What makes for a great leader? Words like helpful and patient come to mind. And according to AVP of Operations Paul Suarino, Operations Manager Leon Bangari and Supervisor Ansil Antoine possess these qualities and more.

Bangari oversees the dedicated terminals in the Queens and Brooklyn Dedicated Terminals and Antoine serves as a site leader at the Brooklyn facility. Both locations are devoted to serving the same customer in New York City.

The team’s at these locations are responsible for transloading containers from the customer’s facility to truck and then rail. They often work 10-hour shifts, six days a week.

Among his team, Bangari is considered an expert in operating a reach stacker. He trains all new team members on how to safely use it to move containers back inside the customer’s facility. Suarino said: “Leon’s training procedures are not your standard procedures. Okay is not good enough. There’s little room for error.”

Antoine’s typically the first person to arrive at the Brooklyn terminal. He gets there early to ensure everything is ready for the crew to start their day, from starting heavy machinery and equipment to putting up blue flags to protect crossings.

“Leon and Ansil are special,” said Suarino. “It’s because of them that we have a safe, family-like work environment at both terminals.”

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