Trucker Buddy International Announces New Executive Director

 

( Louisville, KY) Trucker Buddy International announced the organization’s new executive director and recognized the 2005 ACS-MultiMedia Trucker Buddy Drivers of the Month at its press conference held during the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, KY, on March 24th.

Trucker Buddy President Don Nehring began the press conference by introducing Roxane Campbell Rose, who was unanimously voted in as executive director just that morning by the Board of Directors. Rose brings to the position 15 years of professional experience in trucking as well as a number of years of volunteer work in the non-profit sector.

“The search was long, but well worth it, and I am real excited about where Trucker Buddy is now and where it is going in the future,” Nehring said of Rose’s appointment.

Rose was one of the founders of rpm magazine, which was launched in 1992. Since leaving the magazine in 1997, Rose has worked for the marketing department at Great Dane Trailers as well as writing occasional articles for Motor Truck and the Arkansas Trucking Report, a publication of the Arkansas Trucking Association. She also sits on the Board of Directors for the Truck Writers of North America, of which she has been a member since the early 1990s.

“Truly, it is an honor to be selected for this position, and I can’t wait to get started!” Rose said. “Ellen Voie has done an amazing job in her six years as executive director, and I just hope I can fill the big shoes she leaves behind as well as meet – or exceed – the new expectations and goals of the organization.”

Rose immediately got to work by introducing the 2005 Trucker Buddy Drivers of the Month, who received plaques recognizing their achievements provided by sponsor ACS-MultiMedia. Ten of the 12 Drivers of the Month were able to attend the show, and included David Volkert, January; Duane Winchell, February; David Matousek, March; Leonard “Sandpaper” Emery, April; William Robles, June; Michael Wiest, July; Mona VanDuyn, September; Benny J. Robinson, October; Walter F. Brown, November; and Ralph and Sara Bundy, December. Unable to attend were Duane Donner, May, and Dan Clark, August.

“The drivers never cease to amaze me how caring and compassionate they are,” Nehring said. “We are so lucky to have them involved with the children’s education.”

The ACS-MultiMedia Trucker Buddy Driver of the Month program is the result of a huge team effort, noted Rose.

“One of many things that attracted me to this position is the number of diverse people who come together to make Trucker Buddy a success,” she said. “Of course, Trucker Buddy would not be possible without the drivers who give so many hours of their time to enhance our children’s education, as well as the trucking companies that support them. Our sponsors are also an invaluable resource by recognizing their contributions. We really appreciate ACS-MultiMedia’s partnership in the Trucker Buddy Driver of the Month program.”

Yet even a great thing can get better, Rose added.

“Another benefit of the Trucker Buddy program that intrigues me is the long-term effects it will have by reaching these children at an early age,” she said. “In addition to being the No. 1 image campaign in North America, Trucker Buddy may also be part of the solution to our industry’s growing employee needs, such as for drivers and mechanics. By supplementing children’s education now, we are also exposing them to the many great men and women who drive our economy and the future employment opportunities that await them in our industry.”

Among Rose’s initial plans are to increase awareness in the education sector, pursue grants, increase membership of both drivers and teachers and develop new programs and fundraisers.

For more information on each of the Trucker Buddy Drivers of the Month, visit www.truckerbuddy.org. All of the Drivers of the Month received a personalized jacket, along with a check for $300 to spend on his/her class and $200 in Trucker Buddy merchandise, compliments of sponsor ACS MultiMedia (www.tmi-multimedia.com), the advertising agency of choice for the trucking industry. The drivers also received an IdleAir adaptor (www.idleair.com) and a Koolatron cooler. The classes received CrossCountry USA games from Ingenuity Works (www.ingenuityworks.com), which will help them learn more about how trucks move freight across the continent.

For more information about Trucker Buddy International, visit www.truckerbuddy.org or call 1-800-MY-BUDDY.