Arkansas Trucking Association Announces New President
- Created: 06.12.2014
Shannon Newton, Selected to Lead Industry Group
The Board of Directors of the Arkansas Trucking Association (ATA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Shannon Newton as President.
Shannon has been with the ATA since 2003 and has served as vice president since 2008. She succeeds Lane Kidd who resigned earlier this year. Newton will assume her duties immediately.
"When we began our search for a new president, we knew that an experienced leader with deep industry knowledge and a broad skill set was exactly what we needed," stated Craig Harper, ATA Chairman of the Board and EVP/COO of J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc. “Shannon is a dynamic leader and extremely knowledgeable on the complex issues faced by our members. The board was unanimous in this appointment. She became the clear choice to lead the Arkansas Trucking Association forward.”
“I am honored and humbled to have been chosen to lead the ATA,” said Ms. Newton. “The Arkansas trucking industry is a recognized national leader. My years with the association, working on behalf of this great industry, the member companies and the thousands of dedicated, professional men and women, in the cab and out, have been so rewarding. I welcome the opportunity as president to continue to work with the ATA’s extraordinary and dedicated staff and with these extraordinary members to help drive our industry’s growth.”
Vicki Jones Stephen’s, President of C.C. Jones, Inc. and chair of the ATA search committee, says Ms. Newton’s experience and leadership make her a great fit for the organization. “Her proven experience as a leader and her obvious passion and commitment for our members and for the industry, bring exactly what is needed. She is the perfect choice, the right person at the right time. The board has great confidence that with Shannon in the lead, our state’s trucking industry will continue to proactively address industry challenges and seize opportunities that advance our industry and economic growth for families and communities throughout our great state.”
Since joining ATA, Ms. Newton has filled a range of leadership roles with expanded responsibilities in the development and implementation of strategic initiatives across core areas including Planning, Finance, Member Services, Governance, Regulatory and Legislative Affairs and Advocacy.
She has held a number of association and national industry leadership positions and currently serves as chair of the Trucking Association’s Insurance Council.
She is a member of the Arkansas Society of Association Executives, Arkansas Society of Professional Lobbyists, and serves on the board of directors and as Treasurer for Project Zero, a statewide non-profit organization on adoption awareness.
Mrs. Newton is a graduate of the University of Central Arkansas in Accounting and Computer Information Systems.
A resident of Bryant, Shannon has been married to husband Josh for 10 years. They have three children.