Company Update
This month's Company Update spotlights the announcement of an executive team transition, recent retirements and several promotions.
Saia Announces Executive Team Transition
Saia LTL Freight Executive Vice President of Operations Paul Peck will retire July 1 after a distinguished 44 year career. As part of the planned succession, effective March 31, Patrick Sugar will be named executive vice president of operations and Peck will continue to support the transition through his retirement date.
Peck’s career at the company began in 1977 at the New Orleans terminal and spanned Saia’s emergence from a regional, privately held company to a leading $1.8 billion national less-than-truckload carrier. In 2018, Peck was named executive vice president of operations. His track record of success has included tours in sales and operational leadership roles across the network.
Sugar has been serving as Saia’s vice president of linehaul and industrial engineering. In this role, he has led the development and implementation of several key technologies and has had a pivotal role in the planning and operational execution of the company’s strategic plan over the last several years. Sugar joined Saia in 2016 after a career in engineering and operations management at a leading packaged goods company. He holds a degree in industrial and system engineering from Georgia Tech.
Crow Announces Retirement; Hanlon Named New HST RM
HST Regional Manager Mark Crow has announced that he will retire from the company on April 14, having served in this position for over 9 years. This is Mark’s 44th year in the LTL industry and he is looking forward to traveling with his wife, Rosella, along with riding his motorcycle.
With Mark’s retirement, David Hanlon will assume the HST regional management role. David joined Saia 2003 and has served at all levels of management, most recently as the HST terminal manager. He has 24 years of experience in the transportation industry and has served in the U.S. Army.
Horton Named ATL Terminal Manager
Jason Horton has been named the new terminal manager for our ATL facility. Jason started with Saia 12 years ago and has demonstrated excellent operational results while living the company’s core values. He recently celebrated leading our GBO terminal to a President’s Club award in 2020, and we look forward to the impact he will have leading the ATL facility as we prepare for the North Atlanta expansion later in the year.
James Announces Retirement; Hunter Named New HST RSM
HST Regional Sales Manager (RSM) Brenda James has announced that she will retire April 1 after 27 years with the company. Brenda began her career at Saia as an account executive. After 11 years selling in the Houston market, she was promoted to RSM, a position she has held for over 15 years. During her career, Brenda served on the “best-in-class” committee, taught classes at our annual meetings, and was the recipient of both President’s Club and our Best-in-Class award.
Kyrik Hunter has been named the new HST RSM. Kyrik joined Saia in 2003 as an account executive in the Houston market. After just three years, he was promoted to a national account executive (NAE) role in Chicago, IL, a position he served in from 2007 to 2009. He returned to Houston in 2009 and worked as a business development executive then as an NAE-hybrid.
Kyrik was responsible for both a field territory and several major 3PLs. He worked to grow our business not only in Houston, but all over the company with bids from 3PLs. Most recently, he was again promoted to our new position, enterprise executive, in the Houston market. Over the years, Kyrik has earned President’s Club in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2010 and 2011. He was a trip winner in 2005 and 2011. He also received Best-in-Class honors in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2011 and 2012. Kyrik has been with Saia for 18 years and has a bachelor’s degree in business from Grambling State University in Grambling, Louisiana.
Jones and Raker Named New Directors of Safety
Gil Jones has been named our new director of field safety for the West while Christopher Raker has been named our new director of field safety in the East.
Gil joined Saia in 2018 and has worked for the last three years as the KCY and LAX regional safety manager. He has 20 years of experience in the transportation industry. Prior to Saia, he served as a terminal manager for another carrier.
Chris began his career at Saia in 2011 and had been serving as the CLT regional safety manager. He has 21 years of transportation industry experience.