manager of a "spin-off" corporation, Redlhammer founded a company of his own: Seariders, Inc., which operated as an NVOCC at the outset, primarily to Jamaica where the company soon became "No. 2" carrier in the market, out of 6 operating at that time.

During the years between 1970 and 1974, the company became licensed by the federal Maritime Commission as a "Freight Forwarder" and by the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) as an "Indirect Air Carrier." In 1974, the company was sold to a corporation out of California, but the name "Seariders" was not sold. This name would be used later (1984) when the present-day Seariders was founded by Redlhammer.

During the years from 1974 and 1977, Redlhammer tackled various assignments which led him to North Africa (Algeria), Europe, and the Caribbean.

In 1977, Redlhammer joined the Port Everglades Authority as Director of Development for the port. Later on (1979), he accepted the position of Director of Florida’s first Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ). The Zone was unbuilt, and empty. Within 12 months things began to change. Operational procedures were re-vamped, use of the zone increased dramatically, and by early 1981 the zone was "cramped" for space. From that point forward, the zone has been virtually full with a waiting list for available space.

In 1984, Redlhammer decided to leave the relative "safety" of his position with the Port Authority to re-enter the business world.

Seariders was formed in mid-1984, licensed by the Federal Maritime Commission as a Freight Forwarder, and opened for business. From humble beginnings, literally in the Redlhammer’s living room, Seariders has grown to become one of the leading freight forwarding, air freight, and international logistics providers in Florida with offices in Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades) , Florida. In addition, a worldwide network of Seariders’ agents (Global Logistics Associates) provide on-site destination services in over 100 ports and airports around the world.

In 1986, Seariders Brokerage Corporation was formed and provides Customs Brokerage services to importers in Florida and multinationals using Florida as a base of operations. This company was established as a pure Customs Brokerage company and previously limited its services to US Customs operations and assistance services to importers.

Recently, Seariders Brokerage Corporation became licensed by the Federal Maritime Commission as an Ocean Freight Forwarder/OTI and has filed a Tariff with the FMC as an NVOCC. Seariders Brokerage Corporation is a certified "ABI" (Automated Broker Interface) Customs Broker with direct computer link to U.S. Customs.

With two licensed Customs Brokers on staff, Seariders Brokerage Corporation also provides consulting services in Foreign Trades Zones operations and other Customs issues.

Recently, Seariders Brokerage Corporation initiated NVOCC services from India to major US Ports and has quickly become one of the most active NVO’s in that import market.

The newest addition to the Seariders Group, "Overland" extends the service area of the Seariders companies inland to all points in the U.S. and Canada. Seariders Overland, Inc. and its package of services positions the Seariders Group as a true international logistics provider and is the fastest growing member of the Seariders Group.

Personal Information: Born - Miami, Florida - Married - 3 grown children

Residence: 10651 SW 27th Street, Davie, Florida 33328

Phone: 954.472.8664

General background:

Licensed Customs Broker (US Treasury Department)

Licensed Freight Forwarder (US.Federal Maritime Commission)

(Qualifying officer for four(4) FMC freight forwarding licenses since 1970)

Founding Director, Florida's first Foreign Trade Zone , Port Everglades, Florida

Past Director, Development, Port Everglades Authority

Past International Vice President, Ft.Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce

Past President, Fort Lauderdale World Trade Council

Guest Lecturer, Florida Atlantic University- Post Graduate- Int'l Business

Guest Lecturer, Nova University - Post Graduate- Int'l Business

Member, FAU's "International Business Executive Advisory Board" [IBEAB]

Member of Florida's "District Export Council" (DEC) , an appointment by the

U.S.Secretary of Commerce. ( Second appointment by Secretary Ron Brown in

1996 - 4 years to 2000 AD) Re-Appointed 2000.

Member, Florida Council of International Development. Elected to Board of Directors in March 1997, elected to Executive Committee April 1998.

A broadly experienced practitioner in international trade and transport, with over 30 years experience in Shipping, Airfreight and Documentation , and a licensed Customs Broker and Freight Forwarder, Redlhammer provides expert comprehensive support services to international businesses both large and small.

Howard was born in Knoxville, Tennessee in 1914. His father brought the family to Miami in the early 20’s. Howard went to Miami High and later graduated from the University of Florida. Following in his father’s footsteps, he went to work in the Accounting Department of the Miami Daily News. He was quick to realize that this would not be his life’s work and soon took a job with a ship building operation in Stuart, Florida. He participated in the building of a tug for Belcher Oil Company, and thus began his love of the Marine Industry. Seeing the construction of the Belcher tug to its completion he left Stuart to return to Miami. He took a job with a steamship company and after several years started a stevedoring company to handle the unloading of ships arriving from Central America. His new company provided the labor to unload the ships and put the cargo in trucks for distribution. His main client was the Banana Supply Company, now known as Chiquita Brands – still one of the company’s major clients. He also became a steamship agent, clearing the ships with the marine division of Customs. Utilizing the skills he learned while working with the ship builder, conveyors that would lift the stems of bananas from the ship’s hold onto horizontal conveyors and into the waiting trucks. This greatly reduced the amount of time it took to unload and turn the ships around.

To further expand his services, he took the Customs Broker’s exam. At that time, it was a verbal exam held before a panel of Customs officials in Tampa and took most of a day to complete. In February, 1940 he was issued license number 1837. He operated as an individual broker until 1974, when he formed his company, Howard S. Reeder, Inc.

Today, his sons, Steele and Larry Reeder, as well as his grandchildren: Alicyn, Ross, and Howard III (Trey), enjoy the benefits of working in the company that Howard, Sr. founded and built with integrity. They all feel truly blessed to have an opportunity to carry on his professional legacy… to follow in the footsteps of a man who provided a shining example of how to live, work, play and honor family.

Barbara’s career in association management came on the heels of working in international trade. In 1976, just three years after settling in Florida, she joined the Houston-based Behring International in Miami. As an account executive while working for Behring, she joined and actively participated in various community and industry organizations. One of those was the FCBF, where she was an active member of the Board of Directors, and chaired the Air Freight and Publication Committees.

After accepting the position of Executive Director in 1981, under the leadership of Mr. Cesaro Llano, Barbara opened the first fully staffed FCBF office. Then, she concentrated on developing programs designed to expand the organization’s revenue base, improve membership services, and increase retention. Most notably, FCBF accomplished significant gains in their public influence, both in the Florida Statehouse, and in Washington with Florida’s congressional delegation.During the past 20 years, Barbara has remained active and influential in international trade. As a designate server on the International Trade and Economic Development Council, (formerly known as the Florida International Affairs Commission), she continued to eagerly tap the expertise of various industrial, regulatory and political leaders from the "warehouse to the White House" on their behalf.

She brought that same enthusiasm and commitment to relationship- development to her position at NCBFAA. Building on her achievements in Florida, Barbara looks forward to new challenges she faces as the administrative head of a national trade association. She focuses her energy on articulating and addressing the concerns of NCBFAA’s membership and their 30 affiliate offices that include Florida. During her first year in Washington, she served as a member on the White House Y2K Council, and most recently, successfully launched the NCBFAA Educational Institute nationwide.

Prior to relocating from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Barbara was a student working in international studies at Barry University. She is currently continuing her studies at the University of Maryland. Besides being an association executive active in various organizations and a student, Barbara is the proud mother of a very special 19-year old son, Travis, who was introduced to FCBF as a baby attending the FCBF Parent/Child meeting in May of 1981

Francisco Rey trained and helped many young men and women that came after him. He will be remembered in our hearts as a true friend and as a hard worker.

June 15th of that same year he was hired as a messenger and receiving clerk by Mr. Vicente Rodriguez, Sr. then President for Florida Inter Island Shipping Corporation, better known as "Florida Lines" under the supervision of Henry Sussman. Later he became Line Service Manager for The Virgin Islands (St. Thomas and St. Croix). In 1967 after Juan Deiros left the Company, he became assistant Traffic Manager for Virgin Island, Dominican Republic, and Haiti.

In 1970 Florida Lines was sold to Canadian Gulf Lines, and 4 employees of Florida Line left the Company and founded Transytur Line of Florida, Mr. Alberto Menacho was the Manager and Mr. Ribas was in charge of Traffic and Operations, until Mr. Corrado Altomare decided to give Harrington and Company the agency for Transytur Line.

In November 1974, he was employed as Ocean Documentation Manager by Frontier Freight Forwarders until in 1977 when Mr. Llano founded General Cargo Services (which later became Stair Cargo Services). He spent 18 years at Stair, as Ocean Documentation Manager, and then in 1979 the NVOCC Department became part of the Ocean Department. In the 80’s he was also Traffic Manager, Special Account Manager, and Perishable Dept. Manager.

In 1991 the Company was sold to Intertrans and then to Fritz Company. During that time he held the same positions as above – Under Fritz administration he became a Director for Ocean NVOCC, reporting directly to headquarters.

After so many years with the Company, he resigned in January 1995 to start working with another well established World Wide Company - Jas Forwarding. Due to internal Administration problems within the Miami Operation, Headquarters terminated All Managers for Air, Ocean and Sales, and since he was the Ocean Manager they let him go on July 6, 1995.

In September 1996 he started as NVOCC Manager for Florida International Forwarders. In 1996 they obtained the Account of OMC and he was appointed Special Account Manager.

In August 2000, Mr. Ribas along with Cesareo Llano and Santiago Eljaiek, started at Gamma Freight Forwarders, Inc. where he became Vice President.

Edward Vernon Rickenbacker was born in Columbus, Ohio, on October 8, 1890. The son of Swiss immigrants, he was the third of eight children. His parents christened him Edward Rickenbacher, but he later added Vernon as a middle name "because it sounded classy" and changed the spelling of his last name to Rickenbacker so it would be less Germanic. He answered mostly to "Rick" but would be best known during later years as "Captain Eddie."

Although Rickenbacker set a world speed record of 134 mph at Daytona in 1914, he was never able to win the big prize at Indianapolis. While preparing for the Vanderbilt Cup Race in California in November 1916, he had his first ride in an aircraft -- flown by Glenn Martin, who was beginning his own career as a pilot and aircraft manufacturer. Rickenbacker had a lifelong fear of heights, but he had not been apprehensive during the flight.

When America entered the war in 1917, Rickenbacker volunteered despite the fact that he was making a reported $40,000 a year at the time. After only 17 days as a student pilot, Rick was graduated, was commissioned a lieutenant and assigned to the 94th Aero Squadron.

During October 1918, Rickenbacker scored 14 victories for what he and World War I historians have always claimed made a total of 26. In the 1960s the U.S. Air Force fractionalized his shared victories, reducing his total to 24.33, including four balloons. He flew a total of 300 combat hours, more than any other American pilot, and survived 134 aerial encounters with the enemy.

Rickenbacker became vice president and director of sales for the Rickenbacker Motor Company. The initial Rickenbacker designs, the first cars to have four-wheel brakes, rolled off the assembly line in Detroit in 1922. He traveled around the country in a German Junkers, attempting to set up nationwide dealerships. However, a recession in 1925 and vicious competition led to the company's downfall.

Rickenbacker resigned, thinking that might help the company, but it went bankrupt two years later. Now 35, Rickenbacker found himself a quarter of a million dollars in debt but refused to declare personal bankruptcy. He vowed to pay off every penny of debt--and did eventually, "through hard work and some fortunate business deals."

In November 1927, Rickenbacker was offered financing by a friend to buy the majority of the common stock of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He served as the speedway's president until after World War II, a job that was not time-consuming and allowed him to look for other means of income to repay his debts. He started a comic strip called Ace Drummond that ran in 135 newspapers and published a book titled Fighting the Flying Circus, both based on his World War I experiences.

Rickenbacker was still so well-known that he always attracted crowds as a speaker. He is credited with helping to persuade the city fathers of 25 cities to develop airports, including one in the nation's capital.

In 1926 he got his first experience in commercial aviation when he and several associates formed Florida Airways. When that venture folded, Rickenbacker was appointed vice president of General Aviation Corporation (formerly Fokker), followed in 1933 by vice president of North American Aviation and general manager of its subsidiary, Eastern Air Transport.

The Air Mail Act of 1934, led to General Motors having to divest itself of most of its aviation holdings, but it was permitted to retain General Aviation Corporation and a reorganized Eastern Air Transport, with its name changed to Eastern Air Lines.

When Rickenbacker was named Eastern's general manager, he wanted to make the airline independent of government subsidy. He began to build the airline by improving salaries, working conditions, maintenance and passenger service, and making stock options available to employees. Eastern at the end of 1934 was setting the pace for air transportation by flying passengers, mail and express on eight-hour nighttime schedules between New York and Miami and nine-hour schedules between Chicago and Miami to make connections with Pan American's system to South America and the Caribbean.

In April 1938, Rickenbacker and several associates bought the airline for $3.5 million and he became its president and general manager. A reduction in fares brought an immediate increase in passenger traffic. The company became a bonded carrier, the first airline in the world to take such an action. It meant that goods entering the US by air or surface craft could be transported by Eastern under bond for delivery to any city having a customhouse. As Rickenbacker saw it, Eastern was the first airline to operate as a free-enterprise company -- without government subsidy; for many years, it was the only one.

By the end of 1941, Eastern was serving 40 cities with 40 DC-3s. The advent of World War II drastically changed all the commercial airlines. Eastern had to give up half its fleet to the military services and took on the task of military cargo airlift, flying Curtiss C-46s to South America and across the South Atlantic to Africa. With the government dictating what the airlines did, Rickenbacker was only able to stand by and see that Eastern held up its end.

Rickenbacker continued to serve the war effort by speaking at bond rallies and touring defense plants, and in mid-1943 was sent on a three-month, 55,000-mile trip to Russia and China. When it appeared that victory in World War II was on the horizon in late 1944, the airlines began to return to normal operations. Rickenbacker encouraged Eastern's expansion and placed orders for Lockheed Constellations and Douglas DC-4s. Those were followed by Martin 404s and Lockheed Electras. The Cold War began with the Berlin Airlift, followed by the Korean War, which forced more changes upon the airlines.

The introduction of jets to airline operations in the late 1950s caused serious adjustment problems. Rickenbacker resisted the changeover to some extent. He later recalled, "To keep up with the Joneses, we had to replace perfectly good piston-powered and turboprop airliners with the expensive new jets." He preferred that the other airlines be first to take the risk of breaking them in.

Rickenbacker did not like the way the government interfered with private enterprise and believed it leaned toward more and more bureaucracy and control. He battled the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) about routes and fares and resisted what the competition was making him adopt against his better judgment. For example, he thought the other airlines were wrong in serving hot meals and labeling them "free." Since the CAB was subsidizing his competitors, he reasoned, the costs came from the taxpayers. He predicted that passengers would eventually have to pay for liquor, which they do today. And Eastern finally had to give in and hire female flight attendants.

In 1953, Rickenbacker moved up to chairman of the board but remained general manager. In his memoirs, he proudly stated that in his 25 years as head of Eastern" "We were never in red ink, we always showed a profit, we never took a nickel of the taxpayers' money in subsidy, and we paid our stockholders reasonable dividends over the years, the first domestic airline to do so. During the postwar years, when all the other lines were in red ink and were running to the Civil Aeronautics Board for more routes and more of the taxpayers' money in subsidies, the Board would point to Eastern Air Lines as a profitable company and suggest that the other airlines emulate our example."

One of the noteworthy innovations during this period was the Eastern Air-Shuttle between Washington and New York. It began on April 30, 1961, with Lockheed Constellations and operated 20 round trips per day, flying empty or full, with no reservations required.

Rickenbacker reluctantly retired from Eastern on the last day of 1963 at age 73. He bought a small ranch near Hunt, Texas, but it proved to be too remote, especially for his wife, Adelaide. After five years, they donated the ranch to the Boy Scouts, lived in New York City for a while, and then moved to Coral Gables, Fla. Rickenbacker suffered a stroke in October 1972, but his famous luck held once more, and he recovered enough to visit Switzerland. He died there of pneumonia on July 23, 1973.

In an obituary published in a national magazine, William F. Rickenbacker, one of Captain Eddie's two sons, wrote: "Among his robust certainties were his faith in God, his unswerving patriotism, his acceptance of life's hazards and pains, and his trust in persistent hard work. No scorn could match the scorn he had for men who settled for half-measures, uttered half-truths, straddled the issues, or admitted the idea of failure or defeat. If he had a motto, it must have been the phrase I've heard a thousand times: 'I'll fight like a wildcat!'"

Jorge was a man of who possessed those special qualities needed to be a pioneer in our industry. When there were no big ships or aircraft carrying freight to our natural markets from Miami, when downtown was small, Jorge Robinson was there building on the great vision of our pioneers making Miami known, making it respected, laying down the foundations from which today’s glory emanates.

Jorge Robinson, we remember you gratefully!

From 1955 to 1962, Mr. Robles worked with TMT Trailer Ferry, Inc. (now known as Crowley), as Sales Manager.

Until 1997, Mr. Robles was with Latin American Express Corporation , which he founded in 1962. He specialized in international moves of household goods, and worked out of a 56,000 squared foot warehouse. Mr. Robles was President of the Traffic Club and Delta Nu Alpha Transportation Fraternity.

He is currently retired and helping his daughter manage Rodi Cargo International.

From 1955 through 1957, Gene moved back to Miami, and started as a documentation clerk with Three Bays Lines at Pier 3 in Downtown Miami. From 1957 through 1961, he was the Traffic Manager for Ransa Airlines, air cargo to Venezuela, and managed the Maracaibo office.

From 1962 to 1968, Gene managed the offices for World Wide Services, a New York freight forwarder that did air shipments to Latin America.

From 1968 through 1976, Gene joined Supreme Air Freight. Diversified Business founded Supreme Ocean Freight Corp., and opened and staffed new offices in San Salvador, Guatemala City, Panama, Maracaibo, Lima, and San Jose, Costa Rica. Gene worked closely with the Venezuelan Government to obtain approval of the ocean consolidator bill of lading. This opened the container consolidations to this country.

In 1977, Gene Rodriguez founded his own company, Gen-Rod Intl., as a family-ocean-air freight forwarder. The staff consisted of his wife, Ada, son Ronald, and the Pagan family.

Gene retired in 1986, but he has volunteered his administrative talents to the Coral Way United Methodist Church, which he helped to re-model the old church and build a new sanctuary.

In 1999, he joined Ralph Puga at the Florida Foreign Trade Association and founded the International Hall of Fame-Success Stories Committee. He is also a charter member of the Florida Custom Brokers and Forwarders Association and served on their board for 25 years.

In addition to his son, Gene has a daughter, Miriam, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He considers his life full and busy but beautiful!

Since 1999 she has owned her own company, "Cuba Aereo Inc." dealing in Cuban aviation memorabilia from the 40’s and 50’s.

Early that year he started to work for "Three Bays Lines," the company which had a fleet of four to five small cargo ships serving the Caribbean Islands and Venezuela. Several of the Pioneers in this industry received their inspiration and local training while employed by this small steamship company.

In 1959, Mario Rodriguez established "World Wide Air Marine, Inc." (with an initial investment of just $200.00), operating from his house. At that time, several tangible and physiological factors started to fall into place, including the diversification of mutually supporting services from airlines and steamship lines, the strategic location of Miami with Latin America and the Caribbean combined with Mario’s fluency in Spanish. All the above were essential for the growth of his company and World Wide Air Marine, Inc. soon grew to have more than 50 employees (at one time operating in a 110,000 square foot warehouse).

His warehouse became a hub for consolidations that allowed his customers to receive full container loads, which meant, at a much lower cost and fewer damages. This service was so practical and useful that Miami gradually became a center that attracted all businesses and transactions relative to international commerce.

Mario’s personal history is co-mingled with that of World Wide Air Marine, Inc. He has been the president and owner for the past 42 years. He is proud to have

At Lebca Airlines started October 1, 1959, and learned the trade shipping-dispatch, etc.

At AFISA Airlines was U.S. General Cargo Manager (1967 first woman in the industry to be appointed to this job). TAR/Aero Peru Airlines first woman to cover Miami/Houston/Chicago as Cargo Sales Rep and divert all shipments through Mia-Int’l-Continental Airlines Area Sales Manager (Miami & Latin America) CCT/Crowley.

Belonged to the Miami Air Cargo Association and the position held was Chairwoman of the Installation Dinners and special events. Director of International Group Tours-First woman president (2 years), chairwoman of the board. Florida Customs Brokers and Fdwrs. Association (1960-97)

Notary Public Association for Florida (1966-86)

International Air Cargo Association of Houston, Texas (1972-75)

International Air Cargo Association of Chicago, Illinois (1972-75)

Retired from Crowley American Transport in 1998 (39) years working in the airlines and ocean carrier industry.

I consider my self one of the luckiest person in the world to have had the opportunity to open the doors for other women in this industry and to have played a small part in Miami’s economic growth and developmental expansion. Miami is a wonderful and unique international city, which has become the "Gateway of the Americas" and I am more than proud to have made a contribution to its success.

At the beginning of 1993, he joined Challenge Air Cargo and remained with UPS when it took over Challenge.

Mr. Rodriguez’ s life’s work has been in the shipping industry. It has been a career spanning 73 years. Vicente Rodriguez started working in 1928 as an office boy in the shipping business of his grandfather in the port of Nuevitas, Camaguey, and Cuba. This only seemed natural, since he was then the third generation, on both, his father’s and mother’s side, to be in the business. By 1930, at 16, he was given some administrative duties, and by 1940, he was running the company.

He went to Havana in 1953 to organize Naviera Vacuba, which was to operate four Cuban cargo vessels. The company continued to grow with three more ships, a pier and a warehouse, and in 1957, he was named President.

He came to Miami as a political exile in 1961 and that same year he and a few others, organized Florida Lines, which began providing regular service to the Caribbean. As the company expanded, it opened an office in St. Thomas, USVI, acquired many containers and leased fenced space at the new Port of Miami. At that time, he also organized Metropolitan Cranes; the first and only company then to provide cranes for rent at the Port.

In 1970, after Florida Lines was sold to a Canadian company, he was named President of Ships Operators of Florida until 1973, when he founded Rodson Shipping, from which he retired, as President, in 1991.

He estimates that in the Port of Nuevitas, alone, he handled more that 1,350 vessels.

By the end of the 60’s the Company had developed a great business volume in Colombia assisted principally by Enrique. Today ROS forwarding covers destinations in South America and the company is now in the capable hands of Henry. 

Paco, as he was known to his many friends was born in Havana, Cuba in 1900. He was the father of five children including two sons, Frank, Jr., and Jorge, who have followed his footsteps in the maritime industry. He attended Belen Jesuit School in Havana and later graduated from what he referred to as "The University of Life."

He traveled extensively worldwide and expanded the business as a Stevedore Contractor and Terminal Operator in 1945, after the Second World War. Through his long career in the shipping business, he received many awards and commendations, including the German Cross from the government of West Germany. He was an active member of the Port of Miami Propeller Club, GMCC, and the City of Coral Gables People to People Program.

In 1945 Francisco A. Rovirosa founded and began the first Cuban-flagged tanker entity to handle liquid cargoes coastwise, as well as internationally mainly to US ports and Canada. His success is well known to the maritime community in Miami and, only with the support and backing of the freight forwarders and shippers in South Florida, did FAROVI Shipping Corporation grow and flourish during the past four decades. Today, due to this endless perseverance and energy, it has become one of the largest agents at the Port of Miami.

Frank A. Rovirosa (Paco) was one of the pioneers in the shipping industry in
Cuba in the 20th century.  He was a dedicated and disciplined professional
who started his business career as a steamship agent and ship's broker
representing mainly foreign liner services from different countries of the
world such as USA, Germany, Norway, Colombia, Central & South America,
Canada, Japan, etc.  F.A. Rovirosa, S.A. was one of the largest general
agents in the island with offices at most Cuban outports.

Paco, as he was known to his many friends was born in Havana, Cuba in 1900.
He was the father of five children including two sons, Frank, Jr., and
Jorge, who have followed his footsteps in the maritime industry.  He
attended Belen Jesuit School in Havana and later graduated from what he
referred to as "The University of Life."

He traveled extensively worldwide and expanded the business as a Stevedore
Contractor and Terminal Operator in 1945, after the Second World War.
Through his long career in the shipping business, he received many awards
and commendations, including the German Cross from the government of West
Germany.  He was an active member of the Port of Miami Propeller Club, GMCC,
and the City of Coral Gables People to People Program.

In 1948 Frank A. Rovirosa founded and began the first Cuban-flagged tanker owners, Cia. De Transporte Mar Caribe, S.A., to carry molasses syrups and other liquid cargoes coastwise, as well as internationally mainly from Cuba to US ports and Canada.  His success is well known to the maritime community
in Miami and, only with the support and backing of the freight forwarders and shippers in South Florida, did FAROVI Shipping Corporation founded in 1961 grow and flourish during the past four decades; and, due to this endless perseverance and energy, FAROVI Shipping Corporation became one of the largest agents in South Florida.

In 1972, FLORIDA STEVEDORING, INC., a wholly owned subsidiary started stevedoring & terminal operations both at Miami and Port Everglades where we handled break-bulk, lumber cargoes, as well as containers' vessels with the
inception of the container port at Lummus Island in 1980.