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)

 

 

Water Donation for His House Children’s Home

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WTDC Newsletter

 

August 28, 2023

President’s Corner

The Florida Gulf Coast is preparing for Tropical Storm Idalia that may become a Hurricane when it makes landfall. Please be advised that even though this storm may affect Florida, WTDC is far from the projected impact. Like every hurricane season, we will prepare and keep an eye on the tropics. Hoping our friends on the West Coast of Florida are not greatly impacted.
Best Regards,
Sean Gazitua, President & CEO
Send a message to WTDC President and CEO Sean Gazitua

Water Donation for His House

His House Children’s Home is fully stocked with water in preparation for hurricane season! WTDC donated over 2600 gallons of bottled water and a water filtration system. Thank you to our employees, families, customers, and vendors for truly making an impact with your donations. Way to go Ginger Diez, WTDC Logistics Manager, on organizing this water drive!
Adrienne Cerra Simeon, His House Children’s Home Development and Marketing Manager, pictured below with Sean Gazitua, WTDC President and CEO, and Ginger Diez, WTDC Logistics Manager. Contact Adrienne for more ways to support His House, such as their Imagine Gala on October 7th at the JW Marriott Marquis in Miami.

South Florida Cruise Industry on the rise

The Cruise industry is back and better than ever as passenger demand is higher than it was prior to the COVID-19 shutdown. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings reported record revenues of 2.2 billion in the second quarter, up 33% over the same period in 2019.
South Florida ports have felt the resurgence as Port Everglades’ number of passengers has increased 77% since 2022. PortMiami has already reached $100 million in cruise passenger revenue for the year.
Due to the high demand, Port Everglades is in the process of renovating a dedicated Disney Cruise terminal set to finish before the Winter Cruise season.

MIA on pace for record passengers in 2023

26.2 million passengers passed through Miami International Airport in the first 6 months of 2023, a 2.6% increase from the same period in 2022.
“On the heels of last year’s full recovery from the pandemic downturn,” Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava observed, “MIA continues to lead the way for our local tourism industry and the nation in terms of passenger growth and economic impact.”

 

 

Miami-Dade County to invest millions into PortMiami

Miami-Dade County is selling $499.2 million worth of bonds to support new projects and infrastructure changes at PortMiami. An expansion for Royal Caribbean will be funded by the County, which will include redeveloping cruise terminal G for parking improvements and a new building.

 

 

Maersk and MSC terminate 2M Alliance

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WTDC Newsletter – February 2, 2023


President’s Corner
Last week was my first meeting as a Board Member of the Adrienne Arsht Center Trust. One mission of the Board is to expand programs in the Arts for the youth of Miami-Dade County. AileyCamp Miami is a six week full-scholarship summer program where over 1400 students have learned West African, jazz, modern, and ballet dance classes while also learning about nutrition, conflict resolution, drug prevention, and critical thinking. I’m honored to be a part of this Board giving back to our community and look forward to sharing the Arsht initiatives throughout my term.

Stay healthy,
Sean Gazitua, President & CEO

Maersk and MSC terminate 2M Alliance
Maersk and MSC announced on January 25th that they will dissolve the 2M Alliance. Beginning in 2015, the 2M Alliance was scheduled for a period of 10 years, with a two year notice period for termination. The two companies cited changes in their company strategy as the main reason for the split. Since the pandemic, MSC has been focused on expanding its fleet and service destinations while Maersk has built out its end-to-end services for customers.

SeaTrade Maritime – Maersk and MSC to disband the 2M alliance in 2025
FreightWaves – Container shipping shake-up: Maersk, MSC terminating 2M in 2025

Hamburg Süd among historic brand names retired by Maersk
Maersk’s announcement last week that it would retire the brand names Hamburg Süd, Sealand, and Twill sent ripples through the shipping industry. While Maersk has owned many of these brands for years, the companies continued to operate under their own flag. Maersk has assured customers that this will not cause a disruption in service, while competitors may anticipate an opportunity to move in. The Hamburg Süd brand had a good run, lasting over 150 years.

Arsht Center – First Board Meeting
On Thursday, January 27th, WTDC President and CEO Sean Gazitua attended his first meeting as a member of the Adrienne Arsht Center Trust Board of Directors.

Health and Wellness
On Friday, January 20th, Andrea De La Madriz visited WTDC staff for a sound meditation session as part of the company’s Health and Wellness Program.
WTDC’s Health and Wellness Program encourages staff to adopt a healthy lifestyle, which improves overall mental and physical wellness.

Port Everglades Rebranding
On January 25th, Port Everglades revealed their new logo as part of a rebranding campaign. The new logo represents the three main business sectors of the port – cruise, cargo, and energy – as well as it’s three core values, which are strength, resilience, and sustainability.
The new logo has been revealed just in time for the Sea Trade Cruise Global 2023. Port Everglades will host the event from March 27-30, 2023.
The Maritime Executive – Port Everglades Rebrands with Mighty Approach

Nassau Port records busiest day
In the span of just one week, Nassau Port has broken its record for one-day visitors on three occasions, reaching 26,396 passengers in one day.
The record reflects a great rebound in the cruise industry after the pandemic hiatus.
CruiseHive – Multiple Record-Breaking Days at Major Cruise Port

 

CBP Modernizes Custom Broker Regulations

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WTDC Newsletter – November 2, 2022

      • CBP modernizes Custom Broker regulations
      • Virgin Voyages adds 2nd ship in Miami
      • Pajama Drive for His House Children’s Home,
      • FIU Religious Studies
      • Breast Cancer awareness
      • Halloween photos

President’s Corner
Can you believe it’s November already? Our employees are preparing for annual inventories and processing peak-season orders. Holiday gift baskets are ordered and our annual Pajama Drive and Thanksgiving Food Drive are in full swing. I welcome you to join us in our 8th Annual Pajama Drive for the children of His House. It is a great cause and the children are so appreciative of our annual donation. Additional details below.
Stay healthy,
Sean Gazitua, President & CEO

CBP Publishes Modernized Customs Broker Regulations
On October 18, CBP announced changes in the CFR that will be effective December 19, 2022: “Modernization of the Customs Broker Regulations” and “Elimination of Customs Broker District Permit Fee.”

The Final Rules include the acceptance of electronic forms of payment as well as an increase to license application fees. The new national framework eliminates district permits and the associated fees. Licensed customs brokers will be transitioned into the new national framework by CBP if they were operating with only a district permit and those already with a national permit will not be affected.

CBP’s Office of Trade Executive Assistant Commissioner AnnMarie R. Highsmith: “Customs brokers are an integral part of the U.S. and international trade communities. CBP collaborated with the trade community on key recommendations, including a single, national permit for brokers and enhanced electronic processing capabilities, which have been addressed in the modernized customs broker regulations,” Highsmith said. “The updated regulations highlight CBP’s efforts to provide customs brokers with the tools they need to effectively operate in the current business environment while preserving robust U.S. trade operations.”

Article: CBP Publishes Modernized Customs Broker Regulations

Pajama Drive for His House
Join WTDC in donating new pajamas for the children of His House Children’s Home in our 8th Annual Pajama Drive. Donations can be dropped off or addressed to WTDC. Thank you for your years of support!

FIU Religious Studies
On Thursday, October 27th, Sean Gazitua spoke to an FIU Religious Studies course about his responsibilities as President and CEO as well as measures WTDC has in place as an ethical and responsible employer. The course entitled “Thou Shalt Not Steal: Wage Theft and Moral Thought” is led by Professor Jeanette Smith. WTDC is working with the FIU Religious Studies program as an extension of its Spirituality in the Workplace committee.

Breast Cancer Awareness
WTDC staff wore pink on October 21st in support of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Educating women on the impact of breast cancer is a goal each October. Being proactive with exams and detection can save lives. We wish you and your families good health!

Meet our Interns for Fall 2022
Welcome to WTDC’s Interns for the Fall 2022 semester!

Fernando Menendez, pictured right, is currently a student at Florida International University and is an Intern for WTDC’s Operations and Customer Service department. He is pursuing his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration majoring in Finance and is on pace to graduate by 2025.

Leilani Shirvis, pictured left, is a Florida International University student and is an Intern for WTDC’s Sales and Marketing department. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, double majoring in International Business and Marketing. She graduates December 2023.

Happy Halloween from WTDC
On Monday, October 31st, WTDC celebrated Halloween with a Wild Wild West theme. The annual tradition featured a lunch catered by Shorty’s BBQ and a costume contest. Congratulations to WTDC Transportation Manager Castell Chavez and her daughter Sofia for taking the award for best dressed as a ‘bank robber and bag of money’. The western theme was a big hit!

Virgin Voyages adds second ship to PortMiami fleet
Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Lady arrived at its new winter home in PortMiami at the end of October. This second ship from Virgin will sail regularly around the Caribbean this fall and winter before returning to the Mediterranean in spring.

Sir Richard Branson, Founder of Virgin Group, was present during the ships welcoming to PortMiami. Valiant Lady departed for Bimini on October 30th for it’s ‘Mermaiden Voyage’, where it will try to set a Guinness World Record for “most mermaids in one place”.

 

WTDC celebrates 45 years

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Family owned logistics business WTDC celebrates its 45th Anniversary on March 8th, 2022.

President and CEO Sean Gazitua says this 45 year milestone is a testament to the dedication of its employees and the willingness of the company to reinvent itself over the years. The company was founded in 1977 as the first General Order (G.O.) warehouse in Miami, Florida. Today, WTDC is an internationally respected full-service logistics company and Foreign Trade Zone.

“Serving the logistics needs of our customers is not without its challenges in these times,” says Gazitua. “But by building better relationships, planning logistics well ahead, and putting technology at the forefront, we can still help our customers exceed their performance benchmarks.”

Mr. Gazitua is now the third generation of the family to lead the business after becoming President and CEO in 2017, succeeding his father Ralph L. Gazitua in the position. The company prides itself on customer service and providing a safe and healthy working environment for its employees. WTDC specializes in global supply chain management, door to door transportation, and Foreign Trade Zone inventory control for the Duty Free and Travel retail industry and provides logistics for electronics, renewable energy components, and other commodities.

“I am so grateful to our employees and customers who will propel us well past our 45th Anniversary” says Gazitua.

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WTDC 45th Anniversary

WTDC President and CEO Sean Gazitua displays a Proclamation from Miami-Dade County naming Tuesday, March 8, 2022 as “WTDC 45th Anniversary Day.”

5G roll out suspended near US airports

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WTDC Newsletter – January 19, 2022

President’s Corner

In 2022, WTDC will celebrate our 45th anniversary. On a call last week, I was reminded of our family legacy in the logistics industry when my counterpart said that he, his father, and his uncle all worked for my grandfather LR Gazitua, grandmother Mercedes, uncle John, and my father Ralph at Florida International Forwarders (FIF). We consider the history of FIF to be entwined with our Gazitua family history.
We hope to collect more stories like this as we lead into WTDC’s 45th anniversary. If you have a story or photos you would like to share about these times, please reach out. We would love to hear from you.

Best Regards,
Sean Gazitua, President & CEO

Village of Palmetto Bay honors WTDC Chairman Ralph L. Gazitua on MDPD Chaplain retirement
On January 10, Palmetto Bay Mayor Karyn Cunningham honored WTDC Chairman Ralph L. Gazitua on his retirement as Chaplain of the Miami Dade Police Department (MDPD) after 20 years of service. Mr. Gazitua is a resident of Palmetto Bay, FL.
Joining the recognition ceremony were Palmetto Bay Councilmember Steve Cody, MDPD Major and Commander of Palmetto Bay’s policing unit Maria Guerra, MDPD Lieutenant Antonio Rodriguez, and Executive Vice President of South Florida Police Benevolent Association (PBA) David Greenwell.
As an ordained Deacon of the Catholic Church for 34 years, Chaplain Gazitua helped meet the spiritual and pastoral requests of MDPD employees and their families, providing counsel in their time of need.

5G roll out suspended near US airports over interference concerns
Last night AT&T and Verizon flipped on the switch for their new 5G technology – just not within 2 miles of US airports. The concern stems from adjacent radio frequencies used by airline altimeters and the radio waves that 5G will inhabit. The altimeter is crucial to pilot navigation in poor weather conditions and the possible interference could have caused equipment malfunctions or outright flight cancellations. Some international flights had already been delayed or canceled flights before yesterday’s announcement at the eleventh hour of changes to the roll out.
NPR: Telecoms delay 5G launch near airports, but some airlines are canceling flights

CDC announces voluntary cruise guidelines for COVID-19
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that cruise guidelines for COVID-19 will be voluntary after the expiration of the mandates in the Conditional Sailing Order (CSO).
Starting this week, cruises can opt to follow the CDC guidelines or introduce their own mechanisms for preventing and responding to COVID-19 infections – but either way, cruises will still be regulated by CDC with prevention and reporting expectations.
Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL), Oceania, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises announced their intentions last week to continue to follow the now voluntary CDC protocols.
USA Today: The CDC’s new COVID mitigation program will be optional for cruises. Here’s what that means.

WTDC attends Wodapalooza
WTDC Chairman Ralph L. Gazitua and WTDC General Manager Vera Gazitua attended the crossfit competition Wodapalooza in Miami’s Bayside Park this past weekend with a group of WTDC employees to cheer on WTDC Intern Brianna Kource. Ms. Kource, pictured below at right, competed in the Elite Women’s Team Division.
WTDC is committed to providing healthy lifestyle opportunities for its staff such as gym memberships, massages, and healthy lunches in addition to Vera’s yoga class three times per week in our company gym. WTDC is a Florida Drug Free Workplace and all employees passed a random drug test in January.
Miami Celebrates a Decade of Fitness, Community, and Life at Wodapalooza

Transloads at WTDC
WTDC manages project cargo and heavy lift transloads in our fenced FTZ yard. Use WTDC for your next PortMiami or Port Everglades transload. We can load and unload standard containers, open top containers, flat racks, flatbeds, and other special equipment. WTDC has crane services for heavy lift cargo. Common commodities include machinery, HVAC, crated merchandise, renewable energy infrastructure, raw materials, and pipe. WTDC can also coordinate the drayage, inland, air, or ocean transportation for your loads as a full service NVOCC, IAC, and IATA certfied freight forwarder.