Logistics firm WTDC hires seven FIU Business interns

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Read the original story at BizNews.fiu.edu

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(l. to r.) Sean Gazitua, president and CEO of WTDC, with spring 2021 FIU interns Leahanna Sine (U.S.); Jibin Jinu, India; Calvin Mittra, Bangladesh; Julia Leitao, Brazil; Andressa Souza, Brazil; Isabella Palmese, Honduras; and Kristina Khudiakova, Russia.
When junior Kristina Khudiakova isn’t learning international business theory in class, she is putting it into practice as a digital marketing intern at WTDC, a global trade firm. Three days a week, Khudiakova heads into the office to create promotional videos and social media content. She films, edits and writes, working closely with employees and soaking up lessons covering all aspects of international business.

“I’m so grateful for this hands-on work opportunity where I can implement the concepts we study in the field I want to pursue,” said Khudiakova, president of FIU’s International Business Honor Society (IBHS). “They not only give me assignments, but we also talk a lot about other industries. I’m learning so much.”

Khudiakova is one of seven members of IBHS to be hired as a spring intern at WTDC, where FIU Alumni Association board of directors member Sean Gazitua (BBA ‘04) sits at the helm as president and CEO. It wasn’t Gazitua’s original plan to hire seven FIU interns, but he was so impressed by the crop of students he interviewed remotely last semester that he found a place at the company for each of their talents. The group also brings strong international experience to the business, hailing from Bangladesh, Brazil, Honduras, India and Russia as well as the U.S.

“The interns are amazing,” Gazitua said. “They bring a breath of fresh air. We’ve been doing this for a long time so we know what we are doing, but at the same time, technology is changing everything, so we want their opinions.”

Gazitua doesn’t have a preconceived list of internship slots to fill. Instead, he gauges student interest and comes up with individualized plans. When a current intern mentioned his interest in renewable energy, a lightbulb went off in Gazitua’s mind because he wants WTDC to become a green company. The intern is analyzing the company to find ways to reduce electricity consumption, as well as researching best practices employed by other companies.

The relationships that start as internships often evolve professionally. Gazitua has hired former interns into full-time jobs, and has used his connections around the world to help others find jobs in their home countries. He has found that international students often have language skills and a cultural understanding of markets WTDC works with as a global logistics provider.

David Wernick, teaching professor and faculty advisor IBHS, has helped connect FIU students with the company for years.

“I know these interns are going to get an amazing hands-on experience and be treated exceptionally well,” Wernick said. “They learn valuable lessons on teamwork, communication, and execution from a company on the front lines of the global economy. And WTDC gets a steady stream of students who are energetic and eager to learn, so it’s a win-win!”

Logistics: WTDC’s diversification from core business delivers added benefits

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Read the original story at Travel Markets Insider

Miami’s family-owned Foreign Trade Zone company WTDC, which specializes in logistics for spirits for the duty free/travel retail and cruise industries, diversified its business as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

WTDC President & CEO Sean Gazitua tells TMI that this expansion away from its core duty free/travel retail business has strengthened his company and better positioned it for the future.
“The commodity that we handle is spirits for the duty free and travel retail industry and this virus shut it down. In April and May last year there were a hand- ful of spirits cases that left the warehouse. Typically there are tens of thousands of cases. So that was an eye-opener for us that it would be a good idea to diversify a little bit,” says Gazitua.

“Obviously our bread and butter is spirits for the travel retail industry and will continue to be in the future, but 2020 gave us an opportunity to look at our business and diversify.”

WTDC saw a way to both stay busy and contribute to the greater good by handling logistics for needed medical supplies. WTDC assisted companies with the hazardous transportation of hand sanitizer, foreign-to-foreign shipments of COVID-19 test kits, masks, medical equipment, and PPE imports.
“We were able to help companies and countries handle the supply chain management for medical supplies. That was pretty gratifying that we were doing something good during the pandemic and were able to handle business. Our normal pipeline of business froze because we had been focusing on spirits and cruise lines.”

Medical supplies were one of three key verticals WTDC focused on during the pandemic. The other two were the creation of WTDC Chile and logistics for renewable energy.

In October WTDC announced a strategic partnership with Empresas Per- rot Group Inc., a premier Trucking and Logistics Provider in Santiago, Chile to create seamless connectivity for customers across their complementary domestic and international logistics networks in the USA and Chile. WTDC and Empresas Perrot will be exclusive agents within each other’s countries as part of the agreement.

“The Gazituas are Chilenos. We’re from Chile. A partner contacted us to open up WTDC Chile. Empresas Perrot are one of the largest trucking companies in Chile and they wanted to expand internationally. Our family always wanted to open a busi- ness in Chile. Like us, they are a family business, and have been around for 80 years. We started speaking to each other via zoom and we just connected: their family values, our family values, their company culture, our company culture. It just aligned perfectly. As a result, we have really been growing that trade lane from Chile to the USA,” says Gazitua.

Renewable energy is the third vertical WTDC focused on in 2020.

“We identified renewable energy as a good business for the future. We are focusing on solar, hydro, and wind and are providing ocean freight, warehousing, and U.S. Customs brokerage.”

WTDC signed an agreement with ProChile and its partners to create seamless connectivity for customers across their complementary domestic and international logistics networks in the USA and Chile.
2021: Back to normal?
Even as WTDC has diversified this past year, travel retail/duty free spirits logistics will remain its core business, and Gazitua says there is reason for optimism.

“Now it is closer to normalcy. In 2021, business has begun bouncing back. In November and December last year higher volumes started leaving the warehouse and we saw a spike going up. We thought it was just for the holiday season,” he says.

“But in January, the numbers consistently stayed up and in February the numbers have remained consistent. Now that we are in March, the numbers leaving the warehouse have not gone down. It feels good to see these numbers of cases leaving the warehouse. I feel like we are trending in the right direction. There is some good news out there. There are orders. We are busy and we appreciate it.”

Prior to the pandemic, WTDC was experiencing a record year.
“2019 smashed every other year. January and February 2020 were incredible months. We expected 2020 to be stronger than 2019.”

Gazitua says his family company is prepared for a return to better times.
“We are speaking with companies that are interested in coming into the market. We have the know-how. We celebrated 44 years in business on March 8. We’ve been handling spirits for 15 years for this market. We know the processes specific to this commodity. This is what we know and we are good at it.

“Our competition are these huge multi-national corporations. If you need to have a decision done, you have to talk to your supervisor, the manager, the director, all the way up the ladder. Here if you want to get something done you speak to me and we can get it done right there. We move quickly. I think that is one of the reasons we were able to survive the pandemic. Because we saw this business potentially slowing down and pivoted and started handling medical supplies and renewal energy. But we are here and we are open for business.”
WTDC Health & Wellness Program
WTDC began its health and wellness program in 2017 with the goal of encouraging all its employees to adopt a healthy lifestyle, which promotes improved mental and physical wellness. During the pandemic, WTDC has expanded this program.

“We can make sure our employee morale is high. We’ve implemented a health and well- ness program, with a multi-purpose health and wellness room. We zoom in there, and when we are not using it for zoom it is used for yoga room. We also have a masseuse come every Wednesday to give massages in our special massage room. We even have a prayer/meditation room. We really believe in having a sound mind, sound body, especially in a year like last year. We want to make sure that WTDC is a safe place for our employees. That’s part of being a family business,” says Gazitua.

Record January and shore power for PortMiami

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WTDC Newsletter – March 2, 2021

  • President’s Corner – Empresas Perrot and WTDC visit Doral Mayor JC Bermudez
  • January marks another record cargo month for PortMiami
  • Tai Chi demonstration for WTDC Health & Wellness
  • Shore power for PortMiami
  • Merck to produce Johnson & Johnson vaccine
  • WTDC Interns model for CAPHEINA clothing line
President’s Corner
This week WTDC welcomes our Chilean logistics partner Empresas Perrot to our offices. Today we met with City of Doral Mayor JC Bermudez (photo above) to discuss our strategy to grow the Chile-US trade lane. Next week on March 8th, WTDC will celebrate our 44th year in business. Our 43rd year was certainly like none other but we are grateful for the lessons learned, the customers who await the return of the Duty Free and Travel Retail markets, and of course our employees. Stay healthy, Sean Gazitua President & CEO
Send an email to WTDC President & CEO Sean Gazitua
 
PortMiami handled 113,835 teu (20 foot container equivalents) in January 2021, a 21% increase from January 2020’s 94,064 teu handled. The top 5 commodities were furniture, marble, cigars, melons, and vegetables, in that order. Many of the top 5 imported commodities climbed double digits in their import rank during January.
Container Management: PortMiami sees record cargo activity in January
 
Tai Chi demonstration for WTDC Health & Wellness
On February 26th, WTDC employees and tenants were treated to a Tai Chi demonstration by Reza Ray Dehbozorgi from Minuteman Press of Miami. Ray taught those in attendance Tai Chi movements and breathing exercises as part of WTDC’s Health and Wellness Program. Are you interested in learning more about Tai Chi? Ray offers free instruction at the 77th Ave entrance to Coral Reef Park on Saturday and Sunday mornings at 8 a.m. Feel free to join him!
Shore power for PortMiami
On February 17th, the office of Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava announced that the County, Florida Power & Light (FPL), and six of the biggest cruise lines will create a working group to determine the most effective way to bring shore power to PortMiami. New ships are being build with shore power electricity capabilities but PortMiami does not currently offer the service that would allow cruise ships to turn off their diesel engines while in port and draw electricity from the shore.
Miami-Dade County: Joint statement regarding shore power at PortMiami
Biscayne Bay Tribune: Mayor Levine Cava announces plans to bring shore power to PortMiami
Merck to produce Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine
Today the White House announced that Johnson & Johnson will be assisted in their COVID-19 vaccine production by Merck, the pharmaceutical supplier of the measles, mumps, and rubella childhood vaccines, among others. Merck will dedicate one facility to producing the vaccine and another facility for “fill-finish” services, placing the vaccine in vials and packaging for distribution.
Washington Post: Biden to announce ‘historic partnership’: Merck will help make Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine, officials say
 
WTDC Interns model for CAPHEINA clothing line
WTDC’s Interns had some fun out of the office last week collaborating as models for our tenant CAPHEINA, see photo above. CAPHEINA is a designer clothing brand that specializes in one-of-a-kind pieces, with headquarters located at WTDC. The brand is best known for its “Around the World Jackets”, which focus on sourcing handmade textiles directly from artisans in Latin-American countries (such as Mexico, Colombia, and Ecuador) to ensure fair trade; while at the same time sourcing their denim jackets from top quality retailers (such as Levi’s and Lee). The company works with existing inventory thereby reducing its environmental footprint.
CAPHEINA