Thirty years ago, Logistics Plus, Inc. (LP) began with a single customer, a handful of employees and a founder who wasn’t entirely sure the company would survive its first year.
Today, the Erie, Pennsylvania-based company operates in more than 55 countries, employs nearly 2,000 people worldwide and is approaching $1 billion in annual revenue. Along the way, it has grown from a transportation provider into a global logistics, warehousing, fulfillment, technology and supply chain solutions company while maintaining the entrepreneurial culture that has defined it since Day One.
As Logistics Plus marks its 30th anniversary in 2026, the company is also entering a new chapter. Founder Jim Berlin has transitioned from chief executive officer to chairman, while LP’s longtime chief operating officer, Yuriy Ostapyak, has assumed the role of CEO. Together, the two are a one-two punch for cultivating a can-do culture while positioning LP as a fast-growing player on the world stage.
A CUSTOMER AND A PRAYER
When Berlin launched Logistics Plus in 1996, there was no grand master plan.
“The honest answer is no, I had no vision of this,” Berlin says of the company’s global growth. “I was shocked that we made it to 1997.”
After being fired for what he jokingly describes as the fifth time in his career, Berlin, a New York City native, who was living in Jamestown, New York, decided to take a chance on himself. Armed with experience as a terminal manager, dockworker and truck driver, he started the business with little more than determination, optimism and three employees.
“It started with a prayer,” Berlin says.
The company’s first job was a $120,000 purchase order to manage domestic inbound transportation for GE Transportation, a division of General Electric (now Wabtec), the largest, most profitable enterprise in the history of planet Earth at the time (according to GE). For several years, GE was essentially LP’s only customer. However, the relationship provided valuable experience, industry connections and a foundation upon which Berlin could build.
As new opportunities emerged, Logistics Plus steadily expanded its capabilities and customer base. What began as a transportation company evolved into a full-service logistics provider capable of handling everything from freight transportation and warehousing to project cargo management, fulfillment operations, supply chain consulting and technology solutions.
Throughout that growth, Berlin says one lesson remained constant.
“All logistics companies move stuff,” he explains. “What makes the difference is the people, how you communicate and how far you’re willing to go for a customer.”
dedicated team located at its global headquarters in Erie, Pennsylvania.
At far right is LP’s Union Station headquarters and transportation hub
in downtown Erie.
ERIE AND BEYOND
Despite its worldwide footprint, Logistics Plus has remained firmly rooted in Erie, a historic port city positioned between Buffalo, Pittsburgh and Cleveland along Lake Erie.
The company’s headquarters in Union Station has become one of downtown Erie’s most recognizable success stories. What was once a deteriorating railroad station has been transformed into a vibrant business hub that reflects the company’s culture and energy.
“This is the heart and soul of the company,” Berlin says. “We have offices all over the world, but this is where it grew up. This is the core of who we are.”
That commitment to Erie has allowed Logistics Plus to become both a global company and a major local employer. Tapping into the region’s talent has helped fuel the company’s growth.
In fact, Ostapyak rejects the notion that world-class talent can only be found in larger metropolitan areas.
“It’s absolutely a myth that Erie doesn’t have great talent,” he says. “We’ve been lucky to find great people here, and Erie remains the headquarters and the engine that drives our culture.”
of growth an opportunity with Jim
Berlin as founder and chairman and
Yuriy Ostapyak as chief executive officer.
FINDING A WAY
Ask Berlin or Ostapyak what separates Logistics Plus from its competitors, and neither begins by discussing technology, warehouses or transportation networks.
Instead, they talk about people.
From the beginning, Logistics Plus built its reputation on a simple philosophy: Find a way.
Employees are encouraged to solve problems, take ownership and do whatever it takes to help customers succeed. The company often refers to itself as a “Sherpa” for customers — guiding them through complex supply chain challenges and helping them reach their goals.
“We always found a way to say yes,” Ostapyak says. “That’s been our DNA for 30 years, and it remains our DNA today.”
That mindset — and LP’s unwavering Passion for Excellence™ — has carried the company through some of its most difficult periods.
Following the Iraq War, the Great Recession, the September 11 attacks and the COVID-19 pandemic, Logistics Plus repeatedly adapted and found opportunities where others saw obstacles.
During COVID, while many companies shut down, Logistics Plus remained operational, helping move critical supplies and equipment throughout the country and overseas.
“We just kept showing up,” Berlin says. “Keep your head down. Keep moving. Don’t stop. Don’t give up.”
Those principles helped create a workplace culture that has become one of the company’s greatest competitive advantages.
For nine years in a row, Logistics Plus has earned the prestigious Great Place to Work® Certification, a reflection of its culture, employee experience and leadership. This year, an overwhelming majority, 91 percent of employees, described it as a great place to work — 34 points higher than the average U.S. company, and 3 points higher than the composite average of the top 100 best companies in America.
“We value our people the most because that’s really all that we are,” Ostapyak says.
CULTIVATING FUTURE LEADERS
One of LP’s most notable accomplishments is its ability to identify and develop talent.
Ostapyak is perhaps one of the best examples.
Born in Ukraine, he joined Logistics Plus more than 20 years ago while attending Edinboro University (now PennWest), earning his bachelor’s degree in international business and marketing, and subsequently master’s degree in international economics from Kyiv National Economic University. His first assignment at LP involved counting shoes and helping ship products from the warehouse inside Union Station.
Today, he leads the entire organization.
“I often see myself as a product of the LP system,” he shares, highlighting the organization’s dedication to nurturing individuals and fostering their growth.
The company routinely hires individuals based on attitude, work ethic and potential rather than solely on credentials.
Berlin often talks about finding the right seat on the bus for employees — identifying their strengths and creating opportunities where they can thrive.
Over the years, Logistics Plus has promoted former waitresses, baristas, retail workers and interns into leadership positions overseeing multimillion-dollar business units.
“I love seeing people become more than they thought they could be,” Berlin says.
The company’s internship program with local universities, such as Gannon, Mercyhurst, Penn State Behrend and PennWest, and leadership development efforts also have created a strong pipeline of future leaders while helping maintain its culture as it grows.
21ST CENTURY TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
While Logistics Plus prides itself on personal service, the company also has become increasingly sophisticated in its use of technology. Today, LP employs more than 30 software developers and utilizes artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, business intelligence tools and supply chain visibility platforms to support customers around the world.
Through customized “control tower” solutions, Logistics Plus provides customers with real-time visibility into production schedules, inventory, shipments and supply chain disruptions.
Ostapyak says technology allows the company to identify potential problems before customers even realize they exist.
“If there’s a major event somewhere in the world, we can often tell customers how it will affect them before they start feeling the impact,” he explains.
Yet neither Berlin nor Ostapyak believes technology can replace relationships.
“Technology can’t solve everything,” Ostapyak says. “Sometimes picking up the phone and talking to someone is still the best solution.”
Along with being embedded in many of their customers’ operations, the balance between innovation and personal service has helped Logistics Plus remain competitive in a rapidly changing industry.
“We use people and technology together,” Ostapyak notes. “That’s the best road to success.”
rebuilding efforts in Ukraine. The company prides
itself on being the tip of the shovel, paving the way
for other employers.
COMMITTED TO UKRAINE
Few developments have shaped Logistics Plus in recent years more than its growing involvement in Ukraine.
The company has maintained operations there for years and now employs more than 100 people in the country. Since Russia’s invasion in 2022, Logistics Plus has expanded both its business activities and humanitarian support efforts.
For Berlin, Ukraine has become a personal mission.
As a U.S. representative on the G-7 Business Advisory Council since its inception in 2024, he has spent significant time advocating for Ukraine and encouraging investment in the country.
The company has supported hospitals, donated medical equipment, helped communities, sponsored youth sports programs and participated in numerous humanitarian initiatives. It even managed the first non-grain ocean delivery of 22-thousand tons of critical infrastructure pipes to one of its key ports.
“We’ve done all we can by leading by example,” Berlin says. “I call it being ‘the tip of the shovel,’ as we try to make an impact.”
For Ostapyak, whose family remains in Ukraine, the work carries deep personal significance.
“It’s hard to watch,” he says of the war. “But knowing Jim was helping and using his influence to support Ukraine allowed me to focus on running the company.”
Both leaders believe Ukraine’s future remains bright despite the ongoing challenges.
“There are business opportunities there right now,” Ostapyak says. “We can help companies succeed there, and that economic growth is part of helping Ukraine persevere.”
workspaces that reflect its forward thinking culture.
PASSING THE BATON
The leadership transition from Berlin to Ostapyak may be one of the most seamless in the company’s history.
In many ways, the transition had already been years in the making.
While Berlin devoted increasing attention to Ukraine-related initiatives and strategic priorities, Ostapyak assumed greater responsibility for day-to-day operations.
“It felt like the natural evolution of the company,” Berlin says.
After more than two decades working alongside Berlin, Ostapyak understands both the culture and the expectations that have driven the company’s success.
Their leadership styles may differ in some respects, but both emphasize people, problem-solving and customer service.
“The core principles don’t change,” Ostapyak says. “Treat people right. Treat your customers and vendors right. Do the right thing.”
Berlin says he has complete confidence in the company’s future under Ostapyak’s leadership.
“He has the same energy, passion and style,” Berlin says. “It wasn’t a scary thing at all.”
As chairman, Berlin will remain involved in strategic initiatives while allowing the next generation of leadership to guide daily operations.
one of the reasons for its ongoing success.
BUILT FOR WHAT’S NEXT
As Logistics Plus enters the next decade, neither Berlin nor Ostapyak spends much time talking about revenue targets or rigid growth plans.
Instead, they focus on preparation, adaptability and maintaining the culture that got them here.
The company’s current theme — “Built for What’s Next” — reflects that philosophy.
For Ostapyak, it means investing in people, embracing technology and staying ready for opportunities whenever they appear.
For Berlin, it means continuing to do what the company has always done: Solve problems.
“When people call us, they’re going to get an answer,” he says.
Thirty years after a founder with a prayer and a single customer opened the doors, Logistics Plus continues to prove that growth is about more than size.
It is about people.
It is about culture.
And it is about finding a way when others say it cannot be done.
According to Berlin, there is only one direction when it comes to Logistics Plus and the future. “Onward,” he says. “Let’s go!”