Exchange delivers over 217,800 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies to troops overseas
The Army & Air Force Exchange Service is delivering a taste of home by shipping more than 217,800 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies to military communities in Europe and the Pacific.
Girl Scout councils in more than 35 overseas military communities, including Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, and remote locations, such as Kwajalein and Saipan, received cookies in January to sell outside participating Exchange stores.
“Having been deployed several times in my career, the Exchange and the Girl Scouts always found a way to get cookies to me and my soldiers,” said Col. Everett “Bud” Lacroix, the Exchange’s Europe, Southwest Asia, and Africa Region commander. “It was a special taste that meant a lot. Now that I’m stationed in Germany, I always get excited when I see the Girl Scouts selling cookies at the PX. I’m especially looking forward to them this year.”
For more than 20 years, the Exchange has shipped Girl Scout Cookies to military communities overseas. The mission exemplifies the Exchange’s “We Go Where You Go” motto, so service members such as Army Capt. Taylor Love, who serves with the 68th Theater Medical Command in Sembach, Germany, can savor a taste of home.
“After a year without Thin Mints, I can’t wait to grab a box,” Love said. “It’s the little things that make being away from home easier.”
Women In Trucking Association announces its February 2025 Member of the Month
The Women In Trucking Association has announced Jo Lynn "JJ" Kelley as its February 2025 Member of the Month. Kelley is a professional truck driver with Walmart's Private Fleet.
Now in her sixth year as a professional driver, and with more than 400,000 safe miles, she attributes her safety, passions, successes, and joys to her unwavering faith in God. "I may drive an 18-wheeler, but in my cab, God is truly in charge of that 19th wheel,” Kelley said, referring to the steering wheel.
Beginning her driving career with Schneider National, she drove over-the-road long haul where she got to visit 47 of the 48 contiguous United States.
"I absolutely loved driving that big rig all over the United States,” she said. Kelley’s driving force for entering the trucking industry after careers in art and accounting was to earn a paycheck while traveling the U.S. and to salt and pepper a troubled world with the joys that God consistently painted her days with.
Kelley recalled one of the lower points at the beginning of her career when she struggled with wanting to give up. Praying, she realized that she needed to get out of her negative mindset and do for others, which inspired her to make cards proclaiming to the recipient that they were truly a valued person. She left these all over the U.S. at truck stops, rest areas, and other places where she thought others might be feeling invisible or underappreciated. The idea grew into a small campaign of her purchasing five-dollar coffee gift cards and attaching them to the cards.
Kelley used her artistic skills and penned two interactive trucking books in her first three years with Schneider. The books are photo-based with story shorts that include QR codes to view additional video shorts she's made.
After deciding she wanted a break from the truck cabin and developing enough safety experience, Kelley joined Walmart's team of private fleet drivers, where she now enjoys regional driving and a well-balanced amount of time at home. Walmart Transportation is a Gold Partner of WIT, and Kelley, who is currently one of three female drivers at her base yard team of more than 140 drivers, enjoys when she can participate in WIT events. Additionally, she pulls the WITney Educational Trailer to events where she typically manages the truck driving simulator inside the trailer for visitors to test their skills.
"My trucking career path has seen me in tears, anger, doubts, and confusion,” Kelley said. “God always restores me to a peaceful inner joy with new insights on navigating a life of abundance that I never dreamed or, perhaps, never allowed myself to dream of. I have an inner confidence in my sense of self that I had not known during my earlier life, and I am ever so grateful for all that this industry and God have taught me so far. I look forward to more learning, seeing, and doing that will come.”
Texas launches first-ever national trucking campaign to combat sex trafficking of boys and young men
Every year, countless boys and young men fall victim to sex trafficking. To confront this issue, Bob's House of Hope, a division of Ranch Hands Rescue, Titus Transport, and the Texas Trucking Association are launching the first-of-its-kind trucking campaign, “Boys and Young Men are Sex Trafficked Too.”
"As proud Texans, we are honored to lead the nation with this new initiative as part of a global effort during National Human Trafficking Prevention Month,” said Bob Williams, founder and CEO of Ranch Hand Rescue and Bob's House of Hope. “We are incredibly excited for this multi-pronged partnership between our non-profit, the trucking industry, and state government to help spread the critical message that boys are sex trafficked too.”
As part of the initiative, stickers will be made available for placement on the back of semi-trucks. The campaign seeks to raise public awareness about this epidemic, encourage action by inspiring trucking companies across Texas and the nation to adopt similar awareness campaigns, and support survivors by highlighting resources such as Bob's House of Hope, the first safe house in the country dedicated to male survivors of sex trafficking.
“Human trafficking is a heinous crime that strips individuals of their fundamental rights to life, liberty, and dignity,” said Senator Tan Parker. “For 18 years, I have led efforts to strengthen policies that protect the most vulnerable, focusing on awareness, reporting, survivors, punishing predators, and designating January as Human Tracking Awareness Month in Texas. This session, we will continue the fight, ensuring Texas has the resources to help all victims, including boys and young men, while putting traffickers behind bars. Partnering with leaders like the Texas Trucking Association and Bob’s House of Hope, we will shine a light on this evil, making sure boys are never forgotten and keeping Texas at the forefront of combating human trafficking.”
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Pilot launches its annual Heart Month campaign
In honor of Heart Month this February, Pilot is calling on guests to join the fight against heart disease and stroke. Marking its eighth year of supporting lifesaving research and heart health education, Pilot invites its guests to make a difference by donating in-store and, as a thank-you, fuel their day with a free cup of coffee.
"At Pilot, safety goes beyond being road-ready—it’s about protecting what matters most: our team members, guests, and communities," said Adrienne Ingoldt, Pilot’s chief marketing officer and member of the American Heart Association’s Life is Why Council. "Standing together in the fight against heart disease and stroke—the leading and fifth-leading causes of death in our country—is a meaningful way to bring our purpose to life and show people they matter at every turn.”
From February 1–16, guests can visit participating Pilot, Flying J, and One9 travel centers to donate and celebrate their commitment to heart health and safety. Ways to contribute include:
- Paper hearts: $1, $3, and $5 paper hearts will be available for purchase at participating travel centers, with proceeds supporting the American Heart Association’s Life is Why campaign in the U.S. and the Heart and Stroke Foundation in Canada.
- Pin pad roundup or donation: Guests can round up their in-store purchases to the nearest dollar or donate an amount of their choice via the pin pad during checkout.
"We’re proud to support the American Heart Association and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada to promote heart health and safety. Every paper heart purchased and extra dollar donated fuels groundbreaking research and lifesaving initiatives,” Ingoldt said. “We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of our guests and team members, whose support enables these organizations to make a profound difference.”
International Motors honors 2024 Dealers of the Year
International Motors recently announced the International and IC Bus Dealer of the Year award winners at its annual dealer meeting this week in Phoenix, Arizona.
"The annual dealer meeting is such an exciting time for all of us at International," said Dan Kayser, EVP of commercial operations for International. "Our industry moves so quickly, so it's important to reflect on and celebrate the success of the previous year. Our truck and bus dealers are true partners who are dedicated to delivering the highest level of service to International customers."
The 2024 Dealer of the Year award winners were selected based on their performance in several criteria, such as parts sales, truck sales, S13 integrated powertrain sales, and service dwell time.
- The 2024 International U.S. and Canada Dealer of the Year: Shane Bosch, Glover International
- The 2024 IC Bus Dealer of the Year: Richard Wolfington and Wolfington Body Company
- The 2024 International Dealer of the Year for Latin America Winner: Cajasa
In addition to Dealer of the Year, International recognizes dealers who have achieved exceptional performance in vehicle and parts sales, repair dwell, customer satisfaction, and other metrics aimed at driving business transformation as Top International Dealer Award Winners. The winners are:
- International winners:
- Michael Sirignano, Ascendance Trucks
- Jean-Francois Poulin, Beauce/Amiante Group
- Ed Gibbs, Gibbs International
- Shane Bosch, Glover International Trucks
- B. Lynn Pike, Harvey & Company Ltd.
- Darrell Pliler, Pliler International
- Luc Paquin, Rive Nord Group
- Joe Selking, Selking International
- Drew Linn, Southland Transportation Group
- Russ Trimble, Southwest International Trucks
- Rob Cleary, Wieland Sales Inc.
- IC Bus winners:
- Donald, Devivo, Dattco
- Stephen Hill, Hill International
- Mike Waters, Waters Truck and Trailer
- Richard Wolfington, Wolfington Body Co
- Mexico/Latin America winners:
- Javier Pérez Amarante, Cajasa
- Martín Amarante Zertuchem, Catosa
- Florencio Martín Arnanz, Sierra Norte Cdmx
- Manuel Antonio Siekavizza, International De Guatemala
