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Saltchuk welcomes Colleen Rosas as new Vice President of Human Resources

May 13, 2014

SEATTLE- Saltchuk Resources has named Colleen Rosas the company’s new Vice President of Human Resources.

Rosas joins Saltchuk from its subsidiary Foss Maritime, where she is currently Vice President, Human Resources for the Foss family of companies.  Since coming to Foss in mid-2013, Rosas has aligned HR systems across the organization, including implementation of a new learning management and online performance-review system.

“Colleen is a proven leader who brings a tremendous amount of experience and insight that will benefit the entire Saltchuk organization,” said President Tim Engle.

The addition of a vice president of human resources is just one way Saltchuk is providing resources and leadership to its family of transportation and distribution companies. Saltchuk has strategically grown its five business lines in concentric circles: shipping and logistics, marine services, trucking, air cargo, and petroleum distribution. As the company has grown, it has begun to look for ways to better align operations, share best practices, and create better visibility for employees to grow and advance their careers within the family of companies.

“Our goal is to be the best transportation and distribution company in North America,” said Engle. “To do so we must consistently attract, develop and grow talent within our companies.”

Prior to Foss, Rosas spent four years with Seattle based Swedish Health Services, an 11,000-employee, five-hospital organization.  While there, she provided strategic HR leadership for one of the largest physician groups in the U.S.  Prior to joining Swedish, Rosas was Director of Human Resources for a large architectural firm, with offices throughout the United States and China. Rosas’ 20+ year professional background also includes HR leadership roles in retail, hospitality, and manufacturing.  She has had the distinction of earning “Best Company to Work For” designations in many of her prior roles.

“This is an exciting time in the evolution of Saltchuk,” said Rosas. “I look forward to being a resource as our companies work together to deliver Saltchuk’s promise of safety, reliability and commitment.”

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.

Washington Regional Giving Committee seeks grant requests

May 9, 2014

Saltchuk’s newly formed Washington regional giving committee has issued an invitation to area nonprofits to submit grant requests by June 30 for 2014 funding.

“We want to be very intentional about what we choose to fund,” said committee chairman and President of North Star Petroleum, Brian Bogen. “We want to make a difference.”

The committee is focused on supporting programs and projects that are making a significant impact in the areas of post secondary education and youth development. To be considered, an organization must be a registered not for profit operating in the Puget Sound.

Saltchuk companies have a rich history of giving back, contributing an average of $2.5 million in cash and in-kind support each year in our communities. The Washington committee represents Saltchuk companies Carlile Transportation, Foss, Interstate Distributor, North Star Petroleum (Delta Western) and Totem Ocean Trailer Express. The Washington Regional Committee will distribute approximately $200,000 in 2014.

Saltchuk has partnered with GivingTrax to collect grant applications, click here to link to the Washington Regional Committee page.

Saltchuk, Kimberly Clark announce termination of purchase and sale agreement

April 30, 2014

SEATTLE – The purchase and sale agreement for Kimberly-Clark to sell its Everett property to Saltchuk, which the two parties announced in October 2013, has been terminated.  Despite the fact both sides worked diligently, they were unable to agree on the allocation of risks and responsibilities related to certain soil stability, seismic and environmental conditions as they relate to Saltchuk’s proposed use of the property as a ship yard and terminal.

Interstate receives the Polar Bear ‘Paw of Approval’ Award

April 29, 2014

TACOMA- Interstate Distributor Co. received the Polar Bear ‘Paw of Approval’ Award from the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, Sustainable Tacoma Commission and the Arctic Action Team. We received the award for our efforts to reduce measurable reductions in the amount of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and/or fluorinated gases (refrigerants and by-products of semiconductor manufacturing) used in operations over the last three to five years.

Why the Polar bears? Climate change is causing a rapid decrease in Arctic Ice. Polar bears and other Arctic animals depend on ice for survival and could become endangered if we do not make an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Why Interstate? We have been a Smart Way member since its launch in 2004. Smart Way is a public-private initiative between the Environmental Protection Agency and small and large transportation companies. The goal of Smart Way is to improve fuel efficiency and the environmental performance of the goods movement supply chains by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. Visit their website at www.epa.gov/smartway.

In the past three years, we have made investments to upgrade our fleet with the newest low emission, clean air engines. Additional advancements made in aero dynamics have aided in an increase in fuel economy of 5%. We have also developed engine parameter settings to optimize fuel economy and reduce engine idle time. Our recent investment in natural gas tractors creates less dependence on crude oil. With lower emissions resulting in reduced greenhouse gases, natural gas is a possible alternative fuel source for the future. We are increasing companywide recycling by recycling everything we can from paper to engine oil.

Martin Singh, VP of Maintenance & Facilities, and Tonya Todd, Communications Manager, received the award on behalf of Interstate. The City of Tacoma’s Manager of Sustainability, Kristin Lynett introduced Interstate and spoke about our past and continued efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Kristin spoke very candidly about the process of choosing the award winner. Kristin mentioned that she and the panel were in disbelief that the stand out application was from a trucking company.

Interstate is committed to being an environmentally friendly transportation company. We will always strive to be the most efficient and green fleet in the industry and continually reduce our company’s carbon footprint.