Our Business

Public Relations for International Commerce, Shipping and Logistics.

Specialty

Potash & Company, established in 1980 in San Francisco, is one of the country's first niche public relations and association-management firm serving the special needs of clients engaged in the international commerce, transportation, and logistics sectors.

Among the achievements we most value, as a firm and as individuals, has been the longevity and depth of our client relationships, past and present. Compared to the industry average of 18 months to two years, the average length of our client relationships has been greater than 17 years.  These clients include:

APL (American President Lines) - 25 years
Pacer International, Pacer Stacktrain - 10 years
California-Asia Business Council (Cal-Asia) --from predecessor Pacific Indonesia Chamber of Commerce -- Since 1983
Customs Brokers & Forwarders - 17 years
Union Bank of California (Bank of Tokyo) - 11 years
California Council for International Trade - 17 years
JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization) - 15 years

While deliberately limiting the number of clients so that the principals could provide hands-on services, the company has supported some of California's and the world's leading organizations in its chosen sectors. The current, long-term client on which we are focusing is:

California-Asia Business Council (Cal-Asia), a non-profit business association promoting expanded commercial ties between California and the markets of Asia. For its work in expanding exports to Asia, Cal-Asia has been named a strategic partner by the U.S. Department of Commerce. Cal-Asia members include some of California's largest multinational corporations, as well as small and medium-sized enterprises. Its speakers have included Asian heads of state; China's chief representative to the World Trade Organization; and influential US and Asian government and business leaders. Key initiatives have included "Greening Asia," helping US companies identify and participate in environmentally sustainable water, air and infrastructural projects in Asia; and a China Banking project, which exposed US technology, financial and other firms to new opportunities to participate in the liberalization of China's banking sector. Each year, Cal-Asia presents its prestigious "New Silk Road Award" at its Asia Night dinner gala in San Francisco; recipients include U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (2005); former US Secretary of State George P. Shultz (2006); and (on Oct. 26, 2007) John Chen, CEO of Sybase, for exceptional penetration of the China market and keen advocacy of healthy economic relationships with Asia. Asia Night dinner sponsorships are available. Jeremy Potash manages the organization as its Executive Director.

Other principal, long-term clients have included:

 

APL, the global ocean container transportation provider, and its sister company, APL Logistics, units of US$6.5 billion NOL Group, were Potash & Company clients for 25 years (1979-2004). For three of those years, Steve Potash served as Vice President for Corporate Communications of the then-NYSE listed company. During our tenure, APL built a reputation for technological innovation and added-value service; we supported the introduction of the first and still the largest North American stacktrain system, on-line shipment monitoring and supply-chain management technology, truck-competitive container equipment, and the advent of third-party, carrier-based logistics management as a dynamic industry in its own right. In late 2004, NOL was acquired by Temasek, Singapore's government investment arm.

Pacer International (Nasdaq:PACR), the publicly-held North America freight transportation and logistics provider (2006 revenues: US$1.9 billion). Pacer Stacktrain, the wholesale unit, operates the largest double-stack (containers stacked two-high) rail system for the transportation of containerized freight. Pacer's retail division offers a full menu of logistics and distribution services directly to manufacturers and retailers. For 2006, the company was named to the Forbes list of the "400 Best Big Companies in America." We served Pacer for ten years, from inception and through nine acquisitions and an IPO. They handle about 20 percent of all US domestic intermodal container moves.

Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of Northern California, a professional association whose members facilitate U.S. exports and imports working in close collaboration with U.S. Customs and other agencies.

Services

The firm's services include:

• External and internal communications consulting, including media relations, marketing communications, etc.
• Association management, including programming, events, publications, and administration
  

Staff

The principals of the firm are Steve Potash and (Ms.) Jeremy Potash, who have been in the business for more four decades.