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her leadership, to get a historical database developed and benchmarking and a good budget.” Furthermore, she fine-tuned that


budget over the next couple of years, creating a tool that Sly said was “just astronomically important for our future success.” Cravens said there were multiple


examples of Rasmussen’s accomplishments he could name right off the top of his head: The 2010 anti-indemnification bill, the truck safety day at the state Capitol, developing education seminars for the industry and road safety programs for schools, plus organizing the nonprofit foundation that promotes those educational goals. Bill Ewing, chairman and CEO of


Hurley Transportation, pointed out the impressive growth the ATA has seen under Rasmussen’s guidance. “She’s brought the association to a


whole new level,” said Ewing. “I think she’s more than doubled the membership since she’s been here. She built a new building in the process. We have third-party licensing that she’s brought into a real primary revenue source for us – that’s been really good for the association. And just overall she’s been a great person for bringing the association together.” Rasmussen’s experience in lobbying


Washington, both at the association and from her work at Ryder, has made an impression on others who represent the industry at a national level. Elisabeth Barna, vice president of outreach and advocacy for the American Trucking Associations said Rasmussen’s work on safety was exemplary. “She has spearheaded a ‘Teens and


Trucks’ video that is widely used, especially in the state of Arizona,” she said. “She really put her heart and soul into that project because she cares so much about highway safety.” Barna has worked with Rasmussen


on America’s Road Team and said she was especially good at finding great captains and organizing safety events, putting the issue in the public arena and helping improve the image of the industry. Rasmussen was recognized by the ATA in 2005 with the annual TAEC Leadership Award. “That’s given to a state trucking


association executive who’s gone above and beyond, which really says it all,” said Barna.


“SHE’S BROUGHT THE ASSOCIATION TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL. I THINK SHE’S MORE THAN DOUBLED THE MEMBERSHIP SINCE SHE’S BEEN HERE.


SHE BUILT A NEW BUILDING IN THE PROCESS. WE HAVE THIRD-PARTY LICENSING THAT SHE’S BROUGHT INTO A REAL PRIMARY REVENUE


SOURCE FOR US – THAT’S BEEN REALLY GOOD FOR THE ASSOCIATION. AND JUST OVERALL SHE’S BEEN A GREAT PERSON FOR BRINGING THE ASSOCIATION TOGETHER.”


—BILL EWING, CHAIRMAN AND CEO, HURLEY TRANSPORTATION


“I think for the industry, we’ve been so lucky to have her, and it’s a good thing she’s going to actually stay in the industry.” Rasmussen, herself, gets a little wistful


talking about the people she’s come to know and the companies she’s worked with during her time at the ATA. But she also knows the job that she’s stepping into is one of great importance to the industry she loves. She’ll still be based in Phoenix, with an office in the USBank building downtown. “I actually shortened my commute,”


she said with a laugh. “It’s now about half of what it was. That’s a good deal, right?” That also means she’ll get to keep


attending Arizona Diamondback’s home games – by her own admission, she’s a huge baseball fan. While the new job will have a learning


curve, Rasmussen’s not a total stranger to HELP. She’s been involved with PrePass for around 20 years, except for her time at Ryder, and has served on the HELP board since 2001. “I’ve had an opportunity to see what’s


out there, what’s possible,” she said. “I really believe that my experience in the trucking industry will be invaluable in helping them determine how the program moves ahead in the world. I’m very interested in technology,


Arizona Trucking Association 2012 Post-Conference Report


I think it’s the wave of the future. “Again, it’s another organization that


has a very talented and knowledgeable board of directors, and that’s critically important in any organization today. I’m looking forward to working with them as their employee because” – and here Rasmussen stops to laugh once more – “many of them have pointed out to me, ‘You work for us now, you’re in big trouble!’” Meanwhile, an ATA search to find a


successor to Rasmussen is well underway. Cravens said the board of directors had “talked to many people” in the last couple of months and had a couple of candidates of interest, but even with Rasmussen’s imminent departure they weren’t going to rush the process. “I think it’s one of those things where


we want to find the best candidate,” he said. “If that happens this month, great, but I think what it comes down to is until we’re satisfied with the right person for the position, we’ll continue to search.” Sly, who served on the search


committee that selected Rasmussen nearly 12 years ago, understands the magnitude of the task before the current board. “She will be nearly impossible to


replace,” he said. 29


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