2013 NITL Executives of the Year: Agents of change

One has held leadership posts at virtually every segment of operations at the company. The other is a financial wizard who broke the glass ceiling by becoming one of just a handful of women to hold the CEO title at a major transportation holding company. Though they came to their leadership positions through different routes, Roy Slagle and Judy R. McReynolds share the same vision for their company.

McReynolds, president and CEO of ABF’s parent, Arkansas Best Corp., and Slagle, president and CEO of ABF, are this year’s co-recipients of the 2013 National Industrial Transportation League’s (NITL) Executive of the Year Award, also known as the McCullough Award. The award is named after John T. McCullough, a former chief editor of Distribution magazine, a predecessor of Logistics Management. McReynolds and Slagle will receive the award on Monday, November 18, at the opening session of the 106th Annual Meeting & TransComp Exhibition in Houston, Texas.

McReynolds has spent 23 years of her career working with trucking companies either as clients or as a leader within the Arkansas Best organization. She has been at helm of Arkansas Best Corp. since January 2010. Her career there began in 1997 when she took the director of corporate accounting position following a career at Ernst & Young. From 2006 until 2009, McReynolds served as senior vice president and CFO for Arkansas Best, directing the treasury, accounting, and executive compensation functions. She served as vice president and controller from 2000 until 2006.

Slagle comes to his president and CEO post through a lifetime of service ABF. During his 37 years with the company, he has served as senior vice president of sales and marketing, vice president of administration and treasurer, vice president and treasurer, as well as regional vice president of sales.