He started working at Miami International Airport in 1957, for Ransa Airlines. There he learned all the basics about cargo shipments. In 1960, he went to work with the freight forwarding company, World Wide Services Corp., where he continued to build on his knowledge of the cargo industry.

In 1964, he co-founded Supreme Air Freight and remained there until 1972 when he left to start his own company, "Sentry Airfreight Corp."

Mr. Sablon initiated the concept of freight forwarders building their own ULD’s for consolidations, thereby reducing the handling cost to the carrier and maximizing freight volumes on ULD’s, which contributed to a higher yield of profits for the forwarders.

He was also the initiator of the consolidations by air to Venezuela with Pan American Airlines.

Mr. Sablon reorganized the cargo section for Air Panama and Inair Airlines. He was the founder of Monarch Aviation, a company dedicated to the conversion of passenger planes to cargo.

There were many other companies that Santiago Sablon opened and organized with great success; however, he was always a humble person with great concerns about international trade activities and those who surrounded him.

Although, he passed away at a young age (45), he was most definitely a "Pioneer" and a promoter of great ideas that earned him the recognition of being one of the leaders of the development of the Florida cargo industry.

In 1981 Harle Services was bought by Panalpina and in August of the same year Mr. Sanchez left the company. In September 1981, Mr. Sanchez started his own company Miami Customs Brokers, where he remains to this day.

In 1978, Mr. Santaló left McCormick and moved to South Florida to assume a Cargo Sales Representative position with Chester, Blackburn and Roder, Inc., General Agents for Pan Atlantic Lines. He joined Sunbeam-Oster in 1981 as an Exporter Sales Representative and Traffic Consultant.

In 1985, he joined Farovi Shipping Corporation, a steamship agent, as Sales Representative for CCNI and Ivaran Lines. In 1993, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), the largest privately held steamship company in the world, hired him as Regional Sales Manager for South Florida. Mr. Santaló transferred to MSC’s Customer Service area in 1999, after undergoing open-heart surgery, and continues to work in this role today.

Bunny began her career in the transportation industry a little over 10 years ago, when she began to work for Miami-Dade County Seaport Department as the Intermodal Traffic Manager at the Port of Miami. Her days were spent glued to the computer, as she calculated rates and routing for containers and trailers from the Port of Miami to all point in the U.S. and Canada.

After 2 years, Bunny made a lateral move to the Miami-Dade County Aviation Department as a Marketing Specialist, where she began to work in the Cargo Development Division. Cargo Development has now become the Marketing & Trade Development Division, and Bunny still spends lots of time on the computer working on aviation statistics. What she loves most about her job is the airside tours that she gives to individuals and to many large groups, and her second greatest past time is working with MIA’s business partners.

Bunny has served as an Advisor on the Board of Directors of FFTA for the past 6 years. She also serves on several other committees including BASC, Air Cargo Americas, and the Customs, Trade and Finance Symposium, Within the Airport, Bunny is on the Web Team (check out MIA’s web site at www.miami-airport.com), the Performance Improvement Council, and she runs bimonthly meetings for MIA’s Cargo Partners.

He returned to Miami in 1972 and was hired by Hector Calderon of CCT. His first project was to tract the inland origins of the cargo being carried by CCT to Central America. This gave him insight as to how Miami became the focal point of trade from the USA to Latin America. The combination of the forwarding community here in Miami and the carriers based in Miami developed a cost-effective logistics system to move cargo to and from Central America. During his 5 years with CCT, he eventually became Director of Operations with the responsibility of moving the cargo both here in Miami and overseas.

He held similar positions with Stauffer Chemical Company, Nopal Caribe Lines, and Admiral Shipping Services. These experiences further broadened his knowledge and experiences. He then took a position with a start-up company in New Zealand to establish an Inter-Island RORO service. He was hired based on his knowledge, experience, and the reputation that he had earned here in Miami. Upon his return, he took a position with Eller and Company as their Port Manager in Jacksonville. They represented various liner services, bulk carriers and forest product carriers.

Since 1985, he has been the Vice President of Ecuadorian Line: Ecuadorian Line is part of the Grupo Noboa of Ecuador. They are the fourth largest marketers of bananas in the world. They are also a diversified group having manufacturing operations, banks, automobile distribution companies, food processing operations, land development, and banks in addition to being the largest exporter of bananas from Ecuador.

As general manager for the line, he has worldwide responsibility for the handling of general cargo to and from Ecuador. They have the largest market share on the trade lanes they operate on due to the nature of their service.

He is also a Director for Intercredit Bank, Chairman of the Loan Committee and member of the Audit Committee for the last ten years. In These positions, he deals with trade financing international loans and other transactions throughout Latin America.

In 1963, he accepted a position with Barco International (owned by Gerald Pakoff and Louis Irizarry), well-known by the Freight Forwarders Association. Barco International was later acquired by Fritz Companies. Mr. Sedano remained with the company as Manager until 1978.

In 1978, he decided to start his own Freight Forwarding Company, in association with Aida Valdes, by the name of Varko Inc. They have expanded the business and handled accounts in Central and South America. In 2000, he decided to semi-retire and Aida Valdes has since assumed full control of Varko, although he continues to participate in the daily operations on a part-time basis.

"My career in the freight forwarding and cargo business has expanded over a period of 50 years. I have grown in this business and have made many business and personal friends over the years. It has given me many opportunities over the years of which I am eternally grateful. I want to thank every individual who has in some way been part of my life."

Shortly after his return, to the US, he became Continental's first Manager of International cargo. He developed Continental's PacRim/LatAm interline cargo program by conducting training programs with various LatAm airlines and freight forwarder organizations, utilizing MIA and LAX as the major gateway cities.

For the past ten years, Joe has been COPA Airlines’ Manager Cargo USA

Since 1982, Joe has been the US Delegate for the Federacion de Asociaciones Nacionales de Agenrtes de Carga de America Latina y del Caribe (ALACAT). He is in his third term as Vice-President of the Florida Foreign Trade Association and second term as Chairman of the Aviation Committee. For the past ten years, he has been a member of the Air Cargo Americas Steering Committee; and ALACAT's Delegate to the Federation of Asia/Pacific Air Cargo Associations.

Joe holds numerous awards and commendations from the US Government, such as from the Secretary of State, Director CIA, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff, and from various organizations.

He arrived in the United States in April 1962, and spent one year working in the sugar fields and the sugar mill construction of Talisman Sugar Corporation.

In February 1963, after contacting several former managers of Owens-Illinois Cuban Plant, the InterAmerican Division notified Mr. Soberon that Octavio Rodriguez Hecth would be in Miami to attend a meeting at the International Airport Hotel. Mr. Hecth asked Mr. Soberon if he was willing to relocate to New York, and he agreed, becoming an export clerk in the company’s New York export office (using the bilingual skills he had acquired in Cuba). After a learning period he was designated Export Clerk for Central & South America. In 1965, he was asked to move to the world headquarters in Toledo, Ohio but declined the offer because first, Toledo is too cold. Second, his children were very small and third, he wanted to be able to help his family immigrate to the United States and felt that it would be too difficult to accomplish that from Toledo.

While in New York, Mr. Soberon also worked part time for Jonathon Logan in Accounts Receivable, aside from his position with Owens-Illinois.

In 1966, he was offered the opportunity to open in Miami for Cobal International. Returning to Miami afforded him the opportunity to be in a better climate and to be closer to Cuba where he could help his family. He opened Cobal International’s offices as a one-man operation. A few months later, he became night shift manager for Wings & Wheels Domestic Department, as a part-time job.

Subsequently, he was offered the Airfreight Manager position at A.E.I. He left Cobal International to work for A.E.I. and a year later, took the position of Manager for Surface Freight Corp. (AEI’s Ocean Division).

In 1972, he decided to open a Freight Forwarding Company, at the request of several managers from Black & Decker: All Americas Forwarding Company was created with two other partners. A few years later the partnership was reduced to two partners and in 1989 the company was dissolved and each partner opened his own company.

Mr. Soberon started Latin American Forwarding Company (LAFCO) in July 1989 with his daughter Evelyn as Vice-President, and a supporting staff that has helped them grow and establish their name. His son, George, also worked in the business for three years, but decided to go back to what he really liked to do and became a Police Officer. George was a member of the Armed Forces and is now a member of the Police Department in Coral Springs, Florida.

Mr. Soberon’s wife, Margarita, maintained the role of caring for the children and the home and is now enjoying caring for her grandchildren, while offering complete support to Mr. Soberon’s career and their advancement as a family unit. He has three grandsons and has hopes of starting a Baseball team with them (at least, he has the outfield covered).

His hobbies include Bird Breeding (a hobby he’s enjoyed since his childhood in Cuba), fishing (he tries to go fishing every Saturday), and spending time with his family (especially, his grandsons Mitchell, Matthew, and Jonathon).

Mr. Sola started air cargo consolidations from Miami to Havana. He was appointed General Agent in Cuba for Universal Carloading & Distributing Co. (at the time, one of the largest inland carriers in the USA). He was appointed General Agent in Cuba for Seaboard & Western Airlines, Inc., the first all air cargo carrier between Europe and New York. He founded Transcarloading Corp., with offices at Miami International Airport and in New York City. He established Ocean Freight Forwarding Services in conjunction with Universal Transcontinental Corp. (UTC), from major U.S. ports to Havana.

Mr. Sola moved to Miami due to the political situation in Cuba. In 1961, he studied Advanced Transportation (correspondence course), at the College of Advanced Traffic.

Later, in Chicago, Illinois, Mr. Sola pioneered containerized ocean transportation (NVO) from Miami to Puerto Rico. Since Transcarloading Corp. was also an ocean freight forwarder, and the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) did not allow freight forwarders to also act as NVO, it was necessary to request a change in the laws regulating forwarders. After a long legal battle with the FMC, the law was changed to allow ocean forwarders to act as NVO’s. Another battle ensued with the the US Customs Service, in order to obtain authorization to transport in-bond cargo. For the first time US Customs recognized that the NVO was a carrier and the first permit was granted to Transcarloading Corp.

Mr. Sola pioneered ocean consolidation from Miami to St. Thomas, and St. Croix, in the US Virgin Islands, and from Jacksonville, Florida to Puerto Rico, St. Thomas and St. Croix. In 1967, he pioneered ocean consolidation from Miami to Jamaica, and then from Miami to Panama.

Transcarloading Traffic was merged with Consolidated Express Traffic creating Transconex, Inc., the largest ocean consolidator from New York, Charleston, Jacksonville, Houston, and Miami to Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.

In 1968, founded Transconex International, Inc., with containerized ocean transportation to foreign countries. In 1974, he founded Transconex Air Freight, an air cargo consolidator with the main office in Miami and branches in New York, Los Angeles, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. This company was considered one of the largest air consolidators to and from Puerto Rico.

Mr. Sola obtained from the Interstate Commerce Commission, the first permit granted to a Miami based NVO, to operate as an inland carrier in the US. Another first . . . independent thru rates/thru-B/L (inland/ocean) established from major points in US to Puerto Rico and various foreign countries serviced.

Manuel Sola, Jr. was admitted to practice law at the FMC. He founded Transcontainer, S.A., a Chilean corporation with ocean containerization from Valparaiso to Punta Arenas in Chile. The success of Transcontainer was so great that in the late1980’s the state owned Empremar Lines purchased the Transcontainer operations.

Mr. Sola sold his interest in Transconex Air Freight whose name was changed to TAT Air Freight. He founded Agencia Nacional de Vapores, S.A,.a Panamanian corporation, which later became Sola Transportation Agency. He founded TCX Air Freight, Inc., and its division, Panama Air Cargo. Today, Panama Air Cargo is one of the largest Air Consolidators to Panama, providing guaranteed overnight service at regular freight rates.

Sola Transport Agency established NVO Operations from Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Korea to Panama. He founded Transtainer Corp., an ocean freight consolidator (NVO) from Miami and New Orleans, to all countries in Central America, and also Puerto Rico, and founded TCX Transporte Consolidado Xpreso, S.A., an export freight forwarder and IATA agent operating from the Colon Free Zone in the Republic of Panama. He sold his interest in TCX International, Inc. and founded Sola Transport, S.A., a trucking company operating in the Republic of Panama. Mr. Sola founded Almacenes Generales, S.A. (Almagen), a private Bonded Terminal and Container Yard in Panama City, at the Panama Railway freight station. In 1997, he sold his interest in Transconex, Inc.

In 1998, Sola Transport Agency established air and ocean consolidation from Europe to Panama, in conjunction with CAT International Transport.

In 1981, he joined George Batchelor’s new airline, Arrow Air, were he led the cargo sales and marketing department.

Dave moved off-airport in 1987 to join his old friend Lew Smith at CRS Group, a multi-faceted aviation consulting and services company.

After five years at CRS, the smell of kerosene lured Dave back to the airport as General Manager of Air Freight International, a small company operating scheduled and cargo charters services to the Islands of the Caribbean.

In 1997 George and Jon Batchelor persuaded Dave to return to Arrow Air as Director of Sales. When Arrow was sold to Fine Air, Dave joined Challenge Air Cargo as Vice-President of Sales and Marketing and moved over to United Parcel Service when that company acquired Challenge last year.

In 1960, he worked as a South American Representative in Buenos Aires, Argentina for FODOR Publications (Travel Guides). Afterwards he moves to Lima, Peru; to work as a Director of Planning for APSA-Peruvian Airlines, in which years later, was promoted to US General Manager in Miami, Florida.

In 1965, he co-founded TAN Airlines of Honduras, serving as the Managing Director and CEO. Then, in 1971, while still working for TAN Airlines, he founded General Air Services, Inc. (Aircraft Maintenance), becoming the President & CEO. He was also the Founding President & CEO for Air Florida, Inc. in 1972; moving on to becoming, in 1976, the President & CEO for LANICA Airlines of Nicaragua. In 1978 he co-founded Solar Reactor Corporation, Inc. (Alternative Energy Research), serving as its President & CEO. Then, in 1979, he became the President, Owner & CEO of Flight Systems International, Inc. (An Aviation Consulting Company). He then, marked a milestone in his career, when he founded Challenge Air Cargo, Inc. in 1981. Challenge operated Boeing 757-200 freighters and Douglas DC 10-40 freighters in scheduled service between Miami and 17 cities in 13 different countries in Latin America. Challenge’s revenues in 1999 were approximately $150 million. Substantially, all of Challenge’s assets were purchased by UPS in August 2000.

Among the organizations he has belonged to, he outstood in: The Explorers Club in New York, The International Explorers Society, which he founded; The Wings Club in New York; the World Trade Center Miami, serving as the Chairman from 1994 to 1995; the Air Cargo Americas Conference, being its founder and Chairman; The International Air Cargo Association, serving as the Chairman from 1993 to 1994; and the Balloon Federation of America. He was also Honorary Consul of Finland for South Florida from 1993 to 2003.

For his outstanding performance and contribution to the Airline industry, he was honored with the following:

GMAA Wright Brothers Memorial Award in 1995

Oklahoma Aviation and Aerospace Hall of Fame in 1996.

Knight of the Lion of Finland; decorated by the President of Finland for his invaluable contribution to strengthening the economic and cultural ties between the US and Finland in 2004.

Mr. Bill Spohrer is now the Director of Government and Industry Relations of the International Air Cargo Association, as well as a member of the Board of Directors for Centurion Air Cargo, Inc.

I was hired by Tuya International in 1952, where I worked until 1954, that I was offered a position at Cuban Colonial, another broker/forwarding company in Havana, as co-owner. In 1956, I was transferred to their New York and Miami branches, until the company was forced to close their operations in 1961 due to the arrival of the communist regime in Cuba.

I then worked part-time with Ransa Airlines as documentation clerk, while holding a full time job with Florida Freight Terminal, where I was in charge of the traffic department for several airlines which they handled at the time.

In 1963, I was hired by Supreme Air Freight as founder-president, where I held that position until 1965, when I founded my own business, Suarez Shipping Services, Inc. Here I pioneered and mastered the handling of livestock shipments by air as a side line to shipping general cargo by air and ocean.

I was named president of the Florida Customs Brokers and forwarders Association 1976-1977.

Awarded "Man of the year" in 1981 by the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services for my dedicated service to Florida’s Agriculture.

Suarez Shipping Services, Inc. will be celebrating its 35^th anniversary next month.

A dedicated weekend Fisherman, I keep my sanity by temporarily putting aside my line of business every Friday afternoon and setting sail for key largo, until the following Monday, that a new work week begins.

To briefly highlight some of the really significant activities . . .

Mr. Sykes was one of the original six employees of Princess Cruises in Los Angeles some 35 years ago, serving as their first Sales Manager. Princess Cruises opened the West Coast of the United States as a major Cruise Line port of call.

He joined one of the earliest movers of International military household goods, International Sea Van (ISV), in Torrance, California, becoming their first Traffic Manager. He was later transferred to New Orleans as their Southeastern District Manager was. ISV was a major innovator in the international moving and storage industry and one of the firsts to utilize Vanpacs for moving goods.

Mr. Sykes arrived in Miami in August 1966, at the invitation of Ted Arison, and became the fifth member OD his staff. In 1966 Ted owned Arison Shipping Company. They first operated their own service, then became agents for Norwegian Caribbean Lines and eventually opened Carnival Cruise Lines. He was very proud to have been part of the group that changed the face of cruising throughout the world.

In 1968 Mr. Sykes became a co-founder of Econocaribe Consolidators, the second NVOCC to be formed in the United States. Econocaribe, from its inception, was dedicated to the support of Freight Forwarders and Customs Brokers, whose allegiance allowed Econocaribe to grow to its presence size and level of success. From the day the company opened he shared the Forwarders belief that consignee selling was the key to successfully doing business in the industry and he traveled extensively throughout the Caribbean for many years encouraging importers to do business through South Florida.

Mr. Sykes opened and managed the first nationwide trailer and chassis rental company, in the South Florida area, Transport Pool.

He was a part of the management team of Mayan Line and their agent Caribbean Agencies where he introduced intermodalism to the South Florida transportation industry.

Last. Mr. Sykes became one of the owners and the president of Econocaribe Trucking, spending 14 years in that position. Together with his sons, Jerry and Raul, they brought a higher, more professional level of service to the industry. Mr. Sykes has always believed in the importance of trade associations. He was the founder of the first steamship association in South Florida, the Shipping Association of South Florida. He was also the co-founder of the Miami International Trade Association, the Miami Foreign Trade Association (Florida Foreign Trade Association), and the South Florida Truckers Association. He did everything possible to bring those involved in international trade closer together in the hope that by working together they could bring about an even greater success in all aspects of the industry.

He began his import/export career in Miami, in 1968, working for Customs Clearance & Dispatch (CC&D).

In 1971, he obtained his Customs Brokers License and from that time until the present, has been working as a Customs Broker with experience in international trade and Customs matters, including the 807 program of Assembly Abroad of US Components.

In 1983, Tony joined Sealand Services as a Sales Executive until he left for Seaboard Marine in 1984. He is presently the Director of International Sales. He has participated in various non-profit organizations, and he is presently a member of the board of directors for Jason’s Angels, a non-profit organization, which works with mentally and physically disabled children and their families. He is a husband and father of three children.

In 1926 Trippe sought to extend Colonial to the west and to the Caribbean but was overruled by the stockholders. Because of this, Trippe and his associates, nearly all World War I pilots, resigned and founded Pan American Airways, the first international airline, which initially operated between Florida and Cuba.

A year later, in 1927, a tri-motor Fokker took off from Florida for the Caribbean to inaugurate international air service under the American flag. He expanded the route into Central and South America in 1928-29, and pioneered in connecting service for railroads, use of multi-engine landplanes, two-way radios, weather reporting, on- board navigators and cabin attendants, multiple flight crews, and hot meals served aloft. In 1931, he had the great circle route across the Pacific explored, launched the first of a series of "clipper" flying boats, and began service to the Orient in 1936. The first scheduled transatlantic flight was made in 1938. In 1935, Juan Trippe was the first to inaugurate air service over a major ocean, the Pacific, for mail, passengers and cargo. Martin Flying Boats maintained scheduled service to Hawaii, the Philippines, and Hong Kong. Two years later he inaugurated service to far-off Australia. In 1939, he was the first to inaugurate air service across the Atlantic. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the company continued service over both major oceans. During World War II, service was established across the South Pacific to carry men and materiel to the fighting fronts, and in 1942 a Pan Am plane made the first commercial flight around the world. He introduced around-the-world service in 1947, direct flights to South America in 1948, low-cost tourist fares in 1952, trans-Atlantic jets in 1958, around-the-world jets in 1959, and jet air freighters in 1963. In 1955, Trippe was the first to place orders for the big jets that have revolutionized air travel. Three years later, these American-built jet transports inaugurated service across the Atlantic and the Pacific, to Latin America and Africa and around the world. In later years, he was the first to order the supersonic Concorde. He also reserved deliveries for the largest fleet of American SST's. He placed the first and to date by far the largest, order for the huge 500-passenger subsonic jets.

When he retired, Pan Am served 85 nations on 6 continents, and he was the nation's most decorated person. He received many foreign government decorations, 23 in all. These decorations have been conferred on him by the principal nations of Europe and South America, the Middle East and the Orient.

For his own grateful nation President Truman awarded him the Medal for Merit for his work during World War II. He has also received four major aviation awards - -the Guggenheim Medal, the Collier Trophy, the Harmon Trophy and the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy.

Juan Trippe married Betty Stettinius on June 16, 1928 and made his home in New York City, New York until his death in April of 1981.

His success in this industry has spanned from Junior Auditor, to Sales Representative, Marketing Director, General Manager to VP of Cargo Sales, jobs he fulfilled with pride, honor and humor.

Under the ownership of Alfredo Sanati, Mr. Urrutia was one of the founders of Aeronaves del Peru, where he served as General Manager. Mr. Urrutia first worked for the Sanati Family while he was at APA for many years prior to the start of Aeronaves.

He was employed by Faucett Airlines, Florida West and Fine Air and finally found a home at Lan Chile where he ended his career.

His trademark "yellow pad" held every name, phone number and cargo that he had to move, while his colleagues were working their adding machines, chances were they would look to Pepe to see what answer he had gotten long hand. His strengths were his brain and that yellow pad.

One of the frequently told stories at LanChile is, that when he took a Colleague aside and asked "Chico, por favor dime que quiere decir el internet"… once he heard the answer he replied, "OK, I will stay with the phone." Personal contacts were his strength, stock and trade, he would never succumb to email.

On the personal side, he adored his friends, always a kind word, a concern for them and their families. This quote perhaps defines him best "this business is an addiction, you have to love it –if not—it’s much too much work."

He was addicted to the game and he loved every minute of it!

Juan S. Vazquez began his airline career nearly 40 years ago. He started at Intermaritime Forwarding in New York (from 1963 through 1967). In 1967 he joined Brazil’s Varig Airlines in New York moving to Miami in 1968. During his 30-year career with Varig he managed cargo operations, which included passenger sales.

After his retirement from Varig, he joined Florida West in 1996 as Commercial Director. He became Senior Vice President at Air Global International (AGI) in August 2001 and after the strategic alliance with Arrow Air he joined Arrow in May 2002 as Vice President of Sales.

Mr. Vega thanks God for being in the Freight Forwarding, Brokers and airline industry. He also appreciates this international trade community which granted him good friends, throughout his years in the industry.

Eric started in the international trade industry as Export Manager in Brenda Original, in the garment area in 1964. Previously Mr. Vega served for the US Army. After he got married, Mr. Vega started working part-time in a trucking company, Shulman Freight Forwarders, where he used to worked until 2:00 a.m. with deliveries to the airport in the "fingers." One year later, Mr. Vega decided to incorporate his own Freight Forwarding company, Turtle Pick Up and Delivery thus, Mr. Vega was working three jobs at the same time, but he was very happy, because he liked to receive support and air waybills from AFISA, CLTM, PAA, EASTERN, AEROCONDOR, ANDES, and many others.

Mr. Vega spent 16 years doing the same work until he decided to look for new endeavors; he met Julio Suarez with Suarez Shipping, who taught him about animal transportation. Mr. Vega worked with Suarez Shipping for three years until he joined Fast Air. Later he worked for Transporte Aereos Rioplatense, Arrow, Fast Air, and at the same time for Mariano Arias at VASP on weekends.

Mr. Vega also did some charters applying his knowledge of moving animals on his own (operational area). In addition, he did some charters with Jorge Pedraza to Cuba and with Alfredo Martinez to Asuncion. Shortly thereafter, he started with Aviateca, and met his best friend Alfonso Rey. Mr. Vega and Mr. Rey incorporated "Servicios de Transportes Aerofueguinos" flying to Argentina with an Electra.

Later, Mr. Vega founded "Aires del Sur" and at this moment he works for "Cielos Del Peru."

Mr. Eric Vega has learned from all these years in this industry that "The most important thing is to help everyone without wanting something in return."

He joined Lykes Electronics and Atlas Electronics Companies in 1965, which is where he continued to develop his export experience in addition to being responsible for sales market research and exports. Thereafter, he was recruited by United International and Atlantic Freight Forwarders, which ultimately became Associates. After that association was dissolved, he joined Union Shipping and Seven Seas Brokers.

In 1988, Nilo and wife Rosa founded HLM Intertrans Corp. A few years later (1991) and his son Ricky formed a partnership known as the HLM Group covering an NVOCC division, Freight Forwarding division, Customs Brokers division, Insurance agents division and the transportation and warehouse distribution division, covering global logistical services door to door.

Semi-retired now, his son Nilo Jr. (Ricky) has taken over the complete day-to-day operations, which has brought synergy and dynamic growth to another dimension of HLM’s history.

Nilo is thankful that he has had the opportunity to contribute to our industry for over 4 decades and appreciates all his family, friends, and mutual clients and friendly competitors for working in such a dynamic industry for so many years.

In 1970, the Florida Custom Brokers & Forwarders Association named him MAN OF THE YEAR. He had served that organization in many capacities, including President in 1962-1963. He also served on the national Advisory Board of the Custom Brokers & Forwarders Association of American from 1962 to 1973.

Secretary Maurice Stans appointed him to the US Department of Commerce Export Expansion Council for the term 1971-1973

In August 1968, Mr. Whiting was selected to represent the State of Florida on Pan American’s inaugural flight to Moscow, USSR. While in that country, he became familiar with business practices in Moscow, Leningrad (St. Petersburg), and the Black Sea Region (Sochi).

In the international climate, he established joint ventures with major businesses in Venezuela, Colombia, Costa Rica, Honduras, France, Holland and the United Kingdom.

A former District Governor of the International Association of Lions Clubs (Florida), and an active civic leader and organizer, he held memberships in the American Society of International Executives, The American Society of Travel Agents, and the afore-mentioned Customs Brokers and Forwarders Associations.

For many years he served on the Board of Directors of Southeast First National bank of Miami Springs (Florida), and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accountancy and Finance from Bryant College, Providence, Rhode Island.

Mr. Whiting has just completed his term of office as the President of the Monarch Senior Men’s Golf Association at Monarch Country Club, Stuart, Florida. He is a life-member of the Disabled American Veterans, (Hialeah Chapter 43), and a life member of the United Professional Horsemen’s Association (North Carolina Chapter 16).

He is married to Dale J. (formerly of Fall River, Massachusetts) whom he met in 1939, and married on May 30, 1942. They have two sons and three daughters, and eleven grandchildren.

Canadian Gulf was sold in 1972 and Angie started working for Coordinated Caribbean Transport, Inc. (CCT). In her 14 years with CCT, she moved through the ranks; accounts payable manager; secretary to the treasurer (Ed Lee, R.I.P.); secretary to the president (Hector Calderon); northbound traffic manager; and, ultimately, director of northbound sales. During her years as N/B traffic manager and later as director of N/B sales, Angie traveled extensively through Central and South America, and the Caribbean, overseeing the traffic and sales efforts in the various countries.

In 1986, Crowley bought CCT and moved its operations to Port Everglades. At that time, then Port of Miami director, Carmen J. Lunetta, offered her a position as assistant director of marketing, in charge of Latin America. Angie’s tenure at the port lasted until 2002, when she took advantage of the opportunity to take an early retirement package.

Upon leaving the seaport, she set up her own company – Language Resource, Inc. – offering writing and translation services, in English and Spanish. In her new career as writer and translator, Angie remains involved with the international trade community.

In 1970 she began working for Caribbean Trading, Agents for AZTA Line, and later on joined Ocean Trailer Transport (operators of the only aluminum vessel, M/V Siboney) from Miami to Puerto Rico. In1974 she joined Chester, Blackburn & Roder, Agents for Pan Atlantic Lines, and remained there until the company went out of business in 1983. At that time she became part of the original group of founding members of Seaboard Marine Ltd.. For the past 18 years she has served in several capacities at Seaboard Marine, in Traffic, Sales, and currently as Division Manager for Central America.

During the past 31 years, Olguita has worked in all facets of the shipping business since for a brief period she also worked for All Cargo Transport, a freight forwarding company. In addition, she has traveled extensively throughout Central America developing business for Seaboard Marine.

All of these experiences have given Olguita a well-rounded knowledge and service record in our Trade.