Today, the American Trucking Association recognized 18 industry leaders for their completion of the LEAD ATA leadership program, while also welcoming 15 executives into the program during the annual ATA Management Conference and Exhibition.

“Cultivating the next generation of leadership is crucial to our industry’s continued growth,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. “Each year I am impressed by the men and women who emerge from the LEAD ATA program. They are setting our industry and association up for success.”

LEAD ATA, sponsored by DriverReach, offers exclusive educational opportunities for trucking industry executives, incorporating real-world problem-solving and advanced industry insights. Throughout the course of the yearlong program, “LEADers” are educated about the regulatory and legislative processes, and ATA's efforts to shape those processes, including advocacy, image and outreach, research, and leadership training.

During this year’s MCE, ATA recognized 18 members of the class first introduced last year in San Diego as the tenth group of graduates to complete the program:

  • Jeremy Carmichael, Ruan Transportation Management Systems
  • Kyle Check, Pressure Systems International
  • Madison Conway, DDC Freight Process Outsourcing
  • Tyer Damazo, PGT Trucking
  • Monika Darwish, Remora Carbon
  • Carson Davidenko, FedEx Freight
  • Kelsey Gibson, Covenant Transport
  • Mitch Giesey, FedEx Ground
  • Jonathan Gong, Youngs Commercial Transfer
  • Amy Kofoed, Navistar
  • Issac Issa, Legacy Express Trucking Inc.
  • Meredith Preistley, Cargo Transporters Inc.
  • Grant Russo, Cummins Inc.
  • Amanda Schuier, Jetco Delivery
  • William Usher, Usher Transport Inc.
  • John Waters
  • Sabrina Williams, J&M Tank Lines Inc.
  • John Zuckett

In addition, ATA announced that 15 rising industry leaders would be participating in the program in the coming year:

Ryan Bennett, Bennett Family of Companies

Joseph Briner, Hoffman Transportation Inc.

Jackie Bull, Cummins Inc.

Christopher Eckhart, Scopelitis Garvin Light Hanson & Feary, P.C.

Andy Engardio, AssuredPartners

Matt Fleming, Ruan Transportation Management Systems

Manny Hoyt, TrueNorth Companies

Quetura Hudson, DDC Freight Process Outsourcing

Joshua Mecca, Grammer Logistics

Issac Ramirez, United Parcel Service

Derek Sizemore, United Parcel Service

Adam Smith, KSM Transport Advisors

Joe Soliz, Link Labs

Dana Spencer, CRST The Transportation Solutions Inc.

Joshua Wallace, FedEx Freight

“The LEAD ATA program was created with the future in mind, continually encouraging the development of the next generation of leaders in the trucking industry. LEAD ATA graduates are not only involved with the American Trucking Associations, but on Capitol Hill, with their companies, and with their local communities,” said DriverReach Founder Jeremy Reymer. “As a proud sponsor, DriverReach has had the opportunity to engage with these dynamic leaders and watch this program grow immensely. On behalf of DriverReach, we are thrilled to welcome the 11th Class of LEAD ATA.”