Pub2-2021-Issue3

KyTrucking.net 15 continued on page 16 he was making introductions and grooming us from a very early age. The website also lists three women: Phyllis Rogers, Lesha Breeding and Marsha VanArsdale. Would you please tell us a little more about these women? Kristeena: Phyllis Rogers is my grandmother. She started the company with my grandfather Tommy. She was a tough, very blunt, super smart and loyal woman. She was no longer an active participant in day-to-day operations after I joined, but she stayed very informed. She lived right across from the business, so she watched every move from her large window. We gave her updates often on how things were going. With her being my grandmother, I was blessed to know a lot about past operations in RTC. Lesha is my mother. I have been blessed with her not only as my mother but a true idol when it comes to being a businesswoman. My brother and I joke and say we lived at the office growing up. We know firsthand what she has sacrificed to keep her father’s dream alive. Marsha is my great aunt. She has been a key player for over 40 years, and she knows the ins and outs of the industry. If a question is asked in the office, many times the answer has been, “Ask Marsha.” I am very blessed to be able to work alongside her and continue to learn. What is your educational background? Lesha: I have some college, but at the time, being an active participant in the business prevailed. Education is very important to me. It was a requirement for both Charles and Kristeena to be employed at RTC. Charles received an economics degree from the University of Kentucky. Kristeena: I have a B.S. in financial economics from Centre College and an MBA from the University of Louisville. Kristeena Breeding’s parents, Glenn and Lesha Kristeena Breeding and her brother Charles How did Rogers Trucking Inc. get started in 1965? Lesha: My dad always talked about being a little boy, seeing semis pass and saying, “I will own those.” The beginning wasn’t quite that easy, though. He had to quit school in eighth grade and start logging with his father. Life threw lots of curveballs, but he became a truck driver and hauled commodities. He started buying trucks along the way. He drove and worked on them while my mother dispatched. The company hauled various commodities, with tobacco being a key player in the early stages. The buying of one B Model Mack led to the start of RTC. Are there specific individuals who had a major impact on your career? Kristeena: My parents. They have given me countless opportunities that have influenced my career. Also, just being able to grow up with people who know so much about the industry that I can learn from daily. There are people on the RTC team that have been here a majority of my life, so being surrounded by those people that know more than I ever will is priceless. Lesha: This is not a one-person show, so there are many people who have impacted me. First, my parents, aunts, uncles, and a strong team of drivers and employees have helped me. What is the most rewarding part of your career for each of you? Lesha: Relationships and friendships are important to me. The most rewarding part of my