News

Interstate Distributor to host “The Wall That Heals”

March 16, 2015

Tacoma, WA – Next week South Sound residents will have the opportunity to honor and remember veterans of the Vietnam War at “The Wall That Heals,” a traveling half-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC.

Interstate is hosting The Wall That Heals at their Tacoma headquarters Thursday, March 26th and Friday, March 27th through a partnership with the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial Fund (VVMF) and the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA).

The VVMF has a mission to honor and preserve the legacy of service and educate all generations about the impact of the Vietnam War. On Veteran’s Day 1996, the VVMF unveiled The Wall That Heals, a 250-foot replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial designed to allow communities throughout the country to honor and respect the heroes inscribed on the Vietnam Veteran Memorial Wall. The traveling installation has visited more than 400 communities and includes a mobile education center that tells the story of the Vietnam War, The Wall and the era surrounding the conflict.

“We are honored and humbled to host The Wall That Heals. Our organization employs a large number of active, reserve and retired military personnel as well as many family members who have served in the Armed Forces. It is important to us to remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in keeping our great country free,” said Marc Rogers, President of Interstate.

The event will be opened on Thursday, March 26th with a formal gathering of invited guests. Members of the press are welcome to attend the event at Interstate’s terminal.

Thursday, March 26th, 11AM PDT
11707 21st Ave Ct S Tacoma, WA 98444

The Wall That Heals will be available for public viewing from 12 noon, Thursday, March 26th – 5pm Saturday, March 28th.

For more information about the events, contact Tonya Todd at 253.538.4182.

About Interstate Distributor Co
Headquartered in Tacoma, WA, Interstate Distributor Co. is a leading provider of transportation services including local, regional, refrigerated, dedicated, intermodal and transcontinental. With terminal and yard facilities located in major markets throughout the United States and Western Canada, Interstate has a national presence in the transportation industry. Established in 1933, Interstate currently employs more than 1,800 associates. For more information visit www.intd.com.

About Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund
Based in Washington, D.C., VVMF (the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund) is the nonprofit organization authorized by the U.S. Congress in 1980 to build a national memorial dedicated to all who served with the U.S. armed forces in the Vietnam War.

Since the dedication of The Wall, VVMF has pursued a mission of preserving the legacy of The Wall, promoting healing and educating about the impact of the Vietnam War. Our latest initiative is the campaign to build the Education Center at The Wall. The Education Center will show the pictures and tell the stories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam, provide a rich educational experience on the Vietnam War, show some of the more than 400,000 items left at The Wall, and celebrate the values exhibited by America’s service members in all wars. For more information visit www.vvmf.org.

Saltchuk honored as Corporate Partner of the Year

February 26, 2015

SEATTLE – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound held its annual Big Breakfast this week, celebrating the relationship between its adult volunteer mentors and the young people they help guide to successful adulthood and honoring its top corporate community partner of the year

At the mentoring organization’s annual Big Breakfast in downtown Seattle, BBBSPS shared the story of two matches as shining examples of the organization’s work to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.

Brianne King, a financial services director for the Orting School District, was matched with her Little Sister, CyCy, when CyCy was 12. King helped guide CyCy through a difficult time early in her high school years. The two bonded over cooking and King was always there to offer support and guidance as CyCy made a courageous move to a new school that allowed her to succeed. CyCy is now 18 and preparing for nursing school. When Eric Olson and Octavio were matched, Octavio was an extremely shy and retiring 9-year-old. To help draw him out, Olson suggested that the two write a book together. When the book was finished, Olson suggested that they publish it, and that Octavio sell it around his neighborhood for a dollar. Later, Octavio suggested that they write yet another book. Olson also worked successfully with Octavio’s mother and teachers to improve his reading and writing. When he returned from summer break, Octavio had improved his reading by several levels and had become more outgoing.

During the Big Breakfast the agency named Brianne King as the 2014 Big Sister of the Year and Eric Olson as the 2014 Big Brother of the Year. This week King and Olson were also named Big Brother and Big Sister of the State of Washington and nominated for the nationwide Big Brother and Big Sister of the Year competition to be named at the Big Brothers Big Sisters National Conference in Philadelphia in June 2015.

“King and Olson are shining examples of the power of one-to-one mentoring in the lives of our Littles.,” said Amy R. Mack, President and CEO. “Working with parents, teachers and their individual case managers they helped their Little’s set and achieve goals putting them on the path to success.”

The organization also honored Saltchuk as its 2014 Corporate Community Partner of the Year. Saltchuk, a diversified transportation company that owns local companies including Foss Maritime, Interstate Distributor, North Star Petroleum and Totem Ocean Trailer Express, has been a long-time supporter of BBBSPS at every level including board leadership, event sponsorship, and employee involvement.  In 2014 Saltchuk invested more than $170,000 in agency programs through sponsorships and a new multi-year grant.  

“We are incredibly grateful for organizations like Saltchuk that value what we do and want to see our work grow and succeed,” said Mack. Simply put Saltchuk is doing all it can do to make Big Brothers Big Sisters programs available for children facing adversity in the Puget Sound community.”

Saltchuk sponsors Olympic athlete Sadie Bjornsen

December 1, 2014

Bjornsen message of health and wellness well matched to Saltchuk family of companies

Bjornsen visiting with some of the staff and crew at Totem Ocean Trailer Express

Anchorage, AK- Saltchuk is proud to sponsor Olympian Sadie Bjornsen as she prepares to compete in the Women’s Cross Country Skiing event at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games. The 25 year-old lives and trains in Alaska and was raised in Washington State, a “homegrown hero” for many who work in the Saltchuk family of companies.

Bjornsen grew up skiing alongside her parents and siblings in the Methow Valley. As a member of the National Team, she has competed around the world including Europe where she medaled in the World Cup, the highest level of skiing competitions. She took 18^th place in the 2014 Olympic Games and looks forward to returning in 2018 for the Sochi Winter Games. While her skiing trophy case is crowded, she says there is always room for more.

Through Saltchuk’s sponsorship, Bjornsen will serve as a company and community ambassador for healthy and active lifestyles. She will work to inspire kids and families to be engaged with physical activity at appearances and other activities during the year.

Delighted with the sponsorship, Bjornsen says, “I am excited about the new opportunities to represent such a large family of companies and share my values and commitment with them as they do so with their customers and employees. Their support gives me the platform to achieve my goals and allows me to dedicate myself to training and becoming best in my sport as Saltchuk strives for the same in their industry.”

Bjornsen keeps fans updated on her training and travels through her blog and Twitter. She is currently competing in the World Cup in Ruka, Finland and was featured in FIS Cross Country’s video of the opening weekend.

Alaska Pacific University Receives $150,000 Saltchuk Scholarship

July 25, 2014

Gift will provide opportunities in post-secondary education for Alaska students

Anchorage- Alaska Pacific University (APU) is pleased to announce a $150,000 scholarship from Saltchuk Alaska companies that will be awarded to support the education of APU students. Priority will be given to recipients from communities throughout the state where Saltchuk companies Carlile Transportation, Cook Inlet Tug & Barge/Foss, Delta Western/Inlet Petroleum, Northern Air Cargo and Totem Ocean Trailer Express operate. Those communities include: Anchorage; Aniak; Barrow; Bethel; Bristol Bay; Dillingham; Fairbanks; Haines; Juneau; Kenai Peninsula; King Salmon; Kodiak; Kotzebue; Homer; the North Slope Borough; Seward; Unalaska; Wrangell, and; Yakutat.

“The Saltchuk family of companies has had a long-time relationship with APU that dates back more than three decades. Through a wide-range of cross company collaboration and synergies the Saltchuk Alaska scholarship program with APU was created. We are prideful of our post-secondary education priority and especially that we are able to focus on the communities where our companies operate and our employees live and work in” said Harry McDonald, Managing Director Alaska.

The Saltchuk Alaska Scholarship is available to undergraduate and graduate students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher enrolled at least half time in any area of study at APU, an institution recognized around the world for its innovative curriculum of project-based education and collaborative learning community (learn more at www.alaskapacific.edu). In the spirit of knowledge sharing and learning as part of the scholarship program, recipients are required to participate in mentorship and job-shadowing with one of the Saltchuk family companies. Scholarship funds will be distributed in fall, 2014 and spring, 2015. “APU thanks Saltchuk for its generous gift which will help fuel APU’s spirit of Active Learning in many students from around Alaska,” said Don Bantz, APU President.

“This is a perfect partnership of passionate and trailblazing organizations that deeply understand the importance of education and giving back to their respective communities.”

About the Saltchuk Alaska Giving Committee: Saltchuk’s Alaska Regional Giving Committee is focused on making impactful gifts to the Alaskan communities in which we live, work and serve. The Saltchuk Alaska companies include Foss Maritime/ Cook Inlet Tug and Barge, Carlile Transportation, Delta Western/Inlet Petroleum, Northern Air Cargo and Totem Ocean Express. Learn more here.

Saltchuk gives Schidler College of Business $140,000 for scholarships

May 12, 2014

Saltchuk Hawaii Companies Aloha Air Cargo, Hawaii Petroleum, and Young Brothers give $140,000 for scholarships at the Shidler College of Business

Scholarships support Neighbor Island students in the Distance Learning Executive MBA program.

HONOLULU – The Shidler College of Business at the University of Hawaii at Manoa has received a scholarship gift of $140,000 from Saltchuk Hawaii companies, including Aloha Air Cargo, Maui/Hawaii Petroleum and Young Brothers, to help neighbor island students obtain an MBA. The scholarships will be awarded to students entering the 2014-2016 cohort of the Distance Learning Executive MBA program starting this Fall, and will be awarded based on community service, merit and financial need. To be eligible, students must work on Kauai, Maui, Molokai, Lanai or Hawaii Island and be a State of Hawaii resident.

Said Young Brothers President Glenn Hong, “Saltchuk is proud to support Hawaii’s future by emphasizing education and leadership development initiatives. The Shidler College of Business Distance Learning Executive MBA program provides opportunities to neighbor island students with a quality program. Saltchuk is pleased to be able to provide funding to help further the education of Hawaii’s future leaders.”

Added Shidler Dean Vance Roley, “I’m grateful to Saltchuk Hawaii companies for the continuous support of our neighbor island students enrolled in the Distance Learning EMBA program. Since 2006, Saltchuk Resources Inc. and its Saltchuk Hawaii companies have given the Shidler College of Business a total of $530,000 in scholarships, affirming their commitment to developing future business leaders on the neighbor islands and supporting the communities they serve.”

The Distance Learning Executive MBA program provides a unique hybrid approach to teaching that combines the Internet, state-of-the-art distance learning technology and traditional teaching methods. The 22-month program is intended for professionals living on the neighbor islands and for military personnel on Oahu. The program enables students to expand their business perspectives, sharpen their business skills, build professional networks and earn their MBA degrees-all without leaving home.

For more information on the Distance Learning Executive MBA program, please visit www.shidler.hawaii.edu/executive.