Top Women to Watch
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FEATURE: Top Women To Watch TOP WOMEN TO WATCH Women In Trucking (WIT) applauds these top performers who have achieved significant accomplishments in their career and who go the extra mile to help improve gender diversity — at their own companies and/or industry-wide. This second annual list highlights notable achievements by some of the most remarkable women in our industry. TINA ALBERT CATHY BAUDER Assistant Plant Manager Driver, Owner Operator Peterbilt Motors Company Steven Davis Trucking Recently promoted from More than 25 years with accounting to operations. a perfect driving record. Led development of first Extremely supportive mentorship program at PACCAR Engine of fellow women drivers. Takes time Company and shaped its first-ever Diversity to talk with them, offer advice and Council. Peterbilt Women’s Initiative encouragement. Runner-up for Peterbilt’s (PBWIN) 2019 Co-Chair. SuperFan search. TAMI ALLENSWORTH COURTNAY BECKHAM 2019 Senior Vice President, Sales Specialist Customer Experience SelecTrucks of Atlanta/ J.B. Hunt Peach State Trucks Trailblazer who now leads In the top 3 percent of unit she helped create. Co- salespeople for over 10 years. founded employee resource group GROW Views truck sales as partnering, educating (Growing and Retaining Outstanding and supporting clients, so they can realize Women). Recently discussed the need their dreams. Passionate about Women In for organizations like GROW with U.S. Trucking. Department of Labor. MONA BEEDLE LISA ANGARA Founder Enterprise Architect Manager Trucking Angels for Christ Navistar Hosts weekly call to inspire Spearheaded development women to overcome of products to improve driver everyday obstacles they experience. Lead developer face out on the road as well as at home. for application to streamline customer Chaplain for Channel 21 Ministries and service experience. Mentors, encourages active with Trucker Buddy International. and uplifts women around her. For a downloadable PDF, visit WomenInTrucking.org/womentowatch2019 12 REDEFINING THE ROAD Edition 1 | 2019 JOSEPHINE BERISHA Senior Vice President, Global Compensation and Benefits XPO Logistics Developed industry-leading compensation/benefits policies for women and families, including a highly progressive Pregnancy Care policy. Helped increase female LTL drivers at XPO in North America by more than 30 percent. TRACY BIRD Branch Manager Kary Schaefer of Freightliner Trucks (left) and WIT President/CEO Ellen Voie (right) Trimac Transportation Inc. with award finalists Nozuko Mayeza, Angela Eliacostas and Brooke Willey. Strong leadership has led to increasing responsibilities and multiple promotions in Bird’s 17-year tenure at Trimac. With her WIT Honors Influential Woman In Trucking guidance, her branch achieved biggest Angela Eliacostas got an early start in finalists Brooke Willey, Vice President – turnaround in the company’s western U.S. region. the trucking industry, learning how to Human Resources, CRST International, fuel, park and wash trucks for her father, and Nozuko Mayeza, Managing Director, MELISSA (MISSY) BLAIR a long-hauler who also ran a trucking Tulsawiz Logistics. Program Manager, Center for company. Her logistics career began in Willey works with her team to cre- Transportation Training earnest when she joined BBI Trucking ate an atmosphere where CRST’s nearly Pima Community College Company as a young, single mother of 8,000 employees can achieve what she Promotes the industry to four. She started out as a part-time billing calls “job joy” – enjoying what they do in females of all ages – from clerk, worked her way up to general man- a productive, safe and meaningful envi- outreach in elementary schools to adults. ager and then ventured out on her own. ronment. The sole female executive in the Helped increase female enrollment from 8 In 2005, she launched All Girls Trans- C-suite when she started at the company percent in 2017 to 14 percent in 2018. portation and Logistics from a basement in 2010, she embraced her position at DONNA BOESEN office. As CEO, she worked hard, stayed the executive table and has successfully Customer Service Leader on top of trends and technologies, and helped to recruit other female executives. Veriha Trucking delivered on her promise to “keep the Mayeza defied the odds and started a Passionate about ensuring world turning” for her clients. trucking company, virtually unheard of success for both the Today, the company, now AGT Global for a woman in South Africa. Today, she company and its customers. Logistics, has a strong client base for its is a mouthpiece for WIT in South Africa. Leads by example. Boesen’s productivity utility logistics management services A finalist for the Women in Africa Awards and response time exceed most, and she and is consistently ranked as a top-50 2018, she influences decision makers in leaves a trail of dust behind her. Illinois and top-1000 U.S. certified wom- both government and the private sector en-owned business. to give business opportunities to wom- JENNIFER BRAUN In recognition of her success, the Women en-owned companies. Vice President, Kansas City Operations In Trucking Association (WIT) presented “It is exciting to see so many remark- Trinity Logistics Eliacostas with the 2018 “Influential able women leaders in our industry,” says Progressed through the Woman In Trucking Award” at the Accelerate! Ellen Voie, WIT President and CEO. “We’re company to become first Conference & Expo in November. honored to recognize Angela as the 2018 female Vice President of a Regional Service Sponsored by Freightliner Trucks, the ‘Influential Woman in Trucking.’” She defi- Center. Her innovative ideas played key annual award recognizes women in the nitely will be an inspiration for Women In role in its profitability. Highly respected by trucking industry who make or influence Trucking members.” peers, team and executive leadership. key decisions, have a proven record of Eliacostas plans to be a vocal advocate responsibility, and mentor and serve as a for the WIT mission. “I’m happy to show continued on page 14 role model to other women. that dedication and perseverance lead Eliacostas was selected from a field to success in both business and in life, of highly qualified nominees, including whether you’re in work boots or heels.” n www.WomenInTrucking.org 13 FEATURE: Top Women To Watch 2019 TOP WOMEN TO WATCH continued from page 13 KELLY CARGILL CROW SHIRLEY FOLEY External Communications Vice President Manager DTS Logistics, LLC DEBRA BRUNTON FedEx Freight As an immigrant with no Group Director Maintenance Actively participates prior industry experience, Ryder in diversity efforts and Foley started as an office Recently promoted, Brunton promotes the accomplishments of women manager and worked tirelessly to master is the first woman to hold at FedEx both internally and externally. the business. Helped grow monthly sales this position. Active sponsor Passionate about shaping the industry 1000 percent. Treats employees like family. of Women’s Leadership forums at Ryder. through communications leadership. Mentors women who are starting out in the KRISTEN FORECKI trucking industry. MEZZALINA (LINA) Vice President, Operations DEJONGH Convoy ANGIE BUCHANAN Branch Manager Leadership marked by Vice President, Operations Trimac Transportation Inc. unflagging positivity, Melton Truck Lines Hard work and strong a willingness to roll up Recently named TCA’s “Safety leadership skills have her sleeves and help, and the ability to Professional of the Year” and propelled Dejongh through the ranks bring out the best in her team. Founding promoted to Vice President at Trimac. Increased billable miles by 47 executive of Women at Convoy. of Operations. Her HR leadership helped percent and driver count by 12 percent and Melton gain recognition as a top workplace added a profitable new product line. TRISH GARLAND by The Oklahoman and WIT. Corporate Vice President, SHAYNE FANNING Strategic Services CYNTHIA CHAMPION B2B Communication & Events Estes Express Lines Transportation Safety Michelin North America, Inc. Highest-ranking female Manager Played a key role in senior executive at Estes Martin Transport, Inc. development of Michelin’s and leader at the helm of a significant Named a “Rising Star” by Women’s Network and transformation of corporate strategy and the National Safety Council piloted its first-ever B2B Women’s Summit culture. Has helped blaze the trail for and “Responsible Care Partner of the for marketing and sales professionals. females entering the industry. Year” by the American Chemistry Council. Spearheaded top-tier sponsorship of WIT’s An outstanding ambassador for women Accelerate! Conference. continued on page 16 considering a career in transportation. DAWN COCHRAN Professional Driver Old Dominion Freight Line Blaze your own trail. 2018 Indiana State Truck “ – Brooke Willey ” Driving Champion for the 5-axel class. Sole female finalist across ALL classes in the National Truck Driving Championship last August. Congratulations, Brooke Tireless advocate for women in trucking. For being named a finalist for the 2018 Influential Women in Trucking award, APRIL COOLIDGE sponsored by Freightliner Trucks and Driver/Trainer Walmart the Women in Trucking Association! Sets example for safe, conscientious driving. As BROOKE WILLEY a captain for Walmart’s Vice President Arkansas Road Team and 2019 – 2020 Human Resources America’s Road Team nominee, Coolidge CRST International encourages women to seek opportunities in the trucking industry. www.crst.com