Our Community
Recognizing Accomplishments
Our Community
Recognizing Accomplishments
Our mission? To encourage the employment of women in the trucking industry, promote their accomplishments and minimize obstacles faced by women working in the trucking industry.
Engineering Section Manager
Peterbilt Motors Company, a PACCAR Company
Branch Manager
Great Dane
Laura Roan Hays has been in the transportation industry for more than 30 years. She began her career in 1989 as an administrative assistant and worked her way up to Branch Manager, leading the Great Dane Tampa and Miami branches.
Along with her extensive sales and customer service experience, Laura also has comprehensive knowledge of the trucking industry’s aftermarket sector.
She has been a member of WIT since early 2012, and most recently, she was appointed to the Women in Trucking Board of Directors. She is excited to take on this role and further assist in fulfilling the WIT mission to encourage the employment of women in the trucking industry, promote their accomplishments, and minimize obstacles faced by women working in the industry.
Vice President, Operations
J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc.
Rachel Christensen is responsible for managing intermodal capacity needs and service performance throughout the entire J.B. Hunt Intermodal network, consisting of 5,500 trucks and 85,000 company owned containers.
She started her career with J.B. Hunt in 2008 and has held various positions in the Intermodal division managing a variety of local and regional fleets. Prior to relocating to the corporate office in 2016, she was the Director of Intermodal Operations in Chicago, IL where she oversaw the day to day operations of the largest local fleet in J.B. Hunt’s intermodal segment with more than 700 drivers servicing the Chicago metro area. She currently serves as an advisor to J.B. Hunt’s Women Employee Resource Group, GROW. In her free time she enjoys staying active, traveling and as a Chicago native, rooting on her home teams from afar.
Director of Transportation, West Coast
Amazon
Marie has been in the transportation industry for over 20 years. She joined Amazon in 2015, during this time she has held multiple leadership roles in Operations. Currently she is the Director of Transportation for the West Coast, overseeing 200+ yard operations within the Amazon network focusing on; Safety, Recruiting and Career advancement for Amazon Drivers. Prior to Amazon, Marie spent 8 years with UPS and 9 years with FedEx leading multiple teams.
Outside of work, Marie enjoys spending time with her 3 children; Chloe, Kaylee and Aiden who keep her very busy.
Independent Owner-Operator
Castle Transport LLC, Leased to Landstar
LaBree became a professional truck driver in 2006. She is an independent owner-operator of Castle Transport LLC, and has been leased to Landstar since June of 2014. She has been a team driver with her husband, Del, for all of her career. They run JIT (just in time) freight and are able to be home most weekends.
LaBree has been instrumental in growing and managing the WIT Facebook group that has over 11,000 active members. In 2016, she became a member of the WIT Image Team, a group comprised of individuals who represent the WIT mission and participate in ride-along events for legislators, regulators, and industry leaders to provide a deeper understanding of the obstacles they face on the road. They also speak to the media and other industry professionals at public events and industry trade shows.
SVP Sales, East Region
Ryder System, Inc.
Delores Lail is the Senior Vice President of Sales for Ryder, Fleet Management Solutions, East Region. She is responsible for all aspects of sales and sales leadership in the East with 150 Directors and Sales professionals on her team. Delores has held a series of increasingly expanding positions in sales and operations during her 35 year career. She was inducted into Ryder Rental Masters in 1991 and recently served as a Board Member.
Delores is active in Ryder’s Women Leadership Association and serves as an executive sponsor. She is a member of Ryder’s Diversity Council. In 2016 she was a recipient of the Florida Diversity Council’s Most Powerful and Influential Women’s Award.
Senior Vice President of Supply Chain
Walmart
Ryan McDaniel is Senior Vice President of Supply Chain at Walmart. Being there for over twenty years, McDaniel is a seasoned professional with the company. Starting as a Logistics Engineer, McDaniel rose through the ranks and expanded his expertise in international logistics and supply chain and operations management.
McDaniel received a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.
Vice President of Marketing, B2B
Michelin - North America
Karen Schwartz is currently the Vice President of Marketing, B2B for Michelin North America. Prior to starting this role, she served as the Global Managing Director for the Digital Services Platform Group at Michelin, housed within the Services and Solutions Global Business Line, where she was responsible for leading a SaaS “Start-up” team. She began her career with Michelin in 2018 as the North American B2B Marketing Director for Michelin’s On-Road Business, including Line Haul, Regional and Urban Delivery and Commercial Vehicle Services. Prior to coming to Michelin, Karen spent 15 years at Procter & Gamble, holding several Brand Management Positions, including Senior Brand Manager for Global Head & Shoulders Innovation, Senior Brand Manager for Secret North America, and Brand Manager for Downy/Lenor Global Innovation. She began her career at P&G as an engineer, designing manufacturing systems for the Liquid Laundry Detergent Business and managing logistics for Clairol North America.
Karen received a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Northwestern University in 2003. In 2009, she earned a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business.
She currently resides in Greenville, South Carolina with her husband, Pete, and daughter.
Director of Business & Product Development
Dynacraft, a PACCAR Company
Michele Rodgers is the Director of Business & Product Development for Dynacraft, a diversified global manufacturer of PACCAR medium and heavy-duty truck parts.
Previously, Rodgers was Director of Program Management for Peterbilt, where she had more than twenty years of experience at Peterbilt on the engineering and program management teams and has held several positions of increasing responsibility. She also served as a member of the Peterbilt Women’s Initiative Group (PBWIN) steering committee. PBWIN’s mission is to serve as champions for the empowerment of women at Peterbilt.
Rodgers holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of North Texas, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington. Additionally, she is a licensed professional engineer. Rodgers lives in the Dallas area with her husband and two children and enjoys spending her free time with her family.
Vice President, People Solutions – Field Operations
Waste Management (WM), Houston, TX
Kelly Rooney is the Vice President, People Solutions leading the WM field human resources team. Kelly is a second-generation waste & recycling industry executive with more than thirty years of immersive experience. Her career includes progressive leadership responsibility across all business functions including Operations, Fleet, Sales, Customer Experience and M&A.
In her current role, Kelly reports to the Chief People Officer and is responsible for the execution of frontline employee retention, driving culture, change management, strategic coaching, talent assessment and development, succession planning, performance management and organizational design strategy to support field operations.
Prior roles at WM include Area General Manager and Area Director of Collection Operations for the Heartland Area. Kelly started her career in the industry in 1990 and prior to working at WM, held several positions at Advanced Disposal including Corporate Director of Recycling and Regional General Manager with multi-state responsibility.
A strong supporter for innovation and inclusion, Rooney represents WM on the board of the Women in Trucking Association and the Women in Trucking Foundation. She advocates for mentoring, equity and access and is a passionate promoter of sustainability.
Kelly earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Roanoke College, a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University and a certificate in strategic planning from Wharton.
General Manager of Marketing and Strategy
Daimler Trucks - North America
Kary Schaefer is the General Manager of Marketing and Strategy for Freightliner and Detroit Brands, as well as overall vehicle platform strategy at Daimler Trucks North America. Schaefer joined Daimler Trucks North America in 1995 after holding engineering positions at Pacific Testing Laboratories and Boeing Aerospace in Seattle, Washington. During her career at Daimler Trucks, Kary has filled the roles of design engineer, project planning engineer, engineering project manager, director of engineering services and chief engineer. Between 2012 and 2015, she led an engineering group within United Technology Corporation responsible for the development of autonomous flight controls and stabilized camera systems used in commercial unmanned aerial vehicles.
In late 2015, she returned to Daimler Trucks as the General Manager of Marketing and Strategy for Freightliner and Detroit Brands. In this role, she is responsible for market analysis, product planning, brand management, and marketing operations. She leads the organization in the creation and execution of product roadmaps from evaluation of customer needs and market trends to early business case development to new product launch and on-going product management.
Kary earned her Associate in Arts & Engineering Science degree from Bellevue Collegeand her Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Washington State University.
Senior Vice President, Strategic Planning, Engineering & Operational Solutions
FedEx Freight
Tracci Schultz is the Senior Vice President of Strategic Planning, Engineering and Operational Solutions, at FedEx Freight. In her position, Tracci is charged with leading the design, development and implementation of engineering processes and technology solutions that keep FedEx Freight positioned as the market leader. She is responsible for fostering a culture of innovation, quality and excellence to enhance service and deliver a superior customer experience. She and her team lead the strategy that supports the more than 48,000 team members of FedEx Freight, and the larger FedEx enterprise.
Tracci assumed her current position in July 2018 and has more than 30 years of experience at FedEx. Prior to her current position, she served as SVP-IT Freight Solutions at FedEx Services, and has spent most of her career in the IT industry. Tracci completed her undergraduate degree at Christian Brothers University and was named the Outstanding Executive MBA Student of the Year while earning her executive MBA at the University of Memphis. STEMconnector named Tracci as one of the top 100 Corporate Women Leaders in STEM in 2017 and the Memphis Business Journal recognized her as a Super Woman in Business in 2018.
Tracci enjoys spending time at the lake with her husband, Mark and their three children, Amanda, Dalton and Dillon. And most recently, enjoys spending time with her first grandchild, Easton.
Vice President
FedEx Freight Direct
Bonnie Voldeng is the Vice President of FedEx Freight Direct. Since 2019, she has led the strategic short-and long-range objectives of FedEx Freight Direct including acceleration to market, scale, development, and growth across the U.S.
Bonnie joined FedEx Services in 2002. She has held a variety of marketing roles across the FedEx enterprise including project and product management, new product development, go-to-market channel orchestration, e-commerce, digital, customer experience, and content strategy. She led the business to business go-to-market and content discipline across FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, and FedEx Freight. In this role, she launched the FedEx Small Business Center, Entrepreneur Advisory Board, and the Go-To-Market Orchestration Process. Bonnie also served as Director of Freight Marketing and was responsible for launching LTL Select, growing freight automation to its highest levels yet, as well as developing the value proposition and business case for FedEx Freight Direct.
Bonnie is a two-time FedEx Five Star Award winner and the 2017 TMSA Marketing Executive of the Year. She serves on the board for New Ballet Ensemble and School and on the United Way Campaign Cabinet for Tocqueville Society. She graduated from the University of Memphis with a BBA concentrating in marketing and logistics, as well as an MBA.
National Accounts Manager
Arrow Truck Sales, Inc.
Jim Taber has been employed by Arrow Truck Sales since 2007. He started in Cincinnati as a sales associate and moved into management in 2010. In spring of 2016, Jim was promoted to the corporate office in Kansas City, MO. Working as the National Accounts manager soon turned into additional opportunities within Arrow. Jim now holds the position of Sales Support Manager and manages the E-Commerce department, the Customer Contact Center, National Accounts manager, oversees the Chat tool on their website, and works closely with the marketing department with their online campaigns. Jim has been involved with Women in Trucking for a number of years prior to his board assignment.
In his free time he enjoys playing guitar, golf, and spending time with his wife and two children.
Senior Manager Carrier Services
C.H. Robinson
Lori Taylor is a Senior Manager Carrier Services at C.H. Robinson, one of the world’s largest third-party logistics providers (3PL), based on Eden Prairie, MN. C.H. Robinson provides a broad portfolio of logistics services, fresh produce sourcing and managed services for more than 124,000 customers and 76,000 active carriers.
Lori started her career at T-Chek Systems, previously a wholly owned subsidiary of C.H. Robinson, in 1998. In 2006, she transitioned into a management role within the Carrier Services team at C.H. Robinson. Lori and her teams are responsible for onboarding transportation carriers and supporting the C.H. Robinson network and contract carrier base, and have a focus on customer experience. She is also a Co-Manager of Supplier Diversity for C.H. Robinson, supporting the diversity initiatives of our customers & carriers.
Lori is an active role model for women within C.H. Robinson by supporting her colleagues with career development. She also is engaged with local women networking groups. She and her husband have four adult children and live in Minnesota. Lori enjoys spending time with her family, coaching volleyball and competing with her horses.
Co-founder and President
Expediter Services, LLC
Jason Williams is the co-founder and President of Expediter Services, LLC in Memphis, TN. Since 2006, Expediter Services has led the expediting industry in providing unique services and opportunities for independent contractors and owner-operators. Starting from scratch, the ES team grew a fleet of over 150 trucks by creating more profitable solutions for individuals looking to drive without having to purchase a truck. In 2010, Expediter Services expanded to meet the needs of owner-operators. ES's management arm, Expediter Management Services provides back office support, discounts, and 24 hour assistance for owner-operators and fleet owners, ensuring that they “Never Stand Alone”.
Today, Williams is the President of the entire ES family of companies, which has grown to include Expediter Truck Sales and Expediter Equipment Finance, that provides individualized solutions for people and companies who have a desire to start a new effort and grow or stabilize an existing company.
While servicing and growing Owner operators, Jason and the ES team became aware of specific issues that were faced by certain groups within the industry which led them to reach out to Women In Trucking, and they look forward to a long relationship providing opportunities to women in the trucking industry.
Senior Vice President of HR
Penske Transportation Solutions
Sarah Smith is the Senior Vice President of HR for Penske Transportation Solutions. In this role, Sarah leads teams responsible for Total Rewards, Corporate and Field HR, Diversity and Inclusion, Recruiting and HRIS. Sarah began working for Penske in 2010 and has held this role since 2019. Prior to that, she held several roles in HR including Vice President of HR Operations and Director of Labor Relations.
Prior to coming to Penske, Sarah worked in private practice as an Attorney, was in-house counsel, led the Human Resources function, and worked in Operations and Labor Relations for a privately held company. She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in French from Wilkes University and has her Juris Doctor degree from John Marshall Law School in Chicago. Sarah has four (4) children and lives in the Reading, Pennsylvania area. In her free time, she enjoys listening to music, cooking and spin class.
Sarah Smith is the Senior Vice President of HR for Penske Transportation Solutions. In this role, Sarah leads teams responsible for Total Rewards, Corporate and Field HR, Diversity and Inclusion, Recruiting and HRIS. Sarah began working for Penske in 2010 and has held this role since 2019. Prior to that, she held several roles in HR including Vice President of HR Operations and Director of Labor Relations.
Prior to coming to Penske, Sarah worked in private practice as an Attorney, was in-house counsel, led the Human Resources function, and worked in Operations and Labor Relations for a privately held company. She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in French from Wilkes University and has her Juris Doctor degree from John Marshall Law School in Chicago. Sarah has four (4) children and lives in the Reading, Pennsylvania area. In her free time, she enjoys listening to music, cooking and spin class.
Chief Product Officer and Vice President, Product
DAT Freight & Analytics
Nadya brings her passion for building great products and her deep experience leading product and engineering at successful SaaS companies to her role leading the product teams at DAT. She leads and serves the Product Management, Product Engineering, Data Science and User Experience Design teams. Prior to DAT, Nadya was a product leader at the software company New Relic, where she was the General Manager of their flagship product APM. Nadya led the product team for the development and launch of the New Relic One platform, and developed their first artificial intelligence products and branding. Earlier in her career, Nadya’s roles included working as an IT director for a Fortune 1000 company, the first engineering leader at a startup acquired by Boeing, and Product Manager for other major SaaS product launches.
Nadya has a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from San Diego State University and is a licensed electrical engineer.
Whether you are a business professional or a professional driver, there are many reasons to become a member.
