35th Anniversary & the Boomerang Beginning

A Tribute to Boomerang Carnets Founder, Bruce A. Wilson

“Bruce Wilson was a thoughtful, kind and very creative business leader.  His ideas and knowledge of international trade benefited not only his employees but also many other individuals with whom he came into contact in both the government and private sectors of the economy.” —Michael L. Host, Boomerang CFO, 20 years    

It’s 2022, and boomerang carnets® kicks off a year-long celebration commemorating our 35th Anniversary.  Back in 1987, Bruce A. Wilson (1931-2018) founded the company with his son and partner Curt E. H. Wilson, President and CEO.  They first set up shop in an 1895 farmhouse garage.  Corporation for International Business, aka boomerang carnets, began as a claims handling operation for carnets and has grown into a major player in the carnet and carnet bond market.  In 2005, the company was looking for a way to re-brand itself from Corporation for International Business to something more identifiable with carnets.  Boomerang carnets was born and grew into the only ATA Carnet provider in two countries, the U.S., and the U.K.  Those first carnet transactions grew, and the company issued over 9,000 carnets in 2019 in the U.S. alone.  In 2015, Boomerang was appointed by the Federation Internationale de L’Automobile to be the national guaranteeing association and issuing body for Carnets de Passages en Douane (CPD), the Vehicle Passport, in the U.S. and Canada and is the first and only non-automobile association and private company to be awarded this appointment.  It was Bruce Wilson’s vast knowledge of global temporary admissions processes that alerted him to the opportunity, and he strategically moved to gain the appointment.

Bruce A. Wilson’s vision and robust entrepreneurial spirit vastly improved the exporting customer’s experience by automating the carnet application process with the first online ATA Carnet application. A natural born marketer, he was determined to reach out to businesses of all sizes with superior customer service.  It was a priority that any size company take advantage of the growth benefits that ATA Carnets and CPDs offer.  His career in surety (specializing in customs), international trade insurance, ATA Carnet, customs brokerage, and freight forwarding spanned 50 years.  He was world-renowned as a specialist in ATA Carnets, carnet bonds and U.S. customs bonds.  He was most proud of his service to the U.S. Army from 1951-1953 and attended Michigan State, Wayne State and Northwestern Universities before and after service.

Bruce A. Wilson’s contribution to the United States Council for International Business (USCIB) established the USCIB as the premier national guaranteeing association in the ATA Carnet system of 85+ countries and territories.  He traveled extensively throughout the world representing the USCIB in International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and World Customs Organization (WCO) gatherings.  Through that effort, he developed a deep understanding of both North American and international surety markets.  One of his many accomplishments at USCIB was the development and implementation of a bi-lateral agreement between the United States and Taiwan that mirrors the ATA Carnet system thus opening Taiwan to additional U.S trade and trade promotion.

“Bruce Wilson was so knowledgeable regarding so many facets of the global economy and he pushed me out of my comfort zone on many occasions, but that is what leaders are supposed to do. He was a true gentleman, and I admired him greatly. He appreciated hard work. I always knew how much he appreciated the employees. He was a generous person, and that same generosity is seen in his children.” —Rachel Kern, Boomerang VP of Admin, 28 years    

Bruce A. Wilson passed away in 2018, and he is missed by many.  His personality and intelligence set precedents and made advancements that exporters around the world continue to benefit from.  To this day, Boomerang never forgets its beginnings as a family-owned business.  The personable, superior customer service from Boomerang’s Carnet Specialists has built one of the best reputations of any company around.  Now in the hands of his son and partner, Curt E. H. Wilson, the company continues with a maverick entrepreneurial spirit.  Bruce A. Wilson’s vision for empowering the customer and taking the time to care for what they need with professionalism, expertise, and personability, grew the company to what it is today.  His legacy can be found in the hundreds of thousands who grew their businesses using ATA Carnets and CPDs throughout our 35 years in business and those who will continue to benefit in the next 35 years.