Sarah Amico
Sarah Amico is the Executive Chairperson at Jack Cooper Holdings Corp. Mrs. Amico also serves on the board's Nominating and Governance Committee. Mrs. Amico previously worked as the Head of Strategic Planning at APA Talent and Literary Agency in Beverly Hills, where she also launched and led the company's Entertainment Marketing & Brand Integration Department. During this time, she secured multi-party agreements amongst top content creators, marquis talent, large content distributors, and leading brands. Mrs. Amico specialized in licensing agreements, branded entertainment, equity compensation deals and multiplatform promotions. Prior to joining APA, Mrs. Amico worked at the William Morris Agency in both Beverly Hills and New York, starting in the agency's famed Mailroom trainee program. She worked in the Motion Picture, Film Finance and Corporate Consulting departments before joining the launch team of WMA's The Mailroom Fund - a seed capital fund raised in partnership with AT&T, Venrock and Accel Partners. During her time in the entertainment industry, Mrs. Amico worked on initiatives for some of the world's largest and most recognizable brands, including General Motors, Time Inc., Starbucks, Reader's Digest, Amtrak, OPI, Harry & David, the Kardashians, and Virgin America Airlines. Mrs. Amico received her B.A. in Politics magna cum laude from Washington & Lee University and her M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
Michael Riggs
Michael Riggs is the CEO and President of Jack Cooper Holdings Corp. Mr. Riggs acquired the company in 2009. Under his leadership, Jack Cooper has grown to become one of the largest car haul companies in North America with approximately 5,000 employees. Mr. Riggs is the largest stakeholder, controlling over 70% of Jack Cooper Holdings Corporation outstanding voting securities. He has over 20 years of experience in the trucking industry, and another 20 years of prior executive experience within manufacturing companies. Mr. Riggs is a member of the Executive Committee of the American Trucking Association, and is Chairman of the Auto Carriers Conference. In 2013, Ernst & Young awarded Mr. Riggs the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for the Midwest Region. He was also awarded the Global Outstanding Achievement Award by Automotive Supply Chain Magazine. He received a BS in Business from the General Motors Institute (now Kettering University) and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He and his wife of 38 years have three daughters and five grandchildren.
Michael S. Testman
Michael S. Testman has been a member of the Board of Directors since July 2010. Prior to joining Jack Cooper, from October 2008 to April 2010, Mr. Testman served as Chief Executive Officer and a director of JHT upon JHT’s emergence from Chapter 11 reorganization. Mr. Testman also served on the Board of Directors of Mexicana Logistics, a subsidiary of JHT, from October 2008 to April 2010, and served as President of ATC Leasing, Inc., a subsidiary of JHT, from February 2005 to October 2008. JHT’s revenues ranged from $230 million to $550 million during Mr. Testman’s employment. Mr. Testman is a graduate of Missouri Southern State University.
J.J. Schickel, Jr.
J.J. Schickel, Jr. has been a member of the Board of Directors since July 2010. Mr. Schickel is the co-founder of EVE Partners, LLC, a boutique merchant bank focused exclusively on the transportation and logistics industry. Prior to co-founding EVE Partners, LLC, from July 1999 to November 2002, Mr. Schickel served as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of ATC Logistics, Inc. (“ATC”), a privately-held conglomerate with numerous businesses serving the automotive industry supply chain. At ATC, Mr. Schickel executed a bottom-up operational restructuring that resulted in a 325% increase in operating cash flow. Mr. Schickel also completed numerous debt financings, acquisitions, divestitures and a private equity placement to support the growth of Americas Management and Logistics Inc., ATC’s international port processing division, which sold for $430 million in 2007. Mr. Schickel received undergraduate and graduate degrees in accounting from the University of Florida. Mr. Schickel's background includes deep experience in the automotive supply chain industry and logistics business, including advising in over 80 corporate finance and acquisition transactions in such industry and business, enabling him to assist the company as a director in understanding our customers’ needs and in pursuing our acquisition growth strategy and the related financings.
Kirk Ferguson
Kirk Ferguson has been a member of the Board of Directors since July 2010. Mr. Ferguson is the founder and Managing Director of Stonehouse Capital Partners, a private investment firm formed in 2005, focused on structured equity and debt investments in middle market companies. Prior to founding Stonehouse, Mr. Ferguson was a partner of American Industrial Partners, a private equity firm focused on investments in companies with potential for value creation from operational and financial restructuring initiatives. Mr. Ferguson currently serves or previously served on the Board of Directors of a number of private companies, including several transportation or automotive related companies: Erickson Air Crane, JHT and Stanadyne Automotive. Mr. Ferguson also has been a management consultant with Monitor Company. Mr. Ferguson is a graduate of Stanford University and earned his MBA from Harvard Business School. Mr. Ferguson brings significant investment and management experience to our Board, particularly in the automotive and trucking industry. In combination with his prior experience as a director and/or owner of numerous businesses, he brings significant expertise in business strategy formulation and execution.
J. Kevin McHugh
J. Kevin McHugh is currently the President of JKM Management Development, a leadership development and executive coaching firm he founded in 1990. He has worked with thousands of CEOs and executive teams around the world to increase leadership effectiveness. Mr. McHugh helps executives increase organization performance by developing leadership competencies that build emotional self-awareness, and open interpersonal communication to allow executives to skillfully manage conflict, and address unspoken tensions in the C-Suite. Mr. McHugh is an internationally known and respected education resource for the Young Presidents’ Organization (“YPO”), a global organization of Presidents and CEOs with more than 15,000 members. He is a former member of the organization and is a regular speaker and facilitator at YPO’s Global Leadership Conference. This annual event assembles more than 3,000 Presidents and CEOs from around the world to learn how to lead other CEOs at local chapter levels. Prior to starting JKM Management Development, Mr. McHugh performed in a variety of executive sales and marketing positions in closely held corporations and served for six years as the President and CEO of a regional capital goods distribution company. As an entrepreneur, Mr. McHugh also founded and operated a chain of retail candle stores from 1994 to 2003. Mr. McHugh holds a BS in Marketing from St. Joseph’s University and has received extensive post-graduate education in personality assessment, leadership development and executive coaching. He is certified in numerous behavioral assessment methodologies. Mr. McHugh brings his deep experience in management and leadership development to the Board.
Samuel Torrence
Samuel Torrence is the retired President and Chief Operating Officer of Just Born, Inc. (“Just Born”), a privately owned confectionary candy manufacturer distributing its products nationally and in over 50 countries worldwide. Prior to Just Born, Mr. Torrence was Executive Vice President of Mack Trucks, Inc. (“Mack”). At Mack, Mr. Torrence’s responsibilities included parts warehousing and distribution, quality and administration (human resources, labor relations, health and welfare, training and development). Mr. Torrence was also chief spokesman for national union negotiations with the United Auto Workers during his tenure with Mack. Mr. Torrence was active in the integration and consolidation of Mack with Volvo Trucks North America after Mack’s purchase by Volvo in 2001. From 1985 until his appointment at Mack, Mr. Torrence was Executive Vice President of Human Resources and Total Quality Management for Bridgestone USA. For a period of time, he also oversaw the purchasing and warehouse & distribution functions. He was active in Bridgestone’s acquisition of Firestone in 1989, and subsequent integration and consolidation. Mr. Torrence was chief spokesman for national negotiations with the United Rubber Workers during his tenure at Bridgestone. He began his career with General Motors Corporation in 1969. Mr. Torrence previously served as an adjunct professor at DeSales University, instructing undergraduate business, strategic planning and MBA courses. Mr. Torrence currently serves as a guest lecturer at DeSales and several Universities in the Lehigh Valley. Graduating from General Motors Institute (now Kettering University), Mr. Torrence went on to earn a Juris Doctor degree and is licensed to practice law (now retired) in Ohio. Mr. Torrence brings significant leadership to the Board, particularly with respect to the automotive and trucking industries.
Gerry Czarnecki
Gerry Czarnecki joined the Board of Directors of Jack Cooper Holdings in 2014. Mr. Czarnecki has served since 1994 as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and the principal stockholder of The Deltennium Group, Inc., which has interests in a range of principle investments , as well as a broad consulting practice that helps organizations achieve peak performance through effective leadership , focused strategy, effective organization and sound financial management. He is a member of the Board of Directors of State Farm Insurance Company and Chairman of the Audit Committee ; member of the Board of Directors of State Farm Bank and State Farm Fire & Casualty ; Chairman of the Board of Directors of MAM Software Group, Inc.; and member of the Board of Directors of JA Worldwide , Inc. and Chairman of the Compensation Committee. Prior to forming The Deltennium Group, Mr. Czarnecki was President of UNC Incorporated , a diversified aerospace and aviation company engaged in manufacturing , after-market services and military outsourcing services, the Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Administration of IBM Corporation , and held a number of executive positions in the retail banking and consumer financial services industry. Mr. Czarnecki holds a BS in Economics from Temple University , an MAin Economics from Michigan State University , a Doctor of Humane Letters from National University and is a Certified Public Accountant. Mr. Czarnecki has broad experience as an executive and a consultant , and brings that expertise to the Board .
Edrienne Brandon
Edrienne Brandon joined the Board in August 2014. Mrs. Brandon is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Ablaze Ventures, a firm that provides entrepreneurs with value-added capital and resources to maximize their potential. During the last fifteen years, she has led close to twenty commercial launches as well as directed activities in corporate strategy, brand management, product development, commercial marketing, investor relations, and operations. Mrs. Brandon has worked for global leaders such as Procter & Gamble, GlaxoSmithKline, Volcano Corporation, Philips, and Ernst & Young as well as start-up companies. Her board service has included the Duke University Trinity Board of Visitors, the Duke Board of Trustees Committee on Institutional Advancement, Harvard Business School Admissions, The Family Tree, and City Heights Prep School. Mrs. Brandon earned her MBA from Harvard Business School, and her BA from Duke University, where she was a two-term Class President, Commencement Speaker and Griffith University Service Award recipient.
Kyle Haulotte
Kyle Haulotte joined the Board in October 2016. Mr. Haulotte is the Company's Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and is responsible for the Company's finance and accounting functions as well as certain risk functions. Prior to becoming the Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Haulotte was the Company's Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer from May 2015 to September 2016. In this role, Mr. Haulotte was responsible for the Company's financial reporting, corporate accounting, shared services, treasury and internal control and tax compliance, and had significant influence over the organization's financial planning and analysis functions. From August 2011 to May 2015, Mr. Haulotte served as the Company's Vice President of Accounting and SEC Reporting where he led the Company's accounting, reporting, payroll and treasury functions. Mr. Haulotte was a key leader within several debt placements and acquisitions. Prior to joining Jack Cooper, Mr. Haulotte worked from 2002-2011 for AMC Entertainment Inc. ("AMC"), a leading North American theatrical exhibition company. During his tenure at AMC, Mr. Haulotte held progressive positions of leadership, first as its Financial Reporting Manager from 2002-2004 and next as its Director of Reporting and Control from 2004-2011. While at AMC, Mr. Haulotte led the company's fraud prevention, internal audit and internal control functions and early on was responsible for preparation of the company's financial statements and its external reporting under the Securities Act of 1934. Mr. Haulotte participated in private debt placements and public registration statements under the Securities Act of 1933. Mr. Haulotte also participated in several acquisition integrations. Prior to joining AMC, Mr. Haulotte worked for Arthur Andersen from 1997-2002 within the firm's assurance department where he led certain audit engagements for both public and private companies within the transportation, manufacturing, insurance and real estate industries. Mr. Haulotte graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1997 from Missouri State University with a BS in Accounting. Mr. Haulotte is a member of the American Institute of CPAs, Missouri Society of CPAs, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners and Institute of Internal Auditors.