Meet Matthew

Years in Transportation

We have another new associate to spotlight this week! Today we introduce you to Matt Oppy.

Matt joined our team last month and started making waves immediately! He is from Dayton, Ohio and currently lives in Centerville, Ohio. He went to Sinclair Community College. He has been in the transportation industry for about fifteen years- no, that’s not a typo- 15 years! 

By all definitions, Matt is a family man. He has been married to his wife Katy for seven years and they have five children: Jacob, Jordan, Connor, Chloe & Claire. For some, that might be just enough family, but for Matt, it’s not quite enough. They also have two dogs, a Mastiff and a Jack Russell. He takes great pride in providing a great life with endless opportunities for his family. His happiness and his family are at the root of his core values and it definitely shows.

Fun fact: Matt holds two different 3-point records at Northridge High School!

Although he hasn’t been with us very long, in the month he has, Matt has enjoyed the welcoming, team-oriented environment the most. Making a change isn’t ever easy, but Matt says that “the people here have helped with the transition tremendously and they are all willing to lend a hand whenever I need it.” 

We are happy to have Matt on our team and look forward to him building on his impressive start!

Meet Brett

A Guy, a Girl & a Cat

We’ve added a few more awesome team members to our staff, so we thought we better get around to introducing them sooner rather than later!

Today we would like you to meet Brett Hume.

Brett attended the University of Cincinnati (Go Bearcats!) and has been in various sales roles for over five years. He lives in Mariemont with his girlfriend and their cat, Wheeze. He enjoys adventures- so much so that he climbed an active volcano in Nicaragua (say what?!)! 

Brett says what he’s enjoyed most about PGT so far is “how welcoming everyone has been. I feel very supported and I know if I have a question about anything, my team will help me find a solution.” 

He’s motivated by time, meaning, he wants to spend a lot of time working as hard as he can right now so that when he is 40, he is living comfortably and able to relax!

His advice to those thinking about joining our team is short and sweet: “just hurry up and apply!”

Meet Tom

Loveland Native

Our associate spotlight is back again this week. Today we introduce you to our first General Sales Manager- Tom Stout! 

Tom joined us last month and has jumped in with both feet from the start. He is originally from Loveland, Ohio, so he’s very familiar with the area. He attended college at The Ohio State University. He is the proud father of two kids, Ella and Eli.

When he thinks on his values and what is most important to him, Tom easily came up with two key attributes: being open-minded and being a positive role model for his kids. He never wants to go into any situation with a predetermined opinion. He would rather be open to any new ideas thrown at him so he can also feel comfortable sharing his ideas. His biggest motivation is kids. Tom wants nothing more than to be a person his children can look up to!

Fun fact: in the 8th grade, one of his friends shot him with a BB gun in the face and the BB was, unbeknownst to him, lodged in his jaw for about 10 years! 

Since he joined PGT, Tom has made it a point to get to know as many people in the office as he can, as quickly as possible. In that time, he confidently can say that his “favorite part of working here is the people!” He has been in the industry for a few years and brings a wealth of knowledge across multiple industries, but he says “the cohesiveness this group posses is something I haven’t experienced at any level in my career.”

Being new to PGT himself, he thought he’d share a piece of advice with anyone wondering what working here is like. “If you like to wake up every day with an excitement of what each new day will bring, then PGT is the place to go,” he said. “Furthermore, at PGT, you’re backed by a staff that is 100% supportive of you in every way you can imagine. Just join us!”

Meet Scott

From Hockey to Logistics

It’s been a little while since we introduced you to one of our associates! We had to give our new associates a little time to get acclimated with us before bombarding them with questions. And by a little time, I mean about a week!

Our newest associate is Scott Mitchell. He brings six years of industry experience with him and has already proven to be a great asset.

Scott has been local to us here in Milford for over 30 years, so he’s very familiar with the area. He got his associate degree in Business from Brown Mackie College. He has two kids, a 17-year-old son and a 16-year-old daughter who both attend Milford High School. Fun fact: Scott played hockey for ten years!

Motivation is key for Scott. He is motivated by his desire to succeed and provide for his kids. He takes a lot of pride in his competency and ability to pick-up on things quickly. He has already shown his value in this, and we look forward to seeing how far it takes him.

Scott stated that he enjoys the “fast-paced atmosphere here at PGT and how every day is different.” The most important thing he shares with others who are considering joining our team is “the friendly and welcoming demeanor of everyone in the office and how willing everyone is to help their co-workers.”

October LIL

A Newbie's Perspective

Sometimes it’s great to hear from someone with years of experience in the industry because they have been around. Other times, it’s better to hear from someone brand new…and that’s what we bring to you today!

Our October LIL is Jenny Wagoner who just started with us about a month ago! So let’s dive right in.

Jenny is not only brand new to PGT, but she is also brand new to the logistics world. Before taking a leap of faith on us, she worked in the medical field for the last eight years. After all those years, she felt it was time for a change and she liked what she saw at PGT. It seemed like the perfect fit even though she truly had no idea what to expect. All she knew was that it was something completely different than what she was used to.

When Kandra asked Jenny if she thought women and men are treated differently in the industry she replied, “it’s hard to say exactly as I don’t know how men are treated, but it is very clear that some people I talk to don’t take me seriously. I have to push a little harder than the guys in the office just to get the info I need and to reach the correct person.”

Jenny’s best advice to any women thinking about joining the industry is “just join us!” She feels very confident when she says, “there’s no reason this should be a male dominated industry. It’s a great way to step out of your shell as a woman and build your confidence.”

For the men out there, she asked for some compassion. “Be gentle with us. It doesn’t always come as natural to women because it has been dominated by men for so long.”

Her favorite part about being in logistics and at PGT is that it is a laid back atmosphere. “You decide how your day goes. The harder you work, the bigger the payout.”

She is very excited to keep climbing and we couldn’t be happier to be part of her success!

Kandra enjoying getting to know Jenny as they work through this interview!

September Update

A Message from the President

The months of August and September have been fantastic for the PGT Team. New records have been set, our first construction project is near completion and will enable us to grow our team from 30 to 60 team members, and our team continues to navigate the current market headwinds with precision and force, providing market share growth. I couldn’t be happier about the way our team is wrapping up Q3 and positioned for Q4 success.

During the last couple months our team has been able to deliver MoM revenue, load volume, and new customer growth. None of the aforementioned “wins” have come easy. Our team continues to focus and deliver on our core values of service and communication. Some days, it can be a difficult road to navigate because we have a priority to take care of our customers needs, all while balancing the needs of our partner carriers and the service we both provide. Our team continues to remain focused on the things they can control, and by doing so, they continue to win in the trenches.

Our team is continuing to grow and in effort to aid that growth, we completely remodeled a wing of our office. The new area will feature an open,

bright concept, allowing for group interaction and continued growth. As mentioned before it will hold 30 additional associates. As the new area begins to fill with new sales team members, we will begin our phase 2 construction project in another area of our building to add 25 more sales and administrative associates. These growth-oriented projects ensure that we’ll be able to take care of our team, customers, and carriers for a long time to come.

The current market conditions continue to present opportunities for success. That said, with linehaul rates and fuel in a correction period compared to 4 -6 months ago, shippers, carriers and transportations companies are all adjusting. Our team is, and will continue to, listen to the

voice of our customers and partner carriers. We appreciate our customers and will do everything we can to aid them during periods of market fluctuation and the same goes for our carrier partners. The headwinds we’re all experiencing will be with us for the foreseeable future and the PGT team will continue to adapt and grow.

As always, I appreciate our PGT team, customers, and partner carriers.

Thanks, and be safe!

Tony Uhrina

Meet Jenny

Radiation Therapist to Logistics

We’ve introduced you to everyone that’s been with us for an extended period of time. Now it’s time to introduce our new team members as they come on board!

That’s the case for today’s associate spotlight. Everyone, meet Jenny Wagoner!

Jenny grew up in New Richmond, Ohio and later went to the University of Cincinnati to get a degree in Radiation Therapy. She spent eight years being a therapist before deciding it was time for a career change. She currently lives in Loveland with her seven year old son, Grayson, and her significant other, Scott, and their two cats.

She may be new to the industry, but Jenny is no stranger to hard work, dedication and success. In fact, she prides herself on being an honest, hard-working person! She explained further: “Failure is not an option for me. My son motivates me to be the best version of myself and I will do everything I can to be successful. I hope he always looks up to me and knows I worked hard to give him the best life possible!”

Being new to the industry and to PGT gives her a different perspective. So far, she really enjoys the atmosphere and the people she works with.

“They have been very patient and helpful while I navigate this new field,” Jenny explained. “Everyone is willing to answer questions.”

She took a big risk joining our team. It’s an industry she has to learn and work through, but she would still tell anyone who is considering joining PGT to “just do it! Take the chance. It will be hard, but it will be worth it…and you’ll have fun doing it!”

When Jenny isn’t working, she is likely with her family doing something soccer related. If Grayson isn’t with his team, he wants to be in the basement or backyard practicing together. They also enjoy going to any type of sporting event, hanging out with friends and neighbors, hiking and fishing- basically, anything they can do outside!

We look forward to Jenny’s growth as she continues to show up every day and put in the effort and work necessary to see extraordinary success!

September LIL

The Author Herself

By: Kandra Dauwe

Who better to talk about being a lady in logistics than the author of this segment- Kandra Dauwe. She wrote down her thoughts on being in a male-dominated industry and the progress through the years. Here’s what she had to say.

I wanted to share a little about myself. I have been in the logistics industry for a little over twenty years. I have been in various areas of the industry- recruiting, administrative, logistics coordinator, etc. To be completely honest, I got into the industry because of the earning potential. I saw the dollar signs and couldn’t resist. If you put in the time and effort necessary, the money is bound to come back to you- I am proof of that!

As I sit and reflect on what I expected when I first got into this line of work, I think it’s safe to say that it is what I expected. I have had several family members own companies in this field for many years, so it gave me some insight into the industry ahead of time. 

My aunt was the first woman I knew in the industry. She owned her own trucking company. Watching her work so hard and grow her business was an inspiration to me. 

Throughout the years, I have witnessed firsthand how differently women can be treated in this industry. In fact, I have been treated differently just because of my gender throughout the years. There is a perception that men can handle this industry better than women and often that felt like the reason I was treated differently. The good news? I am seeing a shift in that mentality now more than ever. 

There are more women getting into the industry, but on top of that, more and more women are confident enough to own the role they are in and are able to take charge. My advice to both  women and men would be to stay strong and true to yourself. It is important to know your worth and refuse to settle for anything less than that. Be supportive and treat ladies as equals because at the end of the day, we all have the same end goal!

When I first started at PGT, almost half the office was women. I feel like an equal part of the team here. I feel like I’m part of the family that comes in those doors every day to be successful. I have such a great support system here and it just continues to grow.

Let’s be honest though…the women rule this office, no matter what those guys say!

Meet Troy

Ohio to England & Back Again

We have introduced you to everyone in our office to date (after months and months of spotlights!), so going forward, you will get to see who has joined our team in real time. We will introduce you to our newest associates each week!

Starting off this new trend is Troy Ranney. He joined our sales team at the end of August and is ready to hit the ground running! He brings 25 years of supply chain and operations experience to the table!

Troy is originally from Chesterland, Ohio, but spent his early childhood overseas because his father was in the Air Force. Most of that time was spent in Ipswich, England, before returning back to Ohio. He earned a business degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

He is happily married to his wife Rebekah and has two daughters, Emma and Addy. They have two family pets- a dog, Lenny and a cat, Lily. Playing the guitar and writing music are some of Troy’s favorite pastimes. He used to play music around Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky on nights and weekends in his twenties after working all day in corporate America.

He also enjoys hiking in national parks and has spent a lot of hiking in Yosemite. 

Being a lifelong Christian is the foundation of his values- in and out of the office. Troy is motivated by new challenges and becoming the best he can be, regardless of what he is doing.

“I love working with great people and the team PGT has assembled is a great one,” Troy shared. “I love the income potential and the fun environment!” How cool is it that he picked up on that environment in the interview process and being here for a week at this point? It goes to show you how true it really is. “My advice for someone joining our team is pretty simple: ask a lot of questions because everyone here is willing to help you succeed!”

LIL from a Male Perspective

Perspective Matters

We have been sharing a monthly segment called Ladies in Logistics for a few months now. Instead of interviewing one of the other women in the office, Kandra took a different route this month. She interview Jake Garn, one of our top brokers. She asked him questions about how he views LIL, especially at PGT.

Jake has been in the logistics industry for almost four years. He has worked with his fair share of women in that time who have all been very successful. He shared some advice for ladies looking to break into the industry: “Just dive in and be prepared for a fast paced working environment.” He back-tracked after that and acknowledged that he’d actually tell anyone that, regardless of who it is. 

When Kandra asked Jake if he sees a difference in how women are treated in the industry compared to men, he was very quick to answer “No, I believe our office goes out of the way to make sure everyone is treated equally. Our management makes it a priority to make sure everyone is given the same platform to be successful!”

He did admit that it wasn’t always that way everywhere he’s been. “It’s unfortunate, but some places and people don’t treat everyone the same and kind of look down on women in the industry,” Jake shared. “I’m proud to say it isn’t that way at PGT in any capacity. The reality is, the women at PGT actually rule our office when it comes down to it!”