F E AT U R E
A LOOK AT THE PAST
CLDA Magazine asked some of
the early members of the associ-
ation to reflect back on its early
beginnings. We also talked to
two of its current leaders to look
to its future. Here’s what they
told us:
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Gil Ca r pel, CE O, Washington E x press
Former Board Member, Committee Chair and Head of the Courier Hall of Fame
EARLY INVOLVEMENT
“I got involved in 1987 because I was new to the local courier business. I had
previously spent a number of years in the air express business and didn’t know
much about the local courier business. All I knew about the local courier busi-
ness was what I learned when I was working part-time as a messenger for Central
Delivery during my grad school days. So, when I entered the courier business
I knew I had a lot to learn about how it worked. Eddie Katz was a friend from
the air courier business and the CEO of a local courier business in New York City
called Choice Courier. It was one of the largest local couriers in the U.S. He
told me that I should get more involved with others in the business and that I
should come to the industry’s annual meeting. Being in this association and at
our meetings taught me how this business really worked; how our industry fits
in with other businesses; what I needed to do to grow my company and how to
professionalize our company as a business. And I met people who have become
my friends for life.”
WHAT MEMBERSHIP HAS MEANT TO HIM
“The knowledge and guidance I’ve received from other members has been
invaluable as I’ve built my career with the various companies I’ve been involved
with. You can learn from both those who have been in the business for years and
from newcomers who are just getting into it. You meet people and you share
what you’ve learned over the years. Every association meeting I’ve attended has
helped me and my business. The ideas I get at each meeting have either made
my business better or helped our company do more business. This made it worth
ten times more than the time I took from the business to attend.”
THE CHANGES HE’S SEEN IN THE ASSOCIATION
“This major change I have seen is that the association has grown in its profession-
alism. Hiring the Kellen Group as outside managers was a big step as it has given
our group the formal structure it needed to professionalize and grow. The found-
ing fathers of this group were men of strong will and they accomplished things
just by their determination, intention and savvy. But, today, in this business and
industry you need more than shear guts and savvy. You need vetted and proven
business processes, access to technology and systems, financial and succession
planning and the vision to see what’s coming next. Our association has grown
to meet those needs. It may have started 30 years ago with a need to socialize
and share common concerns, but today it’s so much more. It provides for the
educational and networking needs of those in the industry and our members
who are intent on making their individual businesses the best they can be.”
Customized Logistics and Delivery Association |
Summer 2017