Today we’d like to introduce you to Wesley Montague.
Hi Wesley, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
In 2004 I graduated from the University of Memphis with a bachelor’s degree in communications. I started in the banking industry right out of college. I held positions as a teller handing out receipts and suckers to customers in the drive through window, financial services representative, assistant branch manager and finally a new business development officer. But life had more adventures in store for me, echoing the nomadic spirit of my upbringing watching my father’s global sales escapades.
In 2006, the stars aligned, and I took the plunge into the dynamic realm of outside sales in the protective packaging industry with Allegheny Industrial Associates. From the southeastern trails to the bustling territories of the Midwest post-Greif acquisition, my passion for this industry blossomed. Chicago became my playground, and I dove headfirst into building connections with railroads, intermodal providers, trucking titans, and customers hungry for the innovative solutions I championed.
In 2011 after another acquisition by the global leader in protective packaging at the time, Illinois Tool Works, I became a national account manager which opened up doors to learn, develop, and test out new products and services all over North America.
In 2015 I was recruited by a new player in the industry, Cargo Tuff, wanting to bring their products manufactured in Turkey to the US. This was a very exciting offer as I would help launch their products in the USA.
In 2017 I was hired as a consultant for Ecore International who turned old tires into commercial flooring, soundproofing, auto parts and other securement devices utilized by the paper and metals industries.
In 2018, I went to work for another protective packaging giant Cordstrap, who manufactured nonmetallic strapping for securing different commodities by road, rail and sea.
October of 2019 I was hospitalized because my liver had started to fail. I was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver. I was 39 years old at the time I got the news, and I was devastated. This was all due to my lifestyle of partying, entertaining customers, and living out of hotels Mondays through Fridays. Alcohol had become my best traveling buddy. I was told by the doctors I would need to be on the liver transplant list, but to get on this list I had to stop drinking. I spent the next 3 months sobering up. I was admitted into an in-patient facility for 30 days. From there an out-patient facility for 30 days and then decided I wanted to make sure I would stay away from the bottle I did another 30 days in a sober living facility.
In February of 2019 I went back to the liver doctor for a checkup. God had answered the prayers of my friends, family, coworkers and myself. The doctors were shocked. My liver had healed itself, and I was no longer looking for the next drink.
On April 3rd, 2019, I asked the woman of my dreams to marry me. She bravely said yes to a poor soul fresh out of rehabilitation with no job, no income and a house he would have to sell in Nashville because he could not afford it anymore. During my 3 months of sobering up I had heard repeatedly to leave the past in the past, be in the present and do not worry about the future. I also heard repeatedly not to make any big life decisions for the first couple of years of sobriety. I listened to all this advice and understood the reasons why, but I had put all my faith, trust, worries and burdens in the hands of my higher power and for the first time I believed fully in His wisdom and guidance. So, I got married, sold my house, moved me and my new wife into my aunt’s house in Memphis, and started developing a software application for the transportation industry life I had left behind.
I had this billion-dollar idea for this application, but I needed to still pay my bills and put a roof over my new wife’s head.
I was introduced to the outstanding team at Roadshow BMW here in Memphis by my grandfather. I was hesitant at first, because I had a bad taste in my mouth when it came to car salesman. I had never had a good experience buying a car before.
In November of 2019 I started as a client advisor at Roadshow BMW. In 2020 we faced a pandemic, 2021 and 2022 supply chain congestion due to the aftermath of the pandemic. In 2022 I became the used car salesman of the year. In 2023 I repeated this title of used car salesman of the year and was also awarded Over All Top salesman of the year.
And all the while I was selling cars, I was bootstrapping and creating my own company Ship It Pro.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Being the founder of a startup company is an emotional roller coaster ride of ups and downs, twists and turns. Expenses, time, and the lonely world of entrepreneurship can easily take a toll on your mental, physical, emotional, and social well-being. But when you put your faith in a power greater than yourself, all things are possible.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Ship It Pro LLC?
Ship It Pro is a software company that has developed logistics first end to end load securement and damage prevention solution utilizing Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to reduce cargo damage and freight claims. This system will be utilized by all modes of transportation carrying any kind of product or commodity.
Ship It Pro, a frontrunner in supply chain solutions, proudly presents its cutting-edge Transportation Damage Management System, poised to revolutionize the logistics landscape.
By documenting the loading process at origin, Ship It Pro provides a proactive advantage, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of how containers, trailers, or box cars are loaded. This meticulous approach guarantees precision, minimizing potential issues and establishing a foundation for success.
At the destination, Ship It Pro’s Transportation Damage Management System excels in capturing outcomes – successes and deviations from the plan alike. This capability yields actionable insights, facilitating quick responses to failures and reinforcing successful practices. The documentation cycle becomes a powerful tool for continuous improvement, enhancing efficiency, reducing errors, and fostering a culture of accountability and excellence throughout the supply chain.
Ship It Pro’s Transportation Damage Management System utilizes cutting-edge technology to minimize the risk of damage during transit, providing peace of mind for shippers. With real-time tracking, advanced monitoring, and proactive intervention, our system surpasses traditional shipping methods, ensuring a streamlined, damage-resistant shipping process.
Furthermore, Ship It Pro promotes bottom-up collaborative communication between Shippers, Carriers, and Receivers, ensuring a seamless flow of information and fostering transparency and accountability across the supply chain. By facilitating open communication, Ship It Pro enhances collaboration and strengthens relationships between key stakeholders.
Ship It Pro’s Transportation Damage Management System is set to revolutionize the industry by offering a strategic approach to logistics management. Companies can now navigate transportation complexities with confidence, knowing Ship It Pro’s innovative system is there to document, analyze, and optimize every step of the way.
We love surprises, fun facts, and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I am a non-technical founder of a technology company. I was just a guy with boots on the ground for years seeing a problem, a void in the supply chain that needed to be filled and no one else was really addressing it.
I have raised my hand to prevent cargo damage and freight claims. I am taking this burden of lack of communication, documentation, and chaos, and wrapping some accountability around it.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ShipItPro.com
- Instagram: @Ship_itpro
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shipitpro/
