Frank Szewczyk brings 45 years of industry experience to the International Forwarding Academy. He started his career as an International Freight Forwarder in 1975 for a small company called KYFI, which was the 5th US Forwarder to obtain their NVOCC authority in the country.

He then moved on to serve as Distribution Center Manager of Adidas in Charleston, SC in 1984, honing his skills on distribution of the popular sports shoes and athletic wear.

In 1986 he relocated to Savannah, GA and started with Panalpina AG as Branch Manager. He was hired by Juerg Gege, who would become his lifelong friend and business partner.

Szewczyk would stay with the company for 17 years, traveling from one end of the globe to the other; as Managing Director in Moscow City, Russia; Vice President and Branch Manager in Cleveland, OH; and finally settling in Charleston, SC as a consultant.

In 2004 he left Panalpina to become a Freight Forwarding Trainer for Kuehne + Nagel in Charleston but seized a promotional opportunity in the company to become Vice President and Branch Manager as well as VP of Strategic Development for their Automotive Division in Detroit, MI.

Opportunity knocked once again as he joined CEVA Logistics as Managing Director, which he held for two years. Eager to return to Charleston, he took a position as a Freight Forwarding 101 Trainer for the company in the Lowcountry.

In early 2022, Szewczyk had an idea. He saw a great need for training within the International Transportation Community he so loved and devoted his life and career to, especially for entry and mid-level members, to re-energize the Transportation community and secure its future. He persuaded his best friend, Gege, to come out of retirement and help him realize his dream. Soon after, the International Forwarding Academy was born.

Szewczyk is an avid walker, Harley Davidson owner and life-long entrepreneur. He has started four companies since the late 70s, his first being a Rock & Roll promotion company which saw two of his bands being picked up by major labels; Kix with Atlantic Records and Face Dancer with Capital Records. The International Forwarding Academy is his 5th venture.

Szewczyk sees his key to Industry success as being a well-rounded Forwarder, having held executive positions in both Ocean and Air Transport as well as Import and Export Activity with P&L, local branch and regional responsibilities throughout his extensive career.