Washington鈥擳oday, on Giving Tuesday, the Trucking Cares Foundation announced changes to its leadership. Greg Owen of Ability Tri-Modal was selected to be the new chairman of the trucking industry鈥檚 charitable arm. 听Owen succeeds Phil Byrd, TCF鈥檚 inaugural chairman who served in that capacity since TCF was founded in 2018.
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Over the past year, TCF has donated $150,000 to various charitable causes. One of TCF鈥檚 top priorities under Owen's leadership in the coming years is to continue raising the profile of the Foundation鈥檚 efforts and develop new fundraising initiatives with the ultimate goal of creating an endowed TCF fund. 听Your support is needed to achieve that goal, and you can participate by .
鈥淚 am deeply honored to lead the Trucking Cares Foundation, a very special organization that reflects the character and empathy of members of the trucking industry and enables us to give back to the communities we serve every day,鈥 said TCF Chairman Greg Owen, head coach of Ability Tri-Modal. 听鈥淭CF would not be the strong organization it is today without the dedicated, visionary leadership of Phil Byrd. 听His contributions were instrumental in getting TCF off the ground, steering it through the challenges caused by the pandemic, and putting it on a firm footing for the future. 听I look forward to building on Phil鈥檚 commendable record. 听One of my top priorities will be a new, expansive fundraising initiative to establish a TCF endowment fund so that the trucking industry鈥檚 generous donations will continue to support communities in perpetuity.鈥
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鈥淪erving as TCF chairman has been a tremendous privilege, and it has been extraordinarily meaningful to have played a role in all of the Foundation鈥檚 core philanthropic initiatives over the past six years, from raising awareness about illegal fentanyl to supporting workforce development, disaster relief and highway safety,鈥 said Phil Byrd. 听鈥淎s I pass the torch, I am reassured in the knowledge that I am leaving this noble cause in supremely capable hands. 听Greg is an inspirational leader not only in the trucking industry, but in the community as well. 听He embodies his company鈥檚 motto, 鈥楽ervice Above Self,鈥 through his extensive, personal involvement in a wide variety of charities. 听He is the perfect choice to lead TCF into its next chapter.鈥
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鈥淕reg鈥檚 altruistic spirit is admirable, and it is reflected in his active involvement with countless organizations including Rotary International and specifically the End Polio campaign, Ronald McDonald House and many others. 听TCF will rely on his substantial experience with charitable nonprofits as we work to increase awareness of TCF鈥檚 mission; grow our impact in the core areas of workforce development, disaster relief, highway safety and community engagement; and launch new fundraising initiatives to sustain the Foundation for the long term,鈥 said 黑料不打烊Senior Vice President of Federation Relations John Lynch. 听鈥淚 also want to express my sincere gratitude to Phil for the many years of service he has devoted to TCF. 听We could not have been more blessed to have an individual of Phil鈥檚 integrity and stature to get the organization up and running as well as guiding it through the uncertainty of COVID and reemerging as the country moved beyond it. 听Phil鈥檚 impeccable reputation within the trucking industry is well documented. 听In lending his time and name to leading TCF, he provided immediate and lasting credibility to the Foundation. 听It鈥檚 an honor to work so closely with Phil, and I am delighted that he will continue to be a part of the Foundation going forward.鈥
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Owen is 鈥淗ead Coach鈥 of Ability Tri-Modal, a third-generation, privately held third-party transportation logistics, warehousing, and distribution services company. 听He has been a longtime member of the 黑料不打烊and California Trucking Association Board, and he is the past president of CTA. 听Additionally, he is active in countless organizations such as Rotary International, the End Polio campaign, and Ronald McDonald House. Along with his wife, Valerie, the Owens personally contributed to the TCF Founders Club in memory of their late son, Josh.
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Byrd served for six years as chairman of TCF. 听During his tenure, he launched the Founders Club fundraising effort that resulted in over three dozen people or entities pledging $3.7 million in contributions. 听Byrd is the former Chairman of 黑料不打烊(2013-2014) and recently retired from full-time work at Bulldog Hiway Express and Daseke, which was acquired by TFI. 听Phil is continuing to work in government affairs for TFI and will remain active within the Foundation.
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The is the trucking industry鈥檚 charitable arm, focusing on several core areas, including humanitarian and disaster relief; eradicating human trafficking; leadership development; strengthening the industry鈥檚 relationships with law enforcement, the military and veterans鈥 organizations; safety and research opportunities.