Freight transport company graduates from business incubator

Sept. 10--Mark Suddreth has been able to build a customer base that's profitable enough to move out of the downtown Business Development Center to an office on Nash Street.

The Business Development Center at 121 Nash St. is a startup location for new businesses interested in lowering overhead costs, like rent and office equipment, and building a business profitable enough to open in the community.

Suddreth is the vice president of Sea Air Integrated Logistics, a company that coordinates international and domestic freight transport for clients. The business started from Suddreth's home before he learned about the Business Development Center, which houses several small businesses under one roof. He moved into the center in January 2010 but recently moved to his own office at 3203 Nash St. In addition to increasing his client base, the company has a second employee.

The center is sometimes called a business incubator because it's where businesses start before becoming established and independent in the community, said Tom Curran, the center's interim manager.

"The incubator helped the industry because my costs were low and they're still low," Suddreth said. "It was nice to be around other professionals. The great thing about the incubator was the coaching, the teaching and the networking. It helped me to grow professionally and taught me to be more business disciplined by being around other business owners.

"If I had to do it all over again, I'd do the same thing."

This is the second company to move out of the center this year. One to One with Youth now has its own office.

"Every graduation from the BDC is a bitter-sweet event," Curran said. "The BDC is proud to have been a resource to Mark and his dream of being a business owner and operator. The philosophy and goal of the BDC to help incubate start-up and expanding companies in a safe, low-cost environment until they are successful enough to go out on their own is proved in Mark's story."

Sea Air Integrated Logistics has been able to capitalize on Wilson's global trade market and has several Wilson-based clients as well as clients in other states and countries. Aldi's grocery store in Wilson is one example. Suddreth's company coordinates the transport of pastries and pizza from Germany that are sold in the store. The company handles a variety of products, including the international shipping of tobacco, perishable items, fresh produce and chocolate, Suddreth said.

"We are trying to capitalize on North Carolina because it's a very mobile state," Suddreth said. "Wilson County alone would be amazed at how much international business goes out of Wilson. Wilson is a key player in the global marketplace. Wilson County contributes significantly to the global marketplace."

The new office for Sea Air Integrated Logistics, which can be reached at 243-7245, is within the Ameriprise Financial building on Nash Street. The location offers the company a more visible location in the city and more central location, near major highways, for clients and business, Suddreth said.

rochelle@wilsontimes.com -- 265-7818

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