Posts Categorized: Community Giving
Saltchuk and Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico Partner to Launch Transportation and Logistics Talent Development Program
February 13, 2025
A 10-year agreement was subscribed to enhance academic and career development in a critical industry for the economic growth of Puerto Rico
To strengthen academic and professional development in the transportation and logistics sector, Saltchuk, with more than 30 years of transportation-related operations in Puerto Rico, has partnered with the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico (PUPR) to create a Talent Development Program. This initiative seeks to enhance the institution’s specialized studies in transportation and logistics, equipping new students and the professional workforce with innovative skills and on-the-job training opportunities needed to succeed in an industry critical to the island’s economic growth.
Specifically, Saltchuk and the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico (PUPR) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to develop programs and industry partnerships to attract, train, upskill, and retain skilled professionals, advancing careers in transportation and logistics in Puerto Rico and the broader Caribbean region.
“Through this collaboration, we aim to empower a new generation of professionals in transportation and logistics, creating pathways for education and career development that will benefit individuals, businesses, and the economic development in Puerto Rico,” said Mark Tabbutt, Chairman of Saltchuk.
This initiative will be carried out in close collaboration with additional industry partners to align talent priorities, increase interest in the sector, and promote training opportunities such as internships, high-demand certifications, co-ops, apprenticeships, job placements, and deliver targeted programs designed to meet the evolving needs of the transportation and logistics industry.
“Our university has a long-standing tradition of establishing strategic alliances with key industrial sectors that drive Puerto Rico’s economic development and the broader Caribbean region. As we approach our 60th anniversary in 2026, we take great pride in this partnership with Saltchuk, which underscores our unwavering commitment to educational excellence and workforce readiness,” said Ernesto R. Vázquez, President of PUPR. “We will achieve this by enhancing our academic programs, strengthening our faculty, and investing in state-of-the-art laboratory facilities and equipment to provide the highest standards of education and hands-on training,” added Vasquez.
Currently, the PUPR is the only institution on the island to have in place an experienced-focused associate’s degree in engineering in Supply Chain and Logistics. This Talent Development Program will enhance students’ academic and practical preparation in the associate’s degree program and advance the skill sets of professionals already working in the transportation and logistics industry.
Saltchuk has invested an initial $200,000 to launch the Program, with conditional funding over 10 years based on key performance milestones. This initial funding will establish the program infrastructure, deliver high-quality training, and create a sustainable pipeline of skilled professionals for the transportation and logistics sector. Saltchuk is leading the formation of an expert industry advisory board to maximize the impact of programs, matching education paths with industry needs and opportunities.
“The Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico is committed to modernizing its Associate Degree program in Supply Chain and Logistics to meet industry demands. We will focus on curriculum updates, faculty development, and the integration of an Industry Advisory Council to keep our programs aligned with real-world needs,” said Dr. Carlos J. González Miranda, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at PUPR. “This collaboration will open avenues for faculty and students to contribute solutions that strengthen Puerto Rico’s role in high-tech manufacturing and supply chain logistics. Our goal is to maintain a world-class talent pipeline that meets the highest industry standards,” finalized González Miranda.
The Talent Development Program is expected to begin operations later this year, marking a significant step forward in Puerto Rico’s workforce development efforts.
Over the years, Saltchuk’s family of companies in Puerto Rico—TOTE Maritime, Tropical Shipping, Puerto Rico Terminals, Aqua Gulf, and StratAir—have maintained strong ties to the community. This effort builds on Saltchuk’s ongoing commitment to supporting post-secondary education opportunities and fostering economic development in the communities and regions where it operates.
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About Saltchuk Resources, Inc.
Saltchuk is a privately owned family of diversified freight transportation, marine services, and energy distribution companies. Headquartered in Seattle, Saltchuk provides leadership and resources to independent companies, including some in Puerto Rico: TOTE Maritime, Puerto Rico Terminals, Tropical Shipping, Foss Maritime, and StratAir.
For over 35 years, Saltchuk’s companies in Puerto Rico have driven economic growth and business expansion by ensuring reliable import and promoting export services from Puerto Rican SMEs to the Caribbean and beyond, strengthening the island’s supply chain and global connections. TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico transports freight to and from the U.S. mainland on U.S. flag vessels; Tropical Shipping transports freight to and from foreign countries on foreign flag vessels; Aqua Gulf is one of Puerto Rico’s largest asset light logistics companies; StratAir provides air cargo service to and from South Florida throughout the Caribbean; and Puerto Rico Terminals operates the largest, most efficient cargo facility in Puerto Rico – accommodating vessels of all types and sizes.
About Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico
The Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, founded in 1966, is a leading institution in engineering, architecture, and business administration education, committed to academic excellence and the comprehensive development of professionals prepared for a globalized world. It has campuses in San Juan, Puerto Rico; Orlando and Miami, Florida; and offers a fully online/virtual curriculum.
The institution was recently awarded a 4-star rating in the renowned international QS Stars rating system, a recognition that highlights its commitment to academic quality, the employability of its graduates, and its global impact. This distinction positions PUPR as one of the most important educational institutions in the region, reaffirming its leadership in higher education. With this recognition, the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico becomes the first and only institution in Puerto Rico to be awarded four stars in this international rating system.
Currently, the Polytechnic University offers the most diverse program in Puerto Rico in the field of Engineering and Applied Sciences, with 10 programs accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), demonstrating the School of Engineering’s commitment to academic quality and excellence.
Annually, 90% of our graduates successfully join the professional workforce in Puerto Rico.
Additionally, our university’s enrollment has established it as the largest private, Hispanic-serving, nonprofit School of Engineering and Applied Sciences in the United States.”
Carlile Steps Up For Safety at Annual Community Event
July 29, 2022
ANCHORAGE – Alaska has some of the most hazardous driving conditions in the country. In 2020, there were 53 fatal motor vehicle crashes and 64 deaths in the state, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Traffic fatalities at a national level reached a 16-year high in 2021, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This is one of many reasons Carlile Transportation, an Alaska shipping company, is active in roadway safety and prevention education.
The company kept safety awareness moving at the annual Wheel-O-Rama fair on June 15. The event, hosted by Alaska Regional Hospital, raised awareness about trauma, safety, and injury prevention related to wheeled vehicles. Carlile was joined by several community partners, including police officers, firefighters, People Mover , and the American Red Cross.
“Safety is at the core of our business operations. We appreciate the opportunity to spotlight safety practices in the communities that we serve,” said Jeremy Miller, who is Vice President of Operations at Carlile.
Carlile is Alaska’s leading trucking and logistics company, with terminals in Alaska, Tacoma, Houston, and Alberta. The company provides trucking, ocean, air, and rail solutions to connect shippers and supply chains to Alaska.
Carlile To Transport More Than Two Dozen Bison
July 19, 2022
BOLSTERING BISON: CARLILE TO TRANSPORT MORE THAN TWO DOZEN OF NORTH AMERICA’S LARGEST ANIMALS
ANCHORAGE – Carlile Transportation, an Alaska shipping company, is working in partnership with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) on the latest phase of a major wood bison restoration project that has been in the works for several decades. Twenty-eight yearling wood bison are headed to the Lower Yukon-Innoko area as part of a long-term restoration project spearheaded by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
Carlile is scheduled to transport the yearlings to Nenana from the Large Animal Research Station at the University of Alaska Fairbanks on July 20. This group of bison was among 40 animals that came from Elk Island National Park in Canada this April as part of a long-term partnership between ADF&G and Parks Canada. The transport and release of these 28-yearling bison to the Lower Yukon-Innoko rivers area is a continuation of wood bison restoration efforts in Alaska. Wood bison are native to Interior Alaska and Northwestern Canada. By the early 1900s, they had disappeared from Alaska and only a few hundred remained in Canada. As part of the effort to restore the species to much of North America,130 wood bison were released in the Lower Yukon-Innoko rivers area in Alaska in 2015.
Alaska Shipping Company, Carlile has partnered with ADF&G since 2008, providing transportation services for hay, other foods, and building materials over the years of planning leading up to the 2015 release of wood bison to the wild. After transport to Nenana from Fairbanks, this group of yearling bison will travel by barge to the Lower Yukon-Innoko rivers area to join the existing wild herd.
“We believe in contributing to the communities we serve. Carlile is pleased to work in partnership with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game on this important program,” said Carlile Heavy Haul Project Manager Andy Lewallen.
“It is actions like Carlile’s that are the very essence and spirit of the wood bison restoration effort. Their generosity, dedication, and passion for the restoration of wood bison symbolize the efforts of a devoted, far-reaching, and diverse coalition of individuals and groups who called for and strongly support the return of this native species to the wild in Alaska. The care and transport of North America’s largest land mammal is a very complex task, and Carlile has and continues to contribute to the success of this work. Carlile is to be commended for being an important part of this amazing team effort to bring wood bison back to the Great Land,” said Darren Bruning, Regional Supervisor/Wood
Bison Restoration Team.
Saltchuk companies contributed $4.9M to community-building organizations in 2021
June 28, 2022
Giving time, talent, and treasure to the communities that support our employees and businesses is a value the founding members of Saltchuk shared, and one that has become a cornerstone of our family business.
Saltchuk companies provided almost $5M million in grants, in-kind freight transportation, and employee-matching contributions to our communities in 2021.
In 2021 Saltchuk matched employee donations of $231,000 and gave another $2.2 million in cash grants through individual operating companies and Saltchuk Regional Giving Committees in Alaska, Hawaii, Washington, and Florida/the Caribbean.
Our Regional Giving Program largely returned to its historical focus on youth development and post-secondary education programs after turning our efforts in 2020 on emergent needs such as food security, housing, and healthcare insurance related to the COVID-19 crisis.
Our companies provided $2.5 million in in-kind transportation for emergency supplies, recycling, food bank donations, and other community programs in 2021. Whether focused on health, the environment, social services, the arts, youth, and/or education, Saltchuk companies intend for their gifts to build capacity and resiliency in our communities.
As shareholders, we set a minimum target for community giving to ensure consistency and accountability to our value of giving back. As we reflect on the last year, we want to express our appreciation and gratitude to the communities and employees who support our family of companies. We hope this report provides a sense of ownership and pride, reflecting the values we share and the commitment we as shareholders feel to our communities.
– Saltchuk Shareholders
In 2020, Saltchuk companies gave $4M to the communities we live and work in
November 15, 2021
Giving of time, talent, and treasure in the communities that support our employees and businesses is a value the founding members of Saltchuk shared, and one that has become a cornerstone of our family business.
We are proud that in 2020, during an extraordinary year of challenge for so many, Saltchuk companies provided almost $4M million in grants, in-kind freight transportation, and employee-matching contributions in our communities.
In 2020, Saltchuk matched employee donations of $187,000 and gave another $1.76 million in cash grants through individual operating companies and Saltchuk Regional Giving Committees in Alaska, Hawaii, Washington, and Florida/the Caribbean. Our Regional Giving Program expanded its usual support of youth development and postsecondary education to include emergent needs such as food security, housing, and healthcare insurance related to the COVID-19 crisis. Our companies provided nearly $2 million in in-kind transportation for emergency supplies, recycling, food bank donations, and other community programs. Whether focused on health, the environment, social services, the arts, youth, and/or education, Saltchuk companies intend for their gifts to build capacity and resiliency in our communities.
As shareholders, we set a minimum target for community giving to ensure consistency and accountability to our value of giving back. As we reflect on the last year, we want to express our appreciation and gratitude to the communities and employees who support our family of companies. We hope this report provides a sense of ownership and pride, reflecting the values we share and the commitment we as shareholders feel to our communities.
– Saltchuk Shareholders