As was the case with most businesses, CVI and Capes pivoted to a remote working environment shortly after the start of the pandemic, and it wasn’t long before we all started to miss each other. In the world of global shipping, and all of the stress that goes along with it, we thrive on the camaraderie and the frequent interaction we have with our team. Video conferencing kept us connected, but it couldn’t replace the togetherness we were missing. Our team needed a way to reconnect. So, we started having semi-regular, company-wide, virtual happy hours along with some light entertainment. We held virtually themed events, bingo, trivia contests, and eventually talent shows. The talent shows led to the formation of our house band, “Just Good Enough,” and we brought in a local musician, Mike Proffitt, to play for us a couple of times. We shared stories, enjoyed live music, had a lot of laughs and we got to know each other better. It helped get us all through the professional loneliness of a remote working environment, and allowed us to better connect with teammates across our office locations.
With many restrictions lifted, we were recently able to host our first in-person party for our team, their families, and friends in the parking lot of our headquarters in Norfolk. We used our loading dock as a stage to feature Mike Proffitt, and the Just Good Enough band (Vinny DiCostanzo, Jessica Gaskins, Michael DiCostanzo, and myself). We had a food truck, plenty of beverages, cornhole, raffle prizes, and, most importantly, we had the opportunity to reconnect with everyone in person. We had both retired and current members of our team in attendance. We also had an incredible amount of new faces that have joined our ranks over this year. It was an absolutely wonderful reunion; the camaraderie was second-to-none.
We are a service business and our team is what makes it successful. Our ability to operate cohesively, to support one another, and then execute for our clients in the chaos of the current global shipping environment is what sets us apart. Our CVI and Capes family has expanded substantially as we have experienced a year of unprecedented growth. We are excited to welcome new, talented professionals to each of our offices, while continuing to exceed the service expectations of our clients. Our team, and their incredible talent and professionalism, will continue to drive our growth into the future. We continue to remain committed to our team, our CVI and Capes family, and to each and every one of our clients.
On behalf of everyone at CVI and Capes, thank you for your support. We continue to remain committed to your business and helping you navigate through all of the challenges the future may hold.
Sincerely,
Mike Coleman
President & CEO
Capes Shipping Agencies & CV International
