Logistics Expert & Supply Chain Industry Leader
Empowering Women In Logistics Perfect Career *Campus* Conference Speaker
Booking Inquiries: Email Roquitacoleman @gmail.com
Roquita Coleman Williams
MEDIA KIT RailroaderVisionary Motivator Author Mentor www.livewhilemakingaliving.com
Roquita Coleman Williams
Female empowerment advocate
SPEAKER EXPERTISE • • •
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2nd Annual Fedex Women in Leadership 360 Summit “Success Principles of Leadership” Cargo Logistics Canada Expo Vancouver BC “How Deep is the Bench” Hilton Worldwide’s Celebration of Women of Character, Courage and Commitment “How a Chip on your Shoulder Can Make You Fall” Southeast Freight Conference “Women in Logistics” Transload Distribution Association Conference “What Rail Means to Memphis” Intermodal Freight Transportation Institute “Women Leading In Logistics” 4th Annual Memphis Multimodal Conference “The Memphis Advantage: 5 Class 1 Railroads” City of Memphis Youth Symposium “Preparing Youth for Future Job Opportunities with the Railroad” Loving Me Rocks Conference “Gearing up for College” Saturdays with Singletary Women’s Empowerment Radio Show “Developing the Support System You Need To “Lean In” Youth About Business “Deciding, Developing and Demonstrating the Idea of You Through Social Media” Youth About Business Event “The Power of an Idea” Mayor Wharton Ambassador Leadership Program "Social Media with a Purpose” Follow your Dreams Conference Sponsored by Memphis Urban League -“Making Mistakes on Purpose”
Roquita’s speaking tour is designed to open new doors for women to engage with the transportation industry. Her goal is to empower women already employed in the industry to look forward and attain higher positions. For those shaping or considering careers, she intends open the door for them to learn and embrace the career opportunities available to them in the transportation logistics industry. Her invited speech at the Fed Ex 360 Leadership Summit sealed the pending decision to embark on this pathway. “I was so excited and so energized when I attended the Fed Ex Women’s Leadership Summit. There were more than 400 women there from all over the world, from every industry. It was more than an epiphany. It was a rocket boost.” Her forward thinking vision also identifies an unexplored need. “This is a completely male dominated industry, so as I began to envision advancement and wanted to learn how to prepare myself to advance, I found myself facing a maze. My first company had a very well established mentoring program for women, and I was very fortunate to benefit from it, leading to launching, building and expanding in my region over my 9 career there.” But, as with so many opportunities, she welcomes the opportunity to create new growth by offering herself as proof that an unopened door is not necessarily a blocked route. “But there are so many women without that opportunity. And with the importance of logistics in the world marketplace, I’m on a mission to empower women to learn and capture the opportunities available for them in this industry. I have had conversations with many women based in the US side of the business and the majority have expressed to me that they the same way. There is a mentorship void that should be filled,and many don’t know how to develop themselves to be management ready.” She is available to bring the bottom line truth. “The feminine perspective is a valuable commodity we are not maximizing. This was an area of concern for me when I began and there is growth available not only for the individuals, but for the industry.”
CAMPUS CONFERENCE SPEAKER Although Roquita manages a pretty full schedule, in her down time she enjoys reading a book, meditation or maintaining her Bikram (Hot) Yoga practice. She is currently writing a book of her experience as a "business yogi" and shares insightful posts on Facebook and Instagram under: #livewhilemakingaliving #thecareerclimb #frontlinesofabattlewithayogamat
www.livewhilemakingaliving.com
Roquita Coleman Williams
Roquita Coleman-Williams “4is respected nationwide as a diligent, next level professional with a track record of identifying visionary initiatives and making them work. Now, she is expanding her unique imprint to alert women, students and industry professionals of the possibilities the logistics industry offers.”
BIO As a Solutions Manager for CN Railroad, Roquita Coleman-Williams occupies a unique position as a key professional in the nation’s international intermodal shipping industry. Now approaching her third decade as a cargo mover, this multi-faceted industry professional wants to empower more people to realize the potential future available to them in the backbone of commerce, transportation and logistics.
To do so, Roquita has created a professional speaking tour geared to upper level high schools, college campuses, corporate seminars and executive enhancement events. She has a story worth sharing that could prove of great value. Williams career began at UPS at age 20. She was a single mother determined to break the implied molds she faced personally and professionally. The floor level results of her motivating, high energy, laser sharp focus led to her being assigned to UPS positions in Decatur, IL, Memphis TN and Atlanta, GA where she produced consistent, solid results. The young UPS supervisor's first significant innovation was to form her in-house customer support group into a revenue generating sales division. The bottom line growth was achieved by instructing her team in proactive sales strategy and sales negotiation. Her coaching displayed a clear talent for maximizing hidden opportunity and business development leadership. She continued her progression from a supervisory role to a senior management position in less than 5 years. She was promoted to Regional Business Development Manager for a financial division of UPS. At UPS Capital, she directed a 30 member team tasked with integrating risk mitigation and cash flow delivery solutions with common carrier portfolio. Three years of her insightful direction created division leading revenue, improved the training process into a more streamlined effort adopted for other teams, and sustainable differentiation and value to UPS customers. From UPS, Roquita transitioned to CN Railroad, where she discovered that she truly enjoyed railroading’s tactile impact. Classified as a Class 1 Railway, CN is the only transcontinental rail network in North America, offering connections to 3 coasts via the largest rail network in Canada; 20,600 miles of track. Recognition continues to define her as a visionary asset CN has been proud to display. Now, the delivery target is to share her story as an example of opportunity available in an industry every citizen in every nation depends upon—logistics.
www.livewhilemakingaliving.com
Roquita Coleman Williams
SUPPLY CHAIN SOLUTIONS Manager Roquita manages the daily shipping of tons of freight from pick up to delivery over CN’s intricate network. She has accomplished winning strategies within common carrier, international, air freight, rail, domestic and international intermodal, NVOCC, ocean freight, cargo insurance, credit insurance and other financial services. Her work has achieved notable portfolio results: 25% increase in freight forwarding revenues; $37+ million via development and execution of international sales campaigns for CN’s new Indianapolis intermodal service, US automotive and US/Canadian retail market; $17 million market win for the automotive division; 15% network balance increase for Mexico northbound delivery.
INDUSTRY AUTHOR Roquita has penned a 28 page toolkit on trucking and a 48 page toolkit on warehousing and distribution that have become formal CN SCS publications incorporated into new sales manager training and on-boarding.
INNOVATOR Roquita constantly raises awareness across the Fortune 500 as an advocate of the “Memphis Logistics Advantage” as a value added strength for CN’s connectivity to global markets. Coupled with her productivity, her advocacy has garnered several specific plum appointments. In 2010, she successfully assembled and moderated the Multimodal Conferences’very first panel representing all 5 of her city’s Class 1 Railroads. In 2011 she established precedents as the first African American President of the 70 year old Memphis WorldTrade Club. In 2012, as Chairman of the Southeast Freight Conference, she invited CN CEO Claude Mongeau as keynote speaker, creating a welcomed branding opportunity for CN to spread its message across the Southern Region. -Mayoral Appointment to Board of Commissioners, Memphis Area Transit Authority -Speaker, FedEx 2015 Women’s Leadership Summit - Speaker, Hilton Corporate Women's Empowerment Conference -Nominee, 2014 CN Corporate Services Vision Award -Ambassador Member, Female Society of Transportation professionals -Board Member, Political Action Committee -Board Member, Memphis In May International Festival -1st African American & 1st Rail Industry President, Memphis World Trade Club -Chairman, 2011 Southeast Freight Conference -Executive Producer & Moderator, Multimodal Conference
www.livewhilemakingaliving.com
InDUSTRY AMBASSODOR Roquita Coleman-Williams has been interviewed and featured nationally, on her expertise in international trade and her role as an industry trailblazer.
www.livewhilemakingaliving.com
Roquita Coleman Williams
portfolio Roquita Has Been Featured In The Following Media: • • • • • • •
Cargo Business News Commercial Appeal FedEx Conference Memphis Business Journal Progressive Railroading Magazine RSVP Magazine The New Tri-State Defender
Top 40 Under 40 1st African American President of Memphis World Trade Club Speaker, FedEx 360 Leadership Summit Mayor Appointment to Board of Commissioners, Memphis Area Transit Authority
www.livewhilemakingaliving.com
Roquita Coleman Williams
Book roquita Facebook.com/roquita.coleman Roquitacoleman@gmail.com Instagram.com/roquita.coleman Twitter.com/rcalicocoleman Linkedin.com/in/roquitacoleman Visit Roquita’s Official Website at www.livewhilemakingaliving.com. For Press Related Inquiries or if you are interested in booking Roquita Coleman Williams for future speaking engagements, contact her at 901.598.7139 or send an email to roquitacoleman@gmail.com.
RAILROADER VISIONARY MOTIVATOR AUTHOR MENTOR
Roquita Coleman Williams
TESTIMONIALS
We were honored to have Roquita Coleman participate in the Hilton Worldwide Women's History Month celebration in 2014. On a panel consisting of amazing, bright, successful, accomplished and personable women, Roquita was a shining star! Her engaging honesty about her career successes, and maybe more importantly, missteps left a lasting impression. Her insights into women succeeding in the business world were strengthened by personal experiences working and being promoted in a male-dominated field. A year later Hilton women were still referencing her comments and her appearance and relating her experiences to their own career steps. As a further testament, their male counterparts remembered and absorbed her comments! Roquita was a key component in our successful panel, and Hilton team member resource groups have her on the invite list for future speaking events. Denise Carpenter VP & Managing Director NW Region Hilton Worldwide
I’ve had the pleasure of working with Roquita in various capacities for several years now in the conference business, including featuring her in public speaking roles where she has expertly and keenly focused on the challenges and opportunities for women in logistics and transportation, plus diversity in the workplace. Aside from her strong presentation skills, Roquita is able to speak directly from her experience as a woman of color who has risen in the ranks of the transportation industry. I heartily recommend her and hope to utilize her speaking talents again. The Entire Supply Chain Under One Roof At North America’s only Multimodal Shows Peter Hurme Show Director & Editor Cargo Logistics America Cargo Logistics Canada An Informa Business "She works tirelessly as a mentor and teacher always taking the time to lend her voice, her talent and time to those seeking to either start their career or move it forward. I first became acquainted with Roquita while she was serving as the President of Memphis World Trade Club. The organization flourished under her leadership paving the way for others to take advantage of the career opportunities Memphis provides...." Cheryl Burch Citrone Vaco Logistics Executive Search Roquita is an extremely passionate champion for the Supply Chain industry and more importantly, the workforce behind the industry. She is dedicated CN employee with her commitment to make not only the industry better but the community in which CN has a major presence in. She is involved in numerous organizations to make the Memphis region a better place to live and do business within. She is extremely connected throughout the industry and continually strives to make the industry better and more efficient. In addition to these outstanding qualities, she is also passionate about the next generation of workforce and extremely involved with networking, mentoring and coaching the next generation of leaders to the industry. Her relentless dedication to the industry will have impact for years to come which is one of the greatest compliments I can give her. Dan Pallme, Director of Transportation Leadership at University of Memphis
The Raves Are In! We've had so many talented speakers over our 27 year history however, none of them have held our audience spell bound as you did! Everyone left with new exciting concepts on college and careers. Your presentations are ALWAYS bold and exciting. You touched on some very deep spiritual truths about life after high school, but wove them into a fine and palatable fabric for some that may have not been introduced to such ideas. I hope that you will join us next year! Dr. Tavis Wade-Jones MDL Inc- Executive Director
www.livewhilemakingaliving.com
Roquita Coleman Williams
RailroaderVisionary Motivator Author Mentor www.livewhilemakingaliving.com