Kenworth Dealer Kari Rihm Honored as 2015 Influential Woman in Trucking
This story appears in the March 16 print edition of Transport Topics.
KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Kari Rihm, president of Minnesota-based Rihm Kenworth, won the Influential Woman in Trucking award, which recognized her for expanding sales, staffing and locations over a four-year period.
The award was presented to Rihm by the Women In Trucking Association and Navistar during the Truckload Carriers Association annual meeting here March 10.
Rihm, who took over Rihm Kenworth when her husband died in 2010, has grown the dealership’s employment by 50%, added two locations (for a total of five) and increased sales to a record last year, according to Women In Trucking President Ellen Voie, who presented the award.
Rihm Kenworth is the only Kenworth dealer in the United States owned by a woman, but when she took over, she didn’t automatically get a new contract with the OEM, Voie said.
Since winning the contract on her own, Rihm’s dealership has been the OEM’s Medium Duty Dealer of the Year three of the past four years.
“I didn’t prepare to be a truck dealer, but I love it,” said Rihm, whose business career began after earning a master’s degree in marketing communications.
Rihm was a nominee for the 2015 American Truck Dealers’ Dealer of the Year award. The St. Paul,
Minnesota-based business has been in her husband’s family since 1932.
Rihm recounted that her first encounter with trucking was during a trade show when she was told by a co-worker to go find the driver in the marshaling yard.
“I started talking to him so I could get the exhibit set up,” she said. “Right then, I learned the driver is the most important person in the transportation industry.”
After that initial encounter, she became involved in the world of truck dealerships when she was married. Prior to her husband’s death, she was in an advisory role and not part of the day-to-day management.
When asked by Transport Topics about important qualities she brought to the job, she responded: “I came in with an open mind. I asked if there was a better way to do [a job].
“My approach is to find the right person for the job,” she added. “I helped people blossom by giving people the opportunity to move to a new position.”
Another important factor, she said, was that she wants to meet customers when they come to the dealership, even if they might have something negative to say about a product.
“I want them to tell me what’s going on,” she said. “I want to hear there’s a problem and not wonder why they never came back.”
Rihm also urged women who are considering trucking to “be fearless,” repeating advice offered during a panel discussion prior to announcement of the award.
Panelist Denise Corbett, a vice president for drayage carrier ContainerPort Group, was the first to urge attendees to “be fearless” in business situations and stress the ability to get things done instead of doubting their capability.
That view was reinforced by Marcia Taylor, president of Bennett International Group.
She said women in the industry need to recognize the opportunity to move to a different position and not be afraid to try new things.
One of those who tried new things years ago was Laura Kingsland, who drove a truck for 17 years and then became an instructor at a Florida driving school.
She noted that there has been some progress in the industry since she began driving and that men tried to run her off the road twice.
She also said that there still are attitudes that need to be adjusted.
“Men are surprised to see there is a woman trainer,” she said. “I can talk about things until I am blue in the face, but they are intimidated when I get behind the wheel.”
The award was developed in 2010 to recognize those who make or influence key decisions, have a proven record of responsibility, and mentor and serve as a role model to other women. Other finalists were:
Elise Chianelli, senior product manager for safety and compliance at PeopleNet; Angie Freeman, chief human resources officer at C.H. Robinson; Karen Rasmussen, CEO of HELP Inc. and a former president of the Arizona Trucking Association; Shelley Simpson, chief marketing officer and president of the Integrated Capacity Solutions & Truckload division of J.B. Hunt Transport Inc.; and Karen Smerchek, president of Veriha Trucking Inc.
“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,” said Lisa Hartenberger, Navistar’s director of communications.
