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How Seretha Willingham Took a Fleet of Trucks and Built a Shipping and Logistics Empire

| How Africa News

 

Take a moment to get to know Seretha Willingham, the founder and CEO of SJW Logistics, a third-party logistics firm that offers services for e-commerce order fulfillment, warehousing, and freight transportation.

She had a corporate career that included financial data analysis, project management, the management of information technology systems, along with strategic planning and execution, prior to beginning her own firm.

Her background gave her the confidence to pursue business in the rapidly expanding logistics and transportation sector. She was given permission to start SJW Logistics by her bosses at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused the world economy to be disrupted, according to Voyage ATL.

Within her first six months in charge, she expanded the business from a five-truck fleet to one with twelve. Her business expanded as evidenced by the opening of a 22,000 square foot warehouse.

SJW Logistics is a third-party logistics (3PL) provider of warehousing, pallet storage, e-commerce order fulfillment, and freight transportation for shippers and receivers. Businesses can more easily expand into emerging markets and new locations thanks to the company’s 3PL, which includes emerging nations.

Willingham claims that she chose to work in the shipping and logistics sector since no other company provides reasonable warehousing and e-fulfillment services for small to medium-sized businesses.

“What makes us even more unique is we also have internal fleet services with cameras and GPS tracking to cover any company transportation needs as well,” she noted.

The journey to becoming a major player in the shipping and logistics industry did not come easy for Willingham. According to her, she faced several challenges economically, physically, and mentally.

“The largest challenge has been seeking funding to scale as a small business in logistics and transportation. I have been declined by many banks and lenders because they consider the transportation industry a risk. These obstacles forced me to be very strategic in the company’s growth and budgeting,” she told Voyage ATL.

Willingham has a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Finance. She is also a proud alumna of Georgia’s SBA 2021 Emerging Leader Class and a Certified Scrum Master and Project Management Professional.

She told ShoutoutAtlanta that she wants to establish SJW Logistics as a well-known brand on a global scale in order to motivate other people of color to establish their own brands.

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