Mr. Alfredo M. Umali thrives on challenges.

Being pushed to accomplish a goal or solve a problem is where he draws his energy from. He likes challenging others to be innovative and guiding others through the decision-making process. A volleyball enthusiast who has been a varsity player during his college years, Mr. Alfredo M. Umali is accustomed to discipline and training. He uses this experience to challenge and drive Trans-Asia's organization. After graduating from Mapua Institute of Technology, Mr. Umali joined a Project Management consultancy firm prior to gaining his extensive exposure in Civil Engineering in Saudi Arabia . He became the Engineering Manager of Riyadh Water and Sewerage Systems, the highest possible position for a nonSaudi Arabian citizen. Mr. Umali's professional trainings include the successful completion of the Construction Management Course from the Asian Institute of Management in 1994. He further pursued his career as a consultant for various infrastructure projects as well as water supply projects upon returning to the Philippines in 1995. Mr. Umali's direct experience of leading major construction management projects in the water, transportation and industrial sectors has led him to become the Principal Civil Engineer of foreign dominated consultants of Fort Bonifacio Development Corporation. The Southeast Asian economic meltdown in 1998 ensued to the cost cutting measures by developers albeit the thrust to the continuous completion of their projects. Mr. Umali was tasked to assume the responsibility in carrying out the multi-disciplined implementation of the infrastructures projects of Fort Bonifacio Development Corporation. He was asked to handle the development/construction of the entire underground utilities without the expatriates. He proved it right that he is equally talented and competent as to other consultants on the successful culmination of the project. He has been the Assistant Vice President for Civil Works and Infrastructure of EDCOP. His experience in all phases of project design and management has developed a reputation for challenging one-of-a-kind projects and became the Project Manager to the various prominent edifices of the Global City Land Development Projects of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority. In 2001, Trans-Asia Philippines, Inc. was acquired from the Siemens Building Technology by a group of Filipino engineers and businessmen and tapped Mr. Alfredo Umali as the President and General Manager. Joining Trans-Asia, he is the right person required to turn around a sinking ship. He believes that we should continuously seek new challenges in crises situations, work hard, defy the odds, dare to dream, and boldly invest in a better future. He is a low-profile entrepreneur who follows the ageold Chinese business strategy of lowest profit margins and big volume sales. One of the visions of Mr. Umali is to contribute to the economic development of the country by providing young professionals or the graduate engineers a niche for their professional growth and this is made to realize through the mentoring process and regular in-house technical trainings provided by Trans-Asia. Mr. Umali has diversified Trans-Asia's Clients by penetrating in the industry internationally as well as locally. In 2003, Trans-Asia has been awarded as the Lead Consulting Firm by the Asian Development Bank to conduct the Feasibility Studies and the Detailed Project Report for a 132 km. road in Northern India for the National Highways Authority of India, a first for a Filipino engineering firm. Since 2005, Trans-Asia provides directly to foreign clients the CAD Services and Engineering Services for prominent commercial buildings and infrastructure projects in the Middle East area. Through the guidance and leadership of Mr. Umali, he fostered the development of the organization with a unique mentoring approach. He manages by principle, not procedures. He is a firm believer in quality, strong competitive strategies and plans, teamwork, rewards for performance and ethical responsibility. Thus, his commitment made the successful turnaround of TransAsia in a couple of years and the triumphal lead having Trans-Asia Philippines, Inc. an ISO 9001:2000 QMS certified in December 2005. COMPANY PROFILE With its complement of RORO vessels, Trans-Asia Shipping Lines, Inc. is uniquely positioned as a Cebu-based company with unsurpassed experience in the Visayas-Mindanao area. Our operation, which employs more than 300 people, is one of the leaders in the field of cargo handling, passage and route development. Our strategy is to build operations into market leaders in every route we ply, each with the support of our extensive knowledge of the Vis-Min area and our long-standing relationship with our customers. Through a balance of cash producing activities, investment in fleet modernization and route development, we aim to produce sustained growth.

The company was incorporated on March 25, 1974 as Solar Shipping Lines, Inc. However, on October 16, 1974, the company decided to change its corporate name to TRANS-ASIA SHIPPING LINES, INC. with Julian G. Sy Sr. as its President and Chairman of the Board of Directors. The company was then a key in the development of trade between Cebu and Cagayan and Cebu and Butuan. We haven't stopped since. We have developed several ports in the Visayas and Mindanao, which are now centers of economic activities. Hence, our synonymity with route development. But most importantly, our heart always goes to our customers with our friendly and efficient service, excellent on-board amenities, astute ship management and our outreach programs which help the communities become a better place. That's why At Home Ka Sa Biyahe.

The customer service representative may work in a variety of fields, in diverse ways with the principle object of helping customers. The term customer has various meanings depending upon the type of services a business provides. A customer service representative might be dealing with individuals, representing themselves only, or with representatives of other businesses. Job requirements to be a customer service representative vary tremendously. People who tend to be most successful at their work have excellent manners, can handle problem customers, and usually possess excellent telephone skills. Many of these workers also have basic to advanced computer skills, and a number of them possess high-level office skills. Therepresentative may have multiple means of communicating with customers. Communication can occur via telephone, fax, standard mail, email, in person or through various conferencing or messaging methods on the Internet. Sometimes the customer service representative is essentially a sales person. Companies that offer large scale mail order (Internet or telephone order) businesses frequently call people representatives, or customer service specialists to differentiate them from being specifically salespeople. In truth, their function, though it doesnt usually involve face-to-face contact with others, is similar to that of sales people in retail stores. They essentially take orders for purchases, answer questions about products, prices or shipping, and listen to any complaints or concerns the buyer might have. Education and training. Most customer service representative jobs require a high school diploma.
However, because employers are demanding a more skilled workforce, some customer service jobs now require associate or bachelor's degrees. High school and college level courses in computers, English, or business are helpful in preparing for a job in customer service. Training requirements vary by industry. Almost all customer service representatives are provided with some training prior to beginning work. This training generally focuses on the company and its products, the most commonly asked questions, the computer and telephone systems they will be using, and basic people skills. Length of training varies, but often lasts several weeks. Some customer service representatives are expected to update their training regularly. This is particularly true of workers in industries such as banking, in which regulations and products are continually changing.

Other qualifications. Because customer service representatives constantly interact with the public,
good communication and problem-solving skills are essential. Verbal communication and listening skills are especially important. Companies prefer to hire individuals who have a pleasant speaking voice and are easy to understand. For workers who communicate through e-mail, good typing, spelling, and grammar skills are necessary. Basic to intermediate computer knowledge and good interpersonal skills are also important. Customer service representatives play a critical role in providing an interface between customers and companies. As a result, employers seek out people who are friendly and possess a professional manner. The ability to deal patiently with problems and complaints and to remain courteous when faced with difficult or angry people is critical. Also, a customer service representative often must be able to work independently within specified time constraints.

Advancement. Customer service jobs are often good introductory positions into a company or an
industry. In some cases, experienced workers can move into supervisory or managerial positions or they may move into areas such as product development, in which they can use their knowledge to improve products and services. Some people work in call centers with the hope of transferring to a position in another department.