Women Mentoring Women: Strategies to Lift Us As We Rise (Panel Discussion)

Sarah Statlander has more than 20 years of human resources experience and a proven record of leveraging business and technical knowledge to provide customer focused business solutions that align with corporate values and goals. Statlander is a thoughtful leader and communicator with an acute focus on problem solving and providing multi-faceted, customer-focused solutions that ensure the needs of the business are met, while also ensuring that actions are living up to the commitments to an organization’s most valuable resource: its people. Her extensive background includes expertise in change and transition management, strategy development and execution, talent management and succession planning, results-oriented change management, process improvement and implementation, policy development, employee and labor relations, and compliance.  

Statlander has spent most of her career as an HR Generalist and Business Partner providing support to a variety of client groups in a variety of industries. Upon returning to Yellow in 2015, she also has had the opportunity to provide leadership to many of the HR functions including Talent Acquisition, Talent Management, Corporate & Field HR, HR Compliance Programs, Recognition Programs, and Compensation. A pivotal point has been the opportunity to provide leadership during the transition and integration of the Human Resources function for the organization as the company transitioned to Yellow. 

She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Minnesota State University, Mankato and a Master’s Degree in Human Resources/Industrial Relations from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management. 

Andrea Adeyanju has more than 10 years’ experience in the commercial freight transportation industry. Most recently, Adeyanju was safety director for FMCSA compliance and human resources manager for Bulkley Trucking; vice president of administration for Sudbury Transportation; and safety administrator for ACI Motor Freight. Adeyanju holds a Bachelor of Science degree in occupational safety and health from Columbia Southern University and holds safety certifications from the North American Transportation Management Institute (NATMI) and OSHA’s Safety Training Institute.

Eileen is a PhD Candidate from the University of South Florida and currently serves as the Director of Learning, Development & Marketing for ReedTMS Logistics, a family owned and operated asset-based 3rd party logistics solutions provider. Eileen has been in the transportation/logistics industry since 2016 and oversees the development and facilitation of all company-wide training programs, new employee onboarding, leadership development, marketing projects/ReedTMS brand integrity, and event planning for the company. She spearheads company philanthropy initiatives and works hard to maintain and improve employee culture and morale. Outside of work, Eileen lives with her spouse and 4 dogs in Tampa and enjoys traveling, staying active, and volunteering in the community. Running, boxing, lifting weights, surfing, and reading are some of Eileen’s favorite self-care activities.

J-Ann Tio is the Chief Strategy Officer at Arrive Logistics. With more than a decade of industry experience across multiple brokerage departments including carrier sales, learning and development, business operations, technology and strategy, she has developed a reputation for being a versatile and passionate leader, earning respect and accolades for her strategic expertise and commitment to championing women in logistics.

Tio joined Arrive Logistics in December of 2020 and quickly became a key player on the executive team and in the organization as Chief Strategy Officer. She has since played an integral role in crafting the strategic vision, bringing in innovative technologies and best-in-class service experience that has helped Arrive become one of the fastest-growing brokerages in the nation.

Tio devotes herself to advancing the company’s award-winning culture and developing the next generation of Arrive leaders through mentoring and professional development. From recent college graduates to longtime colleagues, helping others find their way in the fiercely competitive logistics space is one of the many ways she is leaving a positive and productive mark on the industry at large.

Mindy Brown is a consultant, advocate, and mentor for women in the transportation industry. Starting out as a driver and having spent the last seventeen years in trucking, Mindy has seen many changes. Mindy is passionate about clearing a path for women not only to survive in the trucking industry, but to also thrive and succeed. The result, she feels, is creating more women in C-suite positions, while creating allyship among men and women. Not only does Mindy feel this will impact the industry, but it will change the country. Women having more presence in the industry fosters a more creative and innovative environment.