Trucker Buddy News

Trucker Buddy news

Randol named new executive director

Trucker Buddy International, Inc., an organization dedicated to helping educate and mentor school children by uniting professional drivers and classrooms, announced that Melissa K. Randol has been elected by the TBI Board of Directors as executive director effective June 19.
     A Columbia, MO resident, Randol brings more than 13 years of experience working with public schools at the local, state and federal levels. With a law degree from the University of Missouri and a bachelor-of-science degree from Missouri State University, Randol is poised to bring stability and growth to the TBI organization.
     “Melissa brings an impressive skill set that really enhances our mission,” says Mark Taylor, president of Trucker Buddy and a driver for Wal-Mart Stores. “Trucker Buddy has always communicated its goals well with professional drivers. By adding Melissa’s experience serving as general counsel, executive director and CEO for education-related organizations, we see Trucker Buddy reaching a greater potential with educators.”
     Randol comes to TBI from the Missouri School Boards Association, where she served as general counsel and associate executive director of issues management, as well as CEO of Future Builders, a subsidiary organization of MSBA.
     “I’m excited to join such a respected organization,” Randol says. “Trucker Buddy provides wonderful resources that augment teachers’ lessons to help schoolchildren learn in creative and exciting new ways.”
     Randol replaces Roxane Rose, who stepped down as executive director of the organization earlier this year. Under the leadership of Rose, Trucker Buddy International maintained its growth and success.
     “We sincerely thank Roxane for her dedication to Trucker Buddy, which is once again demonstrated by her willingness to volunteer in the years to come for the organization,” says Taylor, a Trucker Buddy of two classes in addition to his service as TBI president.
     Trucker Buddy International is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping educate and mentor schoolchildren via a pen-pal relationship between professional truck drivers and children in grades two through eight. Trucker Buddy matches classes of students with professional truck drivers, and every week, drivers share news about their travels with their class.
     Each month, the organization selects a Trucker Buddy Driver of the Month who receives a personalized jacket, along with a check for $300 to spend on the class and $200 in Trucker Buddy merchandise, compliments of ACS MultiMedia Advertising. More than 3,500 professional drivers share their time with elementary classes throughout the world as part of the Trucker Buddy program. The only criteria to be a Trucker Buddy is to be a truck driver willing to send a postcard each week to a class in grades two through eight.
     For more information about Trucker Buddy International, visit www.truckerbuddy.org or call 1-800-MY-BUDDY.