Alaska Trucking Association’S
Annual MEETING AGENDA
MORNING PROGRAM
7:30 – 8:00 AM | Breakfast & Registration
8:00 – 8:05 AM | Welcome & Opening Remarks – Jamie Benson, President & CEO, ATA
8:05 – 8:35 AM | Keynote Address – Chris Spear, President & CEO, American Trucking Associations
8:35 – 8:50 AM | DOT&PF Update – Commissioner Ryan Anderson
8:50 – 9:20 AM | The Retention Toolbox: Skills That Keep Your Best People – Cara Fox, Founder ZenFox Solutions.
9:20 – 10:00 AM | Safe, Productive, Profitable: The Executive’s Role in Safety Leadership – Brian Fielkow, EVP Acrisure Risk Resources
10:00 – 10:15 AM | Vendor & Networking Break #1
10:15 – 10:45 AM | Alaska Resources & the Trucking Industry Panel: Why Trucking Matters. Moderated by Rebecca Logan, CEO The Alaska Support Industry Alliance, Alaska Miners Association-Deantha Skibinski, Executive Director, Alaska Oil & Gas Association-Steve Wackowski, President/CEO, Associated Builders and Contractors - Alicia Maltby, President, Resource Development Council- Connor Hajdukovich, Executive Director
10:45 – 11:30 AM | Project 61: Changing 61 – How Trucking Can Give Drivers Their Lives Back – Jeremy Reymer & Dr. Mark Manera
LUNCH PROGRAM
11:45 AM – 12:45 PM | Lunch provided by Main Event Catering.
11:45 AM – 12:30 PM | Optional Lunch & Learn (Side Room): Human Trafficking Awareness U4PI Karla Forman & Rich Wilson
AFTERNOON PROGRAM
1:00 – 1:30 PM | Port of Alaska Update – Terry Umatum, Port Director, Don Young Port of Alaska
1:30 – 2:00 PM | AKLNG Megaproject & Workforce Outlook – Joey Crum, Northern Industrial Training
2:00 – 2:40 PM | SkillsUSA: Driving Alaska’s Future - Rylee Crum, Zackary Kohler, Bella Winn, Lorelai Lawton
2:40 – 3:00 PM | FMCSA Update – Katherine Hensley
3:00 – 3:15 PM | Vendor & Networking Break #2
3:15 – 3:50 PM | Alaska LNG Project Update - Frank Richards, P.E., President, Alaska Gasline Development Corporation
3:50 – 4:20 PM | ATA Business Meeting & Board Election
EVENING PROGRAM
4:30 – 6:00 PM | Networking Reception-Entertainment provided by Robert Service High School band-catering by Main Event.
Get to know our Speakers
Chris Spear
President/CEO American Trucking Association
Chris Spear is a government relations specialist with over two decades experience on five continents, serving the transportation, energy and defense technology sectors.
Mr. Spear is President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Trucking Associations, advocating public policy on behalf of the nation’s trucking industry. He serves on the Board of Directors for the American Transportation Research Institute and the Trucking Cares Foundation.
Previously, Mr. Spear was Vice President of Government Affairs for Hyundai Motor Company, serving on the Alliance for Automotive Innovation Executive Committee; Senior Vice President of Legislative Affairs for the American Trucking Associations; Vice President of Emerging Markets for Honeywell International, based in Bracknell, United Kingdom; and, Vice President of Honeywell Global Government Relations in Washington, DC and Brussels, Belgium, managing corporate interests in the US, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Central Asia and Latin America.
Mr. Spear served in the US federal government as Deputy Representative for the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq. Prior, he was nominated by President George W. Bush and unanimously confirmed by the US Senate as Assistant Secretary of Labor for Policy. During his appointment, he was the President’s Senior Advisor to the Iraqi Ministry of Labor; Commissioner on the President’s Mental Health Commission; and Executive Committee Member of the US Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board. Before his nomination, Mr. Spear worked as professional staff in the US Senate.
Mr. Spear is a graduate of the Honeywell Executive Development Program, a recipient of Honeywell’s Premier Achievement Award and was awarded the US Department of Defense Joint Civilian Service Medal. He holds a master’s and bachelor’s degree from the University of Wyoming.
ryan anderson
Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF)
Appointed to Commissioner of Department of Transportation & Public Facilities in September 2021, Ryan Anderson, P.E., brings over 25 years of experience in Alaska’s transportation sector. Beginning his career with DOT&PF in 2000 as a construction inspector on projects north of the Arctic Circle, Commissioner Anderson has expertise across all transportation modes, including planning, design, construction, and maintenance operations. A licensed civil engineer since 2003, his leadership extends beyond transportation, serving on the boards of the Alaska Railroad Corporation, the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation, and the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation, ensuring a holistic approach to infrastructure and economic development for Alaska.
cara fox
CTPD, SPHR, Founder of ZenFox Solutions
Cara Fox knows the transportation industry from the inside out. As Director of Talent Development at Carlile Transportation, she built the company's learning and development function from the ground up and designed programs that directly addressed the industry's toughest workforce challenges — from leadership development and driver mentoring to creative talent pipeline strategies for hard-to-fill maintenance roles.
Before Carlile, Cara led HR for Northern Aviation Services and its operating companies — Northern Air Cargo, Northern Air Maintenance Services, Aloha Air Cargo, and StratAir — all within the Saltchuk family of companies. There she helped develop and facilitate the Saltchuk Leadership Development Program across four states, aligning HR strategy with operations across a complex, multi-company transportation enterprise.
Now as founder of ZenFox Solutions, Cara brings 25+ years of hands-on HR and talent development experience to help organizations in transportation, logistics, and beyond solve retention and leadership challenges. A Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD) and Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), she combines data-driven strategy with practical, people-first solutions - because she's sat in the same rooms, wrestled with the same workforce realities, and built programs that actually moved the needle. Born and raised in Alaska, Cara understands the unique challenges and extraordinary opportunities that come with living and working in the Last Frontier - and she brings that perspective to every program she designs.
Brian Fielkow
EVP Risk Resources, Acrisure
Brian Fielkow is Executive Vice President of Risk Resources at Acrisure, where he helps clients strengthen safety cultures and manage risk through practical tools, training, and thought leadership. A former CEO and owner of Houston-based Jetco Delivery, Brian led the transportation and logistics company for more than 16 years, growing it elevenfold through an uncompromising focus on safety and operational excellence. He sold Jetco to private‑equity‑backed The GTI Group in 2019 and remained CEO through May 2022. An international speaker and author, Brian has written two books on leadership and safety culture, with a third, Making Safety Happen, scheduled for release in June 2026. He holds a JD from Northwestern University and a BA from the University of Wisconsin.
Acrisure is one of the largest financial services firms in the U.S, a global fintech leader and business platform that unites Auris - Acrisure's proprietary AI - with trusted human advisors to deliver integrated customized solutions to clients across the globe. By merging entrepreneurial spirit with deep expertise across business and insurance solutions, we’re putting the world’s top products and services into the hands of successful and sophisticated businesses and individuals.
rebecca logan
CEO Alaska Support Industry Alliance
Rebecca Logan is the CEO of the Alaska Support Industry Alliance, a 47-year-old professional trade association representing more than 500 companies and 35,000 employees who support Alaska’s oil, gas, and mining industries. She moved to Alaska 37 years ago after graduating from the University of Oklahoma, where she went on to raise her family, own several restaurants in Anchorage, and become actively involved in statewide politics.
Rebecca has spent the past 16 years with the Alliance, where she discovered a deep passion for advocating responsible resource development as the foundation of Alaska’s economy and a driver of long-term prosperity for its communities.
Most recently, she led the effort to establish the Alaska Oil and Gas Historical Society, dedicated to preserving and sharing the state’s rich industry history and supporting the development of an Alaska Oil and Gas Museum.
Deantha Skibinski
Executive Director, Alaska Miners Association Biography
Deantha was born and raised in Anchorage and Big Lake, Alaska.
Deantha has been the Executive Director of AMA for 12 years. Previously she served on the staff of the Resource Development Council, where she advocated for the mining and tourism industries and managed efforts on the cruise ship head tax and mining shutdown ballot initiative campaigns, and administered the Alaska Alliance for Cruise Travel, an organization promoting tourism businesses benefitting from visitors to our state.
Deantha serves on the Board of the Armed Services YMCA of Alaska, an organization dedicated to supporting military members and their families. She has served on past Governors’ Transition Teams, is a recipient of the Top Forty Under 40 award, and was a delegate to the first-ever Conference of Young Alaskans.
Deantha is married to Mark, an Alaska Airlines pilot, and in their spare time they can be found involved in kids’ sports or at their family home in Big Lake.
Steve Wackowski
President/CEO Alaska Oil and Gas Association
Steve is a lifelong Alaskan whose career has spanned military service, resource development, and public policy. Before joining AOGA, he led Communications for Santos’ Alaska Business Unit, helping advance the Pikka development and supporting exploration and infrastructure efforts across the North Slope. Steve also serves as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Alaska Air National Guard, where he commands the 176th Communications Squadron.
His background includes senior roles in federal and state government, private-sector natural-resource work, and extensive engagement with communities across Alaska. Steve holds a deep appreciation for Alaska’s energy sector and the Alaskans who make it run and is honored to lead AOGA’s mission at a pivotal time for the state.
When he’s not working, Steve enjoys spending time with his family, coaching his three boys’ sports teams, exploring Alaska’s backcountry with a fishing pole or hunting rifle, and staying involved in his local community.
Alicia Maltby
President/CEO Associated Builders and Contractors
Alicia Maltby is an accomplished professional with extensive experience supporting Alaska’s business, hospitality, and construction industries. She has held key roles with Associated Builders and Contractors, the Alaska Hotel and Lodging Association, and CHARR, where she developed a reputation for strong leadership, operational excellence, and a deep commitment to member-focused advocacy.
Recognized for her strategic mindset and collaborative approach, Alicia excels at building organizational relationships, enhancing processes, and delivering results that advance both mission and industry goals. Her ability to blend analytical insight with effective communication allows her to navigate complex challenges and contribute meaningfully to the success of each organization she serves.
Alicia previously devoted significant time to community service, volunteering with the South High Basketball Booster Club and supporting various local non-profit organizations. Her volunteer work supported youth programs, fundraising efforts, and broader community engagement initiatives.
Beyond her professional achievements, Alicia is the proud mother of four boys, who inspired her deep love for the sport of baseball. Her experience as a sports parent has shaped her appreciation for youth athletics, teamwork, and community involvement.
Alicia’s integrity, professionalism, and dedication to continuous growth have established her as a trusted and respected contributor across the organizations and communities she supports.
Connor Hajdukovich
Executive Director Resource Development Council for Alaska
Connor Hajdukovich is the Executive Director of the Resource Development Council for Alaska (RDC). He has nearly a decade of federal and state policy experience, including serving as a legislative aide to U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan and later as a contractor in the Office of the Secretary of Defense advising on legislative policy. Prior to leading RDC, he served as its External Affairs and Policy Coordinator. Connor grew up in Fairbanks and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. He also serves on the Velocity board and was named Alaska’s Top Forty Under 40 in 2026.
Terry Umatum
Director Port of Alaska
Terry Umatum is Director of the Port of Alaska, the state’s largest cargo port and a central hub in Alaska’s supply chain. Located in Anchorage, the port handles approximately 75 percent of the goods entering Alaska and moves fuel, food, construction materials, and other essential supplies that reach communities across the state and serve roughly 90 percent of Alaska’s population. In this role, Umatum oversees the operations and long-term development of one of Alaska’s most important public infrastructure assets.
Umatum brings more than two decades of experience in transportation, logistics, and supply chain management across Alaska. He previously worked at Estes Express Lines, the largest privately held freight carrier in North America, and spent a decade at Carlile Transportation, where he oversaw a nationwide sales team responsible for more than $160 million in annual revenue and managed relationships with Fortune 500 companies including ConocoPhillips, Walgreens, and Home Depot.
A U.S. Navy veteran who served aboard the USS Peleliu, Umatum volunteers with Special Olympics Alaska and previously served on the board of the Armed Services YMCA.
Joey crum
President & CEO of Northern Industrial Training, LLC (NIT)
Joey Crum serves as the President & CEO of Northern Industrial Training, LLC (NIT). NIT is Alaska’s premier vocational skills training organization and workforce solution, grounded by Five Anchors: Respect, Professionalism, Integrity, Consistency and the Will to Succeed. NIT serves Alaskans from and in every corner of the state, recognizing that a highly trained, critical thinking workforce is in demand and paramount to our economy, security and future. He believes in the value of education and holds several vocational certificates as well as a masters and juris doctorate.
He is a Department of the Air Force Civic Leader, member of the Civilian Advocacy Board for Alaskan Command, he engages regularly with local, state and federal leaders on initiatives that promote service members quality of life and post service entrance into the workforce such as licensure reciprocity and organizational connections. Joey is a regent for the University of Alaska System and a board member of the American and Alaskan Trucking Associations. He has previously served as: the chair of the board of My House, the chair of Alaska Unlimited, the chair of the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education and was recognized as the Civic Leader of the Year by the Armed Services YMCA of Alaska.
Joey has dedicated his professional life to workforce development and helping ensure others get the opportunities he was blessed to receive.
Frank Richards
P.E., President, Alaska Gasline Development Corporation
Mr. Richards is a registered professional civil engineer with more than 32 years of experience developing large-scale infrastructure, power, mining, and oil development projects. He oversees development and execution of all AGDC projects. He came to AGDC after serving as the deputy federal coordinator for Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Projects. He earned a B.S. in civil engineering from the University of Maine.
Jeremy Reymer
Founder of Project 61
Jeremy Reymer is a trucking industry leader with 20+ years of experience on both the carrier and vendor sides, focused on recruiting, retention, safety and compliance, and driver health. In 2016, he founded DriverReach, a driver recruiting and compliance technology platform acquired by Tenstreet in 2025, and for 4.5 years he hosted the popular weekly podcast Taking the Hire Road.
In late 2024, he founded PROJECT 61, a 501(c)(3) movement named for a hard truth: the average life expectancy of a CDL driver is just 61 years, and he now leads the effort full time to tackle this epidemic and improve driver health and longevity.
Mark manera
President & Chief Health Officer of Project 61
Dr. Mark Manera is the President & Chief Health Officer of Project 61, the national 501(c)(3) nonprofit on a mission to rewrite the future of driver health. As a Doctor of Physical Therapy, Mark saw firsthand the toll a lifetime of trucking can have on a person’s health. He founded Offshift, a digital health company that helped trucking companies cut down healthcare costs, reduce risk, and improve lives by preventing and managing obesity-related chronic diseases. Following its acquisition by Project 61, he now leads the charge to put a free, proven health program & platform into the hands of every driver in North America.