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.
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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.
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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.
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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 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.
