ABOUT GEORGE AKERSON The James E. Ryan Golden Deeds Award goes to an individual who has committed a significant amount of time and talent to the trucking industry and our association. This year’s recipient arrived at his current position when the company was at a crossroads. He was quietly recruited as the right guy to make some tough decisions and move the company forward, which he certainly has done.
Many years ago, he arrived in Nebraska after being recruited, too. That was from a truck shop in Minnesota. The recruiter said: “What the heck is this guy doing turning wrenches? I’m making him the head of my maintenance department!” The recruiter was Al Hingst, then president of JTI in Seward. The guy turning wrenches was George Akerson.
He is a great people person with burning intelligence and a head for good business. He applied those skills to become a Maintenance Supervisor of the Year, the co-owner of his own trucking company, and chairman of the association. He helped guide Nebraska Trucking through some rough waters. He served on an advisory committee to move forward with a driver trainer program. He supported the Emerging Leaders program. He participates with great enthusiasm in all sorts of association activities from trap shoots to holiday parties.
His career is one that radiates wisdom, integrity and generosity of spirit.
ABOUT KAY WESSEL When choosing a Nebraska Trucking Woman of Distinction, the committee considers candidates who are role models in the industry and at their organizations. This year’s recipient, Kay Wessel, is a woman of grace and grit. She is our most constant and reliable volunteer, and she does it all as part of a partnership that is in its 26th year.
She started volunteering at the Nebraska Truck Driving Championships when the scoreboard her husband, Jerry, built made its debut in the late 1980s. She’s been the go-to volunteer for merchandising and scoreboard management every since. Through the years, she’s ridden thousands of miles to attend trucking industry meetings and events with Jerry. She absorbs the experiences to help improve this association’s events. For example, she and Jerry launched the Champion’s Picnic, serving pork chops and sweet corn to a crowd in order to promote team spirit among the Nebraska drivers before the trip to nationals. She’s on board with whatever the next project is—whether it’s scorekeeping for the student driving championships or reorganizing the contents of the championships supply trailer. And she’s done it through thick and thin, even while undergoing treatment for cancer… three different times.
When not involved with trucking projects, she organizes the annual Diaper Drive for the Diocese of Lincoln that collects 50,000 diapers annually, an effort that stretches from Falls City to McCook each year. In addition to all the volunteer hours for Nebraska Trucking and the Diocese, Kay is a farm wife and a full-time employee. She manages the group that maintains the computer system to pay the state’s Medicaid providers. And in 2011, she was named Employee of the Year there.
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Northland is a proud member and supporter of the Nebraska Trucking Association. NEBRASKA TRUCKER — ISSUE 5, 2012 —
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