Dennis Hawthorne is a native of Jamaica, born in rural Grange Hill, Westmoreland. He migrated to Brooklyn in 1985; his first entrepreneurial and artistic endeavor was a successful photography business. However, he decided to focus his energies on the business of shipping.
In 1988, he started his home-based Dennis Shipping Company. Today, 27 years later, the company has transcended its simple beginnings emerging as one of the leaders among Caribbean-owned businesses in New York and Florida as well as Jamaica. The New York locations are on Utica Ave. in Brooklyn and White Plains Road in the Bronx.
And, guided by its “Committed to Excellence” motto, Dennis Shipping has earned a reputation in providing safe, reliable and quality shipping services to the Caribbean.
Furthermore, Hawthorne remains committed to the communities where his company serves. “Success is not only the result of hard work, but the support from those communities,” he says.
“It is this unwavering support that has preserved my business even in challenging economic times,” said Hawthorne. Dennis Shipping is dedicated to giving back.
“I am dedicated to outreach programs that are local, national and international in scope,” Dennis says. His company has supported programs such as the East Flatbush Friends Education, Caribbean American Outreach Association, Children Outreach of Jamaica, Kings Highway Development Project, many local churches, senior, civic organizations, and schools.
His unwavering commitment to nation building is evidenced by many other various endeavors he supports that span the areas of education, health, sports, and the environment.
He has partnered with organizations such as the American Foundation of The University of the West Indies (A.F.U.W.I), Negril Education and Environmental Trust (N.E.E.ET) in providing scholarships and funding for their different initiatives.
In addition to Dennis Shipping’s contribution to the growth and development of both the Caribbean Diaspora and the Caribbean region, the company has donated shipping services for natural disaster relief and medical and reconstruction equipment to Grenada, St. Lucia, Dominica, Antigua, Jamaica and Haiti.
Hawthorne is well known within his East Flatbush community. He firmly believes: It is not the amount of money or the level of education that makes you successful, but rather the people that benefit, beyond your families and friends, as a result of your accomplishments.
Among the many awards recognizing Hawthorne’s contributions to community, he has received ‘The Consulate General of Jamaica Award for Outstanding Benevolent Services to Jamaica and Caribbean Communities” as well as ‘The Congressional Record Award.”
