Hello Andrew…Goodbye Judy…
We welcome Andrew Sendra and say goodbye to Judy Grau, after 36 years!
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Andrew Sendra
Director of Business Development
1. How long have you been at Ace/AW2 Logistics?
I have been with the organization for just over a year, but I spent some time at doing different roles within the company. Originally I was working with ACE on the final mile development, but switching to AW2 has allowed me to be able to do more for the company and more for my customers!
2. Describe your working career up to and including Ace/AW2 logistics?
Right after college, I started applying to jobs like crazy, as I wanted to get out of the retail sector and into something more professional/skill-based. I ended up interviewing at CH Robinson without knowing a single thing about transportation, trucks, or supply chain. I learned a lot through CH Robinson but decided to try my hand on the other side of the supply chain, with demand/supply chain planning. I learned very quickly that the fast pace logistics environment DID NOT translate to the planning side of the business. I left the planning behind to go back to logistics, it was very cool to work for a former BlackHawk Goalie, Murray Bannerman. I focused a lot on opportunities with Final Mile deliveries and figuring out the complexities that the industry has. It was there that I ran into Ray Gunst, who recruited me to work on the Ace/AW2 side of the business. I transitioned into a Director Role to help build out more opportunities internally that help us grow as a nationwide logistics partner. I have been tasked with finding opportunities for our assets as well as growing our third-party connections.
3. What challenges you day-to-day in your current position?
It’s no secret that the market today is crazy! The challenges that I face in my current day-to-day activity have been directly tied to the transportation market and the recovering economy. No one today has the silver bullet or the answer to everything that is happening/in motion. The best thing that we can rely on is the years of collective service that we all share in the industry. You start to realize that after some earned time working in transportation, nothing is scary anymore, and there’s hardly ever a time that the labor force is surprised.
4. What do you think the industry will look like in 5/10 years?
This is a question I get asked all the time. Personally, I see the industry remaining very similar to what we’re in today. The freight market is the perfect example of demand/supply as well as the perfect example of monetary exchanges for goods and services. I think there will be a continued push for technology and reporting in the industry, but as far as the roots of logistics are concerned, nothing will change.
5. What will be the impact of technology – robotics, AI, driverless vehicles?
If you were to ask me this question 5 years ago, I would have told you that it was happening the following day, and that driverless vehicles are taking over, and AI is going to be able to spit out rates better than anyone can. After working in the industry these past couple of years, I can confidently say that we are still MANY YEARS away from this. AI in the transportation space seems to be operating as a buzzword that sales executives say to promote their firm for taking some time to look at analytical data. The truth is, much like I mentioned in my previous blog post, that freight and logistics is an art form, and hardly ever relies on science. That being said, I continue to be impressed by how this space continues to grow, and I think we can see a big improvement in the warehousing/fulfillment market using these technological innovations!
Judy Grau
Senior Administrative Manager
[Retired!]
Judy Grau worked for Ace Worldwide for over 36 years and retired in July, 2021. It was 1985 when Judy joined Ace; WHAM! was top of the “hit parade” and hairstyles were out of control!
John U. Steiner, the founder of Ace Worldwide, was still leading the company on Judy’s first day as receptionist. “He scared the daylights out of me!”, Judy recalls, “But I came to know him as the kindest person who would literally do anything for you.”
By that time the company had already expanded and the founder’s son, John W. Steiner, was located in California, running those offices. Within 5 years John W. had returned to Wisconsin to lead the company and Judy had been promoted to “Secretarial Duties”. Judy recalls the work ethos of the time, “we all did what needed to be done. There was no great emphasis on titles – when the situation demanded it you stepped up and got on with it. That was the spirit needed to grow the business and meet the daily challenges.”
One of those challenges was the arrival of Information Technology. The move from an IBM Electric Typewriter to a PC was daunting. Judy was the first non-IT person to be given a computer in the company and she has witnessed a revolution in her working lifetime. “Technology changed everything in the front office, in operations, and in how we communicate. When I look back now at using carbon paper and “white-out”, it’s hard to believe how we managed to make it all work!”
When asked about the greatest success in her years at Ace Worldwide, Judy states, “It was the friends I made and the wonderful people I worked with. We were truly a family who cared for each other. The 36 years went by in a heartbeat but I am glad I spent it with such great people.”
Judy is retiring but she is not going away completely and will work part-time on specific projects. “The Steiner family have always looked to the future and, no matter the struggles, they have always found a way forward. I have been very fortunate and have been treated so well over the years. I wish everyone in the organization much success in the coming years.”
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