PHARR, Texas – There are few people in the logistics world Luis Bazan has more respect for than Crispin N. Flores, president and co-owner of C&J Logistical Services.
Bazan, the director of Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge, first met Flores around 15 years ago when he ran the Pharr Chamber of Commerce and Flores was chairman of the group’s board of directors.
And he was present to say a few words from the podium at a groundbreaking ceremony for a new 50,000 square foot warehouse Flores and his company are building in south Pharr.
Interviewed afterwards, Bazan said: “As I mentioned during my presentation, I’ve known Crispin for many years and I know it’s been a struggle for him at times. It hasn’t been easy. But at the end of the day, I know his work ethic. I know he’s committed. I know he’s no nonsense. And I know he’s fully invested in the city of Pharr with his investments.
What makes Flores’ commitment to Pharr all the more impressive, Bazan said, is that he lives in Brownsville and commutes 50 miles there and back every day.
“Crispin said it best. He said he chose Pharr because of the logistics and the efficiencies of the Pharr International Bridge and the project that they have in the works. So obviously, we look up to people like him,” Bazan said.
“Like I said at the podium, you can’t build a million dollar dream on a minimum wage budget. For sure, Crispin has had sacrifice to get his business to where it is today. Nobody handed him anything. You know, he started from scratch. He started here and yet he lives in Brownsville. He treks this way every day, backwards and forwards. And he makes it happen for for his family, for his business for his for his customers, for his for his employees.”
Bazan added: “It is important for us to continue to support businesses like C&J Logistics. And now that he’s going to add a trucking company, C&J Express, obviously, as a primary customer of ours, that becomes a priority for us as well. More transportation, more crossings.”
In his speech at the groundbreaking ceremony, Bazan recalled his time at the Pharr Chamber of Commerce.
“I used to run the Pharr Chamber of Commerce from 2008 to 2013. And Crispin became our chairman of the board around 2009-2010. So I got to work alongside him. I can tell you he is a no-nonsense guy, first and foremost, a very straight shooter, just to the point, getting things done, with a hard work ethic behind it, pushing that upon ourselves and the staff at the chamber at the time. It made a huge difference having him as our leader, as our chairman of the board.”
As for Flores’s business acumen, Bazan said: “I think it all comes back to his work ethic, the fact that he never gave up. Because it wasn’t easy. We need more people like Crispin.”
Victor Perez, executive director of Pharr Economic Development Corporation, agreed with Bazan’s analysis of C&J Logistical Services and its co-owner.
“We are proud to be celebrating with C&J Logistical Services. They’ve been here in Pharr for almost 20 years, but now they’re doing an expansion of over 50,000 square feet for their warehouse space,” Perez said.
“I have to say we are really proud. We talk about new business coming to our community and so forth, but we are really pleased when the ones that are already here are expanding. That tells us we are doing a great job, that the city is doing a great job.”
It was put to Perez that Flores spoke from the heart when he gave his remarks at the podium. He acknowledged going through some challenging times as he build C&J.
Perez responded: “With any company you go through different stages of the business cycle. Sometimes they’re good, sometimes they’re not good. But Mr. Flores knows we are here to help. We know that adding 50,000 square feet of warehouse, it’s expensive nowadays. An expansion of this size takes a lot of work. So, we’re here to help them and we’re glad to be here. This is a celebration, really that we had been talking about for a couple of years.”
Editor’s Note: Here is a video interview the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service secured with Crispin N. Flores, president of C&J Logistical Services, at the groundbreaking ceremony for the company’s new warehouse in south Pharr:
Editor’s Note: This is the second in a two-part series on C&J Logistical Services. Click here to read Part One.
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