FAQs: Women In Trucking Leadership Transition

by Women In Trucking Staff, on Jan 18, 2023 5:27:10 PM

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What is the leadership transition all about?

Jennifer Hedrick, CAE, has been hired recently as the incoming President and Chief Executive Officer of the Women In Trucking Association (WIT). In this role, Jennifer will be responsible for planning and executing the strategic goals of the organization as advised by the association’s board of directors. Jennifer assumes the role from Ellen Voie, CAE, who has been the President and CEO of the Women In Trucking Association since she founded the organization in 2007.

What will Jennifer be responsible for as the new President and CEO?

Her role as the new leader of WIT is extensive and will involve working closely with the WIT Board of Directors, Executive Committee, and staff to carry out the mission of the association. Responsibilities include overall responsibility and oversight of programs and services of the association that support its mission and brings value to members; the development and management of WIT’s annual budget; and acts as an active voice on behalf of the members and other key stakeholders of WIT to the association’s overall community and the industry at-large.

Why is this leadership transition happening?

For the past 16 years, WIT founder Ellen Voie has been leading the association and she is looking to pursue other personal and professional interests. Voie and the WIT leadership team have been actively collaborating for more than a year on identifying the growth needs of the association and the characteristics required of an individual to lead the association into the future. The search for this individual has been a well-planned and orchestrated initiative with the assistance of an outside search and strategy consultant. In August 2022, the formal job description for the WIT President and CEO was publicized and a Search Committee comprised of WIT leaders actively interviewed several candidates. In December 2022, the offer of the position was made to and accepted by Jennifer.

When will the transition formally take place?

Jennifer began employment with WIT Jan. 9, 2023 and she is working closely with Ellen Voie and a Transition Task Force to formally assume full responsibilities as the association’s current President and CEO on March 16, 2023.

What credentials does  Jennifer have to perform in this role?

Jennifer has 17 years of association leadership experience and is an accredited executive by the American Society of Association Executives. For five years she led the National Industrial Transportation League (NIT League) focusing on issues across highway, rail and ocean freight transportation. She advocated on behalf of members on topics such as truck size and weight, and hours of service. Personal and professional characteristics that the CEO Search Task Force found to make Jennifer an ideal candidate include: an empathetic listener, a collaborative leader, a keen understanding of the unique role of associations like WIT in supporting its members and the industry at-large, and an understanding of supply chain and its importance to the economy.

What will initial priorities be for  Jennifer?

Jennifer has already “hit the ground running” when she met Jan. 11-12 with the WIT Board of Directors, Partners, Ellen Voie and staff in Dallas to begin work on finalizing a three-year strategic plan and a 10-year vision. She’ll also focus heavily on making connections with WIT members through “meet-ups” that will involve ride-alongs; visits to headquarters, distribution centers, and other operations facilities to become better acquainted with member needs. She plans to attend many industry events with Ellen Voie, including the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA), the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA), and the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) – where WIT will host its “Salute to Women Behind the Wheel” driver appreciation event.

How does this transition impact WIT members?

WIT will continue the important work of supporting gender diversity in the transportation industry and fulfill its mission to encourage the employment of women in the trucking industry, promote their accomplishments and minimize obstacles faced by women working in the trucking industry. While programs, services, and value of WIT will continue as they have, Jennifer and her staff (with the direction of the WIT Board of Directors) will explore and deploy new opportunities to further enhance the member experience and advance WIT’s mission. As part of this leadership transition, the WIT Board of Directors has been actively working on a long-term strategy to expand the foundation that has been built by Ellen Voie and past Boards of Directors. This important transition will serve as a bridge between the association’s past success and future direction.

Will there still be the current schedule of events?

Yes, there will be no changes to our regular schedule of events. The 2023 Accelerate! Conference & Expo will take place Nov. 5-8 at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Texas. We encourage you to attend and encourage you to meet her there! WIT’s Salute to Women Behind the Wheel will take place March 31 at the Mid-America Truck Show in Louisville, Kentucky. WIT Webinars will continue regularly every month and the Women In Trucking Show on SiriusXM Road Dog Channel 146 with WIT Founder Ellen Voie every Saturday morning.

Tell us more about Jennifer as an individual.

“My most cherished role and responsibility, hands down, is being ‘Aunt Jen’ to six kids,” says Jennifer. She’s a sports enthusiast, including road cycling, golf, and recently began taking kickboxing classes. She’s an avid reader and loves to travel (whether for business or visiting family and friends). Jennifer recently helped to start up a nonprofit organization in North Carolina that seeks to fight food insecurity.

How will this leadership transition change operations?

Because WIT staff is virtual, the mailing address for all non-financial issues and correspondence should use the following: P.O. Box 656, Merrifield, VA 22116 USA. For any issues involving financial issues and correspondence directly with WIT should use the following: 2040 Jay-Mar Road, Plover, WI 54467. For any financial issues or correspondence involving Redefining the Road magazine, WIT eNews, or sponsored content, send to the publisher: MindShare Strategies, P.O. 843, Springfield, TN 37032.

Additional Questions?

Contact the Women In Trucking Association at 888-464-9482 or fill out our Contact Us form.

Topics:Women In Trucking

About Women In Trucking

The Women In Trucking Association is a non-profit organization with the mission to encourage the employment of women in the trucking industry, promote their accomplishments, and minimize obstacles faced by women working in the industry.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in articles within the WIT Blog are those of the authors/submitters and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the Women In Trucking Association.

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