Transportation Transitions: Execs promoted at J. J. Keller, Paccar, Aim Transportation
J. J. Keller & Associates appoints James J. Keller as chairman of the board
J. J. Keller & Associates Inc. announced that Robert L. Keller has retired as chairman of its board of directors. James J. Keller, previously treasurer and vice chairman of the board, has assumed the role of chairman.
“In my time as chairman, the company grew from $100 million to nearly $400 million in less than 20 years,” Robert Keller said. “The company successfully navigated the financial crisis, a transition to technology in both process and product/service lines, leadership succession, and the retirement of hundreds of management and professional/technical positions. I enjoyed the leadership challenge and supporting our CEO and leadership team.”
James Keller, the new J. J. Keller Board of Directors chairman, began working for the company at age 11. After receiving a degree from Madison Area Technical College in Madison, Wisconsin, focusing on printing, he led the company’s initial printing and distribution operations. He served as president from 2006, president and CEO from 2012 to 2013, and held vice chair and treasurer positions on the board.
“I am very pleased with leading J. J. Keller & Associates Inc. as chairman of the board,” James Keller said. “I have been involved for over 50 years with numerous positions, including past vice chairman, president/CEO, and treasurer. My dad and our founder, John J. Keller, and then my brother Bob Keller, were chairmen since 1953. These past 70 years have been very successful under their leadership. We have an experienced executive leadership team that has the company going full speed ahead into the future. We are all very proud of the company, what we stand for, and our 2,200 associates, who make J. J. Keller an accredited ‘Great Place to Work.’”
Jim Walenczak named Kenworth GM and Paccar VP
Jim Walenczak has been named general manager of Kenworth Truck Company and Paccar VP.
Previously, Walenczak served as Kenworth’s assistant general manager for sales and marketing for two years. Since joining Paccar 13 years ago, he has held positions of increasing responsibility, including fleet, region, and general sales manager positions at Kenworth and assistant general manager of operations at Paccar Parts.
“This is a dynamic and exciting time in the transportation industry, and I am honored to step into this new role at Kenworth at a time when we are building on our core values of quality, innovation, and technology to create the transportation solutions our customers need and want,” Walenczak said. “I am excited to continue working with the world’s best customers, employees, and dealers as Kenworth’s general manager.”
See also: Gallery: 100 years of Kenworth engineers getting muddy
Joe Telega promoted to VP of leasing sales at Aim Transportation Solutions
Aim Transportation Solutions, a family-owned and -operated provider of commercial transportation solutions, recently promoted Joe Telega to VP of leasing sales.
Telega will oversee Aim’s leasing sales team, execute sales strategies, and nurture client and vendor partner relationships. He will play a role in aligning Aim’s leasing, rental, and maintenance services with market demands.
Telega began his career at Aim in 2010 as a lease sales representative. In 2012, he transferred to Aim’s headquarters in Youngstown, Ohio. For the next six years, he demonstrated his understanding of the industry and passion for exceeding customer expectations, which earned him a promotion to regional sales manager. In 2018, Aim’s leadership promoted him to regional vice president.
“While earning his way up, Joe has routinely demonstrated his leadership abilities along with his dedication and drive to always go above and beyond for our customers, his team, and Aim as a whole,” said Matt Svancara, COO of Aim Leasing Company. “We’re incredibly fortunate to have someone of Joe’s caliber to lead our amazing sales team, and I have the utmost confidence in his ability to not just uphold but bolster Aim’s commitment to industry-leading customer service.”
