IMTA Leadership Class Celebrates 30 Years of Personal and Professional Development

Since its inception in 1993, the IMTA Leadership Program has been one of IMTA’s longest running programs and continues to be a tremendous success on many different levels. There is a direct and significant correlation between the level of involvement and support for IMTA and its activities from the individuals and companies that are involved in this program.

Additionally, the program successfully and effectively instills pride and a level of commitment to be involved that no other program can emulate. Seeing the enthusiasm and the excitement of the leadership class participants to stay engaged and to stay involved is truly extraordinary and gives us all great hope and optimism for the future of IMTA. In fact, seven years ago, the graduates were so excited after completing the leadership class that they offered to spearhead an effort to focus on the continued support and activities for the developing leaders of the association.

As a result of their leadership and dedication to this concept, the LEAD IMTA Council was developed and suffice it to say, this group has done amazing things. In addition to monthly meetings, this group developed the LEAD IMTA Conference, which has been around for 8 years now. Additionally, Council members identified ways they could complement the efforts of the association. The Foundation silent auction and support of our Truck PAC are just a few of the ways this amazing group of volunteer leaders is making a tremendously positive contribution to IMTA’s efforts. And two years ago, we added two seats to our Board of Directors for LEAD IMTA Council members.

The First Official Imta Leadership Class From 1993

FRONT ROW, L TO R: Greg Christians (Solar Transport); Brian George (GTL); Mike Weinrich (Weinrich Truck Lines); Jim Jorgensen (Umthun Trucking Company); Jeff Dickinson (Merchants Distribution Service); Tim Annett (TMC Transportation)

MIDDLE ROW: Kathy Swank (DRS Transport); Doug Hartke (Raider Xpress/D&J Transfer); Jackie Johnsrud (Johnsrud Transport); Steve Schuster (Schuster Truck Line); Tom Schmidt (Gorden Sevig Trucking) BACK ROW: Dave Van Wyk (Van Wyk, Inc.); Todd Miller (Highway Carrier Corp.); Steve Umthun (Umthun Trucking Company); Brent Michaelsen (Michaelsen Trucking); Dave Dickey (Harold Dickey Transport); Jeff Elliott (Elliott Brothers, Inc.); Dave Steffens, Jr. (Norsemen Trucking)

“When discussions started over 30 years about developing a leadership program, I never imagined it would evolve into what we have today. This program is special and the greatest investment that we can make in the short- and long-term vitality of this association,” said IMTA President and CEO Brenda Neville, who has been involved with the program since its inception.