The presence of multiple business entities makes the state of Minnesota’s economy more resilient than other Midwestern states. A key contributor to the state’s diverse economic activities is a vibrant steamship line that allows the seamless distribution of products and raw materials.

However, the COVID-19 crisis has adversely impacted the shipping industry. The restrictions on the movement of goods and people have impacted smaller and shipping companies’ financial performances, leading to insufficient cash flow and high rates of import. As a result, they have been subjected to mergers, buyouts, and bankruptcies, which has eventually amplified the problem of export delays.

That’s where Professional Export Services makes a world of difference.

Focused on servicing the U.S. export companies, Professional Export Services operates independently of any shippers, suppliers, freight forwarding companies, or government contracts. The company is 90 percent ocean export driven and serves as the driving force of containerized shipping from the heart of the U.S. to hundreds of countries worldwide via its Non Vessel Owning Common Carrier (NVOCC), Castle Shipping Lines.

Professional Export Services has developed a repositioning program for its clients, independent of the steamship lines. Working with three different steamship lines, the company brings equipment out of Chicago into Minneapolis and creates mini-pools of equipment.

This enables the clients to keep moving their goods in a seamless manner.

“Chicago is the beast that feeds and gets fed in the Midwest. We work with the steamship lines, which are running container surplus in the region to not only get the equipment but ensuring the bookings are treated as priority,” says Blake Bina, the President of Professional Export Services.

Bina’s strategic leadership and extensive experience have been crucial factors in Professional Export Services’ success. He is actively involved in the company’s agent development activities and travels internationally to meet agents from around the world. Bina is a past board member of the Midwest Global Trade Association, and continues to help the Minnesota Trade Office.

Here’s what one of Professional Export Services’ clients had to say about Bina and the comprehensive services that the company has been able to provide, “The team at Professional Export Services consistently excels with their willingness to do what they need to do to get the job done. They have assisted us and our customers with insurance claims, rerouting, and rescheduling containers. Most importantly, during our busiest time of the year, they assist us with fast return on quotes and reminders of what documents are needed so containers will not be delayed due to lack of documentation. When a customer contacts me, and is in need of a freight forwarder, Professional Export and Blake Bina are the first ones I recommend.”

For more than three decades, Professional Export Services has been able to maintain its leadership position in every area of ocean freight forwarding. What has propelled the company’s overwhelming success is its expert team, with Bina and his business partner, Dennis Quimby, at the helm. Together, they have created an established global network and equipment, which ensures customers’ safety and cost-savings by eliminating the problem of fragmented customer services.

“Our goal is to continually provide seamless services to the international shipping community and help it thrive,” states Bina.