Unisource Worldwide Reaffirms Its Commitment To Cruise Line Industry Through Strategic Realignment

Leading Distributor Positions Global Organization To Meet Growing Challenges of Cruise Industry

NORCROSS, GA (April 24, 2008) – Unisource Worldwide, Inc., one of the leading distributors of paper, packaging and facility supplies in North America, has realigned its organizational structure to meet the growing demands of the global cruise line industry. Focused on elevating top-of-the-line customer service and expanding its partnership presence, the company has built its Global Cruise Division, based in Miami, FL, to deliver customized products and services for this specialty business market.

Overseeing the newly realigned Global Cruise Division is Southeast Area Vice President John Glaze, whose 27-year tenure with Unisource includes strong leadership in various management positions and 10 years of active involvement with the cruise line business.

“Our new structure illustrates Unisource’s continued dedication and commitment to the cruise industry,” said Glaze, who will provide strong analytical and distribution expertise that spans all three Unisource product segments.

Joining him in the Miami organization is new Unisource Global Cruise Division Director Ernie Basino, who has served as Business Manager for the Facility Supplies business unit.

”As a veteran Unisource Business Manager, Ernie will provide the focused structure, strategic direction and financial management needed to support the company’s growth plans, which include an aggressive overseas distribution platform,” said Glaze.

Basino joined Unisource in July 2000 as Business Manager for its Orlando unit and took on additional responsibility for the Tampa unit in 2004. “This is an exciting new opportunity for me,” he said. “I enjoy the dynamic pace of the industry and anticipate delivering tremendous results for our cruise line customers by exploring opportunities in Europe, utilizing our vendor managed inventory (VMI) capabilities. I have always believed in routinely exceeding customer expectations through quick and complete support of my team members each day.”

In a new role, Gustavo Ruan, Unisource’s Director of Global Cruise Business Development, will focus his considerable skills and energies on the creation of new business opportunities by conducting “in-depth needs assessments” for current cruise industry customers.

“Working with our strategic partners, such as Georgia-Pacific, GOJO Industries and JohnsonDiversey, we will deliver excellent value to our customers through second-to-none product quality and our consultative sales approach,” said Ruan, who has served as Unisource’s Global Cruise Division Director – Facility Supplies. “I will be concentrating on working closely with our current cruise industry customers to satisfy their specific product and system needs and to identify new growth opportunities with prospective customers.

“Our Global Cruise Division offers three great advantages,” Ruan added. “One, we have the full support of our senior leadership at Unisource. Two, we have a great team in the field – the finest in the industry. And three, we have top-quality products and services. We are not just delivering products. We are also technical consultants to, and true partners with, the cruise line industry. It is exciting because our Facility Supplies Team has only just scratched the surface of this market. And because of our success in the facility supplies area, we also know we can meet our customers’ packaging product and fine printing paper needs as well.”

Filling key “cruise-specific” positions on the new global team are Sales Specialist Dan Whitney, who has been based in Miami for 14 years, and Sales Specialist Lee Lease, who has been based in Seattle for 22 years.

“Both Dan and Lee are well known throughout the cruise line industry for their product and process expertise, as well as for providing exceptional customer service,” said Basino. “They offer value-added services, including conducting onboard seminars to instruct crews on various ways to improve housekeeping, maintenance and sanitation – with an emphasis on battling the norovirus threat.”

A contagious disease outbreak, commonly known as norovirus transmission, is one of the biggest business threats cruise lines face today. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people can become infected in various ways, such as touching contaminated surfaces or objects and then placing a hand to the mouth. Protecting the safety and health of ship passengers and employees is the top priority for cruise lines, since their reputations and profits depend on providing a pleasurable experience sailing from departure to arrival in port.

To prevent shipboard norovirus transmission, Unisource has partnered with GOJO Industries, inventors of PURELL® Instant Hand Sanitizer, to develop hand hygiene and infection control solutions specifically for the cruise industry to help reduce the risk of outbreaks associated with gastrointestinal illness. “In conjunction with our health assurance partner, Unisource conducts a thorough onboard survey and analysis to help determine optimum sanitation procedures as well as placement of sanitation stations,” noted Whitney.

Providing support for the new Global Cruise Division from Unisource’s corporate headquarters is Nancy Geisler, who was recently appointed Vice President of Sustainability. In her most recent assignment, she developed marketing-related “green” programs for the company’s Packaging and Facility Supplies business segments. The programs reflect Unisource’s commitment to respect the environment, people and the rights of future generations as it continues to meet the needs of customers across all of its businesses.

”Nancy will be an invaluable resource for the Unisource Global Cruise Division team in helping our cruise industry customers ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’ and evaluate ’green’ alternatives for environmental responsibility and potential cost savings,” said Basino.

Newly aligned, the Unisource Global Cruise Division team includes:

Miami: Southeast Area Vice President John Glaze; Division Director Ernie Basino; Business Development Director Gustavo Ruan; Sales Specialist Dan Whitney; Operations Manager Miguel Castro; Logistics and Distribution Coordinator Marcus Herrera; Transportation Supervisors Gerson Nadal and William Toledo; and Administrative Support Specialist Maria Cruz Izquierdo.
Jacksonville: Customer Service Representatives Jackie Reynolds and Hector Granda.
West Coast: Area Vice President Mitch Sagowitz, Sales Specialist Lee Lease and Administrative Support Specialist Maureen Meals.
Atlanta: Vice President of Sustainability Nancy Geisler.
Vancouver: Sales Manager Brock Sands, Unisource Canada.
Unisource Global Cruise Division team members are now delivering facility supply products, equipment and systems to ships based throughout the world, including the ports of Southampton, United Kingdom; Civitavecchia, Italy, near Rome; Vancouver, Canada; and Victoria, Canada; and making deliveries to most major ports in the United States, including Miami, FL, Fort Lauderdale, FL, Cape Canaveral, FL, Jacksonville, FL, Tampa, FL, San Diego, CA, Los Angeles, CA and Seattle, WA – with expansion planned to other ports located in North America and around the world.

“We take a united team approach to serving the cruise line market, and we are constantly striving to achieve operational excellence. This means we are consistent in our operations across this market and strive to provide standardized pricing and procedures, no matter what port we are distributing to, or what cruise line ship we are loading. This enhances our reputation and will help us continue to grow our business,” said Ruan, who emphasized that Unisource ”walks on water for the cruise industry.”

Unisource’s Value Proposition to the global cruise line industry is to be its “leading provider of Facility Supply, Packaging and Fine Paper products that:

Result in clean, healthy and ‘green’ ships;
Are delivered at the lowest total cost; and
Are acquired in a seamless customer experience.”

“At Unisource, we live and breathe our Value Proposition daily,” said Glaze. “It is who we are. Our new structure further enables us to bring increased value to our cruise industry partners in meeting their specific evolving needs.”

About Unisource Worldwide, Inc.

Unisource Worldwide, Inc., (www.unisourcelink.com) is a leading independent marketer and distributor of commercial printing and business imaging papers, packaging systems and facility supplies and equipment in North America. Headquartered in Norcross, Ga., Unisource is one of the largest private companies in the United States and offers the most comprehensive suite of products and services in the industry. With approximately 6,000 team members – including sales, customer service and technical support specialists; approximately 85 distribution centers; and a fleet of “Big Red” trucks – Unisource can deliver what your business needs when and where you want it – locally, regionally and nationally.

For more information, contact:
Kevin Feeney
Director, Corporate Communications
Unisource Worldwide, Inc.
(770) 209-6552