September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

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WTDC Newsletter – September 11, 2023

 

President’s Corner

September traditionally marks the beginning of a busy season for our duty free and travel retail clients. WTDC is working with local partners to accommodate large overflow inventory projects as we continue to grow new services such as our global door to door transportation for pharmaceuticals.
Looking for warehousing space in South Florida? Contact WTDC – a one-stop-shop solution for shipping, warehousing, and Customs documentation.

Stay healthy,
Sean Gazitua, President & CEO
Send a message to WTDC President and CEO Sean Gazitua

Sean Gazitua FIU IBHS 2023

Sean Gazitua to speak at FIU’s IBHS meeting

On Monday, September 11th, WTDC President and CEO Sean Gazitua will be the guest speaker at FIU’s International Business Honor Society (IBHS). IBHS is a student-managed organization that provides opportunities and events for students to develop business skills.

IBHS also owns the only student led business in FIU: the Bandhwari Women’s Project. Each year, WTDC sponsors travel to India for a student who demonstrates exceptional professionalism in an essay format responding to Mr. Gazitua’s presentation.

FIU was announced this week as the no. 4 best public university in the country by Wall Street Journal!
IBHS FIU

FIU No. 4 best public university, according to Wall Street Journal

 

September: Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The goal of this month is to raise funds for families impacted, as well as honor the children with cancer.
Please consider supporting childhood cancer foundations such as LiveLikeBella through donations, fundraisers, volunteering, and more.
Major League Soccer is supporting childhood cancer causes through their campaign, Kick Childhood Cancer.
On September 29th, FIU Men’s Soccer has a game against USF in honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Day.

Live Like Bella – Ways to Give

MLS – Kick Childhood Cancer

PortMiami to complete largest Cruise Terminal in North America

MSC Cruise terminal at PortMiami is building the largest terminal in North America. The terminal will accommodate 36,000 passengers daily.
Along with the terminal, the largest MSC ship based in North America, MSC World America, will debut from the terminal in 2025.

Cruise Fever – Largest Cruise Ship Terminal in North America Moves Closer to Completion

 

Florida ports reopen as Hurricane Idalia passes through

Florida ports reopened following the passing Hurricane Idalia. The category 3 hurricane made landfall in Florida’s big bend region, forcing ports and airports alike to halt activities.
Southeast US ports reopen after Hurricane Idalia blows through region

Southeast US ports reopen after Hurricane Idalia blows through region | Journal of Commerce (joc.com)

 

 

PortMiami building world’s largest shore power system

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WTDC Newsletter – March 2nd, 2023

  • President’s Corner
  • FIU Religious Studies visit
  • PortMiami building world’s largest shore power system
  • Chassis Dispute rules in favor of motor carriers
  • Live Like Bella 5k
  • WTDC rebrands with a new logo
  • Health and Wellness
  • Florida cruise and seaports broke records in 2022
  • Spirituality in the Workplace

 

President’s Corner

We have a new logo! The ‘Worldwide Logistics’ below our company name highlights WTDC’s evolution as a transportation and logistics company beyond the brick and mortar of our FTZ warehouse. We are excited to roll out this new company look in step with changes at the company to grow these services!

Stay healthy,
Sean Gazitua, President & CEO

 

FIU Religious Studies visit

The FIU Religious Studies Department joined WTDC for lunch on Thursday, March 2nd. Chair of Religious Studies at FIU Erik Larson and Assistant Teaching Professor Dr. Jeanette Smith visited WTDC to discuss the company’s Spirituality in the Workplace initiative.

 

PortMiami building world’s largest shore power system

Following a 2021 shore power commitment by Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, PortMiami is scheduled to receive five shore power systems to be installed by the end of 2023.
The five new shore power systems by PowerCon will significantly reduce cruise ship emissions from ships berthing in PortMiami. The system will provide electricity for the terminals that carry Virgin, Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and MSC Cruise line.

MarineLog – PortMiami to deploy world’s largest shore power system

MarineLink – PortMiami to Get World’s Largest Shore Power System

 

Chassis dispute rules in favor of motor carriers

On February 6th, a judge under the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) ruled that requiring motor carriers to use specific chassis providers in order to move containers violates The Shipping Act. The complaint against the ocean carriers arose in 2020, when the Intermodal Motor Carrier Conference (IMCC) alleged that ocean carriers denied them the right to choose their provider when leasing essential equipment.

Transportation Today – Federal judge rules in favor of chassis choice for motor carriers

Freight Waves – Intermodal truckers secure win against ocean carriers

 

Live Like Bella 5k

On Saturday, February 18th, WTDC started their day early to support the Live Like Bella Superhero 5k. The Live Like Bella Foundation was created in an effort to end childhood cancer and support affected families.
Thank you to WTDC General Manager Vera Gazitua for organizing our team again this year!

 

WTDC rebrands with a new logo

In time for our 46th anniversary on March 8th, WTDC is rebranding with a new company logo. As a NVOCC, IAC, and freight forwarder for over ten years, WTDC manages transportation and logistics throughout the world on a daily basis.

 

Health and Wellness

On Friday, February 24th, Andrea De La Madriz visited WTDC for yoga and a meditation session.
WTDC’s Health and Wellness Initiative encourages staff to adopt healthy living to improve mental and physical wellness.

Schedule a class with Andrea

 

Florida cruise and seaports broke records in 2022

Port Canaveral was the busiest Florida cruise port in 2022 with 4,072,396 multi-day passengers, surpassing PortMiami’s 4,022,544.
Florida sea ports also reported record high is 2022. 112.5 million tons were received by all Florida sea ports. Florida’s 16 public sea ports have shown to be efficient and reliable, positioning themselves to gain a larger market-share in the next five years.

AJOT – Florida seaports see record-high cargo in 2022
Seatrade Cruise News – Port Canaveral overtook Miami as world’s busiest cruise port in 2022

 

Spirituality in the Workplace

On Sunday, February 26th, WTDC staff visited Sweet Home Missionary Baptist Church as part of our Spirituality in the Workplace initiative. The service was led by community leader and longtime pastor Dr. Walter T. Richardson. Afterwards, WTDC shared lunchwhile discussing the sermon at Los Ranchos Steakhouse.
WTDC Spirituality in the Workplace committee attends places of worship not to convert or espouse any one faith or doctrine but to educate and inspire WTDC employees to better themselves through faith of any kind whether it be Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, or other.

CDC extends Cruise Ship No Sail through October 31

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WTDC Newsletter – October 1, 2020
– President’s Corner – #CroquetaDay and #LiveLikeBella
-CDC extends Cruise Ship No Sail Order through October 31st
-WTDC President and CEO Sean Gazitua featured in Foreign Trade Zone article
-WTDC Health and Wellness program


President’s Corner  
Today I’m enjoying Croqueta Day with a ham croqueta – and dash of lime – from my favorite Cuban restaurant Sergio’s. My cousin Carlos Gazitua is CEO of Sergio’s Restaurants and it brings me pride to see people across the country celebrating with croquetas today. If you don’t have a Sergio’s ventanita near you, you can now order online nationwide!

A couple weeks ago I had lunch at Sergio’s with Live Like Bella Chairman of the Board Raymond Rodriguez. Mr. Rodriguez shared that each day 43 families receive the devastating news that their child has cancer. Live Like Bella is now using the number 43 in their childhood cancer awareness campaigns. My cousin Carlos passed by our table to say hello and a few minutes later an amazing cross-promotion was hatched to sell 43 limited edition Sergio’s wagyu burgers topped with croquetas for $43 dollars on October 1st. Reservations for the promotion quickly sold out and $2020 in proceeds went to Live Like Bella! Last weekend WTDC participated as a silver sponsor in Live Like Bella’s Get Active for Kids with Cancer event. Our WTDC team ‘got active’ at the workplace and we had a little fun making a video for the Live Like Bella event, see the last article in today’s newsletter for more.  

   
CDC extends Cruise Ship No Sail Order through October 31  
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced yesterday that the No Sail Order expiring on September 30th would be extended through October 31st. From the CDC Media Statement: “The continued spread of the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide, risk of resurgence in countries that have suppressed transmission, ongoing concerns related to restarting of cruising internationally, and need for additional time to assess industry measures to control potential SARS-CoV-2 transmission on board cruise ships with passengers without burdening public health, support continuation of the No Sail Order at this time.”  
CDC: Cruise Ship No Sail Order Extended Through October 31, 2020  

Sean Gazitua featured in article on Foreign Trade Zones
 
Supply Chain Dive reached out to WTDC President & CEO Sean Gazitua for his comments on renewed interest in Foreign Trade Zones throughout the U.S.:

Interest in these locations has grown as a result of the trade war, which increased tariffs by as much as 25% on some items imported from China. Shippers have also become more interested in FTZs during the pandemic as a way to cut costs, said Sean P. Gazitúa, the president and CEO of Miami-based WTDC, a logistics company, FTZ operator and consultant.
“It’s been a busy year,” Gazitúa said. “A lot of people have been trying to cut costs or hold on to their cash as long as possible.”

Click the article below for additional comments from Mr. Gazitua on how WTDC is assisting companies as a FTZ Consultant to create their own Foreign Trade Zones and how companies are using FTZs to defer duties as a cash savings strategy during these uncertain times.
 
Supply Chain Dive: FedEx opens Foreign Trade Zone in El Paso, Texas, as trade war and pandemic increase shipper interest
 
 WTDC Health & Wellness
 
In the first article of today’s newsletter, we mentioned a video taken at WTDC for the Live Like Bella Get Active for Kids event, linked in the photo above. WTDC recently upgraded the workout equipment available to its employees and tenants in the WTDC fitness center.
Since its creation we’ve been able to offer daily yoga and stretching sessions, healthy lunch options to our staff, health insurance options for all full time employees, massages from a licensed masseuse, flu shots, annual participation in the Live Like Bella 5k, a quiet room for meditation, COVID-19 testing and deep cleanings of the facility to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Programming has included Zumba, Tai Chi, Ballet, and cross training.
WTDC’s Health and Wellness program was born out of an idea to make our workplace a welcoming and healthy environment for our tenants and employees. We continue to learn from the best practices of like-minded companies and our findings mirror those discussed by our payroll and HR service company ADP in the article below: a healthier workforce is a more productive and engaged one.
 
ADP: Employee Health and Wellness: What the Healthiest Employers Do Differently

Cruise ship leaders urge CDC to end No Sail Order

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WTDC Newsletter – September 16, 2020
– PortMiami and Cruise leaders urge CDC not to extend No Sail Order
– Live Like Bella and Childhood Cancer Awareness
– ProChile Trade Commissioner visits WTDC
– Welcome WTDC Intern Kristina Khudiadova
– MIA receives accreditation for COVID-19 measures


President’s Corner  

It was an honor to host Raymond Rodriguez-Torres, Chairman of the Board for Live Like Bella Childhood Cancer Foundation, at WTDC this week. He is pictured above (center) with my father Ralph L. Gazitua, WTDC Chairman (left), and I (right). September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and WTDC presented a silver sponsorship to Mr. Rodriguez-Torres for Live Like Bella’s Get Active for Kids with Cancer virtual event on September 26th, 2020. We welcome you to learn more about Live Like Bella’s role to keep childhood cancer in the spotlight through advocacy, legislation, research, assistance to families affected by childhood cancer.

In other news, WTDC continues to do its part to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by sanitizing our workplace, requiring social distancing and the wearing of masks, and encouraging our employees to live healthy lifestyles while minimizing their exposure. WTDC is a Florida Drug Free Workplace and I’m proud to share that our staff passed their random quarterly drug testing last week. WTDC’s C-TPAT Security Profile was approved last week in accordance with the new requirements and we welcome C-TPAT partners to link with us in the portal. If you have any questions about WTDC, or an idea for our newsletter, I welcome you to email me here. – Sean P. Gazitua, WTDC President & CEO      


ProChile visits WTDC  
Last week Sean P. Gazitua, WTDC President & CEO (center right), and Ralph L. Gazitua, WTDC Chairman, welcomed Germán Rocca, Trade Commissioner at ProChile USA South East Office (center left), and Jaime Silva Jr., Trade Manager at ProChile (right), to a meeting at WTDC. ProChile assists small and medium-size enterprises in their trade expansion efforts by leveraging trade agreements, fostering public-private partnerships, and helping position Chile in the international marketplace. Stay tuned for updates to this meeting! And we can’t mention Chile this week without wishing our Chilean customers and colleagues a Feliz Fiestas Patrias, as they celebrate Chilean Independence Day on Friday, September 18th!    

Cruise and PortMiami leaders urge CDC not to exetend No Sail Order
 The September 10th meeting of the Miami-Dade County Tourism and the Ports Committee evolved into a joint push by cruise officials and Miami-Dade officials to request that the CDC not extend the No Sail Order that is in place until September 30th.
Cruise leaders participating in the virtual meeting included Frank Del Rio, CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line, Arnold Donald, President and CEO of the Carnival Corporation, Michael Bayley, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, and Richard Sasso, Chairman of MSC Cruises in North America.
“We’ve got to get to work,” Frank Del Rio, CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line said. “Enough is enough. It’s been more than six months. We’ve learned a lot.”
 
Miami Herald: ‘Enough is enough’: Commissioners and cruise execs urge CDC to let cruising resume

Cruise Hive: Cruise Line CEO Says “The Cruise Industry is Close to Devastation” in Miami-Dade Meeting
 
 
 


Welcoming our new social media Intern from FIU
Welcome to the team Kristina! Kristina Khudiakova is a Florida International University (FIU) student and is an Intern for WTDC’s Sales and Marketing Department specializing in social media. Originally from Arkhangelsk, Russia, she is pursuing a major in International Business at FIU and is President of the International Business Honors Society (IBHS).
 
MIA receives Airport Health Accreditation for its measures to prevent COVID-19
Miami International Airport (MIA) celebrated its 92nd anniversary this week and is also celebrating news that it received Airport Health Accreditation from Airports Council International (ACI) for its best practices and key measures taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19. MIA is the first airport in Florida and only the 3rd airport in North America to receive the accreditation. Click the story from MIA below for more information.
 
MIA is first airport in Florida, second in U.S. to receive health accreditation from ACI World