THE TEAM

In 1985, Charlie Keepman founded Evans Transportation Services upon an unmatched commitment to customer service and genuine partnership. That commitment set Evans apart then, and it does to this day, much due to Charlie’s human-centric leadership. In fact, meeting new people and helping them achieve their goals, both professional and personal, is Charlie’s favorite part about his latest role as Evans’ Chairman of the Board.

Charlie spent his earlier days leading Evans’ sales and operations departments, but he also embarked upon a wide variety of other transportation-related endeavors. He got his start in the industry as a broker, then went on to own a national carrier specializing in the transportation of sensitive medical devices, a regional less-than-truckload carrier, a warehouse, and a recycled pallet manufacturing company. When it comes to transportation, Charlie has seen it all, and that’s what makes him so certain of Evans’ model of asset-less transportation management: no other approach is able to cater to shippers’ needs with the same degree of flexibility or opportunity for cost savings. Charlie’s experience is also what makes him such a valuable advisor to Evans.

New leadership has afforded Charlie the opportunity to spend more time doing what he loves most: creating memories with his ever-growing family. Charlie was born in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, but now, he, his wife, and their three youngest children reside in Inlet Beach, Florida where they enjoy games of tennis and golf and time at the beach. Charlie’s favorite form of exercise will always be trying to keep up with the kids. While Charlie deserves to celebrate many accomplishments, nothing makes him prouder than his 39-year marriage, five children, and three grandchildren.

What’s Charlie’s special sauce? His infinite heart.

What’s Charlie’s favorite book? Anything World War II – my father was a bombardier flying B-17s and in charge of ten people. It amazes me to think about how these leaders were 19 to 21 years old, operating on three months of training and stringently limited resources. Any entrepreneur could be inspired by their courage, selflessness, and perseverance.

What did childhood Charlie want to be when he grew up? I wanted to work for myself. And work for himself, he did!

Having grown up around logistics and leadership, Ryan was quite literally born for his role as Evans’ CEO. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin at Madison with a degree in Agricultural Economics and time spent on its lauded football team, Ryan got his start in the industry as a sales executive for Tri-State Expedited Services where he was honored as their top producer for three consecutive years.

In 2007, Ryan joined the Evans team where he spent his first 11 years working in all departments including Operations, Accounting, and Sales. As CEO, Ryan continues to impact all areas of Evans’ business, leading the 34-year-old 3PL to its greatest growth period in its history. With so many responsibilities, it’s a good thing Ryan finds inspiration in the Evans team and is invigorated by the industry’s state of constant change.

Ryan was born in Brookfield, Wisconsin (Evans’ hometown), but now, he resides in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, where he, his wife, and their three children enjoy white sand beaches and crystal blue water. Family is his #1, but he also enjoys pretending he knows how to play golf and plotting to become the Gulf Coast’s top deep-sea fishing guide.

We could go on, but we think the most fun way for you to learn more about Ryan would be to listen to his featured interview on Mike Malatesta’s podcast, “How’d It Happen.” In Mike’s own words, “You’re in for a real treat with this episode as Ryan is the ‘Real Deal’ when it comes to an ambitious, caring, and humble leader.” We couldn’t agree more.

What’s Ryan’s special sauce? His ability to connect with all walks of life and help people see past their perceived limitations.

What’s Ryan’s favorite quote? ‘We will chase perfection, and we will chase it relentlessly, knowing all the while we can never attain it. But along the way, we shall catch excellence.’ -Vince Lombardi.

What did young Ryan want to be when he grew up? A cowboy catching wild horses. Wranglin’ freight isn’t too different!

John Conrad has been in the transportation management industry for 14 years, spending time at CH Robinson and Kenco before being drawn to Evans in 2014 by the genuine integrity and positivity of the team. As one of Evans’ VPs of Key Accounts, John seeks out shippers who are in need of a partner to manage their transportation activities. A natural problem solver and relationship builder, John thrives on the non-stop challenges that define the industry and finds enjoyment in the time he shares with prospective customers and teammates.

John graduated from Wheaton College where he studied Business and Economics. He was born in Naples, Florida, and currently resides in Chattanooga, Tennessee with his wife and six children. Together, they enjoy the outdoor activities that their community provides, skipping town on occasion for a trip to the mountains to hit the slopes.

If you’ve read all of our leadership’s biographies so far, you might’ve noticed how many of them cite the unique character of the Evans team as one of their main reasons for loving their Evans Experience and transportation management career. John is an immense part of that character, sharing his time and kindness with all he encounters.

Recently, John traveled to Uganda with the Ugandan Water Project on their trip to help repair broken boreholes, bringing water to over 1,000 people in need. Step inside his trip and learn more about the Ugandan Water Project in this short, incredibly inspirational video.

Ask Charles Miller how he defines his career identity, and he’d say he’s “just your average freight guy.” Ask anyone who has worked with him, and they’d say he’s a freight genius.

Charles graduated from Carthage College where he studied Sociology and Criminal Justice. As Evans’ Executive Vice President overseeing all customer and carrier solutions, Charles leverages that education to analyze transportation data and design uniquely creative strategies to solve the most complex problems.

Prior to Evans, Charles spent time in warehousing, over-the-road, dedicated contract, supply chain consultation, and other transportation management roles, totaling 14 years in the industry. Charles joined the Evans team in 2013 where he quickly became essential to forging the 3PL’s future through growing and retaining business.

Charles was born in Neenah, Wisconsin, made a couple of pit stops along the way in New York and New Jersey, and now lives in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin with his wife. Together, they enjoy fishing, hunting, concerts, and the fresh lakes and friendly folks of their town.

What’s Charles’ special sauce? That giant brain and the creative solutions it brings.

Who is Charles’ role model? My father because of his insistence on operating his business and life with integrity and honesty.

What’s Charles’ favorite quote? ‘If you always do what you always did, you’ll always get what you always got.’

Phil Wenzell joined the Evans team in the spring of 2021. With over a decade of experience in the truckload market, Phil has focused on building dynamic team structures to scale the ever-changing environment. Creative with solutions that cater to the people and the relationship, he is a leader that believes in autonomy, transparent feedback (both ways), and a solid commitment to the customer and our carrier partners. Phil shares a unique carrier perspective. His experience has catered to building network solutions to customers with the carrier relationship in hand. With a strong, consistent carrier network, our solutions provide better service and consistency for our customers.

Coming to Evans, Phil wanted to bring structure, accountability, and elevated service to the growing TL office in Burnsville, Minnesota.  Segmentation with fluid communication was the solution(s) implemented that enabled the TL structure to grow exponentially in the past couple of years.  Instead of one person doing 10 different things, we narrowed the scope of responsibilities and added accountabilities and process around the day-to-day.  From that, we saw the ability to handle growth properly and prepare for next steps.

Phil studied business management at Valparaiso University, where he received his undergraduate degree. Phil received an accelerated Master's in Business Administration upon graduation. After graduation, he started his career at Coyote Logistics in carrier sales. From there, Phil moved through the ranks, where he was eventually sent out to Minnesota when Coyote acquired Access America Transport. Phil was a key contributor to bringing the culture and structure out of the growing satellite office. Currently, he resides in Plymouth, Minnesota, with his wife, Katie, and two young boys. Phil enjoys spending time with his family.  If he’s not working or with the family, you can probably see him out on the golf course.

What is Phil’s “special sauce”? He is a dynamic leader who focuses on seeing the best of people first. He enjoys working with them to achieve their team contribution goals, all while elevating Evans. 

What blows Phil's hair back (including a couple stray grays 😊), you ask? Seeing people grow, not just professionally but personally as well.  The industry we work in is challenging, it’s a great sandbox to grow. You find out a lot about yourself, your perceived limitations and how to break through to “level up”.

Jeanine Ubl has been with the Evans family since 2019. Currently closing in on almost 20 years in the accounting industry, Jeanine brings a wealth of knowledge to the logistics field. She loves that Evans provides an essential service, the transporting of goods, so that our customers' end client can enjoy the product. This has become so important during these uncertain times where our economy needs logistics to fulfill its supply and demand.

Jeanine enjoys the entrepreneurial culture at Evans and the ability to affect change through process improvements

Prior to joining Evans, Jeanine held multiple accounting roles primarily in manufacturing. She also worked in the accounting department of the Federal Reserve for five years.

She holds a BA in Accounting and Finance from the University of Wisconsin- Madison, an MBA from the University of Wisconsin- Oshkosh, and a Graduate Certificate from The University of Maryland.

Jeanine was born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin and now lives with her husband and daughter in Brookfield, Wisconsin.

What’s Jeanine's special sauce?  Her ability to manage multiple high level projects with a positive attitude at the same time. Jeanine is our data queen!

Whats one personal achievement that Jeanine's is proud of?  Working as a federal agent for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

How does Jeanine like to spend her free time? (Family, charity work, fishing – anything’s game!) I enjoy spending time with family and friends. I love to host cookouts at our house or organize outings with friends (i.e. concert, show, golfing).

In 2018, Kyle joined the Evans family, bringing with him nearly 20 years of experience in the industry. he loves the dynamic team at Evans because they move quickly and delivers results.

Having spent time as a carrier and a client, Kyle believes there is a creative solution to nearly every transportation problem. The relentless pursuit to find those collaborative solutions while navigating organizational complexities is what drives him every day.

Kyle studied business at McKendree University in Lebanon, Illinois. Early in his career, he spent 12+ years at UPS in a variety of Sales and Business Development roles. and more recently,  he spent 7+ years with the Transportation Procurement group of Caterpillar Logistics Inc.

Kyle was born in Peoria, Illinois and currently resides in Freeport, Florida. 

What’s Kyle’s special sauce? His passion for building relationships and helping to both create and provide solutions to bring value where its needed most.

Who is Kyle’s role model? Coach Bobby Bowden - former Florida State University head football coach. Coach Bowden is widely known for his beliefs and passion in faith, family and football. These area l things near and dear to Kyle's heart.

What’s Kyle’s favorite quote? "When you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe, then you will be successful."  - Eric Thomas

Matt Huckeba joins Evans Transportation as the Executive Vice President of Parcel Solutions. An accomplished operations and strategy executive, Matt is passionate about developing strategic initiatives that drive growth and profitability for the business while creating innovative and efficient solutions for the customer. He is eager to build this new division for Evans and is confident that the addition of the Parcel Solutions team will expand our capability to understand and serve the needs of our clients. 

Prior to joining Evans, Matt spent nearly a decade at Spend Management Experts (SME), where his role evolved from the VP of Legal and Compliance, to Partner and COO, before SME was purchased by Transportation Insight (TI). At TI, Matt continued in a leadership capacity as the SVP of Strategy and Partnerships. Earlier in his career, Matt also gained deep expertise in business operation, sales, and strategy in leadership roles at Intelligent Audit, while playing a part in the development of their audit and business intelligence offerings. With his background in law, Matt is also able to bring a unique perspective to both business strategy and client relationships, and his time in finance supports big-picture planning. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Georgia Law School after completing his undergrad at the University of Georgia, receiving a dual BA in Political Science and Speech Communications. Outside of work, Matt is spending time with his wife, three kids, and new puppy, occasionally on the golf course, and always rooting for the Georgia Bulldogs!

What is Matt's favorite quote? Be brave if you lose and meek if you win. - Harvey Penick

What is Matt's "special sauce"? Matt actually enjoys working toward challenging goals, so the problem solving adventure is not just work, it's fun too!

Favorite book? Think Again by Adam Grant. I loved the exercise of thinking strategically to solve problems even at a young age, and Adam Grant provides great insight through storytelling and science on how we can continue to grow those muscles.

Brian Broadhurst joins Evans Transportation as the Vice President of Parcel Solutions. Brian is energized by the opportunity to build this new Small Parcel division for the Evans team, alongside his colleague Matt Huckeba. With an entrepreneurial mindset and two decades of industry experience, Brian is committed to driving the growth of this new practice and further positioning Evans as a true end-to-end transportation partner for our clients. 

Prior to joining Evans, Brian was the Senior Vice President of Parcel for Transportation Insight (TI), responsible for overall leadership of the parcel function. Previous to that role, Brian was the Vice President of Transportation Solutions at Spend Management Experts, a boutique small parcel consulting firm purchased by TI in 2020. His industry expertise also includes more than a decade of supply chain consulting experience at global leaders Accenture and UPS. Brian is known for his ability to provide innovative solutions across all modes of transportation including truckload, intermodal, LTL, air freight, ocean freight, and parcel. Brian graduated with high honors from the Georgia Institute of Technology’s College of Engineering with a BS in Industrial Engineering. 

When Brian is not working, you can find him with his daughter, in the woods, or on the water.

What's a fun fact that people may not know about you?  I was born on Saint Patrick’s Day and celebrated my first birthday in Ireland when my family moved there. Although I’m not Irish, if you run into me on Saint Patrick’s Day just know I’ll be celebrating double.

Favorite book? Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. I’m fascinated by the thought-provoking stories shared throughout the book that highlight how life, luck, effort and talent all intersect in ways we sometimes can’t logically analyze, but we can certainly admire.

What's your "special sauce"? Perspective: Being able to see a business problem from all angles and perspectives, and helping others do the same. This translates into my personal life as well, which keeps me in balance, strengthens my relationships with others, and always brings me back to a healthy outlook on all of life’s adventures.

Impressed by the positive, collaborative leadership and opportunity to have a direct impact, Brett Bauer joined the Evans team in 2015 after a 12-year career at CH Robinson, one of the largest 3PLs in the world. As VP of Business Development, Brett enjoys helping shippers make their logistics program more efficient and less costly.

Brett graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh where he studied business and communications and played on the basketball team. His competitive drive drew him to logistics immediately after graduating, but it’s his passion for helping his clients build solutions that improve their personal careers that makes him certain he’ll be in logistics for the long haul.

Born in Emporium, Pennsylvania, now, Brett resides in Waunakee, Wisconsin, just outside of Madison, Wisconsin with his wife and two children. His favorite way to spend his free time is with his family, especially at the family cabin in Northern Wisconsin.

What’s Brett’s special sauce? The honesty and transparency that he maintains with his prospects and clients gets them better results, faster.

Who is Brett’s role model? My niece and godchild. At 14-years-old, she was diagnosed with cancer. She lost her battle in the same year, but the positivity and perseverance that she exhibited during that time will always inspire me.

What’s Brett’s favorite quote? Progress takes place outside of the comfort zone.

In 2019, Rich joined the Evans team (for the second time), bringing with him over 20 years of transportation and customer service experience.   As an “action junkie,” Rich loves the chaos in the ever-changing transportation world and enjoys applying his passion for customer service to Evans' client's needs.   

Rich, his wife, and his teenage son reside in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, where they enjoy golfing, tennis, biking, and short vacations.

What’s your secret sauce?  The ability to quickly assess large customer issues and breakdown the solution/s into smaller more palatable chunks for quick resolution.

What is a Rich proud personal achievement? Biking from Breckenridge, Colorado to Golden Colorado over Loveland Pass. (We've driven that stretch. Trust us-- it's impressive!)

What's your favorite quote? “Do the right thing”, whenever you don’t have the answer, you actually do.

Joining the Evans team in 2020, Matt brings with him the skill and knowledge it takes to develop real solutions that bring value to all clients and their transportation needs.

With nearly 24 years in the industry, and 20 of those working for LTL carriers, Matt really loves that the logistics industry is so diverse. Every day is truly different.

Matt holds a degree in Secondary Education from the York College of PA. He was born, and currently resides in York, PA. In his free time, Matt enjoys Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and is an avid runner.

What’s Matt’s special sauce? He's a master at building relationships, creative thinking and is a quick problem solver.

What's your favorite quote that helps drive your performance? "We must all wear out, or rust out. Every one of us. My choose is to wear out." - Theodore Roosevelt

What’s one personal achievement Matt is proud of? Completing the Marine Corps Marathon.

Travis was pleased to join our team in early 2021 after learning about the culture and leadership here at Evans. After starting his professional career in finance, Travis was drawn to the unique challenges presented by the supply chain and logistics industry. Travis joined Evans after holding senior-level individual contributor positions with two of the largest 3PL providers in the marketplace; CH Robinson and JB Hunt. As VP of Key Accounts, Travis is passionate about partnering with customers who need the tools, and expertise Evans can provide, creating a competitive advantage for his customers against their peers.

A lifelong resident of the great state of Ohio, Travis lives in Delaware (the town in Ohio, not the state) with his wife, Nikol, and their two children Evan and Olivia. When he’s not working to find solutions for his customers, Travis enjoys coaching both kids in their youth sports interests, cheering on his Buckeyes, and traveling as much as he can with his family.

What's Travis' "special sauce"?

Travis' willingness to define the best solution for my customers.  Approaching their business as I would my own, understanding their motivations and how they define success, while contributing as an extension of their business.

What's his favorite family tradition? When we first moved to our community in Delaware we had a neighbor who organized a synchronized light show for the Holiday season.  What started as a single street of a few homes has since turned into a nearly 300-home light show from Thanksgiving through the New Year.  Each year thousands come to see the hard work our community puts into the show.  It an exciting time, fun for the kids, and a source of pride within our community.  Check out the website here (it's really cool): https://lightsofglenross.wixsite.com/website.

What did young Travis want to be when he grew up? When I was very young my Dad got me posters to decorate my bedroom wall. One of them was a poster of a red Ferrari Testarosa. For some reason I thought it would be the coolest thing in the world to sell Ferraris after seeing it- so I set out to be a Ferrari salesman. So while the vehicle has certainly changed, my calling for sales has always been with me.

Joe Pietrzak has been in the transportation industry for 35 years and with Evans, specifically, for 20. Joe is a people person through and through, so it’s fitting that he found his career’s home at Evans via the relationship he built with the once-asset-based 3PL as their sales representative at Rollins Truck Leasing, purchased by Penske in 2001.

As one of Evans’ VPs of Key Accounts, Joe focuses his energy on building genuine relationships, evidenced by his being responsible for one of Evans’ longest-standing clients. He’s fueled by the logistics industry’s state of constant change and especially appreciates the Evans team and their ability to tailor solutions so specifically and creatively to their clients’ needs. Whether it be pricing, planning, or technology, in Joe’s own words, “they ALWAYS have a solution.”

Joe studied Finance, Economics, and Supply Chain Solutions at the University of Texas and Michigan State. Born in Chicago, Illinois, now, Joe lives in West Michigan with his wife and daughter where they enjoy life on the lake and all of the nature that their coastal environment provides. He’s a #1 dad, watching (and chasing) his daughter at her sports games, attending her theater performances, and still managing to squeeze in watching 500 baseball games a year.

What’s Joe’s special sauce? His natural ability to make friends out of clients, not only getting to know their business, but their family and pastimes, as well.

What’s one personal achievement Joe is proud of? Fatherhood — simple as that!

What did young Joe want to be when he grew up? A professional baseball player. He came mighty close as a member of the University of Texas team.

My career in transportation started in 1998 working for shortline railroads in the Twin Cities area. During my time in the railroad industry, I had the pleasure of holding many roles including Gandy dancer, Conductor, and Locomotive Engineer.  My career shifted into the 3^rd party logistics field moving over-dimensional shipments by rail for our short-line railroads. Through continued exposure to different shipping opportunities, my knowledge continued to expand into all modes of transportation beyond just rail. I enjoy the continued challenges that are presented each day and strive to provide the best solutions to our clients.

I was excited to join the Evans team in November 2021 and rejoin a number of colleagues and friends that I had worked with in the past. What drew me to Evans was the culture that was created within the entire team.

What famous quote really speaks to you? “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take” – Wayne Gretzky

Who would you call your hero? My late Grandfather. He came from nothing but made a good life for his family, he instilled the value of hard work and dedication to the project at hand. He also taught me to always remain humble no matter your success in life. 

Free time is valuable. How does Jason spend his? On or near water, regardless of where the water is, from North Country Lakes/rivers to Crystal Blue Waters of the Caribbean.

Every business has a different story and a unique set of challenges. Brian enjoys learning the ins and outs of each organization then crafting solutions that marry people & technology to make companies more efficient. Over his fifteen years in the logistics industry, he has been fortunate to wear many hats. His experience in Account Management, Operations, Integrations, and Business Development has taught him to ask better questions and develop more creative solutions.

Born in St. Paul, Brian graduated from the University of Minnesota with a B.S. in Economics. After enduring nearly forty Minnesota winters, Brian wised up and moved to Florida. He works from Evans' Santa Rosa Beach office when not traveling to visit prospects and customers. Brian enjoys spending time with his family, paddle boarding, mountain biking, cooking (eating), and hanging out at the beach.

What's Brian's favorite quote? (It's a long one, but worth the read!) "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at best knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."

-Theodore Roosevelt

Who is the person Brian looked up to most? My grandfather was a selfless, compassionate man who loved learning and helping others.

Derek Wooten joined the Evans team in 2020. With nearly 10 years in the industry, he loves every bit of the rapidly changing dynamic that comes along with working in logistics. Derek works hand in hand with supply chain executives and is effortlessly able to pinpoint where Evans can streamline their transportation programs.

Derek studied Political Science at The University of Texas – Austin. Growing up, his family owned a regional trucking company where he learned the business. After college, he started with Schneider and most recently as one of the early-stage sales members of the digital freight broker, Convoy.

He was born and currently resides in Dallas, Texas. Along with spending time with his wife, he enjoys the outdoors and is avid in both fishing and golf.

What’s Derek’s special sauce?  Building trust with his clients by staying true to his word and being willing and ready to get creative to offer solutions.

Who is Derek’s role model? His grandfather. "He taught me a lot and has lived a super interesting life. In between starting several successful businesses, he even became a world champion model airplane combat fighter!"

What’s Derek’s favorite family tradition? Visiting the lights on Cane River in Natchitoches, Louisiana on Christmas.

Eric has been involved in many facets of the transportation industry over the last 20+ years. Eric is currently Vice President, Specialized Logistics for Evans Project Logistics Division. In this role, Eric is responsible for project, vendor, and client management as well as the identification of new revenue growth opportunities to further the success of the Projects Division.

Mr. Heieren specializes in the transportation of over-dimensional products via Rail, Over-the-Road Heavy Haul, Ocean, and Inland Waterway.

Prior to Evans, Eric was employed for 21 years at a Third-party logistics company and a Minnesota-based shortline railroad holding company and rail logistics provider. Eric’s role as Vice President of Sales and Marketing spanned several divisions of the corporation. Most recently Mr. Heieren was responsible for the sales and marketing for the third-party rail logistics division specializing in the transportation of over-dimensional cargo throughout North America. Under Eric’s leadership, the corporation experienced phenomenal growth doubling revenue annually. Eric also served as Vice President of Carload Growth Opportunities, Transloading, and Warehouse Operations essential to the railroads' success.

Mr. Heieren served on the ESOP Board of Trustees, Capital Committee, Short-line Regional Railroad Alliance Team and is active in the Railway Industrial Clearance Association.

Eric is a Graduate of St. Cloud State University; G.R. Herberger College of Business.

What is your favorite quote? “The healthiest competition occurs when average people win by putting above average effort” -Colin Powell

What did young Eric want to be when he was young? A Pilot

How do you like to spend your free time? Boating, outdoor activities, skiing, and golfing.

After spending 36 years with my previous company, managing sales and operations in multiple locations – Houston, Peoria, IL, and Bettendorf – I'm ecstatic to join the Evans Team!

I am happiest when I am helping others, so providing the Evans Experience to all our customers will come naturally to me. I enjoy using my network to help people find jobs, or just helping someone with a small chore is important to me. I feel Evans will help me “help others” by assisting with the variety of transportation issues that continually arise.

I also believe you are never too old to learn something new. I recently had a friend teach me to swim, which I never thought I'd do!

When I'm not at work, I'm on my road bike (I average about 2,000-3,000 miles a year), spoiling my grandchildren, or with my beautiful wife of 31 years and our dogs on the road in our RV. Check out @iowadoghouse on Instagram for some fun adventures with our furry friends!

What is your favorite quote? “Treat others the way you want to be treated.” We're not sure who officially said this first, but we dig it and agree completely!

What is a fun fact that people may not know about you?: Chris learned to swim at 56. 

Tom Underdahl has a drive that doesn’t quit, so it’s appropriate that what has kept him in the transportation management industry for 10 years is the complete lack of a dull moment.

Tom got his start in sales as a Direct Sales Manager for a media company before joining the Logistics Planning Services (LPS) team as an Outside Sales Representative. Inspired by the opportunity to have a direct impact on strategy and growth, in 2017, Tom signed onto team Evans as the 3PL’s Director of Business Development.

As Evans’ Director of Business Development, Tom is dedicated to seeking out aligned opportunities for both Evans and shippers, alike. He works closely with Marketing to develop new sales strategies, coaching Evans’ Business Development and Insides Sales teams, and sharing the wisdom (and hilarious stories) that he has collected throughout his decade of sales experience. Nothing invigorates Tom more than seeing his team succeed and Evans’ reach grow.

Born in Southern Minnesota, Tom graduated from the University of Mount Union with a degree in Business Development. He continues to live in the same area today, working from Evans’ Minneapolis office, only now, he shares his home with his wife and children. Together, they are avid sports fans and players, staying active and enjoying the Twin Cities’ beautiful outdoors.

What’s Tom’s special sauce? Boundless energy makes Tom an immensely effective developer of new business and keeps his team’s drive unmatched.

What did young Tom want to be when he grew up? A professional poker player. Nothing’s getting past me, dog!

What’s Tom’s favorite family tradition? Getting away from freezing Minnesota winters with my family to be anywhere warm over each Christmas season.

I started my transportation journey right out of college in the heart of The Great Recession.  I knew nothing about transportation or logistics but was willing to dive in. I started my first 8 years managing a large oil and gas companies' downstream transportation needs. It was here that I gained my foundation in transportation. I spent several years afterward working with large shippers in varying industries, eventually transitioning to a large FAP company where I added to my portfolio by learning parcel and freight, audit, and pay

After two years of broadening my knowledge base, I found a home at Evans.  I call it a home because I see all my co-workers as family members.  I love getting to spend all day working with people I enjoy at Evans as well as my customers.  Every day I work with my clients on analyzing their data, driving strategic solutions, educating them on the market, and so much more.  I believe in bringing the #EX to the customer every day!

What are three things that drive you? Proud follower of Christ, husband, and father!

What's a proud achievement? I was a D1 college wrestler and Texas state champion.

What is a Travis fun fact? I am an aquarium hobbyist.

Blake Stinnett has been with Evans since 2021. He has been in the transportation industry for 8+ years, spending most of that time in Sales and Account Management before joining the Evans family. As one of Evans’ Key Account Managers, Blake supports his clients’ goals, assists with strategic problem-solving, and manages the success of their transportation solution. As a relationship builder, Blake thrives on getting to know his clients on a personal level and finds joy in their wins, both personally and professionally. 

Blake graduated from Oklahoma State University, where he studied Management and Finance. He was born in Arlington, TX, and currently resides in Houston, TX, with his wife. When he is not working, Blake enjoys golfing, fishing, hiking, and enjoying all that South Texas has to offer.

What is Blake’s favorite quote? “What you are is God’s gift to you, what you become is your gift to God.” Hans Urs von Balthasar

Who is your role model? My dad because he always made sure we were taken care of and supported me no matter what I wanted to do.

What is one personal achievement that Blake is proud of? Reached the summit of Mount Shavano in Colorado (14,231 feet)

Prior to joining Evans in 2021, Brock spent 10 years building his logistics experience in several roles with one of the largest providers. Having spent time with a shared focus on both clients and carriers in varying roles has provided exposure to many aspects of managed transportation. Brock always works to see things through the customer lens, challenging both the internal and external growth of Evans solutions.

Outside of work, Brock is a husband and father of 3 children who are very active in sports and activities. When not at an arena, field, or studio the family enjoys getting outdoors for hikes and adventures. The family resides in Lake Elmo, MN. Brock is an avid golfer and active in coaching youth sports.  He and his family enjoy dreaming up and doing home improvement projects, as "our house is our sanctuary."

What quote resonates with Brock? This ain’t no hobby – Kevin Kisner (Mic drop.)

How does Brock spend his free time? Wife has diagnosed me as a golf addict. I crave competition and golf has brought that to me as an adult. It’s also a great way to build relationships with our clients, carriers, and team. Unfortunately for me, it is, just a hobby. 

What is your fave food? Give me proteins, sushi and steak are my favorites but if it comes off a smoker or grill it will be just fine too! Whether it’s out for date night or at home with the family, I enjoy good food and conversation around the table.

Shawn started from the ground and worked his way up – from loading trucks at UPS, to managing full divisions of LTL, FTL, and complex supply chain solutions.  Throughout his experience in Transportation, he enjoys taking on new challenges and new opportunities to provide customized solutions catered to all businesses, regardless of size. Thrives in the fast-paced environment logistics demands. To Shawn, the art of logistics is similar to completing a challenging puzzle, let’s think big picture, look at all the pieces, and be thoughtful, strategic, and purposeful with how we achieve the desired end result. 

Shawn currently resides in Andover, Minnesota where he is a proud father and husband to his son Henry and wife Hannah.  Outside of work, you can find Shawn either grilling/smoking a meal for his family and friends, hiking with his family and dog (Fitz), or out on the golf course.

What is your favorite quote? “Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.” ― Michael Jordan

What is the "special sauce" that makes you, you? Problem solving, showing meaningful results, and building honest, trusted relationships. 

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? Anything active whether it’s playing 18 holes of golf, reeling in the fish,  snowboarding in the mountains, and mountain biking challenging trails. 

Prior to joining Evans in early 2019, Jeannie started her transportation career with a focus on LTL operations.  She moved from Illinois to Chattanooga, Tennesee in 2015 to start up an LTL Operations division with another major 3PL company, and managed teams in multiple cities and locations. She played a key role in providing support to the sales team as well as the middle-to-larger size customers.

Recently Jeannie made the move back to Illinois where the majority of her family lives.  She has three children and a granddaughter on the way. She is an avid animal lover who is actively involved in animal rescue and fostering.   

What is Jeannie's favorite quote? "The world would be a nicer place if everyone had the ability to love as unconditionally as a dog." -- M.K. Clinton

What's a Jeannie fun fact, you ask? She has fostered well over 100 puppies and dogs to date with no plans of stopping. 

Paul joined the Evans family in 2012. As the Director of Operations, Paul oversees our Customer Service and Account Management teams. He works closely with those team members to cultivate and retain relationships within managed transportation here at Evans.

Graduating with a BA in Marketing from The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Paul has been with Evans the entire duration of his logistics career!  " I enjoy the culture and team that I work with. Without both, I would not be where I am today within the organization. We have a lot of talented people on our team who are also great co-workers!"

Raised in Seymour, Wisconsin, Paul now resides with his wife in West Bend, Wisconsin. Paul likes to spend time with his family, which includes Larry the dog and Penelope the cat! Paul and his wife enjoy kayaking, and sporting events. He's a huge NASCAR fan! 

What’s Paul’s special sauce?  He is able to relate to those he's working with, establish a great working relationship, and build on it throughout the life of the partnership.

Who is your role model? "My older brother, Matt.  I'm pretty sure I've looked up him since I was born, and as we've gotten older, I realize how much he has helped mold me into who I am today. His success in life, both professionally and personally, has always helped me strive to be the best." 

What’s Paul's secret talent? Not many people know that Paul can play the guitar! Although he considers himself a novice, he enjoys teaching himself new techniques and continuously challenging himself mentally and physically.

Derek Mansur joined the Evans team in 2019. Nearing in on a decade in the industry, Derek loves the ability to craft creative solutions for our customers.

Derek studied Operations Management at the University of St. Thomas in Saint Paul, Minnesota.  Derek truly understands what it takes to make a team work, he's familiar with every role, from Intern to Director.

Derek was born in Apple Valley, Minnesota, and currently resides in Burnsville, Minnesota. 

What’s Derek’s special sauce?  Derek is a great negotiator and is able to skillfully balance multiple projects at a time. His ability to monitor and understand market trends is next level!

Who is Derek’s role model? His mother. "She is tough as nails, caring and a true go getter."

What’s Derek’s favorite Book? The Old Man and the Sea.

Currently living in Plymouth, Minnesota but born in Toronto, Canada I found my way to the United States for college. Spending four years in Ashland, WI, and graduating from Northland College with a degree in Business Management and Sustainable Entrepreneurship along with being a three-sport NCAA D3 athlete. Before college, I spent the summers in a business atmosphere back home while playing Junior Hockey and I knew that it was my true calling – developing relationships and following through on commitments. Fast forward to my JR year of college and when I got introduced to the world of freight through an internship in Chicago and never looked back. My freight career has always been on the carrier side of brokerage and through the development of key relationships, trust, and listening. My next goal is to pass on my knowledge to the next wave of Carrier Procurement Representatives to ensure the success of relationship development and foundation along with the success of Evans!

Favorite Quote -  “Adversity causes some men to break; and others to break records” – William Ward

Who are Matt's heroes? My Mom, Dad, and brother. Why? Hard work has always been something we pride ourselves on and was introduced to it at a young age. My Mom has/is always available for me, through ups and downs she has the ability to keep me grounded and motivated for more. My father has always been a hard worker and does everything he can to support our family and my brother who has been and will always been someone wise beyond their years. He was instrumental in supporting me throughout my journey and we push each other to be the best version of ourselves. Without them it would be hard to imagine where I would be today!

How does Matt spend his free time? Running, Jiu Jitsu, and working out! Cooking has also became one of my favorite hobbies.

What is a proud personal achievement? Recipient of the Northland College Community Building Award and Nominated for the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference Student Leadership Award.

Craig grew up in Lakeville, Minnesota, and attended the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Before entering the world of freight, Craig started his professional career at Panera Bread. This was a High School and College job that became his career after he finished school. However, just like most people, freight found Craig, and after eight years at Panera Bread, he joined C.H. Robinson where he would begin his new career path in the industry.

In 2014, Craig had the opportunity to join the Temperature Controlled LTL division at C.H. Robinson within the Account Management team. During his time at CHR, he focused his time on building customer relationships and driving initiatives that matched client goals. After 8 years at C.H. Robinson, he joined the Evans family in Minneapolis to start the next chapter in his freight journey.

What is Craig's "special sauce"? Wearing my heart on my sleeve. At the end of the day, we’re all people and I’ve found it best to be myself and build authentic relationships with my people, customers and carriers alike. 

What did Craig want to be when he was young? As a child I told my parents that I wanted to be a garbage man. Something about riding on the back the truck really looked cool. My parents fully supported my dreams of being a garbage man and told me that the benefits were great!

How does Craig spend his free time? Free time at the Remley household is spent with my three beautiful daughters, my amazing wife Cassie, 2 dogs (Sage & Nova), and our cat Oliver!

I graduated college at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga with a B.S. in Business – Operations Management. I started out aiming for a degree in chemistry, but as I was doing so, my girlfriend’s cousin had graduated from a prestigious college with a chemistry degree and couldn’t procure a job. Coincidentally, where I was working, there was a small used car lot next door; the partners had degrees in Psychology and Zoology. I determined at that time to pursue business.

I started working in logistics in June 2000 at Covenant Transport, a large Chattanooga-based OTR carrier. My role began as a fleet manager, then progressed to become a load planner/CSR, and then moved into a Customer Service Supervisor role. One of my co-workers joined the fledgling Access America freight brokerage firm, and I followed suit. After several years there I was recruited to join the team at Kenco and met and worked closely with our COO John Conrad for 5+ years who subsequently brought me to Evans. I’ve now been with Evans for nearly seven years and am more impressed with the company now. It’s interesting in my role at Kenco, I was operationally focused but out of necessity, became very adept at most facets of our TMS platform MercuryGate.

Since joining Evans, most employees likely do not know that my beginnings had nothing to do with IT; I grew into a need and now am fully viewed as an IT guy. I’ve grown exponentially since joining the Evans family. 

What is Eric's favorite quote? “It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” Sir Edmund Hillary

What is a proud personal achievement that people may not know you (but should)? Climbing Mount Rainier, unguided, with two other friends from Tennessee (and safely, living to talk about it).

Who is your hero? My mother. I learned a plethora of extremely meaningful attributes from my father, but my mom probably had more to do with instilling those traits that make up your core foundation. She was small in stature but could make up for it quickly with authority and vehemence. I’d not be the person I am today without her. What she believed in, she was steadfast and devout.

I joined the Evans family in 2019, being drawn to the people, the company culture, and the opportunity to have an impact on growth and development. Working with our various Evans teams and alongside our carrier partners, I’m continually striving to develop the right balance of carrier options to meet our customer needs while at the same time finding processes to make our customers better shippers.

I started my logistics career working shipping and receiving at a lumber yard, later earning my degree in Supply Chain Management from Grand Valley State University. From there my career path developed through another third-party logistics company, Universal Traffic Service, where I held several roles in operations, carrier development, and pricing over 10 years.

I was born in West Michigan, where I still reside today with my wife and two kids. Aside from supporting my two kids at their various school and sports activities, I can be found on the golf course or camping with family and friends. I’m also an avid Michigan State Spartan fan! Go Green!

What is Nick's "special sauce"? Do the right thing.  Lead by example, doing the hard work, and empowering others to grow.

Who would you call your hero, and why? My grandfather.  He was a WWII Army veteran who was known for his hard work and dedication to his family.

What is a proud personal achievement? Going back to college and earning my Bachelor’s degree as a “non-traditional” college student.

Ben joined the Evans team at the start of 2020. With five years of freight experience specializing in freight contracts and carrier relations, he leads our Billing Team to higher levels. He enjoys the challenges that the ever-changing freight market has to offer and works to live a life of service in every way he can. In his time at Evans, he was part of the Pricing team and the creation of our Global Rating Engine before moving on up to our Billing department.

Ben got his start at LTL carrier and quickly fell in love with the complexities of freight. He is one of the few people in the world that enjoys looking into carrier rate tables. If you ever get the chance, ask him his thoughts, and you will realize what we mean. Ben has a BS in Finance from Northern Illinois University and will forever be a proud Huskie regardless of how his team does. Ben lives in Northern Illinois with his growing family and spends most of his time outside of Evans building his family home. “I have had the ability to be technical in my career, so being able to build something with my hands and disconnect has brought me great joy. Will I ever finish, likely not. There are always things in your personal development that can improve; why is a building any different.”

What did you want to be when you were young? A Farmer like all my family before me.

What's a proud personal achievement, Ben? First man in my family to graduate from college. Not without its challenges but still got it done in four years!

Fun factoid: I have a Boston Terrier that comes to the office with me every day and he is named after my late grandfather, Floyd. I think everyone should have dog and name them after some one important best way to keep their memory alive.