That philosophy has shaped every part of her career in transportation safety and leadership, and it continues to guide the way she serves the Women In Trucking Association (WIT) today as an Image Team member, mentor, and the 2026 Content Committee Chair.
Baez first discovered WIT while searching for a professional community that genuinely supported women in the transportation industry. As she read through the organization’s mission, she immediately felt a connection to both the purpose and the people behind it. After building a career in an industry that had given her countless opportunities for growth, she knew she wanted to give something meaningful back in return.
WIT gave her a way to do exactly that, allowing her to support others as they navigate their careers while helping create the kind of community that encourages people to grow, contribute, and succeed.
Much of that perspective was shaped during her time with the American Red Cross, where she worked as a disaster program specialist. That experience taught her how critical volunteers are to advancing a mission, but it also reinforced the importance of leadership rooted in empathy, presence, and genuine connection. She learned that people respond differently when they feel someone is listening to understand rather than simply listening to respond.
Those lessons remain central to the way she leads today.
As Fleet Safety Manager at Colony Hardware, Baez oversees enterprise fleet safety strategy across a large multi-branch operation with more than 200 drivers. Her work includes implementing behavior-based safety initiatives, improving compliance efforts, leveraging telematics and behavioral analytics, and partnering with operational leaders to strengthen both safety culture and business performance.
The measurable results of her work are substantial. Through coaching, peer accountability, and leadership engagement, she has helped improve driver safety performance across multiple locations while contributing to significant reductions in preventable incidents. Yet even with those accomplishments, Baez remains most focused on the people behind the numbers.
She believes many of the transportation industry’s greatest opportunities for growth come from improving communication. Drivers and frontline employees often want support and understanding just as much as they want direction. Baez has made it a priority to bridge the gap between leadership expectations and the everyday realities drivers experience by turning difficult conversations into practical guidance people can actually apply in their work and lives.
“I focus a lot on communication and peer coaching because I’ve seen that’s where the biggest shifts happen,” Baez says. “When people feel understood and not judged, they’re more open to changing behavior and taking ownership.”
That mindset carries directly into her volunteer work with WIT. Whether she is helping shape conference content, mentoring others in the industry, or supporting the organization’s visibility efforts through the Image Team, her focus remains the same. She wants people to walk away from conversations feeling empowered rather than discouraged and supported rather than overlooked.
Her impact is often found in the quieter moments that do not always show up in reports or presentations. It can be seen in a driver gaining confidence after a difficult conversation, a leader learning how to communicate more effectively with their team, or someone realizing they truly have a place within the industry.
One experience that stands out most to Baez was co-presenting a workshop on communication at the Accelerate! Conference & Expo alongside her mentor, Laura Duryea. She credits Duryea with encouraging her to step outside her comfort zone, embrace new challenges, and continue growing both personally and professionally.
Looking ahead, Baez hopes to continue serving as a resource and advocate for others in transportation while helping WIT reach and inspire even more people across the industry. No matter the role she holds, her mission remains deeply personal. She wants people to leave interactions feeling safer, more confident, and more connected to the work they do every day.
As a member of the Women In Trucking Association, stay on top of emerging trends and business issues impacting transportation and logistics; learn the importance of gender diversity in the workplace and the need for more women drivers; and see best practices in encouraging the employment of women in the trucking industry. Join today! Learn More