ABF names new senior vice presidents

Nov 30, 2005

ABF Freight System has announced the appointments of Chris Baltz, Wes Kemp and Roy Slagle as senior vice presidents; and Judy McReynolds has been named senior vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer of Arkansas Best Corp. All of these promotions are effective on Feb. 1, 2006, and all four persons will report to Robert A. Davidson, president and chief executive officer of Arkansas Best and ABF.

Baltz, named senior vice president of yield management and strategic development, will lead all activity related to pricing, rating, strategic planning, market development and specialized supply chain services. Baltz, who has been with ABF since 1989, most recently has served as vice president of marketing and pricing, with responsibility for pricing, market strategy, new service development, Internet initiatives, advertising and public relations.

Kemp, named senior vice president of operations, has held a variety of positions during his 36-year career with ABF and currently serves as vice president of terminal operations. In his new role, he will be responsible for all areas of operational execution, including terminal and linehaul operations, equipment procurement and maintenance, real estate management and industrial relations. Kemp also will lead ABF’s engineering and safety and security initiatives.

Slagle, a 33-year veteran of the transportation industry, was named senior vice president of sales and marketing, with responsibility for all of ABF’s local and national sales execution and administration. He also will oversee advertising, marketing and public relations initiatives. He has been with ABF for more than 29 years, most recently as vice president and treasurer and vice president of adminstration.

McReynolds has served as Arkansas Best’s vice president and controller since January 2000. She joined Arkansas Best in 1997 after several years in public accounting and two years at another publicly held transportation company.

Arkansas Best, headquartered in Fort Smith, Ark., is a transportation holding company with two primary operating subsidiaries: ABF, a less-than-truckload carrier; and Clipper, an intermodal marketing company utilizing rail and over-the-road transportation.

ABF names new senior vice presidents

Quick spin: Pete's electric Model 579

Trucking's youth movement lagging, but no retirement in sight for most drivers

Transportation a top 10 target of cyberattackers, cases nearly triple last year

Peterbilt powered by Cummins' X15N natural gas engine: How does it compare to diesel?

Download the Heavy Duty Maintenance Checklist

Get all the info on the top 250 trucking companies in America

2024 Freight Economy Outlook