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Tom Valentine on Supply Chain and Logistics Solutions

February 10, 2026 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Tom Valentine on Supply Chain and Logistics Solutions

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Tom Valentine, Valentine Solutions LLC, on Freight Management, Supply Chain, and Warehousing Solutions (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 935)

On this episode of North Fulton Business Radio, host John Ray welcomes Tom Valentine, President of Valentine Solutions LLC. Valentine Solutions serves as a channel partner representing over 35 solution providers across supply chain, freight management, warehousing, fulfillment, and AI solutions. The company helps businesses with $10 million and higher in annual revenue solve complex logistics challenges while reducing costs and improving efficiency.

Tom shares how Valentine Solutions helped a healthcare supplement company save nearly $1 million in transportation costs by strategically distributing products from three locations instead of one, cutting delivery times and improving customer service. For a boat manufacturer, his team identified a 27% reduction in freight costs while saving the client 20–25 hours per week in staff time by streamlining their supply chain processes. Tom explains how logistics costs flow directly to the bottom line, impacting EBITDA and company valuation in ways that matter to private equity and business owners planning for exit strategies.

The discussion encompasses the transition from reactive problem-solving to proactive supply chain management, the significance of automation in warehousing, and Valentine Solutions’ ability to tailor its solutions to the specific challenges of each client, rather than providing only generic solutions. Tom emphasizes that his company earns revenue from solution providers, not clients, positioning Valentine Solutions as a true business partner focused on delivering measurable results.

John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. The show is produced by John Ray and North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®, and is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

Valentine Solutions delivers both cost savings and operational efficiency by streamlining supply chain processes, with clients seeing 20-25 hours per week in recovered staff time alongside freight cost reductions
Logistics costs are dollar-for-dollar expenses that flow directly to the bottom line, making freight management savings a powerful tool for improving EBITDA and increasing company valuation
Strategic distribution from multiple warehouse locations can dramatically reduce transportation costs while improving speed to market and customer service
Tom’s business model positions Valentine Solutions as a true partner since the company is compensated by solution providers rather than clients, aligning incentives around delivering measurable results

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:20 John Ray introduces the show and guest Tom Valentine
02:01 Tom Valentine introduces Valentine Solutions LLC
02:09 Valentine Solutions’ business model as a channel partner representing 35+ solution providers
03:04 Tom’s background and passion for serving others in the logistics industry
04:22 Overview of the logistics umbrella and supply chain complexity
06:03 How Valentine Solutions manages the full supply chain for boat manufacturers
07:08 Coordinating multiple suppliers for complex manufacturing processes
08:14 Working with businesses from $10 million to Fortune 500 companies
09:04 Why most mid-sized manufacturers lack in-house logistics expertise
10:48 Common challenges facing manufacturers in supply chain and distribution
12:08 How the industry constantly changes and requires ongoing monitoring
13:00 Case study of healthcare supplement company saving nearly $1 million in transportation costs
14:41 How Valentine Solutions delivered 27% freight cost savings for boat manufacturer
15:54 A client saved 20-25 hours per week in staff time through process streamlining
17:03 Warehouse automation and workforce solutions for growing businesses
18:31 How Amazon affects warehousing and fulfillment for mid-sized companies
20:48 The impact of logistics savings on EBITDA and company valuation
23:16 How to know when you need logistics help
24:36 Case study of distributing fryer oil to 132 restaurant franchise locations
26:35 How to connect with Valentine Solutions

Tom Valentine, President, Valentine Solutions, LLC

Tom Valentine is the President of Valentine Solutions LLC, a highly regarded channel partner firm representing more than 35 best-in-class logistics, freight management, AI, supply chain, and warehousing and fulfillment solution providers. Since founding Valentine Solutions in 2010, he has helped companies from startups to Fortune 500s across manufacturing, distribution, marine, industrial, and e-commerce sectors solve domestic and global supply chain, freight management, warehousing, and fulfillment challenges by aligning the right best-in-class solution providers to each client’s unique logistics challenge while streamlining and standardizing their processes. Valentine Solutions consistently delivers measurable results, including cost reductions ranging from $50,000 to more than $2 million per client.

Tom’s leadership foundation was built at Marshall Industries, then the 4th-largest semiconductor distributor in the country, where he embraced the principles of Dr. W. Edwards Deming and learned that authenticity, integrity, and relentless customer focus are competitive advantages to successful relationships. He later entered the logistics space in 2002 as Director of Corporate Sales for a fast-growing 3PL, which was acquired by private equity in 2008. He earned his marketing degree and computer science minor from West Liberty University, where he also played quarterback. He has since become a recognized voice in the logistics community speaking on AI, supply chain solutions, resilience, freight management, optimization, tariff strategy, relationship management, and leadership. His insights have been featured on podcasts, webinars, LinkedIn, college campuses, and the popular supply chain media platform Supply Chain Now.

Outside of work, he is a devoted husband of 34 years to his wife Debora, a proud father and grandfather, an avid outdoorsman, and a newly retired middle school quarterbacks coach. His passion is helping others, and he lives by his 8 Fs: Family + Faith + Friends + Freedom + Fishing + Firearms + Food = Fun!

Valentine Solutions, LLC

Valentine Solutions acts as the ideal solution provider, delivering timely and cost-effective solutions to address logistics challenges while streamlining and standardizing processes. The company typically provides hard dollar savings ranging from $50,000 to $2 million or more. Valentine Solutions represents and serves as a channel partner to 35+ top-tier solution providers to address domestic or global challenges in supply chain, AI, freight management, warehousing, fulfillment, and workforce. The company builds strong and lasting relationships resulting in measurable savings, increased profitability, improved EBITDA and valuation, and staying attached at a higher level of account management to ensure mutual success.

Website | Facebook | Instagram

Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

Renasant Bank has humble roots, having started in 1904 as a $100,000 bank located in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has grown into one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions, boasting over $26 billion in assets and more than 280 offices offering banking, lending, wealth management, and financial services throughout the region. All of Renasant’s success stems from the commitment of each banker to invest in the communities they serve, which in turn helps them better understand the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, their banking professionals understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.

Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio

Whether you’re a law firm, medical practice, or manufacturer, there’s one headline you don’t want to make: “Local Business Pays Thousands in Ransom After Cyberattack.” That’s where Beyond Computer Solutions comes in. They help organizations like yours stay out of the news and in business with managed IT and cybersecurity services designed for industries where compliance and reputation matter most.

Whether they serve as your complete IT department or simply support your internal team, they are well-versed in HIPAA, secure document access, written security policies, and other essential aspects that ensure your safety and well-being. Best of all, it starts with a complimentary security assessment.

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

With over 900 episodes and having featured over 1,400 guests, North Fulton Business Radio is the longest-running podcast in the North Fulton area, covering business in our community like no one else. We are the undisputed “Voice of Business” in North Fulton!

The show invites a diverse range of business, non-profit, and community leaders to share their significant contributions to their respective markets, communities, and professions. There is no discrimination based on company size, and there is never any “pay to play.” North Fulton Business Radio supports and celebrates businesses by sharing positive stories that traditional media ignore. Some media lean left. Some media lean right. We lean business.

John Ray, host of North Fulton Business Radio, and Owner, Ray Business Advisors — **John Ray, host of *North Fulton Business Radio* and Owner, Ray Business Advisors**

John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. John and the team at North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®, produce the show, which is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

The studio is located at 275 South Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009.

You can find the entire archive of shows by following this link. The show is accessible on all major podcast apps, such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, and many others.

John Ray also operates his own business advisory practice. John’s services include advising solopreneurs and small professional services firms on their value, their positioning and business development, and their pricing. His clients are professionals who are selling their expertise, such as consultants, coaches, attorneys, CPAs, accountants, bookkeepers, marketing professionals, and other professional services practitioners.

John is the author of the five-star-rated book The Generosity Mindset: A Journey to Business Success by Raising Your Confidence, Value, and Prices, praised by readers for its practical insights on raising confidence, value, and prices.

Blaine Stephens, Schooley Mitchell

May 10, 2021 by John Ray

Minneapolis St. Paul Business Radio

Blaine Stephens, Schooley Mitchell

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Blaine Stephens, Schooley Mitchell (Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Radio, Episode 6)

Blaine Stephens of Schooley Mitchell joined host John Ray to discuss how he helps businesses and non-profits realize significant savings from telecom, utility, and other vendors, how his firm gets paid based on results, his own career journey, and much more. Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Radio is produced virtually by the Minneapolis St. Paul studio of Business RadioX®.

Schooley Mitchell

Schooley Mitchell is the largest independent cost reduction consulting firm in North America, with offices from coast to coast in the United States and Canada.

On average, they reduce essential business service expenses by 28% and have delivered over $340 million in documented savings to their clients to date.

They are passionate about saving money for clients and helping them grow their businesses. Schooley Mitchell delivers expertise to companies of all sizes from all industries, offering a broad range of services.

Blaine Stephens, Business Optimization Specialist, Schooley Mitchell

Blaine Stephens has owned and operated his Schooley Mitchell cost reduction consulting practice for 3.5 years in New Brighton, MN. Prior to joining Schooley Mitchell, Blaine worked as an SVP of Client Delivery for Rust Consulting in Minneapolis and as an IT Director for Lawson Software in St. Paul, MN. Throughout his career, Blaine has worked with technology vendors and service providers and with a variety of internal subject matter experts to provide the right solution at the right price for customers.

Blaine lives in New Brighton, MN with his wife Julia, a dog named Edie, and a cat named Penny. Blaine and Julia have two children, Claire and Dan, who are now adults leading vigorous professional and personal lives. When not working, Blaine enjoys serving on the boards of three nonprofit organizations, reading, traveling, and walking the dog.,

Company website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter

Questions and Topics in this Interview

Why did you start your cost reduction consulting practice with Schooley Mitchell?
What does a cost reduction consultant actually do?
What expense areas are your specialties?
So how do you make money?
Why would a business need your help?
Who can you help?
What do you need from a client to get started?

Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Radio is hosted by John Ray and produced virtually from the Minneapolis St. Paul studio of Business RadioX® . You can find the full archive of shows by following this link. The show is available on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, Stitcher, TuneIn, and others.

Matthew Wagner, Schooley Mitchell

January 5, 2021 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Matthew Wagner, Schooley Mitchell

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Matthew Wagner, Schooley Mitchell (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 317)

Matthew Wagner, Schooley Mitchell, joins host John Ray to discuss why business owners need to conduct regular expense audits, why hiring an independent cost reduction consultant should be part of any business owner’s profitability planning, and much more. “North Fulton Business Radio” is produced virtually from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® in Alpharetta.

Matthew Wagner, Strategic Partner, Schooley Mitchell

Schooley Mitchell is the largest independent cost reduction consulting firm in North America, with offices from coast-to-coast in the United States and Canada. On average, they reduce essential business service expenses by 27-28% and have delivered over $340 million in documented savings to their clients to date.

They are passionate about saving money for clients and helping them grow their business. Schooley Mitchell delivers expertise to companies of all sizes from all industries, offering a broad range of services.

Matthew Wagner was born along the banks of the Quinnipiac River in New Haven, CT, part of the Greater NYC megalopolis, in the shadow of Yale University. At the tender age of eight, Matt’s single mother decided to leave the concrete jungles of Southern New England for the family’s ancestral home in the pastoral, pristine, and pine-scented environs of Midcoast Maine. Growing up under the tutelage of his grandparents – a retired schoolteacher and a semi-retired Congregational Minister – Matt developed an affinity for outdoorsmanship, altruism, and Scrabble – interests he maintains to this day.

Matt has a B.A. in East Asian Studies and History from Wittenberg University, and an M.B.A. from The Ohio State University. He holds the rare dual designations of Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) and Senior Certified Professional from the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM-SCP). He speaks, reads, and writes fluent Japanese, and can carry on slow, awkward conversations in Spanish and Mandarin. Prior to launching his Schooley Mitchell office in 2020, Matt worked for more than 22 years in Japanese manufacturing operations in the U.S. Over this period, he became an expert in helping organizations optimize money, time, security, and human creativity. He served in several senior management positions and mastered the Japanese art of “kaizen” – a cycle of continuously transforming the existing into the exceptional.

Matt decided to start his own business to put his years of expertise to good use helping a diverse range of people achieve success in their organizations. When he heard about Schooley Mitchell, Matt realized he had found something unique. Many firms claim to improve the bottom line with the “pay to pray” model – pay upfront and pray they get results. Schooley Mitchell is different. They find real savings for their clients, leveraging proprietary technology, powerful market influence, and vast expertise; they don’t get paid unless they deliver savings! On top of money – clients gain back time, security, and knowledge, to focus on what they do best.

Matt lives in Dunwoody, Georgia with his wife of 24 years, three daughters, a hairless cat, and a hairy dog. He enjoys running marathons, bike-packing, birdwatching, cooking, singing karaoke, and – of course – Scrabble!

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Questions/Topics Discussed in this Show

Where did you come from?
What’s your personal background?
What even is “cost reduction consulting”?
Are you a broker or vendor representative?
Why would a company need cost reduction consulting?
Can’t they do this themselves?
What kinds of expenses do you help companies with?
What do you do when you’re not working?

North Fulton Business Radio” is hosted by John Ray and produced virtually from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® in Alpharetta. You can find the full archive of shows by following this link. The show can be found on all the major podcast apps by searching “North Fulton Business Radio.”

Renasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has grown to become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions with over $13 billion in assets and more than 190 banking, lending, wealth management and financial services offices in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida. All of Renasant’s success stems from each of their banker’s commitment to investing in their communities as a way of better understanding the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, they understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.