CIFFA Announces First Donna Letterio Leadership Award Recipient

TORONTO April 29, 2016 – In December 2015, the Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association (CIFFA) introduced a new annual award, the Donna Letterio Leadership Award.

Last night at the CIFFA Central Region FCA Gala dinner held at the Mississauga Convention Center, Mr. Jeff Cullen, President of the CIFFA National Board of Directors accompanied by Mr. Amil Letterio and Mr. Nicholas Letterio, presented the first Donna Letterio Leadership Award to Ms. Kimberly Anne Gallacher.

We are pleased to announce the winner of this prestigious award, which recognizes a woman in the global freight logistics sector who has demonstrated, as Donna did, professionalism, commitment, leadership and a passion for excellence in her career and in her life.

Ms. Gallacher received a specially designed trophy and her name will be the first to be inscribed on a plaque in the Secretariat office. In addition, this year and every year, CIFFA will donate $1000 to Bladder Cancer Canada.

The competition was very close, with excellent candidates from three different provinces. So, how does our winner demonstrate professionalism, commitment, leadership and passion for excellence?

Our winner has worked in international freight forwarding since 1984 and since 1987 in senior roles with CIFFA member firms and is currently employed by Delmar Inc. Current and former employers commend Kimberly on the way she shares of her knowledge and experience with colleagues and with the industry. Kimberly is an active member of the CIFFA National Seafreight Committee, has taught in the CIFFA Certificate programs and in the Essentials workshops and lectured at Seneca College. She has been a CIFFA Professional Freight Forwarder (PFF) since 2006.

Kimberly also has a passion for music. She is an accomplished musician and for the past twenty years has played the bass in a number of not-for-profit, community orchestras, one of the purposes of which is to make orchestral music available to the elderly and others who would not otherwise be able to attend a performance.

Please join all of us at CIFFA in congratulating Kimberly on being the first recipient of this important and prestigious award.

About the Donna Letterio Leadership award:
This new award will be granted annually in memory of CIFFA former President Donna Letterio, who passed away in August 2013. The award is open to any woman in international freight forwarding, transportation or global logistics who demonstrates excellence in the following criteria. The applications will be open every year in January and will be judged by a 5 person panel of directors from the CIFFA National Board. Full details are available on the CIFFA website www.ciffa.com.

About the Trophy:
The trophy is a Carnelian a semi-precious stone. It has a happy and self-confident kind of energy, and is recommended for situations such as job interviews, work or situations where an outgoing and upbeat attitude will serve one’s best interests. It increases personal power and physical energy, gives courage, and boosts creativity and compassion. Wearing or carrying Carnelian can enhance vitality and will, providing higher energy needed when approaching new projects and dreams.

About CIFFA:
The Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association (CIFFA) represents some 250 regular member firms from the largest of global multi-national freight forwarding firms to small and medium sized Canadian companies. CIFFA member companies employ tens of thousands of highly skilled international trade and transportation specialists. As a vital component of Canada’s global supply chain, CIFFA member companies facilitate the movement of goods around the world. International freight forwarders are the foremost experts in cargo transportation solutions and an essential partner in advancing the Canadian economy and the economic prosperity of Canadians.