Navistar and the Women In Trucking Association (WIT) presented the fifth annual Influential Woman in Trucking award to Kari Rihm, president and chief executive officer of Rihm Kenworth, at a ceremony during the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) annual meeting recently.
The Influential Woman in Trucking award recognizes women in the trucking industry who make or influence key decisions, have a proven record of responsibility, and mentor and serve as a role model to other women. WIT and Navistar teamed up to develop this award in 2010 as a way to honor women leaders in trucking, and to attract and advance women within the industry.
“We are proud to recognize the leadership of Kari Rihm and other influential women in our industry,” said Lisa Hartenberger, director of communications at Navistar. “Women make a difference in the trucking industry every day, and the goal of the Influential Woman in Trucking award is to shine a spotlight on their contributions.”
“We are thrilled to honor a woman who has been so influential in the trucking industry,” said Ellen Voie, president of WIT. “Kari is proof that women are achieving great things in all trucking professions, from drivers to accountants to CEOs.”
Rihm took over Rihm Kenworth after her husband died in 2010. The company, based in St Paul MN, has been in her husband’s family since 1932. With help from her two children, who represent the fourth generation at the dealership, and other employees, Rihm Kenworth has since added two locations, growing from three to five dealerships. They have also increased staff by more than 50%, been the Kenworth Truck Company Medium Duty Truck Dealer of the Year three of the past four years, and have been certified by the Womens Business Enterprise Network Council (WBENC) since 2011.
Rihm Kenworth is the only 100% woman-owned Kenworth dealer in the United States. The dealership has been named a Minneapolis/St Paul Business Magazine Family Business Honoree in 2013, received a National Association of Women-Owned Businesses local chapter Pioneer Award in 2014, and was honored with a 2015 nomination for American Truck Dealers Association Dealer of the Year.
This year’s finalists also included Elise Chianelli, senior product manager, safety and compliance, PeopleNet; Angie Freeman, chief human resources officer of C H Robinson and president, C H Robinson Foundation; Karen Rasmussen, president and CEO of HELP Inc; Shelley Simpson, chief marketing officer and president of ICS & Truckload, J B Hunt Transport Inc; and Karen Smerchek, president, Veriha Trucking Inc.
Access www.WomenInTrucking.org or www.Navistar.com to learn more.
