- 20298 NW 38th Place Miami FL 33055
- Grant.mcgaugh@5starbdm.com
- 305 562 1825
May 6, 2025
From St. Croix to the Global Stage: John Clendenin and the Logistics of Black Economic Power
Welcome to the Black Business Network—where Black excellence is not just celebrated, it’s activated. I’m Grant McGaugh, CEO of 5 STAR BDM and host of the award-winning Follow the Brand podcast and TV series. Today, we spotlight an extraordinary force in global business and Black enterprise: Mr. John Clendenin—former Harvard professor, retired Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel, visionary CEO of Inner Circle Logistics, and a 6th-generation Crucian building an empire of innovation from the heart of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
While most see the Virgin Islands as a vacation destination, John Clendenin sees it as a logistical goldmine. His office in a restored Chase Bank building in the historic district of Frederiksted isn’t just picturesque—it’s purpose-driven. With three apartments above and 10,000 sq ft of fiber-connected workspace below, it’s a symbol of what happens when cultural heritage meets digital infrastructure.
St. Croix is no ordinary island. It boasts 8x the fiber optic bandwidth of Silicon Valley, thanks to Global Crossing’s early investment in undersea cables. And Clendenin isn’t just tapping into the network—he’s monetizing it. His servers sit on U.S. soil, qualify for Made in America designations, and are 90% tax exempt under the Virgin Islands’ Economic Development Commission (EDC) program. That’s not just smart business—it’s economic warfare with strategy as the weapon.
The Mission: Connect the Black Diaspora via Global Logistics
With the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) by Governor Albert Bryan, the Caribbean American Single Economy (CARICOM) and Connect Caribbean are no longer ideas—they are infrastructure in motion. Clendenin is introducing ferry systems to facilitate cargo and human transport across the diaspora, linking Trinidad, Barbados, and St. Croix as economic hubs.
This isn’t fantasy. This is geopolitics. And the Virgin Islands, as the third U.S. border, offer a unique legal loophole: foreign ships can enter and exit without the restrictions of the Jones Act. That means if you’re a Black manufacturer, innovator, or investor, St. Croix could be your gateway to global commerce with U.S. protections and offshore advantages.
The Software of Sovereignty: Solving Global Supply Chain Confusion
At the core of Clendenin’s mission is IC Logistics, his company pioneering interoperable ERP integration for global shipments. His software bridges the information gaps that plague cross-border logistics—transforming chaos into clarity.
One shipment may require over 720 document versions across eight countries. Clendenin’s patented solution translates and transmits trade documentation in real-time across different languages, customs agencies, and digital platforms. What used to take weeks is now done in seconds—with all data legally domiciled on tax-advantaged servers in St. Croix.
And here’s the kicker: each software transaction that happens on-island is 90% tax exempt and qualifies as a U.S. domestic product.
"Don’t Retire. Reinvent." The Clendenin Challenge to Black Executives
As a former president of Harvard Business School’s Black Alumni Association, Clendenin calls on his peers: “Don’t retire to Florida. Don’t retreat to Martha’s Vineyard. Come home to St. Croix.” His message is bold but clear—it’s time to build a city, not just a resume.
St. Croix offers fertile ground for data centers, manufacturing, and executive leadership rooted in community uplift. Imagine taking the brilliance of Black MBAs and ex-CEOs and reinvesting it into an island that is 86% Black, governed by Black leaders, and legally empowered to grow generational wealth.
This is not gentrification. This is reclamation.
View FUll Broadcast at https://www.youtube.com/live/uiNjs1h-Xa0?si=Ie6MMT0B0Wg7cent
Because here, your Black dollar stays Black. Your innovation doesn’t just scale. It circulates.
I didn’t get here alone—this win belongs to my clients, partners, and supporters. Let’s keep pushing forward together.
📩 Want to collaborate? Reach out at grant.mcgaugh@5starbdm.com
🎧 Listen to the Podcast: Follow The Brand
🔗 Connect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/grantmcgaugh
#MiamiLeaders #BlackExcellence #BusinessGrowth #PersonalBranding #5STARBDM
Thank you for being part of this journey. The best is yet to come.
– Grant McGaugh
CEO, 5 STAR BDM | Speaker | Investor | Podcast Host