NPTC/E.A. Dion Present 2026 Professional Leadership Awards

ARLINGTON, VA – At its Annual Education Management Conference and Exhibition in Orlando, May 9-11, 2026, the National Private Truck Council and award program sponsor, E.A. Dion, recognized five private fleet professionals and two Allied members for their impressive contributions to the private fleet community. “For thirty-six years, these Professional Leadership Awards have honored individuals and companies which have positively impacted NPTC and the industry,” stated Gary Petty, NPTC President and CEO. “We extend our thanks and appreciation to the 2026 award winners and to our sponsor, E.A. Dion.”

The Council’s top award, the Dan Smith Lifetime Achievement Award, was presented to David Barth, CTP, Transportation Safety Manager, Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. With more than 38 years of experience in the transportation, warehousing and distribution industry, David has worked in various capacities at Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. for the last 22 years. Prior to his current role, David held the position of Transportation Operations Area Manager for Wegmans Retail Service Center in Pottsville, PA where he oversaw Wegmans’ private fleet as well as Wegmans’ dedicated third party carriers. David is a member of the Transportation Association of New York as well as the Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association. ,An active member of NPTC since 2009, David participates on the council’s Benchmarking Steering Committee. In 2017 David was elected to NPTC Board of Directors, and in 2020 David was elected to serve as Board Secretary, Board Vice Chair/Chair Elect in 2022, and Board Chair in 2024.

The Private Fleet Executive of the Year went to Tim Eckhardt, СТР, Senior Director of Safety DOT Transportation, Inc. He began his career with Dot Transportation in 2012 as a Sr. Transportation Manager and moved into the Director of Safety role in 2019. In his current position, Tim and his team are responsible for overseeing D.O.T. Compliance, Driver Training, Accidents & Claims Management, and Dot’s in-house driver training schools. Today, the fleet consists of more than 2,000 full-time drivers in the United States and Canada. Tim has a B.S. from Eastern Illinois University and an MBA from William Woods University. He earned his CP certification in 2018 and proudly holds a class A CDL. Tim serves as Vice Chair-Chair Elect of the NPTC Board of Directors, and previously served as Board Secretary and Chair of the NPTC Safety Committee.

Receiving the Private Fleet Manager of the Year award was Ellen Ingram, CTP Vice President, Human Resources & Safety, America’s Service Line, LLC, a top company for women to work in transportation and the private fleet for American Foods Group, one of the nation’s largest beef processors. Ellen started her career in operations with Hormel Foods Corporation before moving into Human Resources and Safety. Ellen now leads fleet and employee safety, talent acquisition, employee relations, benefits, leadership development, and payroll with her current company. As a Certified Transportation Professional, Ellen serves on the National Private Truck Council Board of Governors and is a content facilitator for the NPTC Private Fleet Management Institute. In addition, Ellen is an active SHRM-Senior Certified Professional and a member of Women in Trucking.

Kate Mirise, CTP, Central Ohio Logistics Manager for the Royal Group, was named the Private Fleet Safety Professional of the Year. In her current role, Kate oversees transportation operations across three manufacturing plants and an offsite warehouse. She plays a key role in dispatch, compliance, and logistics for the company’s private fleet, which serves Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Michigan. Kate’s transportation career began in 2002 at her family’s towing company, where she managed dispatch and operated the impound lot. In 2015, she joined The Royal Group, a leading manufacturer of packaging solutions-from corrugated boxes to foam molding-starting as a receptionist before advancing into logistics management. In April 2022, Kate earned her CTP designation. Kate is an active member of the PFMI faculty.

Jeffrey Eisaman, CTP, Director of Transportation, Sheetz/CLI Transport received the Excellence in Membership Award – Fleet. Jeff joined Sheetz Inc./ CLI Transport in 2013, and is now the Director of Transportation. Prior to that he had served as Operations Manager for Schneider National Carriers for 14 years. He is a retired Deputy Game Warden with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, a U.S. Army Veteran, a Certified Firearms Instructor and a Distinguished Military Graduate of the U.S. Army ROTC at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He earned his CTP designation in 2020. Jeff has served for many years as a Faculty Member of the PFMI and as speaker at NPTC conferences and workshops.

Chris Silver, CTP, Chief Marketing Officer for PrePass was named as the recipient of the Excellence in Membership Award – Allied. In her current position, Chris leads the company’s market strategy, brand development, communications, and customer engagement initiatives. With more than 30 years of marketing leadership experience, including almost 20 years in the trucking and transportation industry, she brings a deep understanding of the operational, regulatory, and human dynamics that define the industry. At PrePass, she has played a key role in advancing solutions that improve safety, efficiency, and the overall driver experience, while shaping a brand voice that resonates across fleets, drivers, and industry partners. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Boston College and an MBA from the University of California, Irvine.

Penske Truck Leasing was named the Allied Member of the Year. Penske is a leading provider of innovative transportation solutions, solutions from Penske include full-service truck leasing, fleet maintenance, truck rentals, used trucks, and a comprehensive array of technologies to keep the world. Penske is a platinum-level sponsor of the Annual Conference and a representative on the NPTC Institute Board of Governors. The company also is a sponsor of the Benchmarking Survey Report, encourages participation in the CTP program, and exhibits at the NPTC Annual Conference.

NPTC 2026 Professional Leadership Award Recipients are pictured (from left to right) Ellen Ingram, CTP, Jeff Eisaman, CTP; Kate Mirise, CTP, Chris Silver, CTP, PrePass; David Barth, CTP, Wegmans Food Markets; and Tim Eckhardt, CTP, Dot Transportation.

About NPTC

Founded in 1939, the National Private Truck Council is the only national trade association exclusively representing the interests of the private truck industry and corporate/business private truck fleet management. With an actively engaged leadership team of Board representatives, member volunteers and staff, NPTC in the past decade has grown significantly to serve a rising professional class of private fleet practitioners meeting the challenges of modern corporate transportation. NPTC is the leading learning resource center, government affairs advocate, and business networking culture for America’s top private fleet and supplier member companies.  The Council produces benchmarking, best practices, and economic data reports on the private fleet market; administers the highly regarded Certified Transportation Professional (CTP) training program, and conducts some of the most successful events in the trucking industry including the Annual Education Management Conference and Exhibition, the Private Fleet Management Institute, and the National Safety Conference. For more information about the Council’s activities and programs, visit our website at nptc.org.

About E. A. Dion

A member of the NPTC Board of Governors, E. A. Dion, Inc. was founded in 1968 by Edward Dion Sr., and originally called The Dion Manufacturing Company.  Despite its growth, the company remains a family business. Edward “Ted” Dion Jr. joined the business in 1980, and in 1983 his brother Dennis entered the business.  Selling strictly through its distributor partners, E. A. Dion is a fully integrated manufacturer of precious and non-precious rings, pins, badge holders, and other jewelry awards. Its highly skilled design team can bring any vision to life, and our caring factory team is committed to executing outstanding products.  Dion’s global sourcing capability and a successful presence in the recognition, promotional products, and direct selling/multi-level marketing markets make it a leader in custom award jewelry.