Hello 2020! What a year 2019 was for Armstrong! We had a lot of lofty goals: to grow the business, move into a new space and create new ways to innovate through technology. We accomplished all of that, plus much more. Let’s talk about what made 2019 one of the most memorable years in Armstrong history.
1. New Partnership and Staff
In June of last year, Chris Cobb made the difficult decision to retire, which led to our new partnership with Carousel Capital of Charlotte, NC. I am excited to be working with long-term partners who are focused on helping Armstrong grow and innovate. We also spent a good portion of 2019 searching for a CFO. Dave Morris joined us this past October and is already a great addition to the Armstrong team. My personal goal has always been to make Armstrong one of the best logistics companies in the United States. I feel that we are perfectly positioned to meet that goal. I am looking forward to working with all of you in 2020!
2. New Office Space
Last July, we moved to a larger, more efficient and modern office space with room to grow. Our 55 corporate employees are enjoying amenities including: “UpLift” sit/stand desks, TVs displaying news and system pages, a modern kitchen equipped with new appliances, “smart” vending, and a state-of-the-art coffee machine that spits out 15 different beverages. Take a tour of the office in the video below, shot by our local partner Sun Stoppers of Matthews.
3. Annual Agent Conference in Nashville
The Annual Agent Conference is always a highlight. We were fortunate enough to spend three days at the Omni in Nashville, TN celebrating, learning and maybe spending a bit too much time on Broadway with the Armstrong family. We take a lot of pride putting on memorable events and love hearing all of your feedback. I look forward to showing off my adopted hometown of Charlotte in April of 2021 and once again partnering with Omni Hotels and Resorts for this event.
4. Technology and Website
The logistics industry as a whole has become very technology focused and Armstrong is no different. From our website to our TMS system, we are investing time and money to offer new tools for our agents, customer and carriers.
We have committed to improving the capabilities of ATGFr8 by doubling our staff of code developers and designers. The System Development Team, led by Rick Sammons, are true artists building the system. We are excited to see new features in 2020.
Armstrong's new website launched in October after months of hard work. We are consistently adding new content: video, pictures and blogs to keep the website fresh and interesting. If you have any ideas or topics you want to see covered, please let me know.
Thank you all for your hard work and commitment this year. We know change can be difficult, and we are excited for a 'boring' 2020!
Brian Mann
President & CEO
About Brian Mann
As President and Chief Executive Officer, Brian is responsible for Armstrong’s vision, mission, and philosophy. With over 20 years of experience in logistics, Brian is an expert in supply chain optimization, operations management, air freight, freight forwarding, warehousing, customs regulations, and reverse logistics.