June 2024
June 27, 2024
3 P.M. ET
Navigating Mergers and Acquisitions in the Trucking Industry
Join our upcoming lab to explore succession planning, positioning your company for potential mergers or acquisitions, and navigating the complex process successfully.
Webinar participants will remain anonymous due to the sensitive nature of the conversation.
The Client
Geoff Chasin, Former President / Owner of New England Retail Express (NRX)
Geoff Chasin's journey as the owner of NRX Logistics, a last mile home delivery company, began in 1989 when he bought the business after working there as a truck driver. Fast forward to 2019, Geoff decided it was time to sell the company he had built over the past three decades.
As the process unfolded, Geoff's goals evolved, focusing on finding the right deal structure and a buyer that aligned with NRX's unique culture and values. Despite the challenges, Geoff found an ideal match in Cardinal, a company whose culture seamlessly fit with NRX's. The sale process tested Geoff's resilience, but through perseverance and determination, he successfully closed the deal.
Now, Geoff is eager to share his experience with other trucking company owners who may be considering selling their businesses. His insights and lessons learned can help guide others through the complex and often emotional journey of letting go of a company they've poured their heart and soul into.
The Experts
Kevin W. Burch
VP, Governmental Affairs & Sales
Martin Transportation Systems
Keith Klein
President and CEO
Klein Ventures, LLC
Meghan Meurer
Chief Commercial Officer
The Tenney Group
Rebecca White
EVP Strategy & Corporate Development
Kenan Advantage Group
The Challenge
As a trucking company owner, you may be wondering: How can I continue to grow and take my company to the next level? What investors should I consider? How can I prepare for retirement? Many owners of small and mid-sized trucking companies face these questions and more, particularly given the current market challenges. With concerns about growth, investment, succession planning, and the complexities of M&A processes, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and uncertain about the future of your business.
The Spark change lab will focus on addressing these challenges and equip you with the knowledge and tools needed to maximize the value of your trucking company, navigate the mergers and acquisitions process with confidence, and better position you for a successful outcome for your business. It will generate solutions to these as well as other important questions:
- How can you develop a robust succession plan and position your company as an attractive acquisition target?
- How can you effectively navigate the M&A process, from valuation and due diligence to successful integration?
- What are the key value drivers and best practices for maximizing your company's worth in an acquisition?
Meet the Experts
Kevin has over 50 years of experience in the trucking industry, including LTL, TL, Air Freight, and consolidation. Kevin is currently Vice President, Governmental Affairs and Sales for Martin Transportation Systems. MTS purchased Jet Express in 2017, where Kevin had been President since 1990. MTS continues to handle, just in-time and general freight throughout North America.
Kevin is past chairman of the American Trucking Associations (2016-2017) and of the Truckload Carriers Association (2009-2010), and currently serves on both associations Board of Directors and numerous other committees. He is involved with the Ohio Trucking Association, the Miami Valley Transportation Club, and the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce. Kevin is co-chairman of the Dayton Area Logistics Council.
Kevin and his partners sold Jet Express, Inc. to Martin Transportation Systems (MTS) in November 2017. Kevin continues to serve on their senior management team.
Mr. Klein’s career spans 30 years of transportation leadership, financial accountability, and strategic vision. He spent 18 years at Transport America, a large truckload carrier based in Minnesota, in various roles, including Chief Financial Officer, Chief Information Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and most recently, President. Mr. Klein retired from Transport America in 2017, and currently is active in several business ventures, teaches Logistics as part of the Supply Chain program at the University of Minnesota Carlson School, and sits on several Board of Directors. He received his MBA from the Carlson School and his undergraduate degree in accounting from Creighton University. He received his CPA designation when graduating from school and began his career with Deloitte in public accounting.
Meg Meurer serves as Chief Commercial Officer of Tenney Group. She is responsible for driving growth in dynamic markets by establishing sell-side engagements through the coordination of commercial activities to meet the personal and financial objectives of her clients.
Meg graduated from Stephens College with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing Management, minor in Finance, and Master of Business Administration. She started her career at Schneider National in driver recruiting before moving into sales. She has held several executive roles at carriers with fleet sizes ranging from 300-6,000 power units and revenue of $70M to $1.5B. Throughout these roles, Meg has successfully managed commercial transformation and integration initiatives, overseeing inside/outside sales teams, driver recruitment, customer service, international sales and operations, contact center operations, as well as rating and contract management. Meg also serves on several boards and advisory committees and co-hosts the industry M&A podcast “In the Hot Seat with the Tenney Group.”
Meg resides in St. Louis, Missouri with her husband Rob, and their two children, Mabel and Charlie. She enjoys watching her children play sports, traveling, teaching, and volunteering in her community.
Rebecca Lynn White serves as EVP, Strategy & Corporate Development for The Kenan Advantage Group, overseeing organic and inorganic growth initiatives. Since joining KAG in 2017, she has led the entire M&A process for more than 20 transactions representing over $400 million in value. Rebecca also plays a key role in KAG's strategic planning efforts, initiating and managing the annual Leadership Summit and developing the company's Sustainability policy and reporting.
Prior to KAG, Rebecca spent 14 years in investment banking, closing more than 35 transactions representing over $1.8 billion in value. She held leadership roles at KeyBanc Capital Markets, Western Reserve Partners LLC, and Citizens Bank, ultimately serving as Head of Capital Raising.
Rebecca holds a B.S. in Mathematics and Accountancy from Mount Union College and an M.S. in Management in Operations Research with a Finance concentration from Case Western Reserve University. She has been recognized for her professional achievements and has served on corporate boards. In her free time, Rebecca is an avid runner, having completed 24 marathons, including 11 Boston Marathons.
ABOUT THE LAB
The Spark Change Lab is an interactive accelerated learning experience that brings together companies and experts to tackle business issues in real time and generate immediate and actionable solutions that will drive positive change within the supply chain. By taking an outside-the-box approach emphasizing people, inspiration, action, evolution, and community, the Lab sparks practical innovation and has a lasting ripple effect on bettering workplaces.
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