Only about one-half of one percent of all businesses in the U.S. have operated continuously for at least 100 years.  Chairman’s Circle investor Neely Mallory is chairman of one of those elite companies, Mallory Alexander International Logistics.

Mallory Alexander International Logistics is a fifth-generation family-owned business.  The company was founded here a century ago as Memphis Compress and Storage Company, specializing in cotton warehousing and logistics. Over the decades, the company diversified, adding general merchandise warehousing, local trucking and international freight forwarding. The company sold the cotton warehousing business in 1996, allowing it to focus on global logistics. The divisions were unified as Mallory Alexander International Logistics, evolving into a comprehensive third-party logistics, or 3PL, provider. With operations across the U.S. and Asia, the company now offers warehousing services, international freight forwarding, customs brokerage and advanced logistics technologies.

Neely Mallory III embodies the spirit of innovation and excellence that has defined the company for a century. Under his leadership, Mallory Alexander has maintained its status as a top-tier logistics provider while embracing challenges of a global economy.

Neely’s commitment to excellence is reflected in numerous honors, including the President’s E-Award and E Star Award for Exporting Excellence, and certifications such as ISO 9001:2015.  He champions community engagement, seeing Mallory Alexander as a vital contributor to the global economy and the Memphis community. As the company celebrates its 100-year milestone, Neely is committed to continuing the company’s legacy of reliability and innovation.  Neely and his wife, Linda Mallory, have two sons, Neely IV and Richard.

Neely is a lifelong Memphian who has lived on both sides of the river.  He started working for his fifth-generation family business while in college, then started full-time at the public warehouse division of The Mallory Group in 1981.  He was then loaned to the international freight forwarding division of the company for a special air export project. “I found I liked international and have stayed there for most of my career,” he said.  “After several years of encouragement, my brother Bob E. rejoined the company in 2017.  Today we have four of the next generation working with us: Bob E. Jr., Lamar, William and Richard.”

Memphis has been the headquarters of The Mallory Group for 100 years. Today the company has six operations in the Memphis area, 17 in the U.S. outside the Memphis market and three operations in China.

Memphis has been the family’s home since 1885, and the Mallory family has been ardent supporters of Memphis and the Mid-South. Neely has served on the Chamber board several terms, but it’s not the first time a Mallory has served in a leadership role at the Chamber.  “My first boss and cousin B. Lee Mallory served as chairman of the Chamber, and my father Neely Mallory served on the Future Memphis board,” said Neely.  “Almost since inception The Mallory Group has been a member of the Chairmans Circle.  Duncan Williams, Spence Wilson and Phil Trenary did a great job convincing me Memphis and the Mid-South would best be served having business leaders in this community work together toward a better Memphis for the future.”

What excites Neely about Memphis?  “There are three major things that excite me most about Greater Memphis,” said Neely.  “First, Memphis is still America’s Distribution Center.  Second is the tremendous amount of outside investment that is being deployed in West Tennessee, Eastern Arkansas and North Mississippi.  And third, I simply believe there are positive things ahead for this region.”

Neely said his best advice came from his dad.  “My father, Neely Mallory Jr., taught me that the best fertilizer is the owner’s footprints,” said Neely.  But his family’s isn’t the only wisdom Neely honors.  “Our family’s name may be on the wall,” he said, “but the successful company that has been built was built by the leadership of smart individuals not named Mallory who had a passion for success with integrity, who always had our customers’ and the Mallory team’s best interests in focus.”

Neely enjoys golf, fly fishing, hunting and vacationing in the mountains of North Carolina and Charlevoix, Michigan.  “I also enjoy the All-in podcast because the hosts are so forward-thinking and their crystal ball seems to be fairly accurate,” he said.