From Immigrant to CEO to Skydiving Adventurer at 51
From soaring through the skies of Colombia to overseeing the movement of millions of tons of freight Debbie Cross consistently achieves her visions – and proves you’re never too old to try something new.
“My boyfriend jumps, and I wanted to share a hobby with him,” she said. “Plus, [skydiving] was on my bucket list.”
Skydiving is the newest passion of this philanthropic entrepreneur; it’s also evidence of her fearless spirit and sense of adventure.
From hourly-wage worker to owning a worldwide logistics firm
A first-generation immigrant from Trinidad and Tobago, Cross came to the United States in the late 1980s and worked 10-hour days for $3 an hour. After work, she’d pick up her young son from the babysitter and walk 23 blocks home.
“I was new to the country and I had a dream. I guess part of fulfilling the dream was making that sacrifice,” she said.
Envisioning a brighter future, she started taking classes at night to become a paralegal. But her career aspirations took an odd turn. As she continued searching the newspaper for better opportunities, she spotted an ad for a position in the shipping and logistics industry.
She got the job and “took a great liking to it,” she said. She soon discovered she had an aptitude for understanding economics and supply chains.
After moving between companies to achieve better positions and earn better pay, Cross landed in the import division of a growing company with 27 U.S. offices. She thrived, capturing the attention of the owner, who became a friend and mentor for years.
That foundation would ultimately lead Cross to head A.S.A.P. Logistics Ltd., a supply chain management company based in Queens, NY, covering 57 countries.
Coffee and Philanthropy
Never one to rest, Cross also founded Sapphire Coffee, a certified B-Corp and sustainable coffee brand that donates 50% of every purchase back to local communities in Colombia.
Cross has also assisted in relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Helena, the California Wildfires, and with various humanitarian aid missions overseas, including in Colombia where she sources the beans for Sapphire Coffee. In 2024, she earned the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for her humanitarian and charitable efforts. She has also received Humanitarian Awards from the states of Georgia and New York, and an Honorary Doctorate in Atlanta, recognizing her leadership and philanthropic impact.
“God blessed me when I needed it most,” she said. “Now I’m called to be that blessing for others.”
Skydiving
Spending so much time in Colombia, Cross discovered the opportunity to face her next big physical challenge as she turned 51 years old.
“Everyone in Colombia jumps,” she said. “Kids jump at the ages of 5, 6, 7. Adults. Older grandparents. It’s like people riding a bicycle in the U.S.”
Even if the hobby is commonplace in Colombia, the adrenaline rush remains.
“You’re flying on a plane with no doors at 11,000 feet, so the wind is blowing on your face. And you’re looking down, like you can’t imagine what’s down there,” Cross shared. “Then to jump, you sit on the edge of the plane, and you rock back and forth and then you jump. I was down about 5,000 feet from the ground before I opened my eyes. That was my first time.”
Her third jump, Cross said, was a tandem jump with her boyfriend. She asked him to slow down as they reached 8,000 feet to enjoy the view. “You can just see Mother Nature. Everything is so calm up there,” she said.
For a woman who never seems to slow down, that stillness and connection with the natural environment speaks to the why behind her drive to give back and the mission of Sapphire Coffee: Peace, gratitude and sustainability.
You’re Too Old For That” is a regular series that explores activities being pursued by inspiring people 50 years old and older who feel you’re never too old to do what lights you up
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