2 minute read
WIT Expands Leadership Team
Since founding the Women In Trucking Association (WIT) in 2007, President and CEO Ellen Voie has been a powerful voice for gender diversity in the transportation industry. The organization has made great strides in advancing its mission to increase the number of women employed in trucking and provide the resources for them to succeed. Under Voie’s guidance, WIT has experienced dramatic growth and now has nearly 5,500 individual and corporate members in 10 countries.
In anticipation of Voie’s retirement in the coming years, establishing a succession plan was a top priority for the WIT board of directors. With that in mind, a new vice president position was created, and industry veteran Deborah Ruane Sparks was selected for this role.
“Ellen Voie has such a remarkable passion for our mission,” says Laura Roan Hays, current WIT Board Chairwoman. “It was a priority for the board to find a successor with that same level of commitment. Debbie Sparks is the perfect candidate. She was instrumental in helping to establish WIT in 2007 and served on the association’s original board of directors. We are thrilled that she is returning to help lead the organization and work with Ellen to ensure a seamless transition as the future face of the Women In Trucking Association.”
Sparks has been involved in the transportation industry for nearly two decades. For the past 10 years, she has served as Vice President, Business Development, for the Truckload Carriers Association, while supporting Wreaths Across America as Director of Transportation and Community Outreach. Previously, she served as Director of Marketing at the American Trucking Associations.
Since joining WIT in January, Sparks has focused on a number of projects, including establishing the Driver Ambassador program (learn more on page 32), managing WIT’s U.S. and Canadian Image Teams, and continuing to build relationships with WIT partners and sponsors. “To support WIT’s growth, we have expanded our team to include five employees in addition to our association management firm, MindShare Strategies,” Voie says. “Now, with Debbie on board, we can further advance our mission and position Women In Trucking for continued growth. She will be an amazing asset in our efforts to increase gender diversity in the transportation industry.” n
Debbie Sparks WIT Vice President
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For more information, contact: Carleen Herndon: 615-696-1870 Carleen@WomenInTrucking.org
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9/3/19 11:56 AM
