TCA honors companies, individuals contributing to growth of organization
Member companies are inducted into the Ambassador Club after reaching 25 years of membership. After their induction, they are honored every five years for their ongoing commitment to TCA and their industry. Special recognition is bestowed when a company reaches the 50- or 75-year mark.
The Trucker News Services
3/5/2013
LAS VEGAS — As part of the festivities held during the Truckload Carriers Association’s (TCA) annual convention at the Wynn Las Vegas, the organization paid tribute to member companies and individual representatives who have contributed to the long-term growth of the association.
At the new member welcome reception held on Saturday, March 2, Membership Committee co-chairs Aaron Tennant, president and CEO of Tennant Truck Lines Inc., Orion, Ill., and Heather DeBaille, marketing manager for CAT Scale Co., Walcott, Iowa, presented the awards. Nineteen companies were recognized for reaching milestones of membership through TCA’s prestigious Ambassador Club this year, and nine individuals were honored for helping to recruit members for the organization last year.
Member companies are inducted into the Ambassador Club after reaching 25 years of membership. After their induction, they are honored every five years for their ongoing commitment to TCA and their industry. Special recognition is bestowed when a company reaches the 50- or 75-year mark. This year, Truck One Inc., of Newark, Ohio, reached an impressive 65 years of membership, while 7 companies were inducted for reaching the 25-year mark.
Employees of any TCA member company who recruit new members for TCA are designated “Rigsters” and thanked at the reception for their help in growing the association. To recognize their contributions, Rigsters are given a special pin, and the person who recruits the most new members over a one-year period is deemed the “Rigster of the Year.” He or she receives a trophy in addition to the pin. This year’s recipient was Kevin Burch, president of Jet Express Inc., Dayton, Ohio. He recruited two new members for TCA.
“Our association is fortunate to have such a loyal and committed membership base. The knowledge our Ambassador Club companies have contributed over the years is what has made this association such a valuable asset to the truckload community. And we are also grateful to our Rigsters, who believe so deeply in what we do that they’re willing to take the time to share the rewards with other companies,” said TCA President Chris Burruss. “Without our Ambassadors and Rigsters, we wouldn’t be where we are today.”
With the addition of the seven newest inductees, there are now a total of 88 companies in TCA’s Ambassador Club. The 2013 honorees are as follows:
65 Years Truck One Inc., Newark, Ohio
Jay Winegardner, President and CEO
45 Years Crete Carrier Corporation, Lincoln, Neb.
Tonn Ostergard, President and CEO
Howell's Motor Freight, Inc., Roanoke, Va.
Harry Norris, President
35 Years C.R. England, Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah
Daniel E. England, Chairman
Con-way Truckload, Joplin, Mo.
Herbert J. Schmidt, President and CEO
Heartland Express, North Liberty, Iowa
Michael Gerdin, President
30 Years CrossGlobe Transport, Ltd., Newport News, Va.
Bill Franks, President
GE Capital, Transportation Finance, Irving, Texas
John Conkin, Vice President
HireRight, Inc., Tulsa, Okla.
Justin Reed, Industry Relations
May Trucking Co., Salem, Ore.
C. Marvin May, CEO
Prime Inc., Springfield, Mo.
Robert E. Low, Founder and President
Weinrich Truck Line, Inc., Hinton, Iowa
Donna Weinrich-Lucht, President
25 Years Baylor Trucking, Inc., Milan, Ind.
Robert Baylor, President
Crane Composites, Channahon, Ill.
James Canaday, Vice President, National Accounts Manager
J & M Tank Lines, Inc., Birmingham, Ala.
Harold Sumerford, CEO
Mercer Transportation Co., Inc., Louisville, Ky.
James Stone, President
TMW Systems, Inc., Cleveland,
Dave Wangler, President and CEO
Transportation Costing Group, Inc., Rockville, Md.
Kenneth Manning, President
Wabash National Corporation, Lafayette, Ind.
Richard Giromini, President and CEO
The 2013 Rigsters are as follows:
• Kevin Burch, President, Jet Express, Inc., Dayton, Ohio
• Ray Haight, CEO, Transrep Inc., Caledonia, Ontario
• Paul Higgins, Director of Fleet Maintenance, Prime Inc., Springfield, Mo.
• Deanna Klose, former Director of Human Resources, Veriha Trucking, Inc., Marinette, Wis.
• Tom Kretsinger, Jr., President, American Central Transport, Inc., Liberty, Mo.
• Robert Low, Prime Inc., President & Founder, Springfield, Mo.
• Tom McLeod, President, McLeod Software Corp., Birmingham, Ala.
• Amy Mielke, Transportation Sourcing Leader, Owens Corning, Toledo, Ohio, and
• Tom Witt, President, Roehl Flatbed & Specialized, Roehl Transport Inc., Marshfield, Wis.
The Trucker staff can be reached to comment on this article at editor@thetrucker.com.
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