Jeff Benrud

Sergeant Major, Army Special Services, Retired

Jeff Benrud Sergeant Major (retired) is a 25 years Army Special Operations veteran. He has extensive combat experience, starting in 1989 when he conducted a combat parachute jump into Panama while assigned to the 2nd Ranger Battalion. From 2001-2013 Jeff has conducted over 725 combat operations in multiple regions ranging from Central America, the Balkans, and multiple tours in the Middle East. Jeff was awarded 8 Bronze Stars, three of which for valor, the Legion of Merit along with numerous other awards and was also presented the Purple Heart. Some of his military positions have been Team Leader, Troop Sergeant Major, Sniper section leader, Combat diver, mobility specialist. Jeff is also the 2017 Baja 1000 Ironman Champion on motorcycle; (longest nonstop point to point race in the world).

Jeff is currently the owner of Benrud Properties rental management company, Co-owner of Crusader Screen Printing and Co-Founder/Owner of American Off Road LLC all headquartered in North Carolina where he resides with his wife of 32 years and 2 children.

Jane Clark

Vice President of Member Services, NationaLease

Jane Clark is Vice President, Member Services for NationaLease. In this position, she is focused on managing the Member Services operation, as well as working to strengthen member relationships, reduce member costs, and improve collaboration within the NationaLease supporting groups. Prior to joining NationaLease, Jane served as Area Vice President for Randstad, one of the world’s largest recruitment agencies, and before that, she served in management posts with QPS Companies, Pro Staff, and Manpower, Inc. Jane received a B.A. degree in Communication from North Central College and an M.A. in Communication from Northern Illinois University.

Doug Clark

Founder & Executive Chairmain, Corcentric

Doug Clark has served as Founder, President, Chief Executive Officer, and a director of Corcentric (formerly AmeriQuest) since 1996. His professional experience includes stints in public accounting, investment banking, and as a technology and transportation entrepreneur. Doug was instrumental in growing Corcentric into one of the leading tech-enabled business services companies with more than 2,000 customers throughout North America. During his tenure, he has led the company to be named nine times to the Inc. 5000 List of America’s “Fastest-Growing Private Companies.”

Sean Cocca

Director of Compliance, Gladstein, Neandross & Associates

Sean Cocca is the director of compliance at Gladstein, Neandross & Associates. With nearly 20 years of experience in the transportation industry, he currently focuses his efforts on compliance and strategic planning, working with motor carrier fleets to ensure they are aware of and comply with the litany of regulations in California.

Ken Davis

Founder, Greentree Advisors LLC

Ken Davis is the Founder of Greentree Advisors, a consulting company to the global vehicle industry. Prior to establishing the company in 2018, Ken spent 31 years with Eaton PLC, most recently as Vehicle Group President. During his time spent in this role, he helped generate $3.5B in group revenue, managed 46 facilities in 15 countries, and led eight joint ventures for the industrial manufacturer. With almost four decades of experience in the global vehicle industry, Ken serves as a member of several joint venture boards of directors, including Eaton Cummins Automated Transmission Technologies, Southwest Michigan First, and Gilmore Car Museum. He received a BS degree in General Management from Purdue University and an MBA from the University of Michigan.

Lucas Deal

CVSN Committee Chair

Lucas Deal grew up on a farm in central Illinois before attending the University of Illinois and graduating with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. He joined Randall Reilly in 2011 as associate editor of Truck Parts & Service and Successful Dealer. He was promoted to chief editor in 2012 and led the integration of Successful Dealer under the TPS umbrella in 2017. Since 2018 he has served as chief editor of TPS and content director for all aftermarket and dealer content across Randall Reilly’s trucking, construction and agriculture verticals.

He is a CVSN committee chair, has served as a TMC task force secretary and participates in many industry organizations. He lives in suburban Chicago with his wife and son.

Joe Gallick

Senior Vice President of Sales, NationaLease

An experienced supply chain executive and spokesperson, Joseph K Gallick is a prominent leader in the truck leasing, maintenance and logistics industry. A graduate of Montclair State University, Gallick has served as a corporate liaison with numerous business and academic partnerships including the Penn State University Center for Supply Chain Research where he was the 2010 recipient of the Penn State University Robert D. Pashek Award for his contributions to the logistics and transportation fields. Gallick is also a member of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, Truck Rental and Leasing Association, National Private Truck Council, as well as various industry trade organizations.

Rob Garcia

Senior Vice President of Supply Management, NationaLease

Robert Garcia, Senior Vice President, Supply Management, manages a team of professionals that focus on providing competitive advantage through strengthened supplier relationships, reduced cost, and improved supplier accountability throughout NationaLease supply chain programs. Rob brings an accomplished executive background in product line management with financial and market analysis expertise. Rob’s professional experience of twenty-eight years includes managing roles in the finance technologies, transportation, construction, logistics, banking, and communications industries. Rob served nine years as Senior Operations Manager for Ryder Transportation Services where he was responsible for managing vehicle operation centers, marketing, and financial activities. Rob earned a BA and MBA - Finance, from the University of Miami.

Richard J. Leibfried

President, RJL Insurance Services

Richard Leibfried has been an insurance professional since 1976. In his current position with RJL, Leibfried provides insurance and risk management consulting services to the middle market business community. Acting essentially as a “part-time” risk manager for his clients, Leibfried brings both traditional as well as innovative, proprietary risk management strategies to these companies. Leibfried’s experience is extensive. As an underwriter, broker and consultant he has been involved in the design, evaluation, and ongoing management of insurance programs for a wide range of businesses. Additionally, Leibfried has been directly involved in the formation and management of nine captive insurance companies as well as a variety of other self-insurance arrangements for his clients.

Jake Jacoby

President & CEO, Truck Renting and Leasing Association (TRALA)

Jake Jacoby has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of TRALA since January 2015. Before that position, Jacoby worked as TRALA’s top lobbyist, as the Vice President of Government Relations on a number of issues both before Congress and in the states. He also established TRALA’s first political action committee, TRALAPAC, which has been a great benefit for TRALA’s advocacy efforts over the past three years. Prior to joining TRALA, Jacoby operated his own consulting company which specialized in trucking and transportation matters.

Eric Maddox

Author, Motivational Speaker, and Consultant

Eric Maddox is an author, motivational speaker, and consultant who teaches audiences worldwide in the art of Empathy Based Listening. He is the author of the book Mission: Black List No.1 (Harper Collins, 2008) which details his lead in the search and capture of Saddam Hussein.

After graduating from the University of Oklahoma in 1994, Eric enlisted in the U.S. Army where he was a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division, a jumpmaster, and a graduate of Ranger School. He was then reenlisted in 1997 as a Chinese Mandarin linguist and interrogator. In 2003, he was sent to Tikrit, Iraq where he joined a Special Operations team who was searching for high-value targets on the infamous Deck of Cards. After five months and over 300 interrogations, Eric was able to gather intelligence and gain the cooperation of numerous prisoners which lead to the capture of Saddam. For this, he was awarded the Legion of Merit, the National Intelligence Medal of Achievement, the Defense Intelligence Agency Director’s Award, and the Bronze Star.

Following the capture of Saddam, Eric was hired as the first-ever civilian interrogator by the Defense Intelligence Agency where he went on to conduct over 2,700 interrogations of prisoners from 25 different countries.

Having served in the U.S. Army and Defense Intelligence Agency for 20 years, Eric now devotes his work full-time to teaching what he learned during that time to audiences worldwide—the art of Empathy Based Listening.

Lindsay Tarpley

Two Time Olympic Gold Medalist

Widely recognized as one of the most decorated soccer players of all-time, Lindsay Tarpley’s US Women’s National Team career included two gold medals, 125 international appearances, and recognition as the ESPN RISE Player of the Decade. Tarpley’s career with the USWNT began as a member of the U-16 National Team. Named the captain of USWNT at the inaugural U-19 World Cup, Tarpley scored the game-winning goal in double overtime in the final.

Following a decorated youth career, Tarpley attended the University of North Carolina where she won both a National Championship and National Player of the Year Award in 2003. As a sophomore in college, Tarpley was named to the National Team roster for the 2004 Athens Olympics. She scored the first goal in the Olympic final en route to winning her first gold medal. Tarpley again won gold in 2008, playing a critical role for the USWNT at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Following a career-ending knee injury in 2011, Tarpley has established herself as a preeminent keynote speaker and entrepreneur as the cofounder of Hustle Beauty. Tarpley lives in Kalamazoo, MI with her husband and two children.

Dale Tower

Senior Vice President of Remarketing, Corcentric

Dale Tower is a highly experienced Senior Vice President of Remarketing with over 30 years of experience in the transportation industry. His primary focus is on developing and expanding Remarketing services, which provide AmeriQuest and NationaLease members with a value-added service that frees them from the responsibility of selling their used trucks while obtaining higher gains. Dale has held executive positions at TEAM Vehicle Sales, NationsRent, Budget Rent-a-Car, and Ryder System, Inc. He attended Ricks College in Idaho.

Dean Vicha

President, NationaLease

Dean Vicha began his career with NationaLease as a National Account Executive for the Midwest in 2005, where he substantially grew the National Account Program to more than $447 million in term sales. In 2008, he became Vice President of Member Services, executing a strategy that provided a sustainable competitive advantage to NationaLease members and growing the membership base. In 2010, Vicha became the Vice President of National Accounts, leading that team to a record-breaking year in sales. In 2012, Vicha was named President of NationaLease, where he helps members increase their market share and decrease their cost of business. Since becoming President, Vicha has grown the company in terms of size and scope in the last decade. In 2012, locations peaked just over 700 and fleet count over 115,000. Today, NationaLease has more than 1,000 locations and fleet count over 184,000.

Sarah Watt House

Vice President and Economist, Wells Fargo & Company

Sarah House is a vice president and economist with Wells Fargo Securities. Based in Charlotte, N.C., she covers the U.S. macro economy, including the labor market, manufacturing sector, and inflation trends. She regularly writes indicator reports, produces special commentary, and contributes to the company’s Weekly Economic & Financial Commentary. Sarah frequently speaks about the economy to the national media, including Bloomberg News and National Public Radio.

Prior to joining Wells Fargo in 2010, Sarah worked as a research associate for the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. Sarah earned a B.A. in economics from Tulane University in New Orleans and an MSc in local economic development from the London School of Economics. She is a member of the National Association of Business Economics and the Charlotte Economics Club.