2023 Accelerate Conference | What Makes Leaders Great?

We know it instinctively, feel it intuitively, and see it empirically. The commercial freight transportation industry is going through unprecedented change at extraordinary speed – thanks to revolutions impacting markets, technology, demographics, development and values. Because of these unprecedented changes in the industry, it’s now more important than ever that we have diverse thinking and leadership at the top. Fortunately, the transportation industry has acknowledged this and is making progress in gender diversity in leadership. In fact, according to the 2023 WIT Index, participating companies indicate that 31.6% of their C-suite executives are women and another 36.9% of their company leaders (those with supervisory responsibilities) are women. In addition, participating companies in this year’s WIT Index reported that 28.4% of their boards of directors are women.

Today, many career-driven women in the industry have intentionally taken on leadership roles to drive success, change, and profitability – all while navigating an industry riddled with disruption. Attend this session, five of these female leaders will share their experiences, perspectives and answers to these questions:

How can leaders successfully map out their careers with intention? These female leaders will share their career stories and provide practical tips on how you can develop a roadmap to career success.
What makes great leaders great? These leaders will share insights on how you can become an effective leader within your organization, ranging from skills development to seeking out mentors and other productive, meaningful relationships.
What principles are best applied in effective leadership roles? Whether it’s exploring opportunities, identifying solutions, creating innovation or exploiting success, these leaders will give advice on how to best accelerate success for you, your team, and your company.

MEET THE SPEAKERS

LaTres Jarrett

Executive Director of Commercial Sales
Bridgestone Canada

LaTres Jarrett

Executive Director of Commercial Sales
Bridgestone Canada

LaTres Jarrett is the executive director of commercial sales for Bridgestone Canada. In this role, Jarrett is responsible for leading a cross-functional team of sales professionals to drive profitable growth for the commercial tire business within Canada.

Key to her success is her visionary and energetic leadership style, resilient commitment to serve customers and effective communication. She is also passionate about investing in the next generation through talent recruitment and development by championing recruiting initiatives, mentoring programs and serving on the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Counsel.

Jarrett’s diverse career has included roles in engineering, marketing and business development for leading brands such as Humulin Pepsi, Gatorade, Cap’n Crunch and Dole, among others. She also facilitated licensing partnerships on behalf of CSM Bakery Solutions with brands such as Hershey, Cinnabon, Oreo and Welch’s.

Jarrett earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Michigan and a Master of Chemical Engineering degree from the University of Louisville.

Pamela Wills-Ward

Chief People and Strategy Officer
MW Logistics

Pamela Wills-Ward

Chief People and Strategy Officer
MW Logistics

Pamela Wills-Ward believes that great outcomes can be achieved when you have the right people in the right roles focusing on the right things. As Chief People & Strategy Officer of MW Logistics, LLC., Wills-Ward brings more than 20 years of experience as a global HR executive to advance their growth initiatives. In addition to her CPSO role, she is President of the MW Cares Foundation, the philanthropic arm of MW Logistics. Her broad base of experience includes the development and deployment of talent focused strategies, merger and acquisition integration, leading system implementations and corporate travel program administration. A graduate of Texas State University, Wills-Ward holds both a bachelor’s degree in business management and a master’s degree in business administration. In addition, she is a graduate of the Stanford Executive Program offered by the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.

Ashley Kordish

CEO
Ralph Moyle, Inc.

Ashley Kordish

CEO
Ralph Moyle, Inc.

Ashley Kordish is the CEO of Ralph Moyle, Inc., a family-owned transportation and warehousing company based out of Mattawan, MI. As the third generation to manage the company, Kordish grew up around the trucking industry and worked her way up in the company doing everything from sweeping trailers to working on trucks, management, and more. She even got her CDL Knowing what her employees are going through is an important aspect of her leadership style.

Kordish is a proud Bronco and Sparty! She earned her BBA in supply chain management from Western Michigan University and her MSA in management, strategy and leadership from Michigan State University. Both degrees helped form her love of business strategy, building effective cultures, and developing the talent within her organization.

Claire Mules

President
Assurance Resources, Inc.

Claire Mules

President
Assurance Resources, Inc.

Since 2004, Claire Mules has been a proven entity in the transportation industry. Her insurance agency, CDL Benefits, was the first to procure and provide a national major medical insurance program to the American truck driver, something that had never been offered before.

Joining Assurance Resources, Inc. six years ago, she has successfully launched ARI’s Occupation Accident Program into most American states. Last year, Mules and her partner David finalized their purchase of ARI and are currently working on expanding ARI’s offerings.

This year, she has been rewarded by recognition of several distinguished titles. In January, she was nominated as a Top Woman to Watch in Transportation, something she holds very close to her heart. April followed with an appointment from the US DOT to be their insurance industry expert to the NHTSA Underride Crash Committee, formed to reduce the transportation industries crashes and fatalities on American highways. This appointment is a two-year term initiated and overseen by the US Secretary of Transportation and decidedly created to protect the American truck driver. Mules also serves as a Content Advisory Council member for WIT.

Born and raised in Wales, GB and by way of Canada, Mules has been a Houstonian since 1982. She has two children and she and David have 3 grandsons with a 4th on his way.

Jennifer Plumlee

VP of Transportation
J.B. Hunt Transport Services

Jennifer Plumlee

VP of Transportation
J.B. Hunt Transport Services

BIO COMING SOON

Lina Acosta

Chief Marketing Officer
GLT Logistics

Lina Acosta

Chief Marketing Officer
GLT Logistics

Lina, an entrepreneurial economics and international business professional, was born in Colombia. As a driving force behind GLT Logistics, an American company boasting 348 employees across the United States and Colombia, she's led a remarkable 236% growth from 2017 to 2022. Serving as the Chief Marketing Officer, she established and propelled the marketing department, elevating brand awareness significantly. Despite industry challenges, GLT saw an impressive 15% increase in load volume in 2023, defying the downturn. Lina takes pride in GLT's gender equality, with 61% of employees and leadership roles occupied by women. One of six partners, she's a key figure in GLT's success, extending her influence through educational initiatives and industry recognitions. Lina's enduring passion for education led to "Logistics Sessions," uniting industry professionals and garnering praise at major conferences. Honored as a "Top Woman to Watch" in 2023, she's a valued member of the TMSA Board of Directors, presently leading the "GLT Empowered Women Course," empowering women within GLT to fulfill their aspirations.