EMPHASIS: TOP 100 PRIVATE COMPANIES
From the June 17, 2005 print edition

Cornerstone Systems
Tara Milligan

Doing whatever it takes to meet customer's' needs -- at a fair price -- is a philosophy that's paying off for 8-year-old Cornerstone Systems. In a transportation industry that's just now recovering from the shock of 9/11, Cornerstone is leading the way, with revenue of $ 134 million last year, a 30% gain over 2003.

It happens, in part, because Cornerstone isn't married to one system, but rather can shop the markets for the best rate and delivery time, be it truck, rail or intermodal container.

A few years ago, trains were begging for business and that was the best deal at the time. Now, rail systems are reaching the clog-point, but truckload haulers are available. Cornerstone prides itself in finding a good rate for its shipping customers while also assuring that freight companies can earn a fair return.

Chairman and CEO Rick Rodell is adamant that the only good business deal is where everyone benefits.

The company is also called upon to handle delicate jobs.

When the Navy needed someone to move 13 LCM8 landing craft boats from Virginia to San Diego, 350 companies received the bid but only two responded and Cornerstone won the project. It entailed customizing trucks to handle the oversized boats and coordinating coast-to-coast travel.

In a separate project, Cornerstone offloaded a fleet of 19 vintage Bentley autos in Portsmouth, VA, for a rally that went through Memphis and concluded in Charleston, SC.

CONTACT sections editor Tara Milligan at tmilligan@bizjournals.com

© 2005 American City Business Journals Inc.