Seven Honored With Executive Council Service Awards

Executive Council Service Award winners by John Sommers II for Transport Topics

PHILADELPHIA — Seven veteran trucking association executives with a combined 105 years of experience were honored with the Executive Council Service Awards during American Trucking Associations’ annual Management Conference & Exhibition here Oct. 18.

“Today, we commend these impressive individuals who represent the best in service to our industry,” said incoming ATA Chairman Pat Thomas, senior vice president of state government affairs for UPS. “The trucking industry is fortunate to have such committed individuals working as part of our ATA federation, and we are honored to acknowledge them for their continued effort and dedication.”

The seven honorees (pictured above, left to right) are:

• Brian Parke, president and CEO of Maine Motor Transport Association Inc., five years 

• Crystal Collins, president of North Carolina Trucking Association, five years 

• Gail Toth, executive director of New Jersey Motor Truck Association, 15 years

• Thomas Whitaker, executive director of Kansas Motor Carriers Association, 15 years

• Gregory Fulton, president of Colorado Motor Carriers Association, 20 years

• J. Frank Filgo, president and CEO of Alabama Trucking Association, 20 years

• Gareth Sakakida, managing director of Hawaii Transportation Association, 25 years

"These seven individuals are a great example of the diversity in our industry that stretches from coast to coast, and ATA gets tremendous strength from that diversity,” ATA President Bill Graves said. “It is reassuring to know that the work we are doing on the federal level in Washington is being strengthened and reinforced by these impressive individuals — and many others — on the state level. These executives and their colleagues have my many thanks.”

ATA also honored Texas Trucking Association President John Esparza as the 14th recipient of the President’s Leadership Award. Esparza was recognized for his work in boosting trucking’s image. He has been pivotal in bringing America’s Road Team and Share the Road show trucks at Texas Day at the Capital in Austin. Esparza also annually takes a group of members to Call on Washington and has become the face of Texas trucking.

The award comes with a $10,000 grant for a nonprofit 501(c)(3) trucking education or research organization chosen by Esparza.

“Success in Texas is no small task, and John’s work in this large, productive state with an international border has an impact on not just the United States, but throughout North America. He uses professionalism and a strong work ethic to provide great benefits to his members and all of ATA, and this award is well-deserved,” said Barry Stang, chairman of the Trucking Association Executives Council and executive vice president of the Motor Carriers of Montana.

Stang and Shannon Newton of the Arkansas Trucking Association were presented with the third-annual Advocacy Awards for their leadership of their state associations.