Member Spotlight: Get to know Chris Sloope
Get to know Chris Sloope, Chief Operating Officer at The JZ Expedited Companies and Propeller Club Board Member in this month's Member Spotlight.
Where are you from/hometown? I was born and raised here in Jacksonville, FL but spent much of my adult life in Tampa, FL so am a little conflicted as to where I call home.
If not Jacksonville, how long have you lived in Jacksonville? I moved back to Jacksonville 3-years ago to join the JZ companies.
Briefly explain your job and major responsibilities: I am the Chief Operating Officer for The JZ Expedited Companies, a family of companies dedicated to solving all facets of the supply chain for our clients. I focus on leading the daily activities of our business units and their continued growth. Our companies have experienced rapid growth over the last few years and I am looking forward to continuing to be a part of this progress.
Any prior employment you’d like to share? I worked for Crowley here in Jacksonville to start my career. Before joining JZ, I was Vice President of Americas World Group, in Tampa, FL. AWG was a group of trade & transportation companies focused on international building material distribution as well as international shipping through our in-house NVOCC.
If you went to college, where did you go and what was your major/minor/degree? Saint Leo University, Bachelors of Science in Business Administration
How long have you been a member of the Propeller Club? 2 years.
Why did you join the club? Please also include your favorite thing about the Propeller Club. I joined the club because of the networking opportunities when I returned to Jacksonville. While the networking is excellent I was immediately impressed by the positive contribution the Propeller Club makes to the maritime industry as well as the broader Jacksonville community.
What is your favorite Propeller Club event? The Pirate Party is my favorite. It raises money for a worthwhile charity and is a very fun evening.
Family/Significant Other/Pets? In this regard I am the luckiest guy you know. I have an amazing wife, Nicole, two daughters, Faith and Lucy, and the most handsome dog you’ve ever seen, Duke.
What is your proudest moment/achievement? I enjoy being a part of a successful team. One of the most notable projects I have been a part of was Msheireb Downtown Doha which was a revitalization of a downtown area in Qatar bringing it to a modern, beautiful, yet traditional city center. We supplied millions of feet of high-quality building materials chosen specifically for their safety and performance ratings. Successfully navigating the numerous challenges, such as the introduction of this product into a new market, international financing, obtaining requisite certificates/warranties and other political and logistical tests remains a proud achievement.
What is something unique about you that you’d like to share…hobby/hidden talent/award? I don’t think I have any great talents but my wife thinks I do pretty good impressions so I guess that qualifies.