Jere Van Puffelen Recognized With Annual Service Award

Culminating a 20 year tradition, Associated Warehouses, Inc. (AWI) has presented its prestigious Annual Service Award to Jere Van Puffelen, president of PRISM Logistics and respected leader and mentor in the warehousing and logistics industry.

“Jere is always willing to give, is generous with his time and mentoring professionals in our industry. Martin Luther King, Jr. said that “Life’s most persistent and pressing question is, ‘what are you doing for others?’ We felt that’s how Jere lives his life: yes, he wants to grow his business but he is also constantly focused on what he can do for others. He is one of the most respected and admired leaders of our industry, and a good man we are proud to honor,” said Mark Richards, VP AWI.

Jere Van Puffelen History

Growing up in Savannah, GA, Jere attended Savannah High School and Armstrong College, was active in the Independent Presbyterian Church (where his father served as pastor), and served as Physical Director of the Savannah YMCA Family Center from 1970-1973. His logistics career took him to Denver, CO (with Acme Delivery), then Columbus, OH before the SF Bay Area where he founded Prism Team Services in 1993. A founding member and Past President of the San Francisco Warehousing & Education Research (WERC) Council and an active member of CSCMP since its founding as the National Council of Physical Distribution Management (NCPDM), Jere is a highly respected San Francisco Bay-area business leader. Past Chairman of the International Warehousing & Logistics Association (IWLA), and co-founder/past president of the Distribution Centers of America (DCA), Jere is a well-known mentor, advisor and contributor to the industry’s leading professional development and networking organizations.

AWI also recognized Jere’s wife Judy Van Puffelen for her support and excellent works, with Jere’s companies and with AWI over the years. The AWI Annual meeting was conducted from April 11-13, 2013 in Houston, TX, and will be coming to Savannah, GA next year. (Interestingly, the International Warehousing & Logistics Association (IWLA), which presented Van Puffelen its Distinguished Service & Leadership Award last month, will also bring its convention to Savannah, in 2015).

AWI boasts 50 member companies, throughout Canada, the United States, Mexico and Europe, together operating more than 500 facilities and more than 100 Mil square feet of warehousing capacity.