Andre Thornton
About this Executive:
Name:
Andre Thornton
Company:
ASW Global
Interview Topics:
Distribution and Logistics
Region:
Region 9 - Northeast Ohio
This week I had an opportunity to talk with Andre Thornton, chairman and CEO of ASW Global. Andre's professional history is marked by a series of successful roles ranging from an acclaimed major league baseball player, to father of three sons, to his current role as leader of one of the largest minority owned and certified third party logistics company in America. By locating in Ohio, ASW Global has easy access to much of the country. And, by operating in Foreign Trade Zone #181, Andre has a competitive advantage through the ability to provide more than 150 clients with tax and duty benefits. I learned a lot from Andre about the opportunity for minority business leaders to enjoy personal and professional success in Ohio.
Q: How has Ohio's business environment helped ASW become the highly successful logistics company it is today?
A: To a large degree the answer is location, location, location. Ohio is a wonderful location for a logistics company's headquarters. We have access to 65 percent of the North American population within a one-day haul. In addition, Ohio's world-class transportation infrastructure gives our clients access to rail, water, air and road to cost effectively move their product. I have been courted by a number of states to relocate ASW Global, but I can't imagine how we could replicate the commercial benefits of operating our business in Ohio.
Q: What is your perception of the labor pool in Ohio?
A: Ohio has the right type of labor force to support future ASW Global expansion and to meet the needs of our clients. The labor force in Ohio understands logistics. The logistics industry in Ohio is well established and ASW Global has access to the wide range of resources available.
In addition, the Ohio educational system is excellent. We are able to find top talent graduating from Ohio universities and colleges and have hired a number of these graduates to meet our operational needs. I raised three sons and the education they received in Ohio prepared them to compete for acceptance in any program in the country. We find the access to professional sports, the arts community, remarkable parks and recreation, the world-class medical care system and a low cost of living allows us to recruit from among the best and brightest graduates. Equally important is that these state assets allow us to retain these employees and develop them to be outstanding contributors to our business.
Q: Does the opportunity to achieve a good work-life balance in Ohio translate into a meaningful benefit for you?
A: I have lived in Ohio for 30 years. What I like most about this area is the ability to do everything I want to do in both my professional and personal life. Ohio's transportation infrastructure makes everything in the state accessible to me. The airports are not crowded, I never feel claustrophobic. I can watch professional football, basketball, baseball, hockey or soccer. I have access to a world-renowned symphony, excellent museums and one of the country's best golf courses at Firestone Country Club. Other states may offer great venues for entertainment as well, but in my experience, they are not as easily accessible as they are here in Ohio.
Q: As a minority business leader, what is your perspective of Ohio as a location choice for minority led businesses?
A: I am very bullish on Ohio. I can easily see the upside potential for Ohio to be a leading state in nurturing minority led businesses. I bet few people know that the biggest cities in Ohio (Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati) are led by black Mayors. We have strong representation of minority leadership in the public sector on which we can build. Minority leadership in the private sector is growing. ASW Global is one of the largest minority owned companies in Ohio. Sam's Club of Wal-Mart is a client and their management recently asked me to share the ASW Global story with them. We have 59 Fortune 1000 companies headquartered in Ohio. Imagine what could be achieved if the leadership of those companies and ASW Global could work together to nurture accelerated growth of the minority business community in Ohio. I believe no other state has the same potential as Ohio to lead the nation. The challenge moving forward is to fully realize that potential. Minority business leaders with a passion for contributing their talent to helping realize the dream even faster should definitely consider joining the Ohio business community.