Message from the Publisher

At our 2014 annual Conference & Expo in Las Vegas I announced that in 2016 I would be retiring. I had been receiving encouragement from my wife to retire for some time. I was originally supposed to retire in 2002 when I came up with the idea of starting the Reverse Logistics Association, and then it became a passion with such force that almost 15 years have come and gone.

I had received a solid offer on January 2014 from a significant non-profit trade association in the supply chain management industry to relinquish control after a year of cross training of the new management. So the timing was good, I thought. But this year in April, that intent to acquire was rescinded. I’ve given some thought to working longer, but I just don’t have the drive like I use to. So I know it’s time for me to let the next generation of talent to take over the Reverse Logistics Association. I have spoken with many organizations over the last few months that would be in a position to take over RLA, but so far I haven’t had any success in finding a successor.

This is why I am sending this editorial out, I need your help. Please reach out to me if you know an organization that be willing to merge/purchase RLA and continue the support in this very important process of reverse logistics. Just look at RL magazine and how RL professionals keep informed. Without the magazine and the trade association many companies would not receive the knowledge to improve RL at their organizations. So if you know of anyone that I should be talking to, please reach out to me.

Gailen Vick founded the Reverse Logistics Association in 2002. His market research found that over $750 billion was being spent annually on Reverse Logistics in North America alone! Uncovered where thousands of 3rd Party Service Providers (3PSP) that provided services to OEM/ODM, Branded and Retail companies! Additional research showed that there wasn\\\'t any common thread between any of the 3PSPs other than competition. There just wasn't a forum for the OEMs, ODMs, Branded and Retail companies to discuss best practices for Reverse Logistics. In January 1996 Gailen was re-introduced to the Service Logistics sector. This process in the supply chain industry was taking advantage of 3PL improvements. Many products were being sent to a depot and setting untouched instead of being repaired and sent back to the field. This new sector was just evolving into a formal industry where major cost saving were being realized. Gailen turned his focus to the'repair services' industry and managed Business Development at Sequel, PCS, Inc and later at Magnetic Data Technologies, LLC until the successful acquisition by Solectron (aquired by Flextronics) in the spring of 2002. These companies supported major OEMs and 3PLs such as UPS, 3Com, Iomega, Dell, HP, Compal, Toshiba, Sun Microsystems, Hitachi, Panasonic, Apple, Mitsubishi, Imation, Gateway, Kinpo, Bizcom and many others. With 40 years experience in aftermarket supply chain, engineering, manufacturing and marketing, Gailen's RL knowledge is a resource to companies across all industries. Prior to founding Reverse Logistics Association, Gailen served on the executive staff of several 3PSP companies. Most of these companies were in the computer and telecommunications industries which made for an enjoyable learning experience in business management for Gailen. His career started at Diablo Systems in 1974 as an EE & expanded to senior marketing & sales positions at Shugart, Fujitsu and Seagate. His experience at Xerox, Seagate, and Fujitsu along with business involvement at many trade conferences has allow Gailen to work hand and hand with many of today\\\'s Executive Management and has thus made him a resource to his colleagues. Early in his career as a Regional and National Sales Manager, Gailen managed several Service Centers, but on January 1996 he joined Sequel after leaving the Disc Drive Industry. Reverse Logistics (even though it wasn\\\'t called that until much later) was just starting to be outsourced and a formal industry was evolving at that time. EDUCATION Mr. Vick studied Electrical Engineering at Chabot College & Chapman University. Tutored by IBM and Xerox file technology engineers while studying at night, Gailen reached the position of Senior Engineer at Shugart Associates before transferring to the Marketing department. PERSONAL Mr. Vick was born Tennessee where the importance of an individual\\\'s word carried as much weight as a contract. After six years in the Navy (and while going to college in the evenings) Gailen started at Diablo Systems in 1974 and started his career in Electrical Engineering. Gailen changed his career path in 1980 (while at Shugart Associates) to Sales in order to provide for his growing family. He held several senior management positions in the disk drive industry, with companies such as Fujitsu, Priam, Conner Peripherals, Seagate and Avatar. As Gailen retired on July 30, 2016, he stays fit by taking long trips on his recumbent bicycle, but his favorite sport is racquetball. Since all of his 8 children are raised, and to overcome the empty nest syndrome, family history research,volunteering with the Boy Scouts of America and at his Church which is his favorite pastime. He stays busy with his wife Stella of 49 years visiting their 32 grandchildren!