Gailen Vick founded the Reverse Logistics Association in 2002. His market research found that over $750 billion was being spent annually on Reverse Logistics in North America alone! Uncovered where thousands of 3rd Party Service Providers (3PSP) that provided services to OEM/ODM, Branded and Retail companies! Additional research showed that there wasn't any common thread between any of the 3PSPs other than competition. "There just wasn't a forum for the OEMs, ODMs, Branded and Retail companies to discuss "best practices" for Reverse Logistics."

RLA was founded to provide services for Aftermarket Supply Chain, or as we call it today Reverse Logistics. RLA's mission is to educate, inform and produce tradeshows and workshops around the world where OEMs, ODMs, Branded and Retail Companies can meet third party service providers (3PSPs).

In January 1996 Gailen was re-introduced to the Service Logistics sector. This sector was taking advantage of 3PL fast logistics movements. Many products were being sent to a depot setting instead of being repaired in the field. This new sector was just evolving into a formal industry where major cost saving were being realized. Gailen turned his focus to the "repair services" industry and managed Business Development at Sequel, PCS, Inc and later at Magnetic Data Technologies, LLC until the successful acquisition by Solectron in the spring of 2002. These companies supported major OEMs and 3PLs such as UPS, 3Com, Iomega, Dell, HP, Compal, Toshiba, Sun Microsystems, Hitachi, Panasonic, Apple, Mitsubishi, Imation, Gateway, Kinpo, Bizcom and many others.

With 30 years experience in aftermarket supply chain, engineering, manufacturing and marketing, Gailen's RL knowledge is a resource to companies across all industries.

Prior to founding Reverse Logistics Association, Gailen served on the executive staff of several third party service providers companies. Most of these companies were in the computer and telecommunications industries which made for an enjoyable learning experience in business management for Gailen. Prior to RLA Gailen served on the executive staff of several 3PSP. His career started at Diablo Systems in 1974 as an EE & expanded to senior marketing & sales positions at Shugart, Fujitsu and Seagate.His experience at Xerox, Seagate, and Fujitsu along with business involvement at many trade conferences has allow Gailen to work hand and hand with many of today's Executive Management and has thus made him a resource to his colleagues.

Early in his career as a Regional and National Sales Manager, Gailen managed several Service Centers, but on January 1996 he joined Sequel after leaving the Disk Drive Industry. Reverse Logistics (even though it wasn't called that until much later) was just starting to be outsourced and a formal industry was evolving at that time.

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
Having traveled globally, Gailen has extensive international experience with both Europe and Asian (EDM) markets.

INTERESTING HIGHLIGHTS
• 2005 – Seminar Leader at Reverse Logistics training Seminars and Workshops
• 2003-2005 – Key speaker as various worldwide conferences on Reverse Logistics
• 2000 – Speaker at Changing Times & Staying Current – Computer Consultants Conference – Salt Lake, Utah
• 1996 - Founder of an association for Computer Architecture Planners, which encourages common packaging designs
• 1995-97 & 2000 Speaker at Tokyo - Pixie Pinnacle Corporation's "HDD Executive Conference"
• 1994, 1995 & 2000 Speaker at Fall Comdex, Las Vegas - Head/Media Conference
• 1993 Speaker at Disk Drive Association (IDEMA), "Alternative Substrates - Removable Media"

EDUCATION
Mr. Vick studied Electrical Engineering at Chabot College & Chapman University. Tutored by IBM and Xerox "file technology" engineers while studying at night, Gailen reached the position of Senior Engineer at Shugart Associates before transferring to the Marketing department.

PERSONAL
Mr. Vick was born Tennessee where the importance of an individual's word carried as much weight as a contract. After six years in the Navy (and while going to college in the evenings) Gailen started at Diablo Systems in 1974 and started his career in Electrical Engineering.

Gailen changed his career path in 1980 (while at Shugart Associates) to Sales in order to provide for his growing family. He held several senior management positions in the disk drive industry, with companies such as Fujitsu, Priam, Conner Peripherals, Seagate and Avatar.

With all the traveling around the world to meet with potential customers, he stays fit by challenging anyone to his favorite sport, racquetball. Since all of his 8 children are raised, and to overcome the "empty nest" syndrome, bicycling on week-ends, volunteering with the Boy Scouts of America and at his Church with his wife Stella of 36 years is his favorite pastime.