TMC Awards Four Industry Leaders With Silver Spark Plug Award
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ATLANTA — Four trucking and maintenance professionals were honored Feb. 24 when they were presented the American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council Silver Spark Plug Award.
This year’s honorees are Stacy Earnhardt, director of asset management and specialized operations at Best Specialized; Fred Kelley, director of engineering at Prestolite, General Cable; Peter Savage, director of quality and implementations at Clarke Power Services; and Paul Wion, Northeast market fleet manager at Charter Communications. Kelley and Wion were unable to attend the ceremony.
Peter Savage (right) accepts his Silver Spark Plug Award from outgoing TMC Chairman Kenneth Calhoun. (John Sommers II for Transport Topics)
“TMC’s members keep our industry moving, and these four individuals represent the highest level of the professional excellence the council strives for,” ATA President Chris Spear said. “More than half of the 7.3 million people employed by the trucking industry do something other than drive a truck, and without them, our nation’s goods don’t get to our stores, hospitals and factories. These individuals are examples to all of us in this industry, and they’re to be commended.”
The award, presented at TMC’s annual meeting, recognizes extraordinary commitment to improving maintenance within the trucking industry.
“The Silver Spark Plug is given to individuals who demonstrate professional excellence in commercial vehicle maintenance as our industry’s highest honor,” TMC Executive Director Robert Braswell said. “Our winners this year represent the highest level of expertise and ability in our industry and we are pleased to recognize them with this award.”
Earnhardt, a TMC member since 2007, is the incoming chairman.
“I’m super excited and shocked. I wasn’t expecting it,” Earnhardt told Transport Topics. “It’s one of those humbling moments, that you realize what your peers think of you, and where you are at. It’s a nice way to start.”
Earnhardt will succeed Chairman Kenneth Calhoun, fleet optimization manager for Altec Industries. Calhoun told TT he was pleased to present the award to his friend and colleague.
“The Silver Spark Plug Award, I can’t think of a higher honor in this industry or any other,” he said. “And when it’s your peers that bestow that on you, it’s just an incredible feeling to have that vote of confidence.”
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