Robert Morris College-Pittsburgh Logistics Systems Announce Aggressive Partnership

Moon Township, PA, September 11, 2000 - Robert Morris College and Pittsburgh Logistics Systems, Inc. (PLS) announced this afternoon a partnership that will strengthen the engineering program at Robert Morris College and provide a substantial educational benefit to PLS employees. The announcement was made at a news conference at the new engineering facility at Robert Morris College. A ribbon-cutting ceremony officially opened the new facility after the news conference.

The partnership calls for the establishment of a Pittsburgh Logistics Systems Professorship in logistics engineering at Robert Morris College. This endowed position will be funded by a $500,000 gift from PLS. The College is presently searching for a professor in logistics engineering and expects to fill this position prior to the start of the 2001-02 academic year. In addition, Robert Morris College students will have the opportunity to participate in an internship program with PLS or any of the companies that are a part of the recently-formed Quadrivius, Inc. holding company (which, in addition to PLS, is comprised of eflatbed.com, PLS International LP, and InnerLink Strategic Solutions, Inc.), or PGT Trucking, Inc. Employees can enroll at Robert Morris College in various life-long learning programs jointly developed by Robert Morris College and PLS.

“We are pleased to partner with Robert Morris College because it has done an exceptional job in developing a curriculum that targets the needs of our industry,” said Gregg A. Troian, Chief Executive Officer of Pittsburgh Logistics Systems. “We firmly believe, working together, we can strengthen our region by developing engineering skills for students that will serve our organizations.”

Although Robert Morris College’s engineering program is less than two years old, it has caught the attention of PLS because of its curriculum and the College’s track record for producing quality graduates.

“We anticipate that our companies will benefit from this strong working relationship with Robert Morris College,” said Troian. “PLS is very excited about our future with Robert Morris College, its students, and the results from this partnership. We feel this is a win-win situation for everyone involved.”

Likewise, Robert Morris College feels its engineering program has gained additional visibility by linking with a premier logistics management company in western Pennsylvania.

“Pittsburgh Logistics Systems and its affiliates provide added benefits to our engineering students. PLS believes in what we are doing in the classroom and they like the exceptional students that are in this new program at Robert Morris College,” said Edward A. Nicholson, Ph.D., president of Robert Morris College. “We are very pleased to partner with PLS and believe it will be mutually beneficial.”

The partnership has also generated support from many political leaders who participated in the press conference. House Democratic Whip Mike Veon of Beaver Falls praised the partnership and has high expectations for our students and region as a result of the agreement.

This partnership between Robert Morris College and Pittsburgh Logistics Systems guarantees that students will receive a quality education and obtain the training that is needed to succeed in an emerging high-tech industry that is based in western Pennsylvania,” said Veon. “This partnership helps to keep our best and brightest students in Pennsylvania.”

Pittsburgh Logistics Systems, Inc., with headquarters in Monaca, PA, is the leading third-party logistics management provider to the metals industry. The company has been recognized for the third consecutive year by the Pittsburgh Technology Council as a member of its Pittsburgh Technology Heavy Hitter 50.

Quadrivius, Inc., headquartered in Rochester, PA, was recently formed as the holding company to drive the development of the logistics businesses of Pittsburgh Logistics Systems, eflatbed.com, PLS International LP, and InnerLink Strategic Solutions.

PLS International LP was established by PLS in 1998 to serve the growing needs of the international logistics industry. PLS International specializes in developing innovative logistics strategies that overcome the barriers of time and international geography.

eflatbed.com is headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, and is the only Internet transportation marketplace dedicated to providing complete logistics services to flatbed motor carriers and shippers. The eflatbed.com exchange, which electronically links available freight opportunities with potential carriers, improves the efficiency of the flatbed transportation system by integrating the entire shipment transaction process online-from load planning to payment. eflatbed.com currently has strategic partnerships with FerrousExchange Inc and YardConnect.com.

InnerLink Strategic Solutions, headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, is a strategic communications and consulting company. InnerLink helps clients crystallize their key business messages, solve critical business problems and explain the impact of their products and processes to gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace. InnerLink also custom designs and produces the high-level communications to carry these messages to a targeted audience.

PGT Trucking, Inc., is a leading flatbed transportation company specializing in the metals and wallboard industries. PGT is headquartered in Monaca, PA, and services customers throughout Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Robert Morris College is a private institution offering undergraduate degrees in more than 20 majors, master of business and administration (MBA) and master of science (MS) programs, and a doctor of science in information systems and communications. Approximately 5,000 students attend classes at the College’s main campus in suburban Moon Township and the downtown Pittsburgh Center. Approximately 20,000 alumni work and live in western Pennsylvania.

Contact:
Elicia Troese, eflatbed.com, 412-928-2639, or etroese@quadrivius.com

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