14 Oregon Trucking Associations, Inc. Oregon Truck Dispatch Jennifer King WHA Insurance Jennifer has over 20 years licensed in Oregon and Washington as both an agent and consultant. She is involved with each step of the Workers’ Compensation process, including risk analysis, compliance assistance, claims management, market analysis, and renewal decisions. Jennifer began working with the Oregon Trucking Associations in 2006 advising on Senate Bill 433 and its impact on Owners Operators and workers’ compensation. Since then, she continues to serve the trucking industry and Oregon eventually becoming the President of the OTA’s Safety Management Council in 2015 and joining the OTA’s Board of Directors in 2016. Both positions she continues to fill today. Ron Cholin Stinger Transport Ron grew up as a farm kid. After some time in a mill and bumping knots in the woods, Ron completed driving school and started driving truck for Barr Groff Trucking at 19 years old. Before he could legally drive interstate, he was pulling semi, truck and trailer, and triples, all flatbeds. He drove 12 years for SS Flegel Trucking, followed by over five years in dispatch before getting fired. After driving a time for Les Schwab, he started Stinger Transport LLC in early 2000 with just a single truck. Eight months later Ron purchased four trailers, one truck, and office equipment from the company that fired him. He also hired several of their drivers. Stinger now runs 14 trucks—a combination of company and leased— pulling flatbed and dry van mostly along the west coast. Gene M. Hullette, CSP, PHR Morris O. Nelson & Sons, Inc. Gene Hullette began working in trucking over 25 years ago after having retired from a career in the U.S. Coast Guard. He has a degree in Behavioral Sciences and is a Certified Safety Professional (CSP), certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR), Emergency Medical Responder (EMR), and qualified Master Trainer/Instructor. He is currently the Safety Director for Nelson Brothers Trucking/Morris O. Nelson & Sons Inc. Gene was raised in Fairbanks, Alaska, and currently resides in Eugene, OR, with his wife Jennifer. Nicole HawksMorse, CDS Kool Pak Nicole has been in the transportation industry for 25 years. She began as a dispatcher and then opened her own compliance and safety consulting business in Bellingham, WA. She was active in the Washington Trucking Association before moving to Vancouver, WA. Nicole worked for the Oregon Trucking Associations as their Director of Safety and Training. Nicole has been the Director of Safety at Kool Pak for the past 14 years. She is a past Safety Director of the year, Past President of the OTA TMC, and is currently active on the OTA SMC. Mario Rivera Charlie’s Produce Mario started his career with Charlie’s Produce as a Class A driver in 2001, as only one of eight drivers. With the determination to be the best in the Portland market, Charlie moved up through the ranks. He is now in charge of his own department and loving every moment of it. One of his greatest accomplishments is creating a safe and healthy work environment in transportation. Mario credits having a great team behind him for his success, including office staff and drivers who make it all happen. The Safety Management Council is the only national organization dedicated to advancing safe policies, practices and technology, effective risk management, and accident/injury prevention in the trucking industry. SMC also addresses trucking’s unique human resource challenges, health and wellness issues, as well as recruitment and retention strategies. Most states, including Oregon, have their own Safety Management Council (SMC). Those who serve on the council take on the tasks outlined at the national level, but OTA is lucky enough to have SMC members who are extremely proactive and involved in everything from producing the annual Spring Safety Conference, to participating in workgroups that develop the rules and regulations that govern the trucking industry. But, just who are these SMC members? Continue reading to find out! If you have a safety, HR, or other question that our SMC team can help with, send it to info@ortrucking.org. Future issues of the Dispatch will feature an SMC Q&A section! Meet Your SMC!
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