ROY LESLIE REID, OD, CHoF
Lifetime Achievement Award
Roy Leslie Reid, entrepreneur and philanthropist, was born in Kingston, Jamaica West Indies. He attended Whitfield Town Primary School, and St. Mary’s College, where he graduated with Senior Cambridge Certificate Grade 1. During his academic years, he formed the “Roy Reid Sporting Eleven” cricket club. Under his leadership, the team enjoyed much success and popularity. When he completed high school, Roy joined the Jamaica Constabulary Force and was quickly recruited on its cricket team. While working in Manchester, Kingston, Clarendon and St. Elizabeth, he not only played for each division, he also represented these parishes in matches.
In 1969 Roy migrated to the United States and was employed at Data Tab Inc., as an Office Manager. In between jobs, he found time to attend Fairfield University, where he graduated with a BS degree in Marketing and Accounting. He also attended the New York Television School where he obtained a certificate in Television Production.
He then went to work for Atlantic Interstate Systems in Stamford Ct., in the capacity of Vice President of Sales. During his tenure with that company, he was able to travel extensively throughout the United States.
Roy seized every opportunity available to promote and support Jamaica and its culture. He sponsored the Jamaican Constabulary Force and Military bands to play at functions in the US. He successfully organized these two bands to play and march in the West Indian Day Parade in Hartford, Connecticut; displaying the musical pride of Jamaica.
In 1983, Roy joined forces with two other colleagues and formed Corporate Courier Inc., based in Stamford Connecticut. He served in the capacity as Principal Partner, with primary responsibilities for Marketing and Sales. The company was a success until 1989 when Roy branched out on his own and founded Corporate Courier N.Y. Inc., and Trans Management Corporation where he currently serves as President and CEO and has built this company into a multi-million dollar business.
By this time, Roy had become a giant in the courier industry, as a minority owned business. His company, under his dynamic leadership, resulted in its growth and now employs over 100 employees; 90% of which hail from a Jamaican background. His company has serviced a number of Fortune 500 companies over the years, among them The Phillip Morris Group, Exxon Corporation, Danbury Printing Company, Miramax Films, The Ford Foundation, Macy’s and Con Edison. The latter company has on several occasions selected and featured Roy in their print advertising campaign featuring minority owned businesses. Their present advertising campaign “Get On It” now appears in newspaper, magazines and billboards in the New York area.
During the 1990’s Roy formed an alliance with then General Manager of Sandals and former Custos Rotulorum of St. Mary, the late Mr. Jeff McKitty, to furnish various schools in the parish with computers. His munificence also extends to the health care sector, where he has made numerous donations to hospitals and clinics, hence his unflagging commitment to the well being of the marginalized in Jamaica. His continuous involvement in the Jamaican community cemented him in the Jamaican Diaspora in New York and he continues to be recognized for his contributions.
Building on his love for cricket, in 1995 Roy sponsored and organized one of the largest cricket events in the US with an exhibition game between the West Indies Cricket Team captained by Brian Lara vs. the United States of America. The event took place at the renowned Ivy League school; Columbia University, in New York. It was highly publicized and attended by dignitaries such as then deputy Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P.J. Patterson, who was the guest speaker at the gala dinner hosted by Roy. This gala honored cricket greats; Sir Garfield Sobers, Sir Clyde Walcott, Sir Everton Weeks, Maurice Foster, Easton McMorris, Renford Pinnock, Kanute Barclay among many others. His relentless effort to promote cricket is entrenched in the United States, Canada, England, Jamaica and other Caribbean islands.
In 2002, Roy was awarded the National Minority Business Council Award for Excellence. He has been a long-standing member of the National Minority Business Council. He is also a member of the New York/New Jersey Business Council. He has attended and participated in many of the Council’s Management and Business seminars over the years. He is a member of the Board of New York City Courier’s Association.
In 2003, Roy was presented with the National Leadership Award as Honorary Chairman for the Business Advisory Council, by the National Congressional Committee.
In 2005, Roy was awarded the National Leadership Award by the NMBC. He is recognized by Strathmore’s “Who is Who” which acceptance is limited to individuals who have demonstrated leadership and achievement in their respective occupation, industry or profession.
In February 2007, he was honored by Macy’s during Black History month as one of the many African American business leaders, who share their ongoing commitment to the communities Macy’s served.
In 2015, Roy along with two additional colleagues, Mr. Merton Owens and Mrs. Claudette Phipps, formed RCM Community Development Service where he serves as President. This is a non-profit foundation established to foster the growth, strength and development of deprived communities and projects. The founders of RCM hail from a Jamaican background and share a common goal of giving back to their homeland. This vision is supported by investing in the educational future of our Jamaican children in an effort to give them a technological edge to excel and compete globally in the near future. To date, three computer labs have been refurbished and dedicated in Jamaican high schools (Islington HS in St. Mary, Petersfield HS in Westmoreland and Fair Prospect High School in Portland). The refurbishing of the lab resulted in a conducive learning environment and consisted of gutting and remodeling the classroom structure and outfitting it with new electrical wiring, lighting, flooring, a server, projector and screenOracabessa High School, St. Mary, Jamaica.