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13 Industry Executives Make Up Latest Leadership Program Group

Today, the �鶹���� welcomed 13 men and women into the association’s LEAD �鶹���� leadership training program. 

“�鶹���� is an industry that is always looking to the horizon, and part of that is mobilizing and preparing our next generation of industry leaders,” said �鶹���� President and CEO Chris Spear. “The LEAD �鶹���� program is an important part of making sure that our industry and our association will remain in good hands well into the future.” 

LEAD �鶹����, sponsored by Trimble Transportation, offers exclusive educational opportunities for trucking industry executives, incorporating real-world problem solving and advanced industry insights. Throughout the course of the yearlong program, “LEADers” are educated about the the regulatory and legislative processes, and �鶹����’s efforts to shape those processes, including advocacy, image and outreach, research and leaedership training.  

“Our company has benefitted significantly from having our employees, including my son, go through the LEAD �鶹���� program,” said �鶹���� Chairman Randy Guillot, president  and CEO of Southeastern Motor Freight and Triple G Express, Inc. “Those who go through LEAD �鶹���� not only gain valuable experience but are able to bring more perspective to their roles by completing projects on the latest industry trends, gaining relationships with the LEAD community, and building relationships with elected officials.”  

“Trimble Transportation is honored to once again participate in and support the LEAD �鶹���� program,” said Alicia Jarosh, Trimble’s vice president of customer insights. “The opportunity to meet and work with these aspiring executives is exciting and we are thrilled to continue to support this program and to watch this new class grow in their understanding of trucking while also building strong relationships within the industry.”  

The new class of LEAD �鶹���� will meet for the first time in January as part of �鶹����’s Executive Meeting, and will have three other meetings throughout the year. In addition to their coursework, LEAD �鶹���� participants are also required to complete one individual project – like speaking to a local civic organization or school about trucking, volunteering at their state truck driving championship or hosting one of �鶹����’s image trucks – during the year. 

In addition to announcing the eighth class, �鶹���� also recognized the seventh class as they graduated the program. 

“While this was not the year these young men and women had planned on having, we are proud of the work they did as part of the LEAD �鶹���� program,” said �鶹���� Executive Vice President for Industry Affairs Elisabeth Barna. “We look forward to recognizing them in person in the future, and to seeing their continued involvement in our association and industry.” 

2020-21 LEAD �鶹���� Participants: Jenny Abernathy, CRST Expedited; Brandon Bibbs, U.S. Xpress Enterprises; Adam Blanchard, Double Diamond Transport Inc.; James Breeden Jr., K.L. Breeden & Sons; Nick Card, Combined Transport Inc.; Frank Ems, FedEx Freight; Ryan Fredericksen, Ruan Transportation; Justin Hill, Hill Transportation Services Inc.; Aaron Knight, United Parcel Service; Glen Lyles, FedEx Ground; Alexandra Mangino, Katz, Sapper & Miller; Shawn McCloud, Coyote, A United Parcel Service Company; and Raguram Venkatesan, Optym. 

2019-20 LEAD �鶹���� Graduates: Fausto Bizzarri, FedEx Ground; Mezzalina Dejongh, Trimac Transportation; Matt Erim, Amazon; Andrew Erin, PGT �鶹���� Inc.; Brian Falter, YRC Worldwide; Nate Graglia, Wallport Transit Xpress Inc.; James Jaggers, United Parcel Service; Jake Newman; Newman Carriers Inc.; Michael Shipman, Vertical Alliance Group; Kailey Spangenberg, Conversion Interactive Agency; and Brett Wilburn, Total Transportation of Mississippi. 

For more information on the LEAD �鶹���� program, visit www.trucking.org/lead-ata.