Federal Way, WA, February 13, 2012 - James Armstrong has joined TOTE, Inc. as President for TOTE Logistics. Armstrong comes from Southern California where he served as Senior Vice President, General Manager, Warehousing at Yusen Logistics (Americas), Inc. He brings a strong background in transportation and logistics services and has held key leadership roles within the Maersk global organization in the USA, Canada and Asia.

TOTE, Inc. oversees five independently managed companies, organized in to three business lines: Maritime, Logistics and Ship Management. TOTE Maritime includes companies Totem Ocean Trailer Express and Sea Star Line, TOTE Ship Management oversees Interocean American Shipping; and TOTE Logistics represents Alta Logistics and Spectrum Logistics companies.

www.toteinc.com / www.shipalta.com / www.spectrumlogistics.us

Contact:
Darcy Anderson
253-449-8145

Princeton, NJ– February 8, 2012 - On January 1, 2012 American Shipping Group underwent a dramatic transformation. The company, formerly known as ASG, became TOTE, Inc., and experienced a makeover in logo, look and structure.

Seeing opportunity for market growth, TOTE, Inc. organized its five independently managed businesses in to three groups: Maritime, Logistics and Ship Management.

• TOTE Maritime: Totem Ocean Trailer Express and Sea Star Line
• TOTE Ship Management: Interocean American Shipping
• TOTE Logistics: Alta Logistics and Spectrum Logistics

For now, each company will retain their name, logo and independent branding. The strengths of the individual companies will be enhanced by marketing and sales efforts for the overall portfolio by all TOTE, Inc., affiliated companies.

Choosing to adopt the TOTE name was an easy decision for the organization. "We felt the "America…" name was somewhat limiting with our goal of expanding our logistics services beyond the USA. Totem Ocean Trailer Express (TOTE) has a very strong brand in the trade it services. It is highly respected so it was an easy decision to utilize that strong brand for the overall parent company branding," said TOTE, Inc. President Anthony Chiarello.

Totem Ocean Trailer Express was founded in 1975 and offers twice-weekly cargo ship operations between the Port of Tacoma, Washington and the Port of Anchorage, Alaska. The company represents the foundation a much larger Seattle-based operation, Saltchuk Resources. Saltchuk was founded in 1982 with the acquisition of Totem Ocean Trailer Express from Sun Ships. Since then, Saltchuk has grown their portfolio to over twenty independent companies, organized in to six operating groups, TOTE, Inc. being one of them.

The future of TOTE, Inc. is in growing and diversifying an already successful operation. "We will always be interested in expansion of our core maritime businesses - and our clients continue to ask us to provide more than just ocean transportation services," said Chiarello, "TOTE Logistics is the vehicle by which our value added service offering will be managed and developed beyond what we offer today. Our hope with TOTE Ship Management is to expand both our government supported efforts as well as our private sector fleet management services."

In January, TOTE announced that James Armstrong has joined TOTE Inc. as President for TOTE Logistics. Armstrong comes from southern California where he served as Senior Vice President, General Manager, Warehousing at Yusen Logistics (Americas), Inc. He brings a strong background in transportation and logistics services and has held key leadership roles within the Maersk global organization in the USA, Canada and Asia.

Soon thereafter, Kevin D. Kendrick was named Chief Commercial Officer for TOTE, Inc. Kendrick will establish and drive the overall commercial strategy for all operating companies within the TOTE, Inc. organization. Prior to joining TOTE, Inc., Kendrick served as the vice president of the Southeast Region for Damco, USA Inc. Kendrick had been with the A.P. Moller-Maersk Group since 1991, holding various sales development and management roles before joining the Group’s Logistics team in 2001. He was the Director and Senior Director of Maersk Logistics before being named Vice President of Damco.

TOTE, Inc.'s new look makes its debut this month at the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) annual trade conference February 19-22.

For an overview of the TOTE, Inc. companies, visit www.toteinc.com.

October 20, 2011 - John Parrott, President of Totem Ocean Trailer Express, was honored earlier this month by his alma mater, the US Merchant Maritime Academy, with the 2011 Outstanding Professional Achievement Award.

The Outstanding Professional Achievement Award is given to the USMMA graduate “who best exemplifies the finest tradition of the Corps “Acta Non Verba” (meaning Act, don’t talk) by attaining personal achievement in their chosen field and thus lending honor and prestige to the USMMA.”

Parrott graduated from the USMMA, located in Kings Point, New York in 1986 with a BS degree in Marine Transportation, continuing on to earn an MBA from Seattle University. He holds a commission in the United States Naval Reserve and is a licensed master in the U.S. Merchant Marine, having sailed for ten years aboard a wide range of vessel types and trade routes.

The USMMA was formed in 1938 to provide quality education and training for the US maritime trade. Today, approximately 300 students are accepted to the program each year. Graduates received bachelors of Science degrees and are specifically trained for careers in the maritime industry. Approximately one-third of graduates go on to serve as Merchant Marine officers, another third seek careers in private industry, with the remaining third choosing to be Commissioned Officers in the US Military.

Port of Tacoma, WA- Legendary maritime and Pierce County community leader, Robert P. Magee, was honored September 21, 2011 with the naming of Totem Ocean Trailer Express, Inc’s Tacoma terminal in his memory.

The Robert P. Magee Terminal dedication ceremony at Port of Tacoma was attended by about 150 industry and community leaders, extended family members, TOTE customers and employees who gathered to pay tribute to a man many described as visionary.

Scott Mason, President of ILWU Local 23, said in his remarks “I often wonder whether people can be trained as leaders or if they are just born with it, and I think Bob was just born with it.” He went on to say “The ILWU has an appreciation, and an admiration, for the man Bob Magee.”

After Bob’s death in November 2009, TOTE employees rallied around the idea of honoring Bob’s memory with a tribute. TOTE President John Parrott said ”The terminal was perfect because Bob loved Tacoma. He came out of the vessel department and so spent much of his time at our terminal. Even as the CEO of American Shipping group, TOTE’s parent company, you could always find Bob back down at the terminal on a random afternoon or the morning after a ship sailed.”

VP of Marine and Terminal Operations, Phil Morrell, remembered Bob’s frequent visits to the terminal and how he always made time to stop and talk with staff. “When he was at the terminal he was just Bob. He would play a hand of cribbage and was target of the same razzing if he played a bad hand in the game. No matter the title behind his name, he was always relaxed and at home.”

The Robert P. Magee Terminal name is proudly displayed on signs at each gated entrance to the terminal, as well as in front of the administration building at 500 Alexander Ave in Tacoma, WA.

Bob Magee, Sr., Marie Magee, Katie Magee Houston, Diane Davidson, Kathy Mitchell,

Aedan Houston (grandson), Joel Houston, Kevin Magee

Bob Magee began working for TOTE in May 1986 as Vice President of MarineOperations. Bob went on to become President and CEO of TOTE, later Chairman of Sea Star Line and then Chairman & CEO of American Shipping Group.

Bob received numerous awards for maritime and community leadership which now reside in a custom-built display cabinet, welcoming employees and visitors in the lobby of the administration building at the Robert P. Magee Marine Terminal.

Totem Ocean Trailer Express, Inc. (TOTE) is a privately owned shipping company operating roll-on/roll-off cargo vessels between the ports of Tacoma, Washington, and Anchorage, Alaska, since 1975. For more information on TOTE, please visit www.totemocean.com

Contact: Emily Reiter
253.905.9093
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Totem Ocean Trailer Express, Inc
www.TotemCcean.com

Totem Ocean Trailer Express, Inc.’s (TOTE) Tacoma Terminal has been named the Robert P. Magee Marine Terminal in memory of and tribute to TOTE’s legendary leader. The new name is proudly displayed on signs at each gated entrance to the terminal, as well as in front of the administration building. A formal dedication ceremony will take place on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 at the TOTE Terminal at the Port of Tacoma.

Bob Magee began working for TOTE in May 1986 as Vice President of Marine Operations. Bob went on to become President and CEO of TOTE, later Chairman of Sea Star Line and then Chairman & CEO of American Shipping Group.

Bob received numerous awards for maritime and community leadership which now reside in a custom-built display cabinet, welcoming employees and visitors in the lobby of the administration building at the Robert P. Magee Marine Terminal.

TOTE employees, partners, and customers will be attending the ceremony naming the terminal in recognition of Bob’s dedication and contribution to TOTE, American Shipping Group and Saltchuk.

WHO: TOTE employees, partners, and customers

WHAT: Bob Magee Terminal Dedication Ceremony

WHEN: Wednesday, September 21, 2011

WHERE: Totem Ocean Trailer Express, Inc. Terminal, 500 Alexander Ave., Tacoma

Please note: Event takes place on a secure marine terminal. All reporters and photographers who wish to cover this story should bring photo identification to present to the officer at the gate.