Magnate Worldwide

Specialists in freight forward thinking

Specializing in handling-sensitive, time-definite and high-value shipments, Magnate Worldwide is one of the fastest growing and most progressive supply chain companies in North America

In the five years following its inception, Magnate Worldwide has grown rapidly, both organically and through a strategy of select acquisition. Founded in 2015, the company’s journey began with the purchase of TrumpCard and Masterpiece, and expanded Masterpiece through Somerset Marine, and Domek Logistics.

Acquiring these passionate, culturally-strong, asset-light companies has allowed Magnate to build a portfolio of complementary logistics providers focused on expedited domestic transportation and global freight forwarding. The result is a diversified supply chain management business that CEO Dante Fornari describes as ‘one of the most unique companies in the industry’.

“With specialized services focused on handling sensitive, time-definite, and high-value shipments, each wholly-owned subsidiary is managed by a team of exceptional industry leaders who understand the Magnate philosophy and bring with them a level of customer service that is second to none,” Dante declares. “We focus on customers with routine shipping needs, who work in specialized end markets. Whether it is transporting art for an exhibit at a museum, equipment for a vital installation, or essential medical supplies that must arrive as predicted, our clients are not looking for simple transportation solutions and there is often a high consequence to service failure. We utilize highly customized operating systems that enable us to tie off customer’s requirements to data driven operating decisions.”

Today, the two main platforms through which Magnate supports are TrumpCard and Masterpiece. Headquartered in Carlsbad, California, TrumpCard is focused exclusively on high-value, high cost of service failure shipments that require enhanced routing, tracking and monitoring to ensure on-time, undamaged delivery. New York-based business Masterpiece has its origins in fine arts logistics, working closely with museums, galleries, fairs, exhibitions, and collectors, and has since expanded to provide International Logistics Solutions (ILS) for other specialized end markets, including technology, aerospace, energy and life sciences.

Whether managing the logistics around museums’ loans, domestic airfreight, or more general freight and cargo projects, the Magnate Family of Companies offer consistently high service in the movement of handling-sensitive, time-definite, high-value products. One factor in the company’s continuing success has been the employment of the latest, most innovative technology. For example, in 2019, Magnate signed an exclusive agreement to use and distribute Turtle Crate, an impact-resistant composite product widely believed to be the safest, most sustainable museum crate in the world. Similarly, a partnership with Tive Tracker – a remote sensor product that reports on location, sensitivity, vibration, and temperature – provides Magnate with real-time visibility into the integrity and position of its important in-transit goods.

“Most recently, we have launched a set of import customs consulting services focused on navigating the changes in the US trade agreements over the last 18 months. We focus on tariff assessments, post summary corrections and protests as part of this,” Dante explains. “We always like bringing something new to our service capabilities and making a difference to the lives of our customers.”

As Dante suggests, making a difference has always been important to Magnate and the company has proudly accelerated its efforts in the area of social responsibility in 2020 with the launch of Magnate CARES.

“Magnate Cares is an area that we are just so excited about,” Dante says. “We have formed a cross-functional, cross-entity group called the CARES Coalition C=Community, A=Action, R=Resources, E=Environment, S=Sustainability and this is a 17-person team with Abed Medawar as our Chairperson. In the past four months, we have been able to make meaningful progress, particularly in our community impact. We are now setting aside budget so that we can have an even bigger impact next year.”

During a year that has posed significant challenges for businesses across the world, including Magnate, the company’s continued commitment to its social responsibilities is commendable, and is indicative of the firm’s strong values. Such robust company culture has proved particularly useful in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic when a positive attitude and sense of resilience has been invaluable.

“We have faced tough decisions all year and until international travel and tourism rebound, most likely stimulated by a vaccine, we will continue to be challenged,” Dante reports. “We have been acutely focused on communicating and doing the right thing by our employees throughout the pandemic. When you face a year of headwinds like 2020, you find out a lot about your company and its leadership. You also find out a lot about your people. We are so proud of our people and how they have faced the Covid-19 impact to our professional and personal lives.”

Despite the difficulties of 2020, Magnate has continued to thrive and was pleased to find itself named on the annual Inc 5000 list in recognition of its sustained growth. It is an achievement that the company will look to build on in 2021 as it continues to recover from the Covid-19 economy and resumes its plans for expansion.

“In 2021, our first objective will be to get all parts of our business squarely back on their feet, as well as making more investments in sales, sales support, and operations that we believe will drive growth in the second half of 2021,” Dante reveals. “In the next few years, we will continue to make strategic acquisitions to augment our services and capabilities. As our commercial, organizational, and operational capacities mature, this combination of organic expansion and M&A will propel us forward.

“I believe we have the potential to double the company in the next five years, we need to stay focused on what we do and continue to do it exceptionally well. We are lucky at Magnate; we have strong leadership, gifted employees, and everyone is driving our growth.”

Magnate Worldwide
Services: Logistics and Supply Chain Management