Staff & Board of Trustees
Staff

Thomas A. Balzer, CAE
President & CEO
614-653-0290
Thomas A. Balzer, CAE is the president & CEO of the Ohio Trucking Association a position he has held for over ten years. Tom has over 25 years of experience as an association executive. During his tenure, the Ohio Trucking Association has seen some significant changes and logged some significant legislative wins. Including a 1,400% increase in assets, greater transparency and membership engagement, increased donations to the Political Action Committee and a heightened presence in Ohio politics.
Prior the Ohio Trucking Association Tom served as the director of administration at Midwest Motor Express, an LTL carrier with 32 terminals in 16 states, and a board member with Midnite Express, a truckload carrier that served 48 states and Canada. Tom has his CDL and drove linehaul during some of the busier times.
For over six years Tom was the executive vice president of the North Dakota Motor Carriers Association. During his tenure with the Association membership increased by 35% to the highest levels in organizational history, he returned the organization to profitability after over ten years of losses, and expanded its trucking education program offerings, including the nation’s only conference specifically for oilfield trucking operations.
Tom currently serves on the board of American Trucking Associations’s TruckPAC and the past chair of the Ohio Society of Association Professionals. He also served on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Household Goods Consumer Protection Working Group and serves on a variety of policy committees for the American Trucking Associations.
Tom was born and raised in Bismarck, North Dakota, received his M.B.A. from the University of Mary and his Bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of North Dakota.

Bradie Berry
Vice President
614-519-6462
Bradie Berry is a seasoned association professional with more than 24 years of industry experience. She joined the Ohio Trucking Association (OTA) in 2018 as Vice President of Meetings & Events and was promoted to Vice President in 2022. In this role, she directs the strategy and execution of meetings, events, and education programs, leads the Ohio Trucking Safety Council, and drives the implementation of OTA’s strategic plan.
Before joining OTA, Bradie spent more than 15 years with the Ohio Restaurant Association (ORA), advancing through multiple leadership roles. As Director of Major Events, she oversaw the association’s largest annual event, a multi-day education and trade show.
She holds dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Public Relations and Organizational Communication from Otterbein University.

Della Hole
Director of Operations
614-753-5125
Della M. Hole joined the Ohio Trucking Association (OTA) in July 2021. In October 2023, she was promoted to Director of Operations. She brings experience in office management, property management, finance/bookkeeping, human resources, and organizational management. She is responsible for coordinating meetings, maintaining the office's operations, and keeping things running smoothly.
Before joining the OTA, she was employed in healthcare in the hospital corporate setting and long-term care. Responsibilities in these roles ranged from finance to recruitment and retention.
In her free time, Della is an avid baker (focusing on creating new cheesecakes) and a reader. She prides herself on being a lifelong learner.

Donna Taylor
Director of Communication
718-954-0725
Donna Taylor joined the Ohio Trucking Association (OTA) in October 2023 as the Director of Communications. With a diverse background in entertainment, fashion, event/venue management, and marketing, Donna brings a dynamic blend of creativity and strategy to her role.
Originally from Ohio, she spent over a decade in New York City, honing her skills in fast-paced industries before returning to her home state. In her position at OTA, Donna is responsible for developing and executing the association's marketing plan, creating and implementing a comprehensive social media strategy, managing organizational newsletters, and promoting events and educational opportunities. She also leads the Level Up Webinar series and provides event and education support.

Deb Seiple
Director of Business Development
614-653-1991
Debra Seiple (Deb) is an association management and sales professional with over 30 years of experience in membership growth, team development, membership and sponsorship sales, and executing customer service at the highest level. In March 2022, she joined the Ohio Trucking Association as the Director of Business Development. In this role, she is responsible for growing membership by sharing knowledge about the Ohio Trucking Association’s mission, benefits, and sponsorship opportunities with carriers, movers, and associated companies who serve Ohio’s trucking industry.
Prior positions held include Membership Manager, Membership Director, Sales Manager, Business Development Director and, more recently, Trade Show Manager for the Ohio Restaurant Association (ORA). For the past 7 years, Deb held the position of Trade Show Manager where she managed booth and sponsorship sales, and handled all vendor relations and logistics for their yearly, multi-day, trade show event. Deb also held the position of Membership Specialist, where she brought new members into the association.
Deb loves the Buckeyes, is a big NASCAR and NTT IndyCar Series racing fan, and is very active. She enjoys hiking, traveling, biking, the beach, spending time with family, reading, and riding their Harley.

Lobbyists - Governmental Policy Group

Victor Hipsley
President & CEO

Matthew Whitehead
Vice President
![image001[96] image001[96]](https://www.ohiotrucking.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/1828/bb-plugin/cache/image00196-cb5706eb-bac1-4286-954f-235e021c9edf-portrait.jpg)
Michael Guastella
Director of Public Affairs
![image002[8] image002[8]](https://www.ohiotrucking.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/1828/bb-plugin/cache/image0028-9c2aea6c-73a2-4353-9eba-d40ba8e0dbc0-portrait.jpg)
Ronnie Romito
Director of Legislative Affairs

Sydney Sanders
Manager of Policy & Communications

Aubrey Spencer
Manager of Operations

Kelsey Woolard
Director of Government Affairs
Officers

Chair
Jay Sewell
Chairman and CEO
Sewell Motor Express

First Vice Chair
Rebecca Pohl Liette
Vice President of Marketing
Pohl Transportation, Inc.

Treasurer
Tim Cowen
President
Hornish Bros.

Secretary
Kiera Sullivan
VP / General Counsel
Continental Express Inc.

Immediate Past Chair
Jonathan Gaupp
General Transportation Manager
Walmart Transportation

ATA VP from Ohio
Scott Pauchnik
Sr. State and Local Government Affairs Rep.
FedEx
Trustees

Mathew Birdsall
EASE Expedited

Chris Bobbitt
Sanborn, Brandon, Duvall & Bobbitt

Kevin Burch
Martin Transportation Systems of Northern Ohio, LLC

Mark Carrocce Sr.
R&J Trucking Inc.
![Tim Chrulski-2[8] Tim Chrulski-2[8]](https://www.ohiotrucking.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/1828/bb-plugin/cache/Tim-Chrulski-28-232x300-portrait.jpg)
Tim Chrulski
Garner Trucking, Inc.

Richard M. Crockett
Capital Transportation, Inc.

Willy Jennings
Gateway Distribution, LLC

Eric Jones

Alexander Karcher
Roetzel & Andress

Joseph Kerola
P I & I Motor Express

Tracy Lawrence
Pilot Company

Brad Ralston
ContainerPort Group

Ryan Richards
JRayl Transport, Inc.

Stacy Sadar
Geotab

Matt Selby
Frantz Ward LLP

Nancy Sheeler
Transitional Design Moving, LLC

Doug Sosko
CliftonLarsonAllen LLP

Lucas Subler
Classic Carriers, Inc.

Ashley Von Derau
Rush Transportation & Logistics

OTSC Board Representative
James Bracken
AWL Transport, Inc. dba TLX
OTA Past Chairmen
2023-2024
Jonathan Gaupp
2022-2023
Tony Tomase
2021-2022
Glenn Fehribach
2020-2021
Ed Nagle
2019-2020
Jim Subler
2018-2019
Dean Kaplan
2016-2018
Doug Sibila
2014-2016
Daniel Doran
2012-2014
Paul Williams
2010-2012
Suzie Schindewolf
2008-2010
John N. Hofstetter
2006-2008
Richard E. Durst
2004-2006
Keith A. Tuttle
2002-2004
Daniel E. Hennessey
2000-2002
Vernon E. Garner
1998-2000
Robert A. Barnes
1996-1998
James W. Bates
1994-1996
Steven D. Walker
1992-1994
A. Roger Atkinson
1990-1992
Jay L. Kaplan
1988-1990
Edward E. Ross
1986-1988
William G. Verst
1984-1986
Daniel E. Fuhrman
1981-1984
Philip E. Lattavo
1980-1981
Charles H. McCreary
1979-1980
Milton H. Bortz
1977-1979
John E. LeFevre
1975-1977
Carl W. Reagan
1973-1975
Ronald R. Sibila
1971-1973
Ralph E. Hennessey
1969-1971
R.R. Johnstone
1967-1969
O.M. Lattavo
1965-1967
Don E. Blancett
1963-1965
Howard E. LeFevre
1961-1963
J. Otis Ford
1959-1961
Samual J. Tutt
1957-1959
Jesse W. Sentle
1955-1957
Clarence A. Kelley
1953-1955
C.E. Williams
1951-1953
Kenneth Herriott
1949-1951
William Burbank
1947-1949
Frank Egner
1945-1947
Enry De Maria
1943-1945
John Ernsthausen
1941-1943
H.B. Franks
1939-1941
Ed Lee
1937-1939
L.J. Hughes
1935-1937
Merle Fullerton
1932-1935
Glenn R. Ward
1931-1932
Paul J. Herbert
1929-1931
Ray Wagner
1926-1929
Thomas Heil, Jr.
1923-1926
Frank Schmidt