PRESENTERS
KEYNOTE
DR. LAURIE SANTOS
Dr. Laurie Santos is a psychologist and an expert on human cognition, its origins, and the evolutionary biases that influence our all-too imperfect life choices. Her work centers around how behavioral change through positive psychology can lead to a happier and more fulfilling life. She is the Chandrika and Ranjan Tandon Professor of Psychology and the former Head of Silliman College at Yale University. Her course, Psychology and the Good Life, teaches what the science of psychology says about how to make wiser choices for a better life. The class is Yale’s most popular course in over 300 years and has been adapted into a free Coursera program that has been taken by over 4 million people to date.
Dr. Santos is the host of the podcast, The Happiness Lab. She makes the case that humans are drastically wrong about what makes us happy and often do the exact opposite of what will make our lives better. Based on her incredibly popular course at Yale, she presents the latest scientific research in effort to help listeners rethink happiness and guide them toward their best lives. Launched in 2019, the podcast has been downloaded over 100 million times. From her research, Santos speaks to how we are biologically programmed to be motivated by sex, to be deeply influenced by other people, and to repeat our mistakes. Using evidence from the animal kingdom to help explain our sometimes illogical behaviors, she provides advice on how to engage our uniquely human faculties to counteract evolution and lead better lives. Dr. Santos has been featured in numerous news outlets including the New York Times, NBC Nightly News, The Today Show, CBS This Morning, NPR, GQ Magazine, Slate, CNN and Oprah Magazine. Dr. Santos is a winner of numerous awards both for her science and teaching from institutions such as Yale and the American Psychological Association. She has been featured as one of Popular Science’s “Brilliant 10” and was named TIME’s “Leading Campus Celebrity.”
KEYNOTE
JOSH LINKNER
On the business front, he’s been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which created over 10,000 jobs and sold for a combined value of over $200 million. He’s the co-founder and Managing Partner of Muditā (moo-DEE-tah) Venture Partners - an early-stage venture capital firm investing in groundbreaking technologies. Over the last 30 years, he’s helped over 100 startups launch and scale, creating over $1 billion in investor returns. He’s twice been named the EY Entrepreneur of The Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. While proud of his business success, his roots are in the dangerous world of jazz music. He’s been playing guitar in smoky jazz clubs for 40 years, studied at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, and has performed over 1000 concerts around the world. His experiences in both business and music led him to become one of the world’s foremost experts on innovation. Josh is the co-founder and Chairman of Platypus Labs, a global research, training, and consulting firm. Today, he’s on a mission to help leaders Find A Way™ through creative problem-solving, inventive thinking, and ingenuity.
MARK ROLING
COTTINGHAM & BUTLER
Mark Roling is the Senior Vice President in the Transportation Group at Cottingham & Butler. As Senior Vice President and co-practice leader of the Transportation division, Mark’s primary role is to oversee sales, marketing and service functions within the division. Mark’s area of expertise includes Property & Casualty coverages and alternative risk solutions, as well as, developing and executing sales strategy for the practice. Prior to becoming the Vice President, Mark was the Chief Sales Officer for three years, where he facilitated the delivery of value to clients by sales executives in all divisions. He was also a Sales Executive and Sales Manager in the Transportation Division for five years.
ANTHONY SMITH
REALTOR.COM
Anthony is an applied economist with over a decade of experience analyzing housing, construction, and building product markets. Before joining Realtor.com®️, he served as Chief Economist at FreightWaves, blending real-time economic analysis with media and content creation. He led a team of researchers and analysts, delivering timely insights on housing and supply chain trends to industry leaders and national audiences.
Earlier in his career, Anthony worked as an economist in the forestry and building products sectors, analyzing regional housing demand, construction inputs, and pricing dynamics. He also advised Fortune 500 and private equity firms on market trends and strategic planning tied to the housing cycle.
Anthony earned his Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Economics from New Mexico State University, where he was also a Division I football student-athlete. He is based in Austin, Texas.
DEAN CROKE
DAT
Prior to joining DAT Solutions as a Market Analyst, Dean was Chief Insight Officer at FreightWaves where he led the freight market intelligence team of Market Experts. Prior to that he was Vice President of Data Products at Spireon where he helped develop new telematics data products in the trucking, passenger automotive and insurance markets. Dean also ran Lancer’s long-haul truck insurance business after spending many years as Vice President of Omnitracs Analytics (formerly Qualcomm) where he developed Data Science technologies including machine learning, complex business rules engines and data analytics for transportation companies.
Croke was one of the original founders of Atlanta-based FleetRisk Advisors (purchased by Qualcomm and now called now Omnitracs Analytics) and has 35 years of experience in data analytics, transportation, supply chain management, mining and insurance risk management. Originally from a family-owned and operated trucking business in Australia, Dean is still actively involved in the trucking business and having completed nearly 2 million miles in Australia as a long-distance truck driver, Croke also owns a 379 Peterbilt show truck known as “The Grumpy Pete” (an ex-Werner fleet truck) and still holds a U.S. Commercial Driver License(CDL) making him uniquely experienced in the field of data science, supply chain management, risk management and human performance.
Prior to FleetRisk Advisors Croke worked at Lancer Insurance in New York City in 2003 where he developed the widely acclaimed “Risk Never Sleeps” sleep management program for commercial drivers” – a unique approach to managing sleep as opposed to fatigue. Croke has held a number of senior positions at Boston-based Circadian Technologies Inc., global insurer Allianz, regional insurer OAMPS, and was also General Manager of the Australian Trucking Association (ATA) where he played a key role in the development of the TruckSafe and Fatigue Management Program – both alternative compliance programs which have been evidenced in the FMCSA’s recent “Beyond Compliance” initiative.
DAN HORVATH
ATA
Dan Horvath is the Chief Operating Officer at the American Trucking Associations, assuming the position in July 2025. In this role, Dan oversees ATA operations, including membership, events, marketing, industry affairs, and human resources, while remaining engaged in ATA’s day-to-day advocacy efforts.
Dan joined ATA in March of 2018 as Director of Safety Policy after more than five years as Director of Compliance and Safety at TransForce Inc. Prior to that role, Dan was a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration auditor, examining new commercial carriers for regulatory compliance. Before his time at FMCSA, Dan spent several years as a driver and in the operations and safety department at Mlaker Transportation Inc., a Pennsylvania-based motor coach and student transportation company. In September 2018, Dan was promoted to Vice President of Safety Policy, and in November 2023 to Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Safety Policy. In these roles, he represented ATA and its regulatory affairs agenda before federal and state government regulators and various non-governmental organizations.
Dan, a proud CDL holder, is a 2017 graduate of the LEAD ATA program, a long-time volunteer at the National Truck Driving Championships, and serves on multiple Federal Advisory Committees, including FMCSA’s Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee.
JIM WARD
TCA
Jim currently serves as the President of the Truckload Carriers Association. He began his transportation career in 1978 working for the Western Maryland Railroad before leaving to work for D.M. Bowman in January 1986. Jim served as Managing Director of the Transportation Industry Division for Willis of Nashville, TN starting in 1992 before returning to D.M. Bowman, Inc. in 1999, where he most recently served as President until March 2022.
Jim and his wife, Starla, will be celebrating 44 years of marriage this year. They have two sons, Jason (spouse Kim) and Keith (spouse Sara), a grandson, Aden, and granddaughter Mila.
Jim has a variety of interests, among those are outdoor activities, travel, reading, and most importantly, spending time with his family.
RYAN STREBLOW
NTTC
Ryan Streblow is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Tank Truck Carriers (NTTC), a position he has held since June 2021. He is only the fifth person to serve in this role in the association’s 76-year history. Before being named CEO, Ryan served as NTTC’s Executive Vice President, where he played a key role in reshaping the organization’s membership strategy and deepening its engagement with the tank truck industry. He originally joined NTTC in 2016 as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, focusing on membership growth and financial sustainability.
Ryan brings more than two decades of experience in the transportation sector. He began his career in 2001 with Veolia Environmental Services, where he managed sales operations in Wisconsin, before moving to J. J. Keller & Associates in 2004. At J. J. Keller, he advanced through several leadership roles, ultimately overseeing corporate business development and expanding the company’s reach within the transportation industry. His background in both operations and business development provided him with a strong foundation to lead NTTC’s strategic direction.
Throughout his career, Ryan has been an active participant in the broader trucking community. He has served on numerous industry boards and committees, including the American Trucking Association’s Image and Communications Committee, the National Private Truck Council Board of Governors, the Truckload Carriers Association, and the Allied Committee for the Trucking Industry. In his role at NTTC, he has become a strong advocate for safety, regulatory efficiency, and workforce development. He has also represented the association in high-level policy discussions, including a White House roundtable focused on addressing the nationwide driver shortage and strengthening the trucking workforce.
KAREN SMERCHEK
VERIHA TRUCKING
Karen grew up in the transportation world with her father founding Veriha Trucking in 1978. Her upbringing and childhood experiences provided Karen with resilience and an internal drive for success at an early age. Since 2005 Karen has worked with Veriha Trucking in numerous capacities. Serving as President since 2010 and receiving recognition as a WBE in 2012.
Karen holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh and a MBA from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee. She worked in public accounting prior to making the transition back to transportation. She currently serves as Chairman for the Truckload Carriers Association.
Under Karen’s leadership Veriha Trucking has experienced continued growth and continues to support customers that have been with the company since day one. Veriha has also embraced training the next generation of truck drivers by opening the Veriha Driving Academy which is open to all industries that require a CDL. Students from the program have been recognized for their success at the national level with Fastport’s Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence Award.
Karen is focused on making a positive impact on those around her and encouraging others to step outside of their comfort zone. By doing so, the culture at Veriha is based on personal development, opening up endless opportunities for Veriha associates and the organization as a whole.
SCOTT CORNELL
TRAVELERS
Scott Cornell, VP, National Practice Lead, Transportation and Crime & Theft Specialist, has been with Travelers for 24 years and currently leads the Cargo/Transportation division. Prior to his current role, he conducted investigations for 29 years, specializing in cargo theft and transportation, internal theft, embezzlement, and corporate investigations.
Scott lead the effort in creating a fully dedicated cargo theft unit for Travelers in [2005], known as the Special Investigations Group (SIG). He is also a co-inventor of multiple patented processes for methods and systems that provide customized risk mitigation and recovery solutions to insurance customers. He and the SIG team regularly partner with law enforcement and cargo task forces nationwide. Since 2009, the SIG team has recovered over $100 million in stolen cargo for Travelers clients.
Scott currently serves as the Chairman of the Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA).
He is a recognized expert in cargo theft and prevention, having been an instructor and speaker at numerous industry engagements, including the American Trucking Associations (ATA), International Association of Special Investigation Units (IASIU), Miami Dade PD Cargo, Midwest Cargo Summit, Texas Cargo Summit, Trucking Industry Defense Association (TIDA), Truckload Carriers Association (TCA), Transportation Loss Control (TLC), Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA), and the National Cargo Theft Law Enforcement Summit.
Scott's expertise has been featured in prominent media outlets such as CNBC, CBS MoneyWatch, Vice TV, NBC News Now, Yahoo Finance and the New York Post.
GREG FEARY
SCOPELITIS
Greg Feary is president and a managing partner of the Scopelitis Law Firm. He focuses on laws regarding transportation and related industries, including independent contractor issues, legislation, insurance, corporate structure designs, and contract matters. He also serves as a primary contact for mergers and acquisitions due diligence work and advises on corporate structure and risk mitigation issues.
He has created and counseled many captive insurance companies. Additional services Feary provides include:
-
Auditing independent contractor programs
-
Providing legislative support on independent contractor issues
-
Counsel regarding alternative risk programs, including single and group captive insurers, risk retention groups, and various self-insurance and self-insured retention programs
-
Insurance audits
-
Supervision of litigation in the areas of premium disputes and specialized transportation insurance coverage controversies, including those involving occupational accident insurance
-
Designing independent contractor programs
-
Defending independent contractor disputes
DANIEL POWELL
OPTIMAL DYNAMICS
Daniel combines deep expertise in data and analytics along with a passion for solving complex logistics challenges. Committed to modernizing legacy operations, Daniel champions automated decision-making to drive transformative change across the industry. As CEO of Optimal Dynamics, Daniel is bringing to life some of the most powerful use cases of AI in the industry and is ready to share them at this year's Transportation Summit.
BRUCE MEHLMAN
MEHLMAN CONSULTING
Bruce Mehlman leads the bipartisan firm he founded after serving at senior levels in politics, policy and business. Mehlman Consulting helps Fortune 500 companies and innovative startups understand, anticipate and navigate the everevolving policy environment and trends likely to impact the global marketplace.
A highly sought-after speaker, Mehlman frequently presents to Boards of Directors, global conferences and strategic planning sessions. Mehlman is an adjunct business school professor with the Washington Campus and has lectured on “winning business–government relations” at the Harvard Kennedy School, Yale School of Management and Georgetown University, among others.
Mehlman’s quarterly updates on political trends are widely-read by business leaders and political observers across the country and have been frequently covered in leading publications, including the Washington Post, Axios, Politico, CNN, Fortune, the Daily Caller and UVA Center for Politics. Bruce’s Age of Disruption Sunday Substack reaches tens of thousands of readers in business, government, and investment.
Mehlman previously held the post of Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Technology Policy, having been nominated by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2001. Before Commerce, he worked as the lead tech and telecom lobbyist for Cisco Systems, Policy Director and General Counsel to the House Republican Conference under Rep. J.C. Watts (R-OK) and General Counsel to the National Republican Congressional Committee.
Mehlman is widely regarded as an expert in running issue campaigns, managing Csuite associations and developing strategies that achieve impactful policy outcomes. He concurrently serves as Executive Director of the Technology CEO Council and Co-Chairman of the Internet Innovation Alliance.
GREGORY BAUTISTA
MULLEN LAW
Gregory Bautista, a Partner at Mullen Coughlin, is an experienced cybersecurity attorney and civil litigator. With deep knowledge about the unique and evolving data privacy and security landscape, Greg is routinely sought after by organizations for advice on data privacy and security issues.
Over the last decade, Greg has counseled hundreds of organizations through the response and investigation into all types of data privacy and security incidents, providing a steady and guiding hand during their most difficult days as they navigate through the recovery, investigation and communication of the incident to protect their business’ financials, data and reputation.
Greg also counsels organizations in responding to inquiries from state and federal regulators, including various state Attorneys Generals; insurance commissioners; the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); the U.S. Department of Education; the Federal Trade Commission (FTC); and the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS). He also assists organizations on their data privacy and information security compliance, providing pre-incident Advisory Compliance services such as incident response planning and tabletop exercises.
Greg’s clients primarily include small- to mid-size organizations representing a wide range of industry group sectors, including professional services; financial services & insurance; healthcare and life sciences; manufacturing and distribution; retail/e-commerce; hospitality and entertainment; public entities; education; and nonprofit.
Greg is a Certified Information Privacy Professional/United States (CIPP/US) and a member of the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP). In 2017, Greg was recognized as a 40 Under 40 Rising Star by the Business Council of Westchester.
TOMMY HODGES
TITAN TRANSFER AND GOGGIN WAREHOUSING
Born in Nashville, TN and graduated from Donelson High School and University of Tennessee at Nashville. Married to Dean Helton Hodges and father to Amanda Hodges Cranford and Tom Hodges.
The "journey" into trucking began on a Dock at Tennessee Carolina Transportation (TCT) in 1965. Learning in 1966 to drive a tractor-trailer and was a city driver for TCT until 1970. Uncle Sam beckoned two years were spent in the Army, serving in Viet Nam as A Military Policeman 1968-1969. After military service, the management career began with a position with TCT as a dock supervisor/dispatcher.
In 1976, a company change was made, going to work for Spector Freight Systems as a salesman and subsequently held various positions in the transportation industry, from sales manager, terminal manager, Vice President of Sales, President and Owner.
Tommy is currently involved in our industry through several professional organizations. Served as Chairman of the Tennessee Trucking Association with two separate terms and continues to serve as the Chairman of the Tennessee Trucking Foundation. He is a Past Chairman(2010) of the American Trucking Associations, and is currently the Treasurer of the Trucking Cares Foundation arm of ATA. He headed up ATA's Sustainability Task Force to develop a platform for an environmentally sustainable trucking industry. Also, he served on the board of directors of Southern Motor Carriers (SMC3) in Atlanta GA for over 20 years. He has served as an Elder at the Fairlane Church or Christ in Shelbyville, TN and former Chairman of the Tennessee Children's Home in Spring Hill TN.
Business interests include heading up his "family" of companies: Goggin Warehousing LLC; Titan Transfer, Inc.; HEC Leasing, Inc; Titan Transfer Logistics, Inc.: and SIM Transportation and Warehousing, Inc. and Goggin Cold Haul Services, LLC.
RYAN FLYNN
TCI COMPANIES
As President of TCI, Ryan Flynn is equal parts strategy and execution, spearheading Finance, Operations, HR, and Recruiting, as well as helping steer TCI’s Dedicated Sales and Brokerage divisions.
With a degree in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and over 20 years of experience within the trucking industry, Ryan has mastered the arts of Dedicated Transportation Systems, Freight Brokerage, Operations Management, Freight Transportation, and Enterprise Software. His hands-on approach to doing business is what his team, customers, partners, and suppliers all appreciate most.
Ryan’s first job at TCI was picking up trash along the perimeter of the Commerce property. Since then, he became committed to understanding the entire scope of the business, working in the shop, rental department, and sales department, as a driver, and even moonlighting as a night dispatcher and branch manager. Through the breadth of these roles, his understanding of the company’s strengths and weaknesses internally is unmatched.
Ryan is a former Board Member at American Trucking and Transportation Insurance Company, Truckload Carriers Association Benchmarking Group, and Arizona Trucking Association. He is a Trustee for the Aquarium of the Pacific, and an active member of NationaLease, the American Trucking Association, California Trucking Association, Truck Leasing and Renting Association, and Truckload Carriers Association.
Ryan lives in Manhattan Beach with his wife, daughter, and 2 sons. He is family-focused, occasionally spontaneous, and is everywhere his kids are.
MIKE CAFARELLI
ASCEND TRANSPORTATION
Mike Cafarelli, a native of Salt Lake City, Utah, is renowned for his decades-long commitment to excellence in leadership and service. Born to Patrick and Mary Lou Cafarelli, Mike's journey from the heartland of Utah to his current standing as a respected industry leader has been marked by dedication, hard work, and unwavering passion.
Mike's formative years were shaped by the values instilled by his close-knit family, including his three siblings. However, his passion for sports paved the way for his career. Mike played college football at Southern Utah University in Cedar City, Utah, where he excelled and formed a life-changing connection with his future wife, Paula.
Upon graduating from Southern Utah University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology, Mike embarked on a path that would ultimately lead him to the forefront of the transportation industry. Recognizing the importance of continuous learning and personal growth, he pursued a Master’s Degree in Accounting from the University of Phoenix, further enhancing his qualifications and knowledge.
Throughout an impressive career spanning more than three decades, Mike Cafarelli has held various leadership roles, consistently demonstrating his commitment to innovation, efficiency, and customer satisfaction. Mike has worked for some of the best trucking companies in the industry. The list includes CR England, CRST, Central Refrigerated, and Swift Transportation. His vision and dedication were most recently exemplified during his tenure as President at The Dart Network.
Beyond his professional achievements, Mike's personal life is equally enriching. He has been happily married to Paula Cafarelli for 36 years. Together, they have a close family that includes two children and one grandchild.
Mike and Paula indulge in their shared interests in their free time, including a passion for movies, travel, and maintaining an active lifestyle through exercise, golf, and immersing themselves in multiple outdoor activities.
Mike Cafarelli's unwavering dedication, leadership, and the enduring love he shares with his family continue to define his pursuit of excellence and a commitment to a lasting impact on the people he knows, works with, and meets in both his professional and personal life.
SHEPARD DUNN
Shepard Dunn has 31 years of Truckload experience split between the dry van & refrigerated segments, from CEO, COO, President & VP of Sales. He’s chaired Committee’s at both ATA & TCA. In 2014/2015, Shepard was the Chairman of TCA. He learned the Trucking Industry from his peers through the various Industry Associations with open discussion about how others run their businesses.
“As a facilitator & consultant in the TCA TPP program, we can continue to have those same discussions. With the goal of identifying improvement opportunities in each of the TCA member participant companies”.
2025 TCA Past Chairmans Award Recipient
DAN MURRAY
ATRI
Daniel Murray has more than 30 years of experience in a broad range of transportation fields including trucking research and economics, transportation safety technologies and autonomous vehicles.
As Senior Vice President for the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), Mr. Murray is responsible for managing ATRI’s transportation research, testing and evaluation activities, and leads multiple national activities including the U.S. DOT-sponsored Freight Mobility Initiative.
He is actively involved in the National Academies’ Transportation Research Board as a member of the Truck Transportation Committee, and presently sits on the Boards of the Freight Mobility Research Institute, US DOT Truck Parking Coalition and the Minnesota Freight Advisory Committee.
Dan received his BA from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota, and his MS from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.