Pub2-2021-Issue3

KyTrucking.net 17 Kristeena: I feel I am a little green to give much advice, but this is what I would say at this point in my life: 1. Th e industry has been going through constant change ever since I started working in it, especially with technology, so always stay in the know. 2. Surround yourself with people who make you better and sharper. You will never gain anything if you are always in your comfort zone. 3. Have a vision for where you are going. It is easy to get caught up in the rat race and lose sight. Dream big, and teammates will follow if they know where they are going. If you don’t have a vision and a path of direction, you will often find yourself at a standstill. What are some professional moments that make you proudest? Lesha: I spent a lot of my early years crawling into a truck with my dad. As a child, I begged to ride with him. I always wanted to ride and drive. We had older trucks, and they were not nice. But not too long ago, I went on a drive with my son in a new truck. He has his CDL, and the truck was air-conditioned and comfortable. We had come a long way, and I was overjoyed to be with my son in a brand-new truck. My heart overflows watching my children engaged in operations with so much love and passion for the industry. Was there an “aha” moment in your career that defined you? Lesha: On a personal level, my father’s funeral — I realized in business that he had touched the lives of many. Secretly. He took resources from his business and blessed many. I knew the sacrifices, but I didn’t realize just how much my parents had sacrificed to help others. “Rogers” was bigger than I imagined. I quickly realized I had big shoes to fill. I am working to keep their dreams and legacy alive while at the same time remaining humble. Kristeena: We are a close business family and have many strong teammates working on our team. We may know their jobs mean a lot to them, but it’s more than that for some of them. We don’t always realize that they have given their lives to “Rogers” because they love the company as much as we do. One of our drivers had a fatal heart attack while parked in his truck. He had been with us for 20 years. My brother Charles and I had an eye- opening experience at his funeral. We saw Rogers items everywhere. The family asked us to lead the funeral procession in his semi. This was the moment that I realized we had a good thing at “Rogers,” and I wanted to make decisions in the future to make it an even better thing. It was a great feeling knowing that my brother and I were part of something bigger than just a place to work. Do you have any last words? Lesha: God, Family, Friends and Business. “Rogers” is a multitude of families coming together, uniting as one! I am grateful and respectful to each one of our teammates and their families. Lots of sacrifices are made when a parent or spouse is gone all week. Thank you to those who help me keep our dream alive. I hope I never wake up. As my Daddy would say, “Keep on Trucking.” Kristeena: As “Rogers” experiences changes and growth, like I said earlier in the interview, it is being done with vision and purpose. As part of the third generation, I do have dreams to take my grandparents’ legacy to another level. At that next level, I can reach even more people and be part of an even bigger change. My grandparents set a culture at RTC from the beginning, and my mother has carried on. I want to keep that same “Rogers” culture no matter the size of RTC. Rogers Trucking isn’t just a business. It’s a family of people all working for a greater cause.