Inspiring Women Changing the Face of Transportation: Top Women to Watch (Panel Discussion)
Tracks: Leadership, HR/Talent Management, Professional Development
Tracks: Leadership, HR/Talent Management, Professional Development
Each and every day, remarkable women are making things happen in the transportation and logistics industry – in a myriad of roles including C-suite executives, HR/talent management professionals, technicians and safety pros, and professional drivers. This session features several individuals named as the 2022 “Top Women to Watch in Transportation” by Redefining the Road, WIT’s official magazine. This year, more than 80 women have been recognized through this program on the basis of career accomplishments in the past 18 months and ways in which they have managed their careers to provide value to the enterprises that employ them.
Attend this session to hear the stories of a few of these incredible women, while learning the following concepts:
Genevieve Bekkerus (Facilitator)
Director of Marketing
Kenworth Truck Co.
Genevieve Bekkerus (Facilitator)
Director of Marketing
Kenworth Truck Co.
As the Director of Marketing, Genevieve is responsible for setting the vision for Kenworth’s Go-To-Market strategy for its premium products and services. She began her career at PACCAR in 2008. Genevieve is a proud member of the Kenworth Diversity Council, the PACCAR Women’s Association (PWA), and the Women in Trucking Association. She has an undergraduate degree from Pacific Lutheran University and an MBA from Seattle University.
Jin Stedge
Co-Founder and CEO
TrueNorth
Jin Stedge
Co-Founder and CEO
TrueNorth
Jin is Co-Founder and CEO of TrueNorth, a platform for small carriers and owner-operators to run their businesses. TrueNorth helps truckers make more money by connecting them to the country’s top brokers and shippers, and save money by consolidating all front- and back-office solutions.
Jin comes from a trucking family and studied Aerospace Engineering at MIT. She started TrueNorth with her cofounder, Sanjaya WIjeratne, after the pair first worked on autonomous trucking technology.
TrueNorth is a hybrid company, with many remote employees and hubs in San Francisco, Dallas, and Boston. Over half of the company’s employees are female or non-binary, including the executive team.
Kristi Randall
Vice President
Artur Express, Inc.
Kristi Randall
Vice President
Artur Express, Inc.
Kristi Randall, Vice President at Artur Express, is a former Human Resource Executive who now leads a multi-award winning, Top 100 Carrier. Kristi began working with Artur Express 9 years ago as a part-time Human Resources consultant. As she gained more knowledge of the industry, her role grew from HR to all aspects of the operation. Kristi now leads a technology-focused, fast-growing fleet of nearly 800 trucks. Under Kristi’s direction, the company has saved millions of dollars in lost fuel and tolls, allowing the company to reinvest in its drivers by increasing driver pay based on his or her driving habits. Kristi’s extensive human resources background helped Artur Express develop policies and procedures to help grow the company to what it is today.
In 2021, Kristi expanded her career in trucking and was named Vice President of GHC Services, a third-party logistics company, and President of the United States Division of AmeriPol, a staffing corporation which provides employees to trucking and other industries. Additionally in 2021, Kristi was named a Top Woman to Watch in Trucking by the Women in Trucking Association.
Kristi now leads three corporations serving the logistics industry.
Georgy Barlow
VP, Strategic Accounts – Retail, Consumer Goods & E-Commerce
Yellow
Georgy Barlow
VP, Strategic Accounts – Retail, Consumer Goods & E-Commerce
Yellow
For 25 years, Georgy Barlow has distinguished herself as a leader in the transportation industry. Her work exemplifies excellence and her innovative approach to finding solutions for her customers makes her a role model among her peers. An advocate and mentor by nature, Georgy is deliberate in her actions to collaborate, partner, and grow women inside and outside of her organization. She is proud of her Bolivian heritage and is bilingual in English and Spanish. She utilizes her biculturalism and fluency with clients who prefer to interact in Spanish and continues to be a visible role model for many Latinx women and men. Georgy proudly serves on Yellow’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Advisory Council, is passionate about minimizing obstacles women face in our industry, and was recognized as one of WIT’s Top Women to Watch in Transportation this year.
Tamar Jimenez
Service Center Manager
XPO Logistics
Tamar Jimenez
Service Center Manager
XPO Logistics
During her tenure at XPO Logistics, Tamar Jimenez has held multiple roles in XPO less-than-truckload (LTL) facilities, including customer service representative, freight operations supervisor and service center manager (SCM), a position she currently holds. As an SCM, Ms. Jimenez is responsible for the entire site, including finance, people management and operations. Prior to entering the logistics industry, she served as a transportation specialist for the U.S. Navy onboard the U.S.S. John F. Kennedy (CV-67) and the U.S.S. Iwo Jima (LHD-7). Originally from Haifa, Israel, where she also served in the Israeli armed forces, Ms. Jimenez currently lives in Nebraska with her husband and three daughters.
Ginnapher Velez
SVP of Asset Management and Fleet Operations
Clean Harbors
Ginnapher Velez
SVP of Asset Management and Fleet Operations
Clean Harbors
Ginnapher (Ginn) Velez is the Senior Vice President of Asset Management and Fleet Operations. She is responsible for the company’s Fleet Asset Management and Maintenance Program of 29 motor carriers and 20,000 assets. Her organization includes product line Asset Management for order spec and purchasing, as well as equipment lifecycle management, maintenance service centers with trained professional technicians, inventory, warranty recovery, and fleet technology.
Prior to joining the Clean Harbors Maintenance Team in May 2012, Ginn Velez served 7 years in the U.S. Army, participating in Operation Desert Lightning, Saudi Arabia and 2 Air Defense Artillery units in El Paso, Texas. During her military career, Ginn received the Army Commendation Medal and Army Achievement medal, 1 oak leaf cluster. After her military service, Ginn served as the Branch Manager of National Tank Services Houston facility and Shop Maintenance Manager for Schneider National Bulk Carriers.
Ginn earned a MBA from Webster University, St. Louis, MO and graduated with a BA in Political Science from Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN.