More News & Events

May 2008
DSC's Memorial Fund raises over $27,000 for the Memphis Boys & Girls Clubs
DSC Logistics' fund in memory of Marlys Peske, Leon Harbin, Jr. and Gregory Martin, three DSC employees whose lives were lost when a tornado hit the Memphis Logistics Center, was set up to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis. Ann Drake, DSC's CEO, handed the donation check totaling over $27,000 to Fred Smith, chairman of the Boy's & Girls Clubs' Central Board, during the 37th Annual Steak 'N Burger Dinner, April 17 at the Memphis Zoo. The goal of the Boys & Girls Clubs is "to inspire and enable all young people, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens." All contributions will go towards the new Technical Training Center, for logistics and distribution training. The dinner was also attended by Jerry Dolak, group general manager; Mona Mounts, director, employee relations; and Tracy Drake, director, Marketing Communications. DSC hosted two tables of family members of Marlys, Leon and Gregory.

April 2008
DSC's Columbus Logistics Center wins Kellogg's 2007 Top Gun award
DSC's Columbus, Ohio, Logistics Center received Kellogg's Top Gun award in the retail category for excellence in service, cost, quality and innovation. The Top Gun award, established in 2000, is the Kellogg Company's highest honor given to third party logistics providers. In presenting the award, a spokesperson for Kellogg said the DSC Columbus team was “clearly a leader in the areas of case ordered accuracy. They demonstrated consistently solid numbers…had a yearly case order accuracy of 99.96% or greater and led 11 out of the 12 months in the net inventory component…”Columbus achieved high scores on three Kellogg audits to qualify for the award; they scored a "Superior" rating on the AIB audit; were the only facility achieve an overall "GREEN" score in the Property Management audit; and they scored a 95% overall in the Inventory audit.

For the Top Gun award, Columbus received a total of 1,014 out of a possible 1,180 points for the year. The categories included; Case Order Accuracy; monthly Inventory Net Variance metric; Carolina Supply Chain Services audit; inbound Trailer Dwell Time; On Time Loading; and Safety. Ann Drake, CEO, Mike Riley, regional vice president, and other DSC leaders were on hand with the Columbus Team to receive the award at the Logistics Center on March 27. The Kellogg's attendees were Dan Turney, senior vice president customer logistics services; Rich Dregne, senior director NSD distribution/transportation; Michelle Vandermeer, director NSD distribution/transportation operations; Tim Klaassen, senior logistics operations manager; Jeff Snyder, senior customer logistics manager; and Randall Wells, senior operations planner. Kellogg has been a partner with DSC since 1988.

March 2008
DSC honored as a Platinum Club member at customer Kellogg’s Million Dollar Club event
DSC Logistics was honored again this year as one of the founding members of The Kellogg Company’s Platinum Club at Kellogg's annual Million Dollar Club event on March 12, 2008. The Platinum Club is designed to recognize women and minority businesses doing more than $10 million in business with Kellogg. CEO Ann Drake, Mike Riley, vice president, regional operations and Doris Drayton, director, business development, attended the event, part of a two-day supplier conference focusing on sustainable growth for Kellogg's suppliers and encouraging suppliers to create their own supplier diversity program and widen the scope of opportunity for smaller diversity companies. Ann Drake, on behalf of DSC Logistics, accepted a Million Dollar Club plaque for 2007.

DSC's McDonough I Logistics Center awarded Kimberly-Clark Health Care 2007 Distribution Center of the Year
The McDonough I Logistics Center outscored the other facilities in the areas of picking accuracy, procedures, inventory (book-to-book score and random audit), repack and product damage with a final score of 99.3467% to win the Kimberly-Clark Health Care 2007 Distribution Center of the Year. They achieved a 100% score on the book-to-book inventory measurement nine out of 12 months, and 99.9% during the remaining three months. Shipping accuracy rate averaged 99.83% for the year.

Hanyard joins DSC as general manager
Annissia Hanyard has joined DSC as general manager of the Des Plaines and Chicago, Illinois, Logistics Centers. Annissia is managing all financial, operational and customer responsibilities for those locations. Annissia brings over 20 years of experience in the industry along with a proven track record of achieving results in progressive engineering and supply chain management leadership roles. Her career highlights demonstrate the ability to drive operational execution and customer service excellence within the 3PL industry as well as in Fortune 500 environments.

February 2008
DSC's CEO Ann Drake serves on leadership panel for BGSA Supply Chain 2008 Conference
Ann Drake was a panelist at the recent BG Strategic Advisors (BGSA) Supply Chain 2008 Conference. The panel, comprised of some of the industry’s most respected leaders, shared best practice solutions that helped them improve customer service, employee retention and profitability, and other strategies and innovative ways to overcome these hurdles and maintain their leadership position. The BGSA Supply Chain Conference gathers top executives of leading companies from all segments, ranging from warehousing and freight forwarding to specialty areas like packaging and niche supply chain technologies that are revolutionizing the industry. In addition, the conference provides a unique focus on key strategic ideas driving change in the supply chain marketplace. BGSA is a leading global investment banking and strategy consulting firm specializing in M&A advisory services for companies in the supply chain and logistics sectors. The conference was held January 28-30 in Palm Springs, Florida.

DSC mourns the loss of three Memphis employees
DSC mourns the loss of three of its employees who lost their lives when a tornado severely damaged the Memphis, Tennessee, Logistics Center, on Tuesday evening (2/5/2008). We are deeply grieved by the loss of the DSC family members: Marlys Peske, Leon Harbin, Jr. and Gregory Martin.

“We are currently focused on supporting the families of our workers who lost loved ones in this tragic event, as well as those workers who were injured and their families. Out of respect for the loss of our three DSC family members, we are flying all flags at our Logistics Centers at half mast for the next thirty days,” CEO Ann Drake said. “My thoughts and prayers are with each person affected by this terrible tragedy."

The Memphis DSC operations have been temporarily suspended, due to the condition of the Logistics Center and the resulting decision by the local government agencies to close it. We value our Memphis employees, and are committed to re-establishing our operations in the Memphis/Mid South area as quickly as possible. We have provided them with assistance to make the temporary transition as smooth as possible under the circumstances. We are extremely grateful to our loyal and dedicated employees, the surrounding community, as well as our industry partners and friends for all their support and efforts during this tragic time.

DSC named one of 125 most influential manufacturing technology providers in 2007
DSC was listed as one of the 125 most influential manufacturing technology providers in 2007 by Start-It magazine, and one of nine providers under the Logistics & Fulfillment segment. The list is designed to provide a snapshot of the industrial market and the companies with the greatest impact on its direction. The criteria include customer references, business-model strengths and execution, market leadership, and technology innovation through partnerships.

January 2008
DSC recognized as a top supply chain partner in 2007
In 2007 DSC was named a top provider in the logistics field by four leading industry publications. In July, DSC was named one of the "100 Best Supply Chain Partners" by Global Logistics & Supply Chain Strategies magazine, one of the "Top 100 3PL providers" by Inbound Logistics magazine and one of the "50 Leading 3PL Pros" by Food Logistics magazine. Transport Topics magazine included DSC as one of the "50 Top Logistics Companies" in their September issue. "In 2007 we have many examples of helping our customers achieve their goals through the management of change and information in the supply chain," said Ann Drake, DSC's CEO. "We know how to master change, to step up to the challenge of designing, integrating, managing and adapting supply chain solutions. To receive the recognition we did in 2007 from our customers and the industry reinforces our mission of being the preeminent sense-and-respond supply chain organization."

DSC's Iwata presents at Supply Chain Conference in Tokyo, Japan
Sawako Iwata, an Associate Industrial Engineer at DSC Logistics, recently presented at the Supply Chain Network Conference, in Tokyo, Japan. Iwata's presentation, entitled "Workforce performance management by 3PLs in the United States" highlighted the ways in which DSC defines their Performance Optimization Process with various actions, and by having engineering standards. She also reviewed how DSC develops those engineering standards. The conference is one of the bimonthly working groups under the umbrella of the Operations Research Society of Japan. The Society was founded in 1957 with the following goals: 1. study and develop techniques for Operations Research, 2. utilize and apply OR techniques to various problems in management of corporations and government, 3. exchange valuable information among domestic members, 4. interact with international organizations. The conference was held Friday, December 21, 2007.

December 2007
DSC awarded Bumble Bee Foods business
Bumble Bee Foods, North America's largest branded seafood company, has awarded DSC Logistics Supply Chain Management services out of DSC's Mira Loma, CA, Logistics Center. DSC will be handling Bumble Bee Foods' leading brands including Bumble Bee®, Clover Leaf®, Brunswick® and Beach Cliff® and the company's packaged, ready-to-eat meals. Product will arrive from Bumble Bee Foods' plants in California, Georgia, Washington and China. DSC will ship product to retailers including Wal-Mart, Safeway, Sam's Club and Costco in California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and Utah. Bumble Bee Foods will be a participant in DSC's food and consumer products consolidation program on the west coast.

November 2007
DSC's CFO nominated for the Chicago Athena Award
JoAnn Lilek, CFO, was nominated for the Chicago Athena Award. The award is presented to someone who has attained and embodies the highest level of professionalism excellence in her/his business or profession, has devoted time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the community and actively assists women in realizing their leadership potential. Lilek was among 20 nominees honored at the 2007 Chicago Athena Award luncheon, Monday, November 5.

DSC Logistics hosts potential Chinese partner
DSC hosted a visit from the Chairman of the Board and other executives of the Chinese company, Guangdong Rising Assets Management Co., Ltd., on Monday, November 5. Guangdong Rising Assets currently manages 2.7 billion dollars of assets in various types of companies located throughout China and is exploring future American logistics partners. The Chinese company chose DSC based on DSC's reputation in the industry and the quality of DSC's website. DSC looks forward to partnering with Guangdong Rising Management in the future.

Jorgensen joins DSC as general manager
Richard Jorgensen has joined DSC as general manager of the Joliet and Romeoville, Illinois, Logistics Centers. Richard will be responsible for all financial, operational and customer responsibilities for those locations. Richard has almost 30 years of supply chain experience, with 10 years experience in global supply chain management and manufacturing. He has extensive expertise in warehousing, transportation strategy, inventory management, production planning, warehouse management systems, vendor management and customer service.

Ann Drake serves on Global Logistics panel
Ann Drake was a panelist at the 2007 Global Logistics Summit of Will County, Illinois, on September 18, participating in a discussion on what logistics organizations do to create value in a global economy. The Summit, one of the most comprehensive transportation conferences of the year, hosted a lineup of respected industry experts covering key topics in both individual and panel presentations. Ted Fishman, author of the bestselling book China, Inc.: How the Rise of the Next Superpower Challenges America and the World, kicked off the Summit with the keynote address. Other featured speakers included Tim Feemster, Senior Vice President & Director of Global Logistics for Grubb & Ellis, and Mara Swan, Senior Vice President, Global Human Resources, for Manpower. The summit featured topics including the impact of China as a leading trade partner, how the growth of a global economy is affected by efficient supply chains, using the supply chain as a competitive advantage, and the issues and impact of a diverse global workforce. As one of the fastest growing counties in the United States, Will County is experiencing the challenges that accompany any rapidly growing region--primarily infrastructure and transportation issues.

September 2007
CEO Ann Drake selected as a “Top-Idea Maven” by The Woman’s Advantage
Ann Drake, CEO, was selected from among hundreds of submissions to be featured in the 2008 Woman’s Advantage Calendar. The calendar will provide advice for women business owners from influential women leaders across the US and Canada. Mary Cantando, Growth Expert of The Woman’s Advantage, today announced that Ann’s advice will be included in the calendar which is to be released this month. "Ann's quote was selected because it was powerful yet easy to understand. Her idea is relevant to almost every woman in business today.” says Cantando. “Women business owners and those who dream of starting a business will learn so much from the advice provided by Ann and the other successful women quoted in the calendar.” The Woman’s Advantage 2008 Calendar, scheduled for release this fall, will provide sound bites of advice on key business issues including: organization, promotion, sales, and human resources.

August 2007
DSC’s CEO Ann Drake offers thought leadership in Supply Chain Digest
Ann Drake discusses key supply chain issues in the Expert Insight section of Supply Chain Digest. Ann’s column, entitled Supply Chain Inview, appears bimonthly and has covered topics such as collaborating with your supply chain partner and taking on responsibilities outside the normal supply chain arena. Supply Chain Digest provides supply chain management and logistics news, opinion and education; the publication's panel of expert columnists represent supply chain management and logistics thought leadership.

      April 2008 “Bids: The Good, the Bad, and the Only ” SC Digest more
      January 2008 “A Work in Progress” SC Digest more
      November 2007 “Why Focus on Pennies When you Can Save Millions?” SC Digest more
      August 2007 “Ventures Requiring 'Super' Powers” SC Digest more
      June 2007 “What We Don’t Know Can Hurt Us” SC Digest more

July 2007
Ann Drake attends Rockefeller Foundation's Global Urban Summit
Ann Drake was a recent delegate to the Rockefeller Foundation's Global Urban Summit in Bellagio, Italy, as part of the Regional Plan Association's "America 2050" initiative. RPA's America 2050 initiative will provide a framework for the public and private investments needed to accommodate the nation's growth and sustain its competitiveness in the 21st Century. Through discussion of trends shaping America's future development, the goals of the week-long summit were to craft a long term physical, policy and investment framework for America's future growth and development; to create a communications strategy for elevating these issues in the national dialogue for the 2008 Presidential election and to draft an action agenda for reforming federal policy to support cross-jurisdictional governance and investments in ten emerging megaregions nationally; and to formulate a research agenda for further exploration of key issues. The project, held July 8-13, brought together a select group of urban planning practitioners, scholars, civic and business leaders and environmentalists.

June 2007
DSC named finalist for “Best 3PL for Fast Moving Consumer Goods”
DSC is one of three finalists in eyefortransport's 3PL Awards in the category "Best 3PL for Fast Moving Consumer Goods."  Established in 1998, eyefortransport is a leading provider of online Logistics and Transportation information and services. Eyefortransport readers, restricted to 3PL users, were given six weeks to vote for logistics providers they believe to be "head and shoulders" above the rest. The overwhelming majority of voters said that the level of customer service is the single most accurate measure of a 3PL's value to its customer. Other attributes include the ability to act as a seamless extension of the customer's company...flexibility and proactive problem solving...delivering on commitments...effective communication...and a closer understanding of the clients' full supply chain as a means to proactively suggest new strategies. The winners will be announced at the 3PL Industry Dinner & Awards Ceremony at the eyefortransport 3PL Summit and Outsourcing Logistics Conference in Atlanta on June 26, 2007. 

May 2007
Ann Drake hosts international visitors for Women Business Leaders Summit (WBLS)
Ann Drake and DSC hosted Nevine Leheta of the Leader Group from Cairo, Egypt, and Asmahan Abboud, Aramex International, from Lebanon as part of the U.S. State Department’s co-sponsorship of Arab and American women business executives. The purpose of the visit on May 21 and 22 was to share experiences, exchange best practices and share management styles and business skills with partner companies. On Wednesday, May 23, Ann and her guests traveled to Washington, DC, to meet with senior level government officials and members of Congress, and attend special program sessions at Georgetown University. A private reception was held at the White House for the WBLS participants, and they were honored by an appearance from First Lady Laura Bush.

March 2007
Yamaha marches on with DSC Logistics, awarding their Band & Orchestra Division
Current customer Yamaha has expanded DSC’s logistics center management services to include their Band & Orchestra (B & O) Division. This new division will occupy additional square feet at DSC’s Joliet Logistics Center. The Yamaha instruments for marching bands and orchestras will join the keyboards, digital pianos, guitars and drums DSC currently handles. The Joliet Logistics Center will provide container unloading, each and case picking and drum drilling (drilling special holes so they fit on the drum rack used in marching bands) services. The B & O products will be shipped to schools and retail stores.

DSC expands locations with current customer Kimberly-Clark
DSC was awarded logistics center management services for a new Chicago-area facility by current customer Kimberly-Clark for their Professional division. The new Logistics Center, leased by Kimberly-Clark, will be located in Romeoville, IL. DSC will be handling the full line of Kimberly-Clark Professional products, including products and systems made for the washroom under brands like Scott, Kleenex and Kleenguard brands. DSC will provide the WMS and warehousing services, and will support small packaging projects.

CEO Ann Drake attends IWLA Annual Convention; Board member, Ralph Drayer, speaks
Ann Drake attended the IWLA 116th Annual Convention, March 4-7, 2007, in Hilton Head, South Carolina. DSC’s Advisory Board member, Ralph Drayer, spoke on “Collaboration—The Key to Supply Chain Transformation.” IWLA is a trade association of warehouse logistics providers that helps members run high-quality, profitable businesses. DSC has been a member of the IWLA since 1965.

February 2007
DSC partners with new customer Pinnacle Foods
Pinnacle Foods Group Inc., one of North America's largest packaged food companies and maker of Duncan Hines baking mixes, Log Cabin and Mrs. Butterworth's syrup, Open Pit barbecue sauce, Hungry Man and Swanson frozen dinners and Vlasic pickles, has awarded DSC Logistics a three-year contract for warehousing and distribution management services out of DSC’s Mira Loma and Tracy, California, Logistics Centers. Pinnacle Foods product will come from their manufacturing locations (six primary locations in the Mid-West and East Coast) and then be shipped to major retailers located in 11 states on the West Coast and Canada.  

DSC honored as founding member of customer Kellogg’s Platinum Club
DSC Logistics was honored as one of five founding members of The Kellogg Company’s newly-formed Platinum Club, as part of the annual Million Dollar Club event on February 28, 2007. The Platinum Club is designed to recognize women and minority businesses doing more than $10 million in business with Kellogg. DSC attendees included Ann Drake; Gregg Gill, director, customer care for Kellogg; and Doris Drayton, director, business development. Ann Drake was presented with an award at the Platinum Club dinner following the Kellogg Top 40 Suppliers reception.

DSC provides solutions for customer, Kimberly-Clark’s, “Network of the Future”
DSC was awarded an exciting growth opportunity with current customer Kimberly-Clark, providing logistics management services, including custom kitting, at a new Logistics Center in the Los Angeles, California, area. Kimberly-Clark will be combining two divisions into this location, Consumer and Professional. DSC will be handling the full line of Kimberly-Clark Consumer products, including Cottonelle, Kleenex and Huggies brands, as well as Professional products made under brands such as Scott, Kleenex and Kleenguard. Kimberly-Clark has been a DSC customer since 1992 and currently occupies space in DSC’s Logistics Centers in Arlington, Coppell and Roanoke, Texas; McDonough, Georgia; Des Plaines, Illinois; and Mira Loma, California.

DSC signs three-year contract for West Coast expansion for customer, Cardinal Health
Cardinal Health, one of the largest healthcare companies in the U.S., signed a three-year contract with DSC Logistics, beginning their West Coast expansion project. DSC will start up and transition Cardinal product into the newest Logistics Center in the DSC network, Rancho Cucamonga, CA. The new Logistics Center services two divisions within Cardinal Health—Gloves and Converters. DSC will be handling medical gloves, surgical masks, gowns, and other items coming from Asia and El Paso, Texas, and going to 50 Cardinal distribution centers and over 200 direct customers throughout the U.S. In addition, DSC will be providing "ETO Degassing," degassing of sterilizer products prior to stocking. DSC's relationship with Cardinal began in 2004.

January 2007
Ann Drake elected to Board of Directors of A.M. Castle & Co.
Ann Drake, CEO was elected to A.M. Castle & Co.’s Board of Directors on January 25, 2006. Founded in 1890, A.M. Castle & Co. is a leading global distributor of specialty metal and plastic products, value-added services and supply chain solutions. Its customer base includes many Fortune 500 companies as well as thousands of medium and smaller-sized firms spread across a wide spectrum of industries.

December 2006
Patrick Swartz promoted to vice president, Regional Operations
Patrick Swartz has been promoted to regional vice president. In his new role, he will continue to provide leadership for the Texas and Chicagoland Logistics Centers, foster a culture of continual improvement, open communication, customer satisfaction, and to grow and develop talent. He also has expanded responsibility as Consistency Executive for Kimberly-Clark. Patrick joined DSC in 1998 as a facility manager of the Arlington, Texas, facility. In 2000, he was promoted to a general manager position, responsible for all the Texas Logistics Centers, and was later promoted to group general manager in 2003.

DSC leaders discuss workforce and labor management success on Supply Chain Digest webcast
JoAnn Lilek, CFO, and Cheryl Tibus, former VP, Human and Organizational Effectiveness, and DSC field personnel are featured in a Supply Chain Videocast presentation from Supply Chain Digest™ and The Supply Chain Television Channel™. The webcast features DSC’s personnel answering questions about a detailed case study describing DSC’s experience going through work force and labor management change, discussing both the benefits and the challenges.

October 2006
DSC partners with new customer, ConAgra
ConAgra Foods, a manufacturer of well-known food brands such as Chef Boyardee, Swiss Miss, Butterball, Fleischmann's and Peter Pan, and provider of food and ingredients to major foodservice establishments and commercial customers worldwide, has awarded DSC warehousing management services out of the Arlington, Texas, Logistics Center.

DSC grows with new customer, Tree of Life
Tree of Life, the nation’s leading distributor of natural, organic, specialty, ethnic, and gourmet food products, has awarded DSC their Northeast Consolidation Center business at the Allentown, Pennsylvania, Logistics Center. DSC will be picking up finished goods from Tree of Life suppliers, cross-docking the goods in Allentown, and delivering the goods via consolidated truck loads to the 12 Tree Of Life distribution centers across the country.

Adrian Potgieter moderates panel for CIP Transportation and Logistics Conference
Adrian Potgieter, vice president, Business Development, moderated the panel “Bringing It Home” for the 5th Annual CIP Transportation and Logistics Conference held in Rosemont, Illinois on October 5, 2006. This panel was a conversation between a third party logistics provider, developers and owners about strategies, goals and meeting customer’s needs in a changing marketplace.

Ann Drake, CEO, serves as a member of CSCMP’s “Learn to be a CEO” panel
Ann Drake, CEO, served as a member of a panel entitled, “Learn to be a CEO” at CSCMP’s 2006 Annual Conference in San Antonio, Texas, on October 16, 2006. The panel of three successful CEOs gave personal perspectives on executive leadership in today's supply chain world. They covered more than successes, looking at the deep learning that takes place during the trying times they have faced.