Moving the Needle with Chris Spear: Women in Motion sponsored by ACT 1
Webinar Description:
As a part of the Moving the Needle with Chris Spear 2022 webinar series, ATA’s President & CEO, Chris Spear, opens discussion on ATA’s newest premier program, Women in Motion (WIM). Chris will be joined by Elisabeth Barna, ATA’s Executive Vice President of Industry Affairs, Rhonda Hartman, America’s Road Team Captain and professional driver for Old Dominion Freight Line, and April Coolidge, America’s Road Team Captain and professional driver for Walmart Transportation.
Women in Motion is an initiative of the American Trucking Associations to accelerate the rise of women throughout the industry and help eliminate the roadblocks that stand in their way. No industry is more vital to our economy than trucking; Truckers embody the most central and critical link in the U.S. supply chain, touching every aspect of our lives by delivering the goods we all depend on. And in growing numbers, women are changing the face of this essential industry. Working with coalition partners, policymakers, and business leaders, WIM aims to create a more secure work environment for women truckers, including advocating on issues like safer truck parking and greater diversity. WIM offers career support and professional development opportunities for women in the industry, in addition to promoting trucking careers to women across the country.
This webinar will discuss:
- The Women in Motion program, initiatives, goals, and impacts
- How WIM can help recruit a new demographic and generation into the workforce
- How your company, and members of your company can get involved in WIM
- The perspective and stories of two professional truck drivers as a woman in the trucking industry.
About the Presenters:
Chris Spear, President & CEO, American Trucking Associations
As president and CEO, Chris leads ATA’s efforts to advocate and educate on behalf of the trucking industry. Employing more than 7 million people and moving more than 10 billion tons of freight annually, trucking is the industry most responsible for moving America’s economy.
Prior to his time ATA, Chris worked in the transportation, energy, labor and technology sectors in over five different continents. Most recently, Chris worked for Hyundai Motor Company, where he served as vice president of government affairs. In that role, he served on the Executive Committee for Global Automakers. Previously, Chris was ATA senior vice president of legislative affairs and vice president of global government relations for Honeywell International.
Chris also has extensive experience in the federal government, serving as Deputy Representative for the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Policy and as professional staff in the U.S. Senate.
Chris is on the board of directors for the American Transportation Research Institute, the Trucking Cares Foundation and the Louisa Swain Foundation. He has been awarded the US Department of Defense Joint Civilian Service Medal and Honeywell’s Premier Achievement Award.
Chris holds a master's and bachelor's degree from the University of Wyoming.
Elisabeth Barna Executive Vice President, Industry Affairs & Senior Advisor to the President and CEO, American Trucking Associations
Elisabeth Barna is Executive Vice President of Industry Affairs and Senior Advisor to the President and CEO for the American Trucking Associations, the nation’s leading organization representing the interests of the trucking industry.
In this capacity, Elisabeth is responsible for ATA’s industry communications and strategy, image and outreach advocacy and oversees ATA events and meetings. She works with the state trucking associations, the ATA membership and key ATA departments to develop initiatives to advance the overall advocacy efforts. She leads the ATA future leaders program, LEAD ATA, as well as the America’s Road Team, Share the Road, and Trucking Moves America Forward campaigns, ATA's Women In Motion initiative and other association image programs and advocacy initiatives.
Elisabeth brings years of trucking and legislative experience to the association. Elisabeth rejoined ATA in December of 2005, after eight years as Director of Communications at the Motor Freight Carriers Association.
Prior to joining MFCA, Elisabeth spent seven years with ATA in the Capitol Hill Office, where she was director of legislative affairs. Elisabeth also worked for the Grocery Manufacturers of American for five years, focusing on state legislative affairs and membership communications.
Elisabeth, a recipient of the “J.R. ‘Bob’ Halladay” Award, is on the board of directors of Truckers Against Trafficking and Trucker Buddy International. She is the past secretary/treasurer for the Trucking Associations Executive Council.
Rhonda Hartman, professional truck driver, Old Dominion Freight Line
By February 1, 2023 Rhonda Hartman will have 40 year driving as a professional truck driver and has accumulated 3 million accident-free and ticket free miles. She is a professional truck driver for Old Dominion Freight Lines.
Rhonda began her career as an owner-operator starting in 1983. She ran 48 states, Canada, and Mexico.
Rhonda is a member of the Iowa Road Team and is a recipient of the 10-year safe driving award from Old Dominion Freight Lines. She has participated in the Iowa Truck Driving Championships for six years placing twice in 2nd place and twice in 3rd place. Rhonda was also recognized for 10 years of safe driving with her previous employer, Walmart Transportation. Rhonda received the Mike Russell Trucking Image Award in 2020.
Rhonda’s favorite thing to do since making America’s Road Team is educating young drivers on how to be safe around trucks and attending career days, letting people know what a great industry trucking is.
Rhonda lives in Des Moines, Iowa and has 5 children and 10 grandchildren.
April Coolidge, professional truck driver, Walmart Transportation
April Coolidge has been a professional truck driver for 10 years and have accumulated more than one million accident-free miles. She is a professional truck driver for Walmart Transportation.
April has received many safe driving awards in her career. She is a member of the Arkansas road Team and was named the USA Truck driver of the month by her previous employer in January of 2018. April has finished 2nd place for the past two years at her company truck driving championship. April placed 12th at the Arkansas Truck Driving Championship in 2018.
April lives in Mint Hill, North Caroline and has a son.
THIS WEBINAR IS SPONSORED BY ACT 1
The Allied Committee for the Trucking Industry (ACT 1) is a group of leading industry suppliers dedicated to enhancing the business environment of the transportation industry. ACT 1’s stated mission of providing business leaders with the opportunity to exchange ideas, forge new relationships and build a stronger, more successful industry through networking and social events at the top national industry meetings matches well with ATA’s full slate of industry-leading meetings, conferences, and exhibitions. In addition to sponsoring this webinar, ACT 1 has had a long collaborative relationship with ATA in support of the trucking industry in North America. ACT 1 is also a premier sponsor of several key ATA meetings. For more information about ACT 1 and its member companies, visit http://act1trucking.org/.
A recording will be provided to all approved registrants post webinar even if you are not able to attend.
NOTICE: ATA webinars are strictly educational for our members, and are not press events. The information contained in this webinar is not intended for, nor should it be used in, the production, editing or creation of news or analysis pieces. Participants are also forbidden from using them as background for published materials, white papers or other communications. Therefore, the contents of this webinar are strictly embargoed and off the record.