FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
Woman-Owned Businesses are Alive and Kicking It!
Brian Everett, ABC Group Editorial Director and Publisher Redefining the Road magazine
Within the Women In Trucking (WIT) community, we hear amazing stories of growth and success from woman-owned businesses and the hundreds of companies and government entities who do business with them. For many, entrepreneurship has become a viable means of economic self-sufficiency, and many women are choosing an enterprise connected to transportation to be part of their career aspirations. These companies are making a tremendous difference on the economy and in the lives of many. In fact, woman-owned businesses employ 9.2 million people (which is 8 percent of the total private sector workforce), and they generate $1.8 trillion in revenue (which is 4.3 percent of the total private sector revenue).* Because part of WIT’s mission is to recognize accomplishments of women in the industry, we’re pleased to bring you this edition of Redefining the Road magazine that highlights our 2019 Top Woman-Owned Businesses in Transportation. Criteria used to identify qualified applicants include majority ownership by women, financial stability and growth, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit of women owners. Each company was nominated and chosen based upon business success and accomplishments – including those related to gender diversity.
* Source: 2018 State of WomenOwned Business Report by American Express.
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Several of those making the list are relatively new companies, which makes sense given the fast-developing emerging trend of womanowned businesses in the transportation and logistics industry. Yet there certainly are longstanding woman-owned and led companies like Bennett International, Brenny Transportation, Garner Trucking, Kenco, Rush Trucking, Rihm Family Companies, and Veriha Trucking that have been serving the market for decades. In our cover story, leaders from companies making the list share their advice on how to be successful – from focusing on their workforce needs and securing financial resources and support to expanding the company’s business network and leveraging their woman-owned business status. Congratulations to those Top WomanOwned Businesses who have made the grade!
