Novo Logistics becomes sole lease holder of 180,000 square feet of warehouse space, adding to its existing capacity in the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center. Courtesy
Novo Logistics provides solutions for its partners that include full service dedicated warehousing, contract labor/manufacturing support, multi-client warehousing, and local and regional transportation.
After graduating from the University of Nevada, Reno, Ryan Peirce started working for Novo Logistics in 2000 and then bought the company four years later. While he acts as CEO, his mother Joanne Peirce is a managing member of the company. The family aspect helped Novo Logistics be named the 2024 Best in Business Family-Owned Business in this year’s contest hosted by the NNBW.
“Running a business alongside my mom has provided me with a unique and fulfilling sense of partnership and collaboration. There’s an undeniable bond that comes from sharing the challenges and triumphs of entrepreneurship with someone who has always been a guiding force in my life. Working together allows us to leverage each other's strengths, knowledge, and experience in ways that wouldn’t be possible if we were working alone,” he says about collaborating with his mom.
“One of the most rewarding aspects is the trust and communication we share. As a family, we have a deep understanding of each other's motivations and values, which has been incredibly helpful in making key decisions for the business. Whether we're brainstorming ideas or solving problems, the open communication we maintain allows for a productive and harmonious work environment. This trust also extends to the flexibility we provide each other, knowing that we have each other's backs no matter the circumstances,” he adds.
As a third-party logistics company, Ryan says he takes pride in the incredible opportunities and benefits that come with running a company in the industry.
“This sector has proven time and again to be an essential pillar of the global economy, and I am proud to be leading a team that plays such a critical role in connecting people, businesses, and communities,” says Ryan.
Novo began as a one-facility operation in Reno with around 30 full time employees (back in 2004), and over the course of the last 20 years has grown the business to operate in nine different states. It maintains offices in Reno/Sparks; Columbia, South Carolina; Indianapolis/Whitestown, Indiana; Ardmore, Oklahoma; and Lexington, South Carolina. It currently has 550 full-time employees (75 in the Reno/Sparks area alone).
When asked what makes Novo Logistics different than other logistics companies, Ryan says that he believes it’s because Novo delivers value to its partners through transparent, flexible and collaborative solutions that drive success which has led to it building a strong reputation and establishing itself as a premier mid-market 3PL (third party logistics) that offers comprehensive logistics services, personalized customer service, and expertise in its target markets.
As far as his goals for Novo Logistics, Ryan explains that he wants to bring desirable careers to the areas it operates in while giving back and supporting its team members and communities along the way.
“We have plans in place to aggressively grow our business and double our size by 2030, by solidifying ourselves as the premier mid-market 3PL in our regions of operation,” Ryan says.
Second Place: The Cheese Board
The Cheese Board in Reno, run by Caitlin Fletcher and Krista Phillips, took second place in the Best Family-Owned Business category as well as second in Best Place for Business Lunch. The sisters bought the business in 2017, keeping it woman-owned since its start in 1981.
“I think Caitlin and I work really well together; we’ve learned a lot more about each other running this business, and figured out how to balance the workload,” Phillips says.
“Yes, we’re the yin and the yang, we complement each other and have learned not to step on each other’s toes. I’m the gas and she’s the brake, we have a good complementary style. This business is better with the two of us,” Fletcher says.
“We go between being the gas and the brake… I think we’re like salt and pepper. One brings the business together while the other brings the spice,” Phillips laughs.
Fletcher believes that The Cheese Board is successful because of their strong family ties, with potential to trickle down to future generations.
“I wouldn’t do this business with anyone else, it’s all or nothing,” she says. “We have big dreams, but we don’t know where it will take us. We have five kids between us, and they all want to work here,” Fletcher smiles.
