FACILITATOR

Sarah Abernethy is the Director of Marketing Communications at Kenworth, based in Kirkland, Washington. She joined the company more than four years ago as a Senior Analyst on the Greenhouse Gas team before moving into Product Marketing as Vocational Marketing Manager. She later focused on regulatory and powertrain initiatives as Advanced Powertrain Marketing Manager, where she led marketing and product management for Kenworth’s battery-electric and alternative-fuel heavy- and medium-duty trucks.

Abernethy holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance and Economics from the University of Maryland and an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University. Before joining Kenworth, she worked in international tax consulting with PwC in McLean, Virginia.

Clara Flaherty spent six years at G2.com, the world's leading B2B software review platform, where she saw firsthand how innovative marketing and sales strategies empowered emerging companies to meaningfully compete with industry giants. Now, as a co-founder and Head of Growth at CarrierSource—the premier review platform for carriers and brokers—Flaherty is bringing third-party verified customer reviews and industry-specific shipper intent data to logistics. She leads all marketing, business development, user growth, and review acquisition efforts, driving CarrierSource’s mission to bring greater transparency and trust to the freight industry.

Lisa Gonnerman is a seasoned professional with more than 33 years of experience in trucking with operations and safety leadership experience. Gonnerman uses her background and experience to play an instrumental role in shaping safety practices and policies nationwide. Currently serving as Vice President of Safety & Compliance for the US companies of SFI (division of TFI), Gonnerman excels in safety leadership and mentorship.

Throughout her career, she has held influential positions, including serving as the National Chair of the American Trucking Association (ATA) Safety Management Council, being named ATA National Safety Director of the Year in 2016, Chairing safety councils in both Iowa and Minnesota, served several years on the National Truck Driving Championship committee, as well as being recognized as one of the top three Influential Women in Trucking by Women in Trucking. Her participation in key industry bodies, like the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), ATA, TCA, and the FMCSA's CSA subcommittee, further emphasizes her leadership.

Gonnerman advocates for a culture of safety and is passionate about mentoring future leaders, especially women in trucking. An active member of Women in Trucking, she continues to inspire others while making a positive impact

Debra Hamlin is currently a senior leader at Bridgestone Americas responsible for Dealer and Fleet Operations support and Emergency Roadside Assistance (ERS). Ms. Hamlin is proficient in driving Operational Excellence to improve customer experiences. Ms. Hamlin also has extensive experience with environmental, health, safety and sustainability initiatives both internally and externally facing. She is the current president of the Tire Industry Association (TIA) Board of Directors.

Katerina Jones is an executive with more than 20 years of client-centric, data-driven, and integrated marketing experience. She plays a direct role in onboarding new clients, including Top Private and For-Hire 100 Fleets. Jones is credited for building Fleet Advantage as a Billion Dollar brand through consistent educational messaging that gives the business a leading voice in the industry. As a Fleet Advantage senior Leadership member, she provides counsel on critical business matters, including operations, business strategy, human resources, internal processes, diversity, company culture, and community and industry relations.

Jones also serves as Safety Liaison, reflecting her active leadership in conducting safety demos and educating organizations with transportation fleets on advanced safety features.

Jones is seen as a leader and mentor for other women in the industry and has won several awards, including the Top Women to Watch in Transportation by WIT and Top Female Professional by the Supply Chain & Demand Chain Executive. In addition to her wealth of industry expertise, Jones is also involved in several charitable organizations, industry-related council positions, and committees.

Michelle LeBlanc founded Drop & Hook, a marketing agency serving transportation and logistics companies. Over the past decade, she's specialized in marketing for 3PLs, truckload carriers, and digital freight technology leaders, covering B2B marketing, social media branding, and recruitment strategies. Previously, she worked at agencies including Fuseideas and Industrium, leading content and inbound marketing efforts, and held strategy roles at KBS+ and IIR USA. Her experience ranges from advising Fortune 1000 C-level executives to launching new brands. She focuses on strategic, goal-oriented marketing that leverages technology and measurement tools to deliver targeted content and messaging to the right audiences at optimal times.