Following its 63rd Annual General Meeting held recently in Montreal, the newly elected Board of Directors of the Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association (CIFFA) elected Donna Letterio, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding (Canada) Inc. as the organization’s new President for a two-year term. Marc Bibeau, President of Overseas Express Consolidators (Canada) Inc. becomes the ex-officio Past President and will continue to serve on the Board.
Ms. Letterio, P.Log is the first woman to be elected President of CIFFA where she has served as a Director since 2005. As a 31-year industry veteran, Ms. Letterio brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the presidency. Ms. Letterio played a key role in the successful integration of Danzas and AEI in 2000, and Exel Freight Management into DHL in Canada in 2006. Canada was the first country to be integrated following the merger in 2000, and the second country following DHL’s acquisition of Exel in 2006. Today, Ms. Letterio oversees a network encompassing all major points of entry, and a major warehousing and distribution centre in Toronto.
“It is personally fulfilling to be able to volunteer in such an important leadership role in the industry where I’ve worked for so many years. CIFFA’s representation of the freight forwarding community and its ability to speak with a strong, united voice is especially important during this period of regulatory change – CBSA’s eManifest and Transport Canada’s Air Cargo Security come immediately to mind. The association’s focus on providing training and education that employees need to succeed in today’s complex business world is world class, and helps ensure every CIFFA member firm, large or small, is able to serve its customers. During my tenure on the Board I have enjoyed working with other dedicated Directors and the Secretariat staff, who I know will continue to support me to help CIFFA achieve its mission”
“The Association is honoured to have a freight forwarder of this caliber elected as President,” stated Ruth Snowden, Executive Director. “Ms. Letterio’s leadership and commitment to the industry will help guide us through what are sure to be a turbulent and challenging two years.”
The CIFFA Board is also pleased to welcome two new Directors elected at the May Annual General Meeting. Paul Hughes, Agility Logistics, Co., and Dwayne Hihn, Manitoulin Global Forwarding, have joined the Board for a two year term.
CIFFA represents some 247 Regular Member firms, from the largest of global multinationals to small- and medium-sized Canadian companies. A vital component of Canada’s global supply chain, CIFFA member companies facilitate the movement of goods around the world. Member firms provide an important link in Canada’s global supply chains, enhancing trade capabilities and assisting importers and exporters– retail, commercial, and industrial in the delivery of competitive solutions. Associate Member firms are an integral part of CIFFA’s structure, providing leading edge solutions in technology, warehousing, transportation, insurance and legal issues to freight forwarding Member firms.
Visit http://www.ciffa.com to learn more about CIFFA and its educational programs. Registrations are now open for classes or e-learning beginning in September – available to CIFFA members, as well as importers, exporters and other service providers.