March 1, 2018We are saddened to announce that we have lost one of our true pioneers at V. Alexander. Booker Michael Barnett passed today after a long fought battle to overcome a rare blood disorder and the effects that developed as a result.Mike came to V. Alexander & Co., Inc. in October of 1979 from the Controller position at Marquette in Nashville. One of his early responsibilities was bringing our first computer in-house. That computer was over six feet tall with 2 disks as big as a nice size tree trunk. Quite a difference from the environment we work in today. There are only a few of us around today that remember those days, but they were good days and Mike was one of the driving forces behind making our company one of the country’s best Customs Brokers. Always a man of honesty and integrity, Mike acted as our CFO and a member of our Board of Directors. We are heartbroken over the loss of our good friend and colleague. Please keep his daughters, Katrina and Ashley, in your prayers.There will be a small family burial service in Mike’s beloved Kentucky hometown this week. Mike wished that in lieu of flowers it would be much more meaningful to make a donation to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.Carla, Gary and Alex Brown