The Women In Trucking (WIT) Association announced finalists for the second annual Distinguished Woman in Logistics award established to promote achievements of women employed in the North American transportation industry.
Finalists for the award are Elizabeth Fretheim, director, logistics sustainability, Walmart; Liz Lasater, chief executive officer, Red Arrow Logistics; and Shelley Simpson, chief marketing officer, executive vice-president, and president, integrated capacity solutions and truck, J B Hunt Transport Services Inc. The winner will be announced by joint program sponsors TMW Systems and Truckstop.com on Friday, April 8, during the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) 2016 “Capital Ideas” Conference and Exhibition in San Antonio TX.
The award highlights the vital roles of leading women in the dynamic and increasingly influential field of commercial transportation and logistics, which encompasses both logistics service providers as well as motor carriers.
Fretheim provides strategic direction to sustainability efforts for Walmart’s logistics division including the third-largest private truck fleet in North America and more than 150 distribution centers. She has driven strategic sustainability initiatives that saved more than $3.5 billion in 10 years and is credited with leading the achievement of doubling freight efficiency for the retailer. Fretheim is the recipient of the Green Biz VERGE 25 Smarter Supply Chain award.
Lasater has more than 20 years of international and domestic experience in global transportation and logistics. She has created solutions for clients that encompass international trade and logistics, manufacturing support services, warehousing, distribution, and technology. She sits on boards including the Pacific Northwest Defense Coalition, Win With Washington (state), The Center of Excellence for Aerospace and Advanced Manufacturing, and serves as an advisor for the Lake Washington Technical Institute Transportation & Logistics Management program.
Simpson’s accomplishments include helping J B Hunt increase revenue from $4.5 to $6.2 billion over five years and leading her business unit to a nearly billion-dollar entity through strategic guidance and innovative ideas. The business unit is now among the top five of third-party logistics companies in the trucking industry. Simpson holds several board positions and is involved with Women in Supply Chain Excellence at her alma mater, the University of Arkansas.
To learn more, go to www.womenintrucking.org.
