Press Release

ATA Applauds Inaugural Winners of Women In Motion Recognizes Award

Nov 22, 2024

Washington – Today, the American Trucking Associations announced the first six recipients of the Women In Motion Recognizes Award – a new award from the Federation’s women’s leadership council.

“Women In Motion remains committed to building a supportive community for women in transportation. The WIM Recognizes Award embodies this mission, empowering women from all areas of the industry to foster inclusivity, pursue career goals, and break barriers,” said ATA Vice President of Industry Affairs Nikki Thomas. “Through this award, we’re creating new opportunities and celebrating the innovation these women bring to the industry, and I want to congratulate these first six winners on exemplifying what this Council is all about.”

The WIM Recognizes Award embodies the strength of a supportive community, fostering an inclusive environment for women in transportation. The award celebrates women entering the industry, those contributing innovative ideas and small business leaders who are making a meaningful impact. Selected by the WIM Board of Directors, each recipient received a $500 award to support their continued success and career growth.

The first six winners of the award are:

  • Alexandra Frye, ContainerPort Group; 
  • Jennie Malafarina, Virago Marketing;
  • Bonnie Supan, Brenny Transportation; 
  • Vanessa Villegas, Hippoz Express Inc.; 
  • Tomika Willis, TDS Trucking, Training & Technology; and 
  • Laura Wilson, Lawrence Companies. 

“These women proudly represent the future of trucking. By creating mentorship opportunities, advocating for women, and driving success in transportation, they are inspiring future generations and setting the standard across the industry,” said ATA COO Sarah Rajtik. “Over the past year, we’ve been inspired by the innovative ideas we’ve seen, and we look forward to even more applications in 2025.

“This award, and the other good work WIM is doing would not be possible without the backing of ATA members, so I want to express heartfelt thank you to our corporate members for funding this initiative through their annual dues, and to our Founding Sponsor, FedEx, for their invaluable support,” she said.