As the racing season ended in Germany, Logistics Plus Global Director of Sales (Marine & Motorsport Logistics) Jennifer Elstone took a moment to reflect on a recent benefit event she attended. As you may have heard, the Arhtal floods in July 2021 were a terrible tragedy that killed more than 220 people in Europe. The floods affected hundreds of people in Germany and Belgium, along with creating extensive damage in the Netherlands, Austria, and Switzerland.
After the VLN race finished at Nurburgring this year, Jennifer was invited to attend the Arhtal floods benefit to honor those who lost their lives and to mark the ongoing redevelopment that is still happening in the region. This benefit was organized by The Heizer Monkeys (friends of Jennifer), EiFelkind Racing, and Opel Motorsport in the Adenau town center. Logistics Plus was happy to donate $1,000 to this great cause.
Jennifer said, “Logistics Plus is happy to be involved and contribute to this cause. Many thanks to The Heizer Monkeys and everyone who helped arrange this benefit to support people affected by this tragedy.”
The Heizer Monkeys band manager shared the below message about the benefit and what it means to the band:
The Heizer Monkeys are an international rock band, but their life in motorsport means they have always loved the famous Nurburgring race track in Germany. They have a deep connection with the Eifel and Ahrtal region. Seeing the media coverage of the devastating and tragic floods around the river Ahr of 2021 led lead singer Joey to go out to the Ahrtal region to volunteer. After a day digging ditches with the army, Joey was asked to go from rest station to rest station and give dozens of short solo concerts over several days to firefighters, soldiers, medics, civil guard workers, and volunteers, exhausted from their ceaseless work in the disaster zone. Joey, of course also when asked also performed for residents who had been going through the trauma of trying to rebuild their own homes.
When he returned home to the UK after some weeks, still holding a heavy sense of what he had seen and felt, he wrote down what he saw – the story of the shock, the anger, the sadness but also the compassion, hope, and solidarity – people coming from around Germany and even further to help strangers. He read the phrase You Ahr Not Alone in a WhatsApp helpers’ group, and he couldn’t shake it from his mind. You AHR Not Alone became the title of the song. With the help of Depeche Mode drummer and producer Christian Eigner, The Heizer Monkeys went to work to record it. And so an anthem of hope for the Ahrtal was born.
Over a year later in November 2022, The Heizer Monkeys returned to the region to perform a benefit concert for the Ahrtal close to their beloved Nurburgring. The event was advertised by regional community leaders Markus Wipperfurth and Azubi Wilhelm Hartmann, as well as representatives of the different major local charity organizations, including the Spenden Shuttle charity, which distributes donations from around the world where they are most needed. People came to the concert from all over the region and from the world of motorsport to show support, even from Eifelkind, the local race team which fundraises for good local causes in the Nurburgring race paddock.
The band closed out this emotional evening with an extended version of You AHR Not Alone. The crowd lit candles to remember the dead but also sang the words to the song along with the band, giving it a new meaning – please do not forget us.
Members of the Logistics Plus Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment (FF&E) team met with current and potential customers at Boutique Design New York (BDNY) 2022. The event was held in New York City on November 13th and 14th.
(Laurie on the BDNY 2022 panel – second from the left)
About BDNY
Boutique Design New York (BDNY) is the leading trade fair and conference for hospitality’s boutique and lifestyle design community. For two high-energy days each November, it’s the curated, creative event of the industry—bringing designers, architects, purchasing agents, hoteliers, owners, and developers together with inventive manufacturers of design elements for hospitality interiors for a highly curated experience.
Logistics Plus has developed and executed logistics and supply chain solutions for over 26 years. Let us know what challenges we can help you overcome.
Logistics Plus was once again a proud sponsor of the NDIA Swing for Freedom Golf Invitational held in Woodbridge, VA. The annual golf outing is hosted by the Washington, D.C. chapter of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) and benefits the USO-Metro. Since 1941, the United Service Organization has served as a vital bridge between Americans and their military service members.
As seen in the image (from L-R), TJ McGraw, Blaine Kurtz, Mike Callan, and Ryan Markiewicz represented Logistics Plus in the outing. Although they didn’t win, the team shot 12 under par. More importantly, a great time was had to support this vital cause.
About the NDIA
The National Defense Industrial Association drives strategic dialogue in national security by identifying key issues and leveraging the knowledge and experience of its military, government, industry, and academic members to address them. For more than 100 years, NDIA has provided a platform through which leaders in government, industry, and academia can collaborate and provide solutions to advance the national security and defense needs of the nation.
Logistics Plus has been steadily growing its footprint in the Hospitality Logistics industry. Our senior team has hundreds of years of combined experience upon which it draws to support our global clients. This year, our Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment (FF&E) team will attend Boutique Design New York (BDNY) from November 13-14 in New York City. The FF&E team will meet with current and potential clients and keep up to date with the latest hospitality industry trends.
Laurie Benjamin (Hospitality Director, FF&E) organized and will participate in the panel “Stalwarts and the Supply Chain: How to Conquer Challenges and Minimize Chaos” on Sunday the 13th from 1:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. This panel will take place at Posta by WorldHotels Crafted Collection (#1959). We look forward to seeing you there!
About BDNY
Boutique Design New York (BDNY) is the leading trade fair and conference for hospitality’s boutique and lifestyle design community. For two high-energy days each November, it’s the curated, creative event of the industry—bringing designers, architects, purchasing agents, hoteliers, owners, and developers together with inventive manufacturers of design elements for hospitality interiors for a highly curated experience. BDNY will return to New York’s Javits Center on November 13-14, 2022, and, will be co-located with well HX: The Hotel Experience.
Logistics Plus Chief Information Officer (CIO) Emile Zafirov and Director of Development and Integrations Karthik Jagannathan attended the UiPath Forward 5 conference. The event was held at the Venetian Resort in Las Vegas from September 27-29. The conference’s motto was ‘Robots Work. People Thrive’ – a focus on reclaiming time for people to do what people do best – serve, get to know and take care of customers better, innovate, and enjoy coming to work every day.
Emile reflected on his experience and thoughts of the conference. “Attending this conference is in continuation of our company’s efforts to allow our operations teams to focus on their clients by reducing mundane manual processes where possible, eliminating the potential for error, and speeding up data processing cycles.” He added, “Not surprisingly, UiPath shares some of the same values and approaches as LP: humble but bold, immersive but fast.”
Karthik (left) and Emile (right) at the UiPath Forward Conference
About UIPath Forward 5 Conference
Forward 5 is a one-of-a-kind event. It’s part celebration, part automation academy, part community gathering. It’s a place to get the skills you need. A source of inspiration that fuels transformation. A way to connect with like-minded innovators who are driving automation forward. And it’s a forum where we can show our gratitude to the organizations that trust us with their digital transformation.
Members of the Logistics Plus 
Logistics Plus was once again a proud sponsor of the NDIA Swing for Freedom Golf Invitational held in Woodbridge, VA. The annual golf outing is hosted by the Washington, D.C. chapter of the National Defense Industrial Association 
Logistics Plus Chief Information Officer (CIO)