Dmitri Tchernychov can’t remember a time when he was not fascinated by the sheer volume of goods constantly in transit all over the word in ships, planes, trains and trucks. He would think about what must go on behind the scenes to keep all of those vehicles and shipments moving and knew he wanted to be a part of it.

Dmitri discovered the International Trade and Transportation Logistics program at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), where he connected with knowledgeable instructors who inspired him further to pursue a career in global transportation.

“During my years at BCIT, I had great instructors who helped me truly understand the full spectrum of the transportation industry, as well as international trade. As a result, I have developed a true passion and admiration for the industry.”

The quest to become a logistics expert

While completing his studies, Dmitri was able to get a foot in the door of his chosen career at Perishables International Transportation, where he gained experience handling logistics operations for fresh and frozen perishable goods.

After graduating from BCIT in 2008, Dmitri was already on his way to a successful logistics career, armed with his FITT diploma in International Trade and his proficiency for languages, including fluency in Russian, English and French. Dmitri also completed the Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management program at the Canadian Institute of Traffic and Transportation (CITT) in 2009.

“The FITT-accredited courses that I took helped me tremendously to expand my vision in the transportation industry throughout all modes of transportation,” Dmitri says.  “Understanding the financial aspects of ocean freight and foreign investments really helped put things into perspective.”

I want to encourage other individuals that are new to the transportation industry to acquire their knowledge through the FITTskills program, as I am confident enough to say that it is an important step in gaining an understanding of the industry,” Dmitri says.  “It’s part of being knowledgeable and providing great value to my company’s customers, and it helps those customers to be confident in what we say or do for their businesses.”

“While I was studying I had to get really deep into the chapters about some of the modes of transportation that I’m not familiar with. The FITTskills program prepared me well, particularly in both legal aspects of international trade and international trade research. I found those two courses very helpful in my day- to-day tasks, considering that liability is a huge factor of our business.”

Handling chaos with a cool head

He soon landed the position of 3PL Manager for CSA transportation where he was responsible for less than truckload (LTL) cross-border service on Canada’s west coast. The four years Dmitri spent in this role prepared him well for tackling his next position as Logistics Manager at Moto Transportation Services, a move he made in 2012.

“To me every load and every shipment that I work on is interesting and special in its own way. It can get pretty crazy if something very simple is not being addressed properly. It can really turn into a nightmare. Those who are in the transportation industry will understand fully what I’m talking about, and that is what makes us the transportation experts. We can’t expect our valued customers to know everything, otherwise they’d be doing it on their own.”

Dmitri handled any twists and turns that came his way with practicality and empathy for his company’s clients, and was recognized for his abilities in 2015 with a promotion to Operations Manager.

“As an operations manager at Moto Transportation Services, based out of Vancouver, my day consists of paying careful attention to a lot of intricate details, as they can be very costly if missed.”

Planning ahead and thinking of any potential consequences that could trigger an entire chain reaction is a big part of my day-to-day duties.

In the shipping industry Dmitri and his team operate in a rigorous competitive environment. He is constantly reviewing the cost benefit analysis for each project and putting a priority on providing top-notch customer service to all his clients. He says this approach is what keeps him and Moto Transportation Services above water in the current logistics environment.

Despite their best efforts, unexpected things happen and can affect deliveries, such as weather delays, forced detours and truck breakdowns. The challenge is in keeping a cool head and doing whatever they can to problem-solve and get their shipments where they need to go.

“Patience and control of the situation, in regards to logistics, and acting under the core values of the company are tenets that I act by. Integrity, transparency, honesty and efficiency are my main guidelines that I go by when dealing with customers and colleagues on a daily basis.”

In an industry as fast-paced and subject to acts of nature and unexpected challenges as international transportation, Dmitri finds enjoyment in the variety and satisfaction in a job well done.

“What also attracted me to this industry is the fact that it’s never monotonous. There is always something going on, something unusual and different, thanks to our customers and changing policy and regulations. Interesting projects are always happening on the internal level as well, trying to work out how big volumes of freight can be controlled efficiently, and putting the right individuals on the job.”

Taking his rightful place with the experts in his field

Being knowledgeable and creditable in his industry is something that is very important to Dmitri and his clients. During his time at BCIT, some of his instructors had recommended he apply for the elite CITP®|FIBP® designation, to join the network of highly recognized international trade practitioners in Canada and abroad. Dmitri agreed and applied for his designation this spring, earning it in May, 2017.

Now that I have my designation, I will approach some of my tasks differently and look at some projects from a different perspective. I believe that I will be able to provide a better value to my company and coworkers.

“And I’ll be able to educate some of our clients to help them with their day-to-day business by reducing their cost and increasing freight volumes. I also believe that it will help me manage my company’s operations department and secure market share in the industry.”

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Safaa Al-Shammari is always on the lookout for new international business opportunities. His varied international trade background includes roles with companies in Iraq, Dubai, and Canada.

Most recently, he has taken on the challenge of building his own company, and taking on freelance advisor projects of his own.

Safaa has been working in international trade and distribution for almost two decades. Taking on many different roles over his time in the industry, he has built up a strong foundation of knowledge and experience in several different aspects of trade.

Taking care of business by taking care of the customer

After working for several years under various contracts in the Middle East in logistics, customer service, account management and product development roles, Safaa took on the role of International Operations Manager at Naran General Trading LLC in Dubai in 2005.

I worked for more than five years in Dubai, UAE, which is an important global hub for international trade. There I handled a wide range of products and services, dealing with professionals from many different academic and business backgrounds.

Naran General Trading handles a large portfolio of equipment and services, trading mostly with businesses based in Iraq, Jordan and Europe. Safaa was charged with managing the operations of several companies owned and financed by Naran Group. These included Al-Usool Engineering Service Ltd, which represented many large international manufacturers in Iraq.

One of Safaa’s biggest responsibilities was ensuring positive customer relations, a pivotal role for any company. To do this, he worked closely with the logistics and accounting departments to secure smooth, on-time deliveries and payments ensuring a high level of service was met for all clients.

He established business communications with international principles, representing companies like ITT Goulds, John Crane, Parker, Alfa Laval, and Hitachi Plant technologies, among others, negotiating and finalizing contracts worth significant sums for the company.

One of the most rewarding parts of his job was coaching teams of engineers in the UAE and Iraq to liaise with customers and win orders for public tenders in both countries.

Finding the tools to excel in North America thanks to a like-minded professor

In 2012, Safaa moved to Jordan where he worked as a Freelance Advisor/Operations Manager for Technical Manufacturing Company LLC. In 2013, Jordan decided to move to Canada to pursue further training and certification in global trade in North America.

He settled in Windsor, Ontario where he enrolled in the International Business Management program at St. Clair College.

“I selected this program and St. Clair College after the first communication I had with Professor Floyd Simpkins, the program coordinator, who showed a passion for international business which matched my principles and experience.”

I found the program very useful, combining the practical approach of the FITTskills course material with high caliber business text books and the experiences of the instructors. This combination gave me an exceptionally wide knowledge base to build my skills. The courses enabled me to approach business opportunities with a great degree of confidence after graduation.

Safaa excelled in his studies, earning academic distinction for his program in all three semesters of his program at St. Clair College. He immediately saw the value of FITT certification and the elite CITP®|FIBP® designation and began the process to receive both accolades as soon as he graduated from the program.

“I recognized the advantages of the FITT Diploma in International Trade and the CITP®|FIBP® designation when I first contacted Professor Simpkins, who brought to my attention the importance of having FITT credentials as a tool in the global trade industry.”

“For me, obtaining the CITP®|FIBP® designation was a great achievement representing a major milestone in my professional career. It is not only about the self-satisfaction, confidence and credibility it presents to potential clients. Even more, it is about providing an identity for me among business professionals that gives me distinction from other professionals in my international trade expertise. I urge all business people to consider taking the FITTskills program and pursuing the CITP®|FIBP® designation.”

Putting his hard earned expertise to work on a project of his own

Since earning his designation, Safaa has been working on an exciting new project of his own – setting up his new export business. A typical day for him includes researching opportunities to export products and services of Canadian origin to the Middle East and North African markets. His previous experience in those regions, along with his extensive contact networks, are the aces up his sleeve as he builds his business.

Safaa also spends time every day reading news and theory on international trade development, including EDC’s website, and thumbing back through his FITTskills text books to keep him up to date on the industry.

He certainly has the knowledge, skills, and crucially the optimism, to make his new enterprise a success.

“During my recent research, I found out that there are many Canadian products that have the strong potential for success in new international markets, particularly in the segment of pharmaceuticals industry.”

“Recently, I approached one of the main producers of empty gelatine capsules in North America to sell their products to pharmaceutical factories in the Middle East. Despite the fact that the product faces high competition from manufacturers in China and India, there are real possibilities for success in promoting it to customers who value the high quality of Canadian products. There are also possibilities to export other Canadian products like red lentils and canola oil.”

Safaa is also hard at work developing his own website, which will be launched in conjunction with his new business venture in June 2016.

I consider it the highest honour I’ve received in recognition of my knowledge and skills to be offered the great opportunity to teach the FITTskills International Trade Research module at St. Clair College for the Spring 2016 semester.

“I believe that as a CITP®|FIBP® designate, I will be in a better position to assist new students to make the best use of their studying time, and also to support them to obtain the knowledge and experience that the FITTskills program offers. I will be delighted to help them earn their certifications and CITP®|FIBP® designation, which will be the cornerstone of their business careers.”

We are thrilled to have someone as passionate and qualified as Safaa instructing the next generation of international trade leaders in their FITTskills training, and can’t wait to celebrate his success in his new business venture.

The post Safaa Al-Shammari, CITP|FIBP – International Business Instructor and Entrepreneur appeared first on Trade Ready.

Virginie de Visscher, CITP®│FIBP®, is a Director of International Trade for World Trade Centre Winnipeg, and has been since 2010. This position is the latest chapter in an exciting life story that has seen her living in four different continents, learning four different languages, and building her international trade credentials every step of the way.

Virginie attended schools in Niger, Cameroon, Somalia, India and Indonesia before going to university in Belgium, where she obtained her Master’s in Science, as well as a Diploma of Engineering in agriculture, specializing in agronomy. After graduation, she moved back to Africa, where she ascended through multiple organizations in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

There, Virginie built a wide, practical skill-set by overseeing everything from finance and commercial accounts to human resources and logistics, before accepting a new role as Operations Manager for UGACOF in Uganda.

“This was a fascinating four and a half years of experience with important responsibilities in supply chain management and global logistics with the shipment of over 30,000 metric tons of coffee per annum worldwide,” she says.

Supervising countless international shipments, documents and buyers, as well as hundreds of staff in five different countries, Virginie continued to develop and hone her skills, while also drawing from her lifetime of international knowledge and experiences.

“While hard skills are developed throughout education, soft skills and mindset related to effectiveness in international markets, including intercultural effectiveness, adaptability, networking and relationship building, are a unique asset and the truly real skills used in international activity,” she says.

Virginie attributes the acquisition of these skills to her uniquely rich background.

Since taking her position at the World Trade Centre Winnipeg, Virginie has travelled to meetings in India, Turkey, the Netherlands and the United States.

She has built networks and forged connections with people, companies and organizations worldwide, and has played a crucial role in developing business plans and executing key growth strategies for her organization.

She also takes great pleasure in her ability to help companies expand worldwide, noting that assisting companies with their international growth strategies and identifying the right markets for them, followed by seeking potential partners, is an exciting part of the position.

Virginie chose to apply for the CITP®|FIBP® designation this year because she felt it would be an invaluable addition to her career, along with her professional experience and personal background.

She also wants to use her interests and experiences to become an advocate for FITT and the CITP®|FIBP® designation, promoting them both in Canada and internationally.

“As a daughter of a past European Union Ambassador, I have lived, worked and been schooled in over eleven countries,” she says.

Therefore, ‘international’ has always been an integral part of my life, and I consider myself a citizen of the world.

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