Lead Like It Matters: Practical Advice from Top Female Leaders (Panel Discussion)

Tabitha Miller, VP of Business Development at Triumph Business Capital, has had a love for transportation since she was child listening to her grandfather talk to truckers on his CB radio. She was excited by the idea of getting to see the country. So, it was kismet that she transitioned into this industry in 2008. She cut her teeth at JJ Keller as a Senior Account Representative. While there, she climbed the ranks and, after 11+ years, she made the move to Triumph Business Capital, joining several professional organizations along the way; such as SF Net Philadelphia, Traffic Club of New York, and Women In Trucking. She sites that her personal mission is to be the best resource she can be to the transportation industry.

Kari Rihm is president and CEO of Rihm Family Companies (RFC).  RFC is a 90-year-old family-owned and operated 4th generation business, employing nearly 350 people in Minnesota, Wisconsin & South Dakota.  RFC includes Rihm Kenworth, the 2nd oldest Kenworth truck dealer in the world; RMC Truck Parts, a private label parts company; Rihm Leasing, a truck lease, rental, and maintenance company; and Rihm Global Sales, which exports trucks and parts to 60+ different countries.  Kari is the only 100% woman­-owned Kenworth dealer in the U.S. 

Her most recent recognitions include being named the Twin Cities #1 Largest Women-Owned Business, receiving the honor of Minnesota’s Most Admired CEO, and being the first woman in history to receive the American Truck Dealers Dealer of the Year award.

Andreea moved to Canada from Romania at the age of 10 with her parents. In Europe, her father was a bus driver but in Canada he found himself unemployed. To help her father, Andreea accompanied him and acted as a translator. All their efforts proved unfruitful and her father was forced to buy his own used truck. This is when Andy Transport was born.  

Andreea went on to study law at the University of Ottawa while continuing to work with her father and assuming various positions within the company. Spotting an opportunity to grow and combine new ideas with her father’s experience, in 2012, Andreea joined the family business fulltime.

Under her leadership, Andy Transport, an asset-based transportation company that operates a fleet of over 400 trucks and 800 trailers in Canada and the United States, witnessed a remarkable growth of its overall activities and was included in the GROWTH 500 of Canada’s Fastest-Growing Companies for 5 years in a row.

2021 marked the official transition of ownership and leadership from Andreea’s father, who stepped down, to Andreea. In May 2021, at the age of 31, Andreea became majority shareholder and President and CEO of Andy Transport. The company is now a women-owned business certified by WBE Canada.

She is also one of the Top 100 Canada’s Most Powerful Women (WXN), was named EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2019 and has been sitting on various boards of directors.

Jennifer manages United Federal Logistics' and UFL Services' business operations, finances, oversees human resource, and payroll. United Federal Logistics was founded in 2015, working exclusively with FedEx Ground, providing linehaul services. She and her husband, Kyle, pivoted outside of FedEx and founded UFL Services in 2021. UFL Services provides linehaul services to other shippers, including Amazon, focusing on solo drivers and regional routes.

They received the prestigious Top Woman Owned Business in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022.

She is from Georgia. She graduated with Honors from The University of Mississippi. Jen and Kyle have been married since 2010. They have a son and 2 vizsla dogs. They live in Canton, GA. Jennifer enjoys spending time with her family and friends, being outside, and traveling.

Ms. Arelis Bonilla is the President and CEO at Aria Logistics. She is responsible for all U.S. operations, sales, and back-office operations.

Prior to Aria Logistics, Arelis has more than 12 years of experience in sales and distribution. She joined a distribution company that benefited retired veterans before coming up with the idea of Aria Logistics. In addition, Arelis has extensive background in the financial sector for leading companies, including Bloomberg L.P. and Thomson Reuters, servicing their prime accounts such as Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch.

In 2013, Arelis purchased her first truck working as a carrier for Macy’s furniture. By 2015, she had a fleet of 13 trucks running. Today, her company manages more than 100 trucks, 150 teams, and is rapidly expanding across the U.S.

Arelis is active in the “Women in Trucking” organization, which is a networking group that supports women in the logistics, operations, and driving business. She is also on the board of directors for several different organizations within the logistics industry and a regular supporter of St Jude’s & Breast Cancer fundraising initiatives.