J.B. Hunt's Shelley Simpson Wins Distinguished Woman in Logistics Award
The award, presented here April 8 during the Transportation Intermediaries Association annual meeting, was created by the Women in Trucking Association. It is sponsored by Truckstop.com and TMW Systems.
Simpson, who has been with J.B. Hunt for 21 years, was not able to attend the conference due to a family emergency but accepted the award in a prerecorded video on behalf of all female employees of the company.
“I am thankful for all the organizations responsible for presenting this award. They have a history of encouraging, supporting and recognizing the women in our industry and the accomplishments we’ve achieved. They do great work, and I am honored and humbled to be part of this,” Simpson said in a statement issued by J.B. Hunt.
The other finalists were Elizabeth Fretheim, director of logistics sustainability for Wal-Mart Stores Inc., and Liz Lasater, CEO of Red Arrow Logistics.
Prior to the announcement of the winner, a video was shown that highlighted the work of all three finalists. It included comments on the need to find ways to elevate more women in executive leadership roles in transportation.
“Choosing the winner among these three finalists was not an easy decision,” said Ellen Voie, president of Women In Trucking. “Shelley is very deserving of this award. Increasing revenue by nearly $2 billion over a five-year period shows she is a mover and knows how to get things done. She is well-respected not only as a woman in logistics, but also as a mentor to many women.”
Simpson has held her current position since 2011. Since then, J.B. Hunt's revenue has grown from $4.5 billion to $6.2 billion.
J.B. Hunt, based in Lowell, Arkansas, ranks No. 3 on the Transport Topics 100 list of the largest U.S. and Canadian for-hire carriers.
