By Brenda Beveridge
For more than 30 years,
Logisticorp Group LLC has supplied the corporate and governmental supply-chain
market with material handling, inventory management and transportation
solutions. Based in Irving, Texas, the Hispanic-owned firm is led by CEO and
advisory board member Garry Castro.
Along with his business
interests, he advances community and civic issues in the Dallas-Fort Worth
metroplex and is an unabashed supporter of diverse business development and
sustainability. He has served on the board of several area nonprofits,
including as chair of the Greater Dallas chapter of the United States Hispanic
Chamber of Commerce, the nation’s largest Hispanic business organization, and
the Dallas/Fort Worth Minority Supplier Development Council.
Castro’s operating
approach for Logisticorp is to put service, quality and customer satisfaction
at the head of the table. His key objective is to ensure that the company’s
business processes deliver value to customers. As the COVID-19 pandemic took
hold in 2020 and continues throughout 2021, he has had to adapt and adjust to
conditions, while remaining true to his core mission. Here, he offers insight
to MBN USA on the state of supply chains, pandemic challenges, optimism about
the future of supplier diversity and more.
Q: Can you please share
an update on Logisticorp and how the company is faring in the supply chain?
A: The logistics
industry has been challenged during these unprecedented times. Supply chains
certainly have been impacted. Fortunately, our customers and our management
team were able to respond efficiently. Responsiveness is critical in being able
to pivot quickly to new requirements during a pandemic. Our management team —
through collaboration with our customers — delivered on the commitment of
“assurance of supply.” All our customers were considered “essential
businesses;” our business deliverables remained consistent, and our workforce
was provided all the necessary equipment to continue to work in a safe
environment.
Q: How would you
describe the state of Hispanic-owned businesses, overall, in the supply chain?
A: Hispanic-owned
businesses have many of the same challenges as other businesses. It is
imperative that our elected officials, corporate leadership, Hispanic-owned
businesses and USHCC continue to work together to ensure that Hispanic-owned
businesses have an opportunity to compete for business opportunities. USHCC has
a proven track record of providing the leadership to help achieve these
objectives, and I have confidence that it will continue to do so.
Q: What impact did the
pandemic have on Logisticorp, and how has the company been managing it?
A: The pandemic has had
a devastating impact on all of us. However, the most important thing we focused
on was the safety and health of all employees in every decision that was made.
We looked specifically at how we would continue providing the services that we
provide to our customers. Our customers were supportive in helping us achieve
this objective. While “in this together,” our customers assisted us with
providing the same safety protocols for our employees as they did for their
employees. Our customers provided temperature-check stations, masks, gloves and
sanitizer, etc. This [provision of personal protective equipment and safety
services] was crucial to us, as we needed to maintain a safe work environment
while continuing an assurance of supply in our services to all essential
businesses.
Q: What do you see as
the greatest challenges and opportunities for Logisticorp in the supply chain?
A: One of the biggest
challenges is attracting and retaining talent. Quality is imperative to your
success. To consistently meet the expectations of our customers requires a
dependable workforce. Our management team understands this [necessity] and
consistently works to achieve this objective. Overcoming this challenge helps
create more opportunities for growth. When you have a team that has
demonstrated the ability to deliver performance, you have confidence that your
customer will recognize your company’s abilities to compete for new
opportunities. Business markets and employment trends are constantly evolving.
For an organization with 30-plus years in business, we find tremendous value in
retaining the mutual investment of knowledge, experience, dedication and training
in our workforce.
Q: What’s your outlook
for the future of supply-chain diversity?
A: Optimistic. I have
confidence that corporate leadership, diverse suppliers and advocacy groups
such as USHCC will continue to provide the leadership necessary to meet and
exceed the progress achieved over the last 30 years in supply-chain diversity.
To learn more about
Logisticorp Group, visit logisticorpgroup.com.