ECONOCARIBE CONSOLIDATORS, whose local agent is Freight Handlers Limited, now has new owners a team of young managers who have served the company in various roles for about 10 years each. The new shareholders are John Abisch, president; Jesus Bermudez, director of warehousing; Brad Broder, vice president of sales; Bob Goldenberg, vice president of operations; Ron Olster, chief information officer and Mitch Shapiro, chief financial officer. Econocaribe, a non-vessel operating (NVO) carrier founded by Jerry Lesnik some 30 years ago, is known for its focus on Latin America/ Caribbean-bound less than container loads (LCL). The company has undergone many significant changes in recent times. Some of these include offering of full-container load (FCL) services, and providing neutral airfreight consolidation services to Latin America and the Caribbean. Presently, full container services account for about 30 per cent of the company's annual freight volume.
"We are proud to sell the company which we worked so hard to create, to the current managers," said Mr. Lesnik. "They have all made significant contributions to the success of this organisation and we are confident that the organisation will continue to excel under their leadership." Mr. Lesnik is to serve the Miami-based company as a Consultant.
Econocaribe has been offering a service in Jamaica since 1968. Managing Director of the local agent, Denise Lyn Fatt, said the company did not anticipate any negative impact by the ownership change.
"It has been a pleasure working with the new management team with whom we have worked for many years, so we do not expect any change in our relationship. The new team is young and has come with new, vibrant, creative ways of doing things while maintaining the 'status quo'," she said
Since 1990 Econocaribe has enjoyed a healthy annual 15 per cent growth in freight volumes. In 2000, the company managed about 18,000 twenty-foot equivalent units TEUs of freight. The company expects further growth in its full container service.
