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September/October 2012
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The Port of Baltimore
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C
arefully pressed under glass in a corner of Samya D. Murray’s
desk is a card she received some years ago from an appreciative
client. The handwritten message reads simply, “Thank you for
putting up with me.”
The card serves as a reminder of why, 25 years after leaving a local
customs brokerage and helping to launch C J International, Murray continues
to put her heart and soul into doing business as a full-service global logistics
provider.
“
We see each client as unique; we don’t label them as being ‘large’ or
‘
small,’” explained Murray, C J’s President. “We believe each client is the
reason we exist and value the trust they put in us to handle their cargo rather
than any other broker or freight forwarder. We take that trust very seriously.”
Success hasn’t always come easy since Murray and two former U.S.
Customs employees, Curt Perry and Joan Shindledecker, launched C J
International in July 1987. There were the early days of sharing a cramped
space in the basement of a Baltimore-based trucking company, the challenges
of being a largely woman-managed operation in a male-dominated industry,
and later, the adjustment to various technological advances in the industry.
Company personnel also mourned the loss of Shindledecker to cancer
in 2004.
Forward progress only resulted thanks to perseverance, professionalism
and valued personal relationships. “Our employees, everyone in C J, have
always been willing to go above and beyond to provide the best possible
service to our import and export clients,” Murray said. “That means everyone
pitches in to get the job done.”
Mary Jane Norris, Maryland Port Administration (MPA) Manager, Port
Operations Services, said it has been a pleasure watching C J International’s
development. “The business of freight forwarding/customs house brokerage
is very competitive,” Norris said. “You have to be good at what you do, care
about the companies you represent and be reasonable in your fees or you
won’t succeed. Obviously, C J has been very successful in putting all the
ingredients together. In today’s economy, 25 years is more than a milestone,
it’s a testament to their commitment and professionalism.”
For Murray, a telling moment in the company’s history came in the early
Customs Broker Goes Above and Beyond
to Ensure Customer Satisfaction for 25 Years
BY BLAISE WILLIG
C J
Celebrates
Significant Milestone
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Founded: July 1987
Â
Offices in Baltimore, Md. (1987);
Indianapolis, Ind. (1992); Louisville, Ken.
(1992);
Cincinnati, Oh. (1993); Fort Wayne,
Ind. (2000); and San Antonio, Tex. (2004).
Â
The C and J stand for “Cindy” and “Jill,”
co-founder Curt Perry’s two daughters.
Â
C J’s team of 36 import and export
professionals features 14 licensed Customs
brokers, That licensed-employee-to-total-
staff ratio is one of the highest in the
industry.
Â
In addition to co-founder Curt Perry, who
was a chief inspector and regional director
during his tenure in the Customs service,
key personnel include: Samya D. Murray,
President; Shannon Alexander, Executive VP;
Tom Poche, Treasurer; Diane Pachilis, VP of
East Coast Operations; and Jason Combs,
VP of Indiana Operations.
Â
C J handles a vast array of commodities
covered by the Harmonized Tariff,
intentionally diversifying the company’s
client base to cover all types of products.
At-A-Glance
www.cjinternational.com