Women In Trucking Announces Finalists for 2019 Influential Woman in Trucking Award

by Women In Trucking Staff, on Sep 6, 2019 2:35:00 PM

2019-Conference-Influential-Women.WEB

Plover, WI (September 6, 2019) — The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) and Freightliner Trucks announced today six finalists for the 2019 Influential Woman in Trucking award. This is the ninth year for the award which was developed in 2010 as a way to honor female leaders and to attract and advance women in the trucking industry. 

The award highlights the achievements of female role models and trailblazers in the trucking industry. More than 100 outstanding nominations were submitted for this year’s award, recognizing women in various roles in the industry.

The 2019 Influential Woman in Trucking award finalists are:

  • Niki Bolton, senior truck auditor & executive projects officer, American Truck & Rail Audits, Inc. 
  • Kristy Knichel, president & CEO, Knichel Logistics 
  • Ruth Lopez, director of transportation management,Ryder Logistics
  • Kellylyn McLaughlin, over-the-road training engineer & professional driver, Schneider National Inc.
  • Jodie Teuton, vice president, Kenworth of Louisiana 
  • Lidia Yan, CEO and co-founder, NEXT Trucking 

Niki Bolton is the senior truck auditor and executive projects officer for American Truck & Rail Audits, Inc. (AMTR).  She has been with the company for 11 years.  She began as a data entry clerk, quickly moved to truck audits team manager, received her Certified Transportation Cost Auditor certificate from AMTR, and then transitioned into her current role in early 2019. Prior to working at AMTR, Bolton attended the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She has also completed Transportation Logistics & The Law and Motor Carrier Operations courses through the Institute of Logistical Management. In her very niche business she has brought up many new auditors and a new female manager to lead the truck audits team.  She is involved in many industry organizations including National Industrial Transportation League, Blockchain in Transport Alliance and Transportation Intermediaries Association.  Outside of the office she volunteers as a leader for a non-profit organization for foster and adoption care.

Kristy Knichelpresident and CEO of Knichel Logistics since 2007, has been the driving force behind the company’s annual growth and reputation as one of the top service providers within the Intermodal Marketing Company (IMC) community. As of 2018, Knichel Logistics has grown to $73 million in revenue. Knichel’s proudest accomplishment is the family atmosphere she has created for her team members. Today, her focus is on expanding the company’s footprint in the logistics industry and offering team members the opportunity for growth and self- improvement. She has achieved many goals during her 20+ years in the transportation industry including being named a finalist for the EY Entrepreneur of the Year, being the first recipient of the Distinguished Woman in Logistics award, and her recent nomination as Intermodal Logistics Conference Chair on the TIA Board of Directors

Ruth Lopez has achieved a 20-year career with Ryder Logistics and currently serves as director of transportation management, leading teams in the U.S. and in Mexico. The teams are comprised of transportation planners executing lowest-cost/time-compliant shipments in accordance with the expectations of 56 external clients. Lopez, along with her team, creates specific execution plans with comprehensive strategies for Ryder’s key customer segments and new client implementations. She has served as a co-chair for Ryder’s Women’s Leadership Forum, whose mission is to support the attraction, retention and development of women.  

Kellylyn McLaughlin is an over-the-road professional driver and trainer for Schneider National Inc. Before getting behind the wheel of a CMV, she was a pilot and loves all modes of transportation. She joined the US Peace Corps after university which led to more than a decade of working to support international development in rural communities. She then transitioned to passenger safety after becoming a mother and worked for both National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and SafeKids as a child passenger safety expert. She discovered professional driving quite by accident through accepting a logistics position with a large marching band. She is now focusing her efforts to make a positive difference for drivers by being a professional driver stake holder representative at local, regional, national and international levels, along with mentoring new drivers for SNI and advocating for women in trucking.

Jodie Teuton is the co-founder of Kenworth of Louisiana, a heavy-duty truck dealership group representing both Kenworth and Hino truck brands with eight Louisiana locations. Before devoting her professional career to the retail auto and truck business in 1997, she practiced law locally in South Louisiana. Teuton received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Nicholls State University in 1987 and a J.D. from Loyola University in 1990. She is passionate about business and proud to carry on her family legacy as a dealer. She currently is president of American Truck Dealers – ATD (a division of the National Auto Dealers Association). Tetuon is an advocate for her industry as well as for the rights of the disabled.

Lidia Yan is the CEO and co-founder of NEXT Trucking, the FreightTech company that is reshaping the $800 billion trucking and shipping industry. With a background in logistics and e-commerce in the U.S. and China, Yan recognized a market need for a simpler, technology-enabled marketplace to match freight with capacity. In 2015, she founded NEXT as the first trucker-centric app and marketplace. Since then, she has led the company to 500 percent revenue growth, 250+ employees, and $125 million in funding. She has been a finalist for EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year, received a Stevie Award for Startup of the Year, and been recognized by the Los Angeles Business Journal Women’s Council and Awards. Prior to founding NEXT, Yan was a marketing executive at top 10 e-commerce retailer, Newegg.

The judges for the 2019 award are Ellen Voie, WIT president and CEO; Dave Nemo, talk show host, Sirius XM Radio; and Angela Eliacostas, founder and CEO, AGT Global Logistics and the 2018 Influential Woman in Trucking award recipient.

All six finalists will participate on a panel at the WIT Accelerate! Conference & Expo held in Dallas, Texas, Sept. 30 – Oct. 2, 2019. The winner will be announced at the general session panel discussion, "How Remarkable Women Unleash their Leadership Potential,” on Tues., Oct. 1 from 8:45 am – 10:00 am. 

The finalists will also be on the SiriusXM WIT Show on Sat., Sept. 14 at 10am – 12pm Central on Road Dog Channel 146.

Download a photo of Niki Bolton
Download a photo of Kristy Knichel
Download a photo of Ruth Lopez
Download a photo of Kellylyn McLaughlin
Download a photo of Jodie Teuton
Download a photo of Lidia Yan

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About Women In Trucking Association, Inc.

Women In Trucking Association, Inc. is a nonprofit association established to encourage the employment of women in the trucking industry, promote their accomplishments and minimize obstacles faced by women working in the trucking industry. Membership is not limited to women, as 17 percent of its members are men who support the mission. Women In Trucking is supported by its members and the generosity of Gold Level Partners: Arrow Truck Sales, BMO Transportation Finance, Daimler Trucks North America, Expediter Services, FedEx Freight, Great Dane, J.B. Hunt Transport, Michelin North America, Peterbilt Motors Company, Ryder System, Inc., and Walmart. Follow WIT on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn. For more information, visit http://www.womenintrucking.org or call 888-464-9482.

About Freightliner Trucks

Freightliner Trucks is a division of Daimler Trucks North America LLC, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, and is the leading heavy-duty truck manufacturer in North America. Daimler Trucks North America produces and markets Class 5-8 trucks and is a Daimler company, the world’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturer. For more information, go to www.Freightliner.com.

Topics:Women In TruckingRecognition

About Women In Trucking

The Women In Trucking Association is a non-profit organization with the mission to encourage the employment of women in the trucking industry, promote their accomplishments, and minimize obstacles faced by women working in the industry.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in articles within the WIT Blog are those of the authors/submitters and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the Women In Trucking Association.

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