May 25, 2007, Antwerp, Belgium – What do you get when you group together some of the world’s top project shipping experts and bring them to Antwerp for the 2^nd Annual Breakbulk Europe Conference & Exhibition?  For the members of the Global Project Logistics Network (GPLN) the answer was one world:  Recognition. 

 “Breakbulk Europe was a watershed for the GPLN.  We were afforded lots of exposure to some of the biggest names in the transportation industry in Europe and around the world and from that gained instant recognition from our peers in the industry,” said Gary Dale Cearley, executive director of GPLN, “We got our brand name out there to a level that we had not seen before.”

Gary Dale listed the keys to their success at Breakbulk Europe: 

1)      GPLN took three booths together rather than one small booth.  “This gave a very good sense to the show’s visitors that we are a substantial group, and not a small wannabe,” said Cearley;

2)      Several GPLN members chose to participate in the booth, which gave the GPLN representatives a chance to meet many more people who were walking by; and

3)      The GPLN members who participated came from all over the world.  “Our diversity of representatives behind the booth definitely gave the correct impression that we are a serious global organization.  We had people representing GPLN in Argentina, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.  All were there behind the booth and helping to promote our group,” said Cearley. 

But according to Cearley, the members who decided to participate in the booth not only benefited GPLN with their presence; even more importantly they benefited their home operations as well.  “The GPLN members who were in Antwerp to support our booth really made well in Antwerp.  They made new and good contacts that will help their own project cargo businesses grow.  In fact, a few of them went home from Antwerp with business in hand.  Everyone in GPLN benefited from these people’s presence, but the GPLN booth participants are the ones who benefited the very most.” 

When asked whether GPLN will be attending the 3^rd Annual Breakbulk Europe Conference & Exhibition 2008 Cearley’s reply was a resounding “YES!”   

“GPLN came away from this event with some excellent exposure to some of the top shipping companies in the world and to top it off, we met with some very good potential members in markets that we didn’t have well covered before going to Breakbulk Europe.  We all got our money’s worth.”

Besides the organizer, Gary Dale Cearley, the following GPLN members participated in the booth: