Globally recognized supply chain innovator, business leader and humanitarian Paul Thompson
was named an award recipient for the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2015
Southeast Program in the Services Category. Thompson accepted the honors
at the EOY Awards Gala in Nashville, Tennessee
last night for his entrepreneurial achievements as founder or
co-founder of eight highly successful North American companies, business
strategist for numerous not-for-profit organizations and visionary and
top executive for Transportation Insight, the flagship brand in his
corporate portfolio. Transportation Insight is a Global Trade Top 10 3PL and a North American leader in value-based Enterprise Logistics.
"I
am very humbled and honored to receive this prestigious award," says
Thompson. "As the revolution in entrepreneurship gains momentum across
America, we see entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of job creation and
innovation in this country. There is no greater reward than making
American lives better by creating successful businesses and
organizations. I've always measured success by the satisfaction of the
people involved in my entrepreneurial endeavors – our clients, our
associates and our business partners. They – along with my family –
continue to be my inspiration."
In
addition to Transportation Insight, Thompson is also the driving force
behind multiple acquisitions and the success of CHTL Logistics, a
transactional truckload logistics firm; Custom Shipping Solutions, an
organization providing transactional less-than-truckload logistics;
United Sourcing Alliance, a group purchasing entity; Total Insight, a
LEAN consulting firm; and Property Acquisition Company, a real estate
development organization.
Thompson's
vision in creating Transportation Insight in 1999 was to provide
consultative, value-based solutions to help shippers in a market made
increasingly complex by trucking industry deregulation in the 1980s. The
company's co-managed business model has since evolved from simple
execution-based transportation management to end-to-end supply chain
solutions including predictive, strategic planning – powered by
analytics – with emphasis on supply chain engineering, technology, LEAN
consulting and Big Data solutions.
"It
is because of Paul's vision that Transportation Insight provides
long-term value to our clients, and it is because of his servant's heart
that our company has become a top Enterprise Logistics provider in North America," says Transportation Insight President and Chief Executive Officer Chris Baltz,
a longtime friend and colleague of Thompson. "Under Paul's leadership,
we have assembled an elite organization of like-minded associates who
focus on achieving personal and professional excellence while helping to
transform our community, our company and our clients for the better."
Transportation
Insight and its clients have received logistics industry recognition
for excellence, sustainability and growth. The Enterprise Logistics
provider has appeared on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing
privately-held companies in the United States
every year since 2008 to become part of the elite Inc. Honor Roll. To
continue its rapid growth, Transportation Insight launched its Vision
20/20 expansion plan in 2014 to become a $3.5 to $5 billion company by January 1, 2020 through acquisition and organic growth channels.
A
highlight of the Vision 20/20 plan is Transportation Insight's new
corporate headquarters which opens this summer with space to accommodate
triple its current workforce. With the fully-renovated 1930's-era Lyerly Mill as its centerpiece, the campus will be a catalyst to urban revitalization efforts in downtown Hickory, North Carolina.
The complex includes 70,000 square feet of office space and numerous
amenities such as athletic fields, a workout center and a cafeteria
employing a chef onsite. The campus fulfills current and future
associates' desires for a career that includes fitness and healthy
work-life balance.
Thompson
has experienced significant business success, and his strategic work
with numerous humanitarian organizations exemplifies his achievements
with a higher purpose. Thompson was instrumental in establishing the
Transportation Insight Center for Entrepreneurship at Appalachian State University,
and he devotes significant time and resources to Samaritan's Feet,
Restore Global and many other organizations focused on lifting up those
in need.
"Paul
has taught me that true generosity is not measured in the size of one's
gift, but in the magnitude of one's sacrifice and commitment to
others," says Manny Ohonme, President and Co-founder of global
humanitarian organization Samaritan's Feet. "We would not be where we
are today without his vision, servant leadership and ability to help us
create and execute a strategic roadmap far beyond our wildest dreams."
Randy Edwards, Vice Chancellor and Chief of Staff at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina,
was Dean of the College of Business during the formative years of the
Transportation Insight Center for Entrepreneurship. "Paul is the reason
we have entrepreneurship at Appalachian," says Edwards. "He radically
accelerated the success of the Center for Entrepreneurship by providing
not only significant funding, but also a strategic vision that inspired
us to 'go big or go home.'"
"The
key to being a successful entrepreneur is to leverage the power of
collaboration – one does not achieve significance going it alone," says
Thompson. "While vision and focus on continuous improvement of the
business model and its processes are critical, empowerment of and
partnership with people lead companies to greatness."
"For
29 years, EY has recognized the remarkable efforts of business leaders
and the dedication to the communities they serve," said Brad Duncan,
EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Southeast Program Principal. "This group of
award recipients truly demonstrates the passion, dedication and vision
it takes to achieve remarkable success, and we are excited to honor them
and share their stories."
As a regional award recipient for the Services category, Thompson was recognized alongside entrepreneurs in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee
who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as
innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their
businesses and communities. Thompson will now compete for national EY
Entrepreneur Of The Year honors to be presented in November 2015 at the EY Strategic Growth Forum and national awards gala in Palm Desert, California.
About Transportation Insight, LLC
Transportation Insight is a global lead logistics provider with more than $3 billion
in supply chain spend under management. For more than 15 years, the 3PL
has partnered with hundreds of manufacturers, distributors and
retailers to achieve significant cost savings, reduce cycle times and
improve customer satisfaction rates by providing customized supply chain
solutions. Transportation Insight offers a Co-managed Logistics® form
of 3PL, carrier sourcing, freight bill audit and payment services,
state-of-the-art transportation management system (TMS) applications and
business intelligence. Its logistics services include domestic
transportation, supply chain analytics, international transportation,
warehouse sourcing, LEAN consulting and supply chain sourcing of
indirect materials. For more about Transportation Insight, visit www.transportationinsight.com.
About EY Entrepreneur Of The Year
EY
Entrepreneur Of The Year is the world's most prestigious business award
for entrepreneurs. The unique award makes a difference through the way
it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and
recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their
vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global
award of its kind, Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are
building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses,
recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs
in more than 145 cities in more than 60 countries.
