During a NY Alliance meeting in April 2025 (when tariffs were the political and business hot button), member Tony Sclafani of Mercury mentioned in passing to fellow member Nunzio De Filippis that a Wall Street Journal reporter might be interested in speaking with him. Nunzio is co-CEO of CargoTrans, a NYC-based licensed customs broker and freight logistics company. Although the initial introduction did not get a response, Tony encouraged Nunzio to follow up, and that nudge proved pivotal.
Through Tony’s initial WSJ contact, Nunzio was finally introduced and connected with reporter Esther Fung, who covered couriers and rail. During their conversation, Nunzio explained his role as a licensed customs broker and, as such, he often works with companies to help them assess and complete tariff bills. Esther immediately recognized the story potential, conducted interviews, and followed up with additional questions. A few days later, the WSJ published an online article that quickly reached Apple’s Top Stories, and the paper’s print edition featured the story on the cover, with a continuation page including Nunzio’s picture and the headline, “Suddenly everyone wants a piece of Nunzio De Filippis.”
The Results
The impact was immediate. At the next NY Alliance meeting, members gained a clear understanding of CargoTrans’ scale and expertise. Referrals and introductions began that same day, including connections from fellow members Adam Felsenstein, Eyal Isaac, Ira Reisman, and Rocco Bove. All of this led to many speaking engagements (e.g., stages in Las Vegas, MetLife Stadium, a Forbes speaking panel, WSJ, CNBC and others), social media mentions and links, recurring business, and new opportunities for CargoTrans.
This experience illustrates how a single introduction, combined with persistence and expertise, can generate significant visibility, credibility, and tangible business growth through the power of the room.