Always in Motion:
Beyond the Bio: Mark Brodie
Mark Brodie – Managing Member/Co-Owner of GTM;
VP of Transportation and Logistics for Deshler Group
“I love this business. I’ve been doing it for 40 years.”
Mark Brodie has served as sales manager, sales director, global sales manager and branch manager in operational positions throughout his career. Ultimately, that experience gave him the ability to develop his own business in a very tough market.
“As a young man out of school, I got my first taste of international transportation at a Midwest steamship line company called World Shipping. I learned from the ground floor, from being on the docks and working with stevedore companies negotiating labor hours and paying crews. I took care of ship needs in port – for both owner and cargo interests.
In 1993 I moved into the freight forwarding industry with a global freight forwarder LEP International (now known as Agility). I was hired to come in and run their Detroit operation. I sold services globally – mostly concentrating on the Midwest customer base, which varied from major automotive and manufacturing companies to prominent retailers.
After that it was UTI International. I ran Detroit operations and became an expert in warehouse, distribution, ocean freight, air freight, trucking and customs clearance.
It has been a great industry. There’s not much I haven’t done.”
Modest Expectations
Mark dreamed of owning a small freight forwarding company.
In 2006 he founded Global Transportation Management LLC and went to work securing licenses and growing his client base. Turns out, he was a natural.
“I like to help customers improve their supply chain. That means understanding their business, looking at their requirements on a door to door basis, combining volumes – putting the puzzle together and coming back with cost savings and improved service.”
As the company grew, Mark realized he would need a strong financial partner. One of his customers – Feblo International – specializes in custom systems-driven contract packaging, warehousing and distribution solutions. That company’s president – Robert Gruschow – is also the president of the Deshler Group.
“Robert realized that international services were an area in which the Deshler group was lacking. He bought 50% of GTM to round out his group of ‘seven companies – one solution.’ He could see that GTM and Feblo were a perfect match; and he was exactly right.”
Robert Gruschow had the knowledge and resources necessary to enhance the service footprint of Global Transportation Management.
Phenomenal Growth
“By bringing these two great companies together, we’ve been able to successfully compete – on a global level – with the top freight forwarding companies in the world. Since the merger our company has grown from just under $2 million in annual revenue to, now in 2023, $20 million annually.
We serve clients that are looking for a door to door one phone call transportation solution. We offer one-stop global transportation and door to door shipping services that include warehouse distribution, air freight, ocean freight, customs clearance and IT products.
Global Expansion
We’re part of WCAworld and a global consortium called Elite Global Logistics Network (EGLN), which allow us to work with independent freight forwarders to offer the most effective door to door transportation services available.”
Our partners’ global presence includes nearly 25,000 employees located in 634 offices in 328 cities in 127 countries, giving GTM the capability to handle even the most demanding shipping needs worldwide.
“I started out wanting a small freight forwarding company; now if you look at our associations with these networks, we’re offering services in over 127 countries. We’ve moved millions in both TEUs of ocean freight and in tons of air freight.”
It’s hard to believe he has time for anything but business; turns out, he makes time.
Taking time for family
Mark grew up in Milford, Michigan and attended Wayne State University. His wife Theresa is retired from the State of Michigan; they’ve been married for 41 years.
The couple has two children and five grandchildren. Their son Scott graduated from MSU with a degree in computer science. A successful game designer and programmer, he founded his own game design company, Heart Shaped Games.
Their daughter Lauren – a former Divison 1 soccer player – has a Bachelor of Nursing degree from Oakland University and a Nurse Practitioner Master’s from the University of Michigan.