from drivers what they saw on the road. I couldn’t have
asked for a better introduction to transportation and logistics. It was perfect.
QSo you had experience in management and right on the docks?
A Boots on the ground and mud up to my knees, sweep- ing coffee grounds out of trailers.
QYou mentioned Sam Flint. Were there other mentors who were important to you?
AYes, I was very fortunate. I couldn’t have asked for better mentors. After Sam, I worked for Cliff Lynch
[then vice president of logistics at Quaker Oats]. Cliff was
the one who really helped me when I worked in the fleet
office and gave me so many opportunities to learn about
the industry. He was a wonderful mentor and is still a good
friend to this day.
Another was Lou Marino, whom I worked for at Belden
Wire and Cable. He was such a visionary. We were doing
things back in the ’80s that showed up as new things in
2000, things like pool distribution and intermodal transportation. We started the intermodal movement at Quaker
Oats using our fleet as our drayage company. Belden took
it to the next level, where they were actually guaranteeing
service to clients via intermodal. If you placed an order as
late as Thursday afternoon in Richmond, Ind., it would be
at your dock in L.A. on Monday morning using intermodal.
They were real visionaries in what logistics could do and
how it could be an important part of your overall supply
chain strategy.
QYou were active in NASSTRAC for a long time before taking on your current role. Why such devotion to the
organization?
AYou know, I think NASSTRAC was the first organiza- tion that embraced transportation education. When
it came to what I needed to know to do my job, I learned
more from NASSTRAC [than from other organizations].
The people there were welcoming and embraced me, and
you just learn to love the folks. It really is about the people,
and it really is a great association. To be able to pick up the
phone and reach out to Target or Famous Footwear or Best
Buy and ask a question and get an answer, it has always
been beneficial to me.
Q What brought you to your current role?
A I’ve always been interested in the organization not only overall but also in how we do what we do. When
I got more involved in advocacy, it became apparent that
we needed more focus and really needed to change the
way we’re perceived. Doug [Easley, NASSTRAC presi-
dent and director of supply chain solutions for Pathmark
Transportation] called and asked if I’d be interested in the
opportunity. I was flattered but had to stop and think about
whether I really wanted to make this huge career shift. I took
a lot of time to think it over. I am thrilled to be here. Every
day is a challenge. To be able to shape NASSTRAC, which
has been growing over the last few years, is just gratifying.
QWhat do you see as the major challenges for the organization?
A The challenge for every association is to acquire and retain members. You have to have enough touch points
into your membership that they know you are there for
them and know they can rely on you as their source for
transportation education and networking and advocacy.
Being able to maintain that level of communication with
your members is a challenge for anybody. Companies are
not spending a lot of discretionary dollars on association
activities or conferences. You need to make sure that what
you’re offering is worthwhile and that they get enough
value for their money or you are not going to succeed as an
association. That is a constant battle. What do we do that is
different and how do we make our conference of value to
our members? That’s something we talk about all the time
and work on all the time.
Q What kinds of things are you working on?
A Right now, we’ve issued for the first time ever our 2014 National Policy Agenda, drafted by Ben Gann, our director of legislative affairs, with the help of [General Counsel]
John Cutler and [Advocacy Chair] Mike Reagan and the
advocacy committee. It lists all the issues NASSTRAC is
interested in and NASSTRAC’s stance on the issues, and
that will be our agenda for the whole year.
Q Along with advocacy, education has always been a major focus for NASSTRAC. What’s going on there?
AOur education program is one of the best things about NASSTRAC. We’re very fortunate to have Dr.
[John] Langley [professor of supply chain management at
Penn State] as our education adviser. This year, Dr. Brian
Gibson [professor of supply chain management at Auburn
University] has joined John as a second education adviser.
We’re looking at making some changes to our program.
We want to shake things up a little. Although what we’ve
been doing has been successful, you have to keep it fresh
and you have to change things up and make sure people
stay engaged.
