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.

View services at https://staging.wtdc.com

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

Biden signs $550 billion infrastructure law

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WTDC Newsletter – November 16, 2021
– Biden signs $550 billion infrastructure law
– PortMiami reports record year for container cargo
– International passengers returning to MIA and U.S. airports
– Florida lawmakers introduce legislation with incentives to divert vessels to Florida ports
– Pajama drive for His House by WTDC

Biden signs $550 billion infrastructure bill into law
On November 15, President Joe Biden signed the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package with $550 billion earmarked for infrastructure improvements over the next 5 years to ports, airports, railways, roads, bridges, public transportation and power grids, among others. Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava was present at the White House for the historic signing.

“Our airport and our seaport are our economic engines,” says Levine Cava. “If we don’t keep them in the forefront, we will lose out for opportunities on travel and trade.”

CBS 4: Miami-Dade Mayor Says Infrastructure Plan To Help Make Local Roads Safer & Reduce Pollution
SupplyChainBrain: Biden Signed the $550 Billion Infrastructure Deal. Here’s Who Gets the Money.

PortMiami reports record year for container cargo
On November 5, PortMiami announced that it handled a record setting 1,254,064 TEUs (20 ft container equivalents) in Fiscal Year 2021 which ended September 30, 2021.
“PortMiami’s cargo performance is a reflection of the resilience of our community and the critical role played by our seaport,” said Mayor Levine Cava.

“Despite the incredible challenges of a global pandemic, the Port set a record for the strongest year in cargo activity in our history. Miami-Dade County is a major global hub for trade and commerce, and strengthening cargo activity will help us rebuild an even stronger, more resilient economy for generations to come. We welcome more container ships to our Port, to do our part to help global trade move and grow jobs and business opportunities here in our community. PortMiami is ready!”

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava reports the busiest cargo year in the history of PortMiami and welcomes more container ships

President’s Corner
It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving is right around the corner. This year more families will be able to see their loved ones on Thanksgiving with the U.S. lifting coronavirus restrictions on travelers from more than 30 countries. Speaking of family, how amazing is this drawing from my 8 year old son Logan? He surprised me with it last week. – Sean Gazitua, President & CEO, WTDC

International passengers returning to MIA and U.S. airports
On Monday, November 8, Miami and the U.S. began welcoming international air passengers who are coronavirus vaccinated from 39 countries including Brazil, China, England, and India. The New York Times reported that 206,990 international passengers traveled to the U.S. on that Monday, an increase of 40,000 passengers over the the 2020 daily average.

Miami Today: Bookings soaring with return of international travelers

NYT: More than 200,000 people flew to the U.S. on Monday under new rules.

Cruises to benefit from return of international travelers too
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) celebrated the return of international passengers on Twitter with a reminder that 2.5 million international passengers cruise from the U.S. annually.

Florida lawmakers introduce legislation with incentives to divert vessels to Florida ports
Last week Florida Senator Rick Scott and Representative Carlos Gimenez introduced legislation that would redirect unused funds from the CARES act into grants to incentivize vessel owners to redirect their cargo vessels from California ports to Florida ports.

American Shipper: US senator proposes $125M in grants to reroute container ships

Pajama Drive for His House
Our first pajamas donation arrived by mail last week! Join WTDC in our 7th annual Pajama Drive for His House Children’s Home. Until December 17, we will be collecting new boys and girls Youth Size Small to XL and boys and girls adult sizes X-Small to XL. Donations can be dropped off to WTDC Suite 217, WTDC Customer Service office in the warehouse, or list Ginger Diez/PJ Drive with WTDC address for mailed donations.

 

 

 

 

WTDC wins two awards from The Moodie Davitt Report

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WTDC Newsletter – October 19, 2021

  • President’s Corner
  • WTDC wins two Travel Retail Superstar awards from Moodie Davitt
  • WTDC wears pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month
  • FIU Surfside Memorial – WTDC Chairman and Deacon Ralph L. Gazitua leads prayer
  • 237,000 passengers sailed on Carnival Cruise Line since restart
  • Congestion troubles reach Port of Savannah
  • Florida Ports Council promotes Florida ports as congestion cure

 

President’s Corner

 

Last week we were thrilled to learn WTDC was honored with two awards for our logistics services in the duty free and travel retail industry (article below). We share these awards with our customers who have worked with us over the years to hone our skills and services. As a family owned and operated company we are humbled and grateful for the continued opportunity to service the top performers in the duty free and travel retail industry Congratulations to our Customer Service and Operations staff for their award winning performance. Way to go Team WTDC!

Stay healthy,Sean Gazitua, President & CEO

 

The Travel Retail Superstars Awards – WTDC wins 2 awards
Send an email to WTDC President and CEO Sean Gazitua

 

On October 15, WTDC received two Travel Retail Superstars Awards from duty free and travel retail publisher The Moodie Davitt Report. Team WTDC won the Star Team Americas: Logistics/ Warehouse Award and WTDC President & CEO Sean Gazitua won the Humanity, Leadership, & Inspiration Award.The 2021 Travel Retail Superstars Awards were the first edition of an annual awards for travel retail employees across airport, airline, downtown store and cruise sectors.

 

The Moodie Davitt Report: Breaking News: “A celebration of the human spirit” —The Travel Retail Superstars Awards Winners revealed
237,000 passengers sailed Carnival Cruise Line since restart

 

Since its sailing restart in July 2021 Carnival Cruise Line has welcomed 237,000 guests from US homeports. Half the Carnival fleet is now in service and they plan to have all ships in service by Spring 2022.

 

CruiseHive: 237,000 Carnival Cruise Line Guests Have Sailed Since Resuming Operations
 

 

Breast Cancer Awareness Mont
WTDC wears Pink for October – Breast Cancer Awareness Month

 

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and WTDC wore pink to show our support. Miami Cancer Institute has a wealth of educational resources available and we welcome you to visit their website for more information.
FIU Surfside Memorial

 

On October 13, the FIU community gathered to remember the 98 lives that were lost during the Surfside condominium collapse on June 24, 2021. FIU President Dr. Mark B. Rosenberg invited WTDC Chairman and Deacon Ralph L. Gazitua to lead the prayer for the lives that were lost, all families affected by this tragedy, and the first responders who assisted in the rescue and recovery.WTDC Chairman Ralph L. Gazitua leads the prayer at FIU Surfside Memorial on October 13, 2021.

 

 

 

Vessels backed up outside Savannah port

 

The Port of Savannah had 25 container vessels docked off its shores last week waiting for offload, the latest logistical backlog as US ports scramble to process thousands of containers.

 

NewsNation: Supply chain crunch also having an impact on Savannah, Georgia, port

 

 

 

 

 

Florida Ports Council promotes Florida ports as solution to congestion crisis

 

The Florida Ports Council is weighing in on the congestion that has plagued west coast ports for weeks and is now building in Savannah. PortMiami is big ship ready and does not have a container backlog, an ideal destination for bookings that will be offloaded in time for Christmas.“Florida is where your success comes in, and our seaports are the solution to ensure the cargo shipping logjam doesn’t become the grinch that stole Christmas,” said Michael Rubin, President and CEO,
Florida Ports Council.“Florida is open for business, and we are the solution to help resolve the global supply chain crisis,” Rubin added. “Instead of waiting off the coast of California, cargo vessels can offload and move their product to Florida and other discretionary markets in the same time it takes to find space in an increasingly congested California.”

 

Florida Ports Council: Florida’s Answer to the Global Supply Chain Crisis: SAVE TIME & MONEY BY CALLING ON FLORIDA SEAPORTS

 

WTDC and Empresas Perrot launch Chile-US service

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WTDC News – November 4, 2020

  • President’s Corner – Gazitua family legacy
  • No Sail Order lifted by CDC
  • WTDC and Empresas Perrot offer Chile-US service
  • Mark your calendars – WTDC President & CEO Sean Gazitua joins logistics panel
President’s Corner
My brother Luis Andre and I joined my cousins Carlos and Luis Gazitua on the October 23rd edition of Cafecito Chat with Saif Ishoof, FIU Vice President of Engagement. Special thanks to all our professional colleagues who tuned in to watch us survive a comical round of rapid-fire questions before we settled into our discussion on the Gazitua family’s commitment to service and leadership in our community. Part of the discussion focused on family legacy and it was such a pleasure to hear the stories of my grandparents Mercedes and LR Gazitua who built a logistics enterprise from humble beginnings. We all shared how we take great pride in that legacy and the way they treated their family, friends, and employees. Each of us in the discussion described how the pandemic has affected our businesses and our employees. We’ve all taken steps to protect and serve our employees during these unprecedented times and the good name of our grandparents inspires us to continue treating others like family. Our thoughts and prayers go out to our neighbors in Central America’s Caribbean coast affected by Hurricane Eta this week. Stay safe, Sean Gazitua WTDC President & CEO  Image caption, clockwise from top-left: Sean Gazitua, WTDC President & CEO, Saif Ishoof, FIU Vice President of Engagement, Luis Andre Gazitua, Esq., Gazitua Letelier, PA, Principal, Luis Gazitua, JAG Insurance Principal, and Carlos Gazitua, President & CEO of Sergio’s Family Restaurants.
Send an email to WTDC President & CEO Sean Gazitua
 
WTDC and Empresas Perrot launch Chile-US services
WTDC, a Foreign Trade Zone and Freight Forwarder in Miami, Florida, USA, and Empresas Perrot Group Inc., a premier Trucking and Logistics Provider in Santiago, Chile, went “live” this week with their offering of door to door logistics services between the U.S. and Chile including customs documentation, transport via road, air, and ocean, and customs documentation. The two companies will improve the customer experience with a focus on technology and concierge customer service. Do you have U.S. to Chile or Chile to U.S. logistics business that you would like WTDC to review for efficiency and cost-savings? Email us here.
WTDC Holiday Hours
Thanksgiving – Closed November 26 & 27 Christmas – Closed December 25 New Year’s – Closed January 1
 
CDC ends No Sail Order
On October 30th, Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued a Framework for Conditional Sailing Order and did not extend the No Sail Order that has sidelined cruise ships since March 2020. While this order does translate to an instant return to cruising, it does set up the phased parameters for sailings that are safe for passengers and crew with significant emphasis on public health and safety.
CDC: Cruise Ship Guidance
 
WTDC in the Halloween Spirit
On Friday, October 30, WTDC employees and tenants participated in our annual Halloween festivities by dressing up as “Pandemic Heroes” and decorating office doors.
 
Mark your calendars – WTDC President & CEO Sean Gazitua joins logistics panel
We welcome you to join WTDC President & CEO Sean Gazitua on Thursday, November 12, at 11 a.m. for a logistics town hall meeting. See below from the organizers: As part of CAMACOL’s International Trade outreach efforts, CAMACOL Doral and the City of Doral will host a Virtual Town Hall Meeting on Thursday, November 12, 11 a.m.-12 noon. Our topic will be “International Trade & Logistics After COVID”. Doral is the heart of Miami Dade County’s International Trade Sector and home to about approximately 4000 International Trade related companies. We believe it’s important to provide insights the state of this sector including new and innovative business models that have been created as a result of the pandemic.” WTDC will share the login link on its social media channels when available. You can email us here for a reminder.
Meet CAMACOL Doral

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

WTDC News – July 2, 2020: USMCA, Caribbean reopens

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New WTDC website launch  
This week WTDC relaunched our website wtdc.com. We welcome you to visit! This faster platform will allow WTDC to publish informative content for new and future customers.   Visit the new WTDC.com  

 

USMCA trade deal now in effect  
On July 1, 2020, the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) went into effect. The deal was signed during the G-20 Leaders Summit in 2018 and replaces the North American Free Trade Agreement established in 1994. According to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, “The new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) will support mutually beneficial trade leading to freer markets, fairer trade, and robust economic growth in North America.” Key elements include: Intellectual Property Digital Trade De minimis Financial Services Environment Click the stories below for additional information.
USTR: USMCA Fact Sheet    

WTDC Internship Program  
Last week Andre Malha, a student at Palmer Trinity School, completed his summer internship at WTDC. The majority of Mr. Malha’s internship was completed remotely to comply with social distancing guidelines. We wish Mr. Malha continued success in his studies and on the soccer pitch!  
WTDC Internship Program  

 


Combating COVID-19  
Stay tuned to our social media next week as Sergio’s Restaurants announces their private-public partnership to distribute masks for Miami-Dade County hotels and restaurants. WTDC is donating warehousing and fulfillment services at no-cost for this initiative. Pictured above: Carlos Gazitua, CEO of Sergio’s Restaurants, and Sean P. Gazitua, President & CEO of WTDC.  
WTDC – Logistics for Medical Equipment & Supplies
Sergio’s Restaurants – Now delivering Cuban food nationwide      



Caribbean reopens for tourist travel – with restrictions  
Economies in the Caribbean are opening to tourist travel again and many destinations require COVID-19 testing prior to entry. Increased travel to the Caribbean will bring more passengers through South Florida airports leading to more traffic in the duty free stores, welcomed traffic for many of WTDC’s customers. As South Florida is a major hub for cargo and supplies to the Caribbean, more travelers should also have a positive impact on the cargo levels at South Florida ports. In the Bahamas, a negative COVID-19 test taken within 10 days of entry is required of all tourists or they can take one upon arrival. Aruba also requires testing and opened to Canadian, European, and Caribbean tourists on July 1 – but Americans will have to wait until July 10.
Below is a look at some of some of the tourism reopening dates:
o   USVI June 1
o   Antigua June 1
o   St. Lucia June 1
o   Jamaica June 15
o   Mexico Cancun area on June 15 o   Bahamas July 1
o   Aruba July 1
o   Dominican Republic July 1
o   Puerto Rico July 15    
NYT: 5 Caribbean Vacation Destinations Reopening this Summer