NPTC Presents Fleet Leadership Awards

Indianapolis, IN – The National Private Truck Council (NPTC), in conjunction with Heavy Duty Trucking/Newport Communications, presented its F.L.E.E.T. Leadership Awards April 30, 2007 at the group’s Annual Education Management Conference and Exhibition held in Indianapolis, IN.

Since 1990, the NPTC F.L.E.E.T. Awards (For Leadership, Enterprise, and Excellence in Trucking) are given annually to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the National Private Truck Council, their profession, and the private trucking community.

The Private Fleet Executive of the Year, NPTC's highest individual award, went to Debra A. Stone, CTP, Corporate Logistics Cost Analyst for McKee Foods Corporation. Ms. Stone has been employed by McKee Foods Corporation for more than 23 years and has held positions in Distribution, Purchasing and Technical Services. She is currently responsible for managing carrier relationships and maximizing backhaul opportunities.

The Fleet Safety Professional of the Year Award was awarded to Greg Whisenant, CTP, Transportation Safety Manager for Shaw Transportation, Inc. He has held the position of Corporate Safety Manager for Shaw Transportation for the past five years. Mr. Whisenant earned the title of Certified Transportation Professional from the National Private Truck Council in 2002, and has been a member of the NPTC Safety Committee since 1998. He is currently the Chairman of the NPTC Safety Committee and holds a seat on the NPTC Board of Directors.

The Fleet Member of the Year Award went to Sam Richardson, assistant vice president of operations and safety for ADM Trucking. After spending 15 years with BOC, Mr. Richardson joined ADM Trucking in 1993 and has been there ever since. He is part of the team that took ADM Trucking from an unsatisfactory safety rating and facing closure for non-compliance to being named “Private Fleet of the Year” in 2003. He is Vice-Chair of the NPTC Safety Committee as well as a member of the Conference Planning Committee.

This year’s Allied Member of the Year Award winner was Mike Parrish, National Accounts Sales Executive for PACCAR Leasing Company. Mike has a BBA in accounting from Valdosta State University and an MBA from Georgia State University. During his 20 years in the transportation industry, Mr. Parrish has held a variety of marketing and sales jobs. With the Kenworth Truck Company his assignments included Sales Manager – Leasing and Director of Medium Duty Sales. He is currently with PACCAR Leasing Company with responsibility for national accounts headquartered in the Pacific Northwest. He has been actively involved with NPTC for 10 years.

The NPTC Membership Development Award honored Gary Strausbaugh, CTP, Vice President of Transportation for The Mennel Milling Company. His experience consists of 30 years in the grain and food industry controlling transportation and warehousing. Mr. Strausbaugh received the designation of Certified Transportation Professional in 1996 and since then has worked long and hard to advance the program. He now serves as Chair of the NPTC Institute Board of Governors and is a member of the NPTC Board. In addition to his work with NPTC, Gary is a member of the Ohio Trucking Association, Midwest Association of Rail Shippers, and the Toledo Transportation Club. He currently is on the Board for the Midwest Association of Rail Shippers.

About NPTC

Founded in 1939, the National Private Truck Council is the only national trade association exclusively representing the interests of the private truck industry and corporate/business private truck fleet management. NPTC is the premier marketplace of information, networking and skill building for private fleet professionals as it leads in shaping the future of corporate transportation.

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