admin Gone are the days when traditional professions were the only career options for women. Today, women have advanced in fields that were traditionally known as men’s domain. Many women are pioneers in gender-segregated occupations; Ellen Voie is one of them. She is the founder of the Women In Trucking Association, a nonprofit organization with the mission to encourage the employment of women in the trucking industry, promote their accomplishments and minimize obstacles faced by women working in the industry.
“A leader needs to be honest, humble and must possess integrity. You can’t be a leader if you aren’t candid with your staff, your members and your board of directors. Without integrity, we won’t be able to build a positive reputation, and a humble leader gives credit to those around her and never thinks she’s the smartest person in the room,” expressed Ellen.
She added, “While I’ve been involved in the trucking industry my entire career, I’ve never been a professional driver. I started in management at a steel fabricating plant, and while I raised my children, I was a free-lance consultant to trucking companies. I earned my adiploma in Traffic & Transportation Management, so I could read tariffs, audit freight bills, and logbooks as well as keep the trucks and the drivers in compliance.”
Ellen Voie earned her diploma in Traffic and Transportation Management in 1980 from LaSalle Extension University and in 2005 the Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential from the American Society of Association Executives. Ellen also completed the Women In Trucking Professional Development Certification
In July 2012 Ellen was honored by the White House as a Transportation Innovator Champion of Change. She received the 2015 “Distinguished Alumna of the Year” award from her alma mater, the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Division of Communication.
Mission Of The Association
After high school Ellen went to school to become a broadcast journalist, but once she entered the trucking industry, she found a group of honest, hard-working men and women who keep this country moving.
Ellen started the Women In Trucking Association while she was working for a large carrier in the Mid-west. She was looking for ways to attract and retain nontraditional groups, which included women. Ellen felt that women in the industry needed a voice, so in 2007 she formed the nonprofit organization.
Ellan also founded the Women in Trucking Foundation, which is an organization that supports ambitious students, drivers, and professionals in the trucking industry who seek to grow their skills through classroom and vocational training. Its a community of corporations, foundations, and individuals who value professional development in the trucking industry and are committed to seeing it grow.
After twelve years, the Women In Trucking Association’s growth has been phenomenal. It has over 4,500 members in eleven countries. Their members are both corporate and individual, and nearly twenty percent are men who join because they believe in our mission.
‘Clare’ A doll story
Ellen always wanted to create a truck driver doll so girls and boys can imagine themselves in a transportation career. Ellen tried to get Mattell to design a truck driver Barbie doll, but a chance encounter (at an airport) with the President of HABA Toys prompted a relationship where they created “Clare” the truck driver doll. To promote the doll, they made a Facebook page for “Where’s Clare,” and their members started sharing photos of Clare at work, at home, in the office, and in the truck. They featured Clare in last year’s annual photo contest and at the conference we had a “Where’s Clare” party where everyone dressed up to look like Clare. Even the cake and the balloon decorations were Clare look-alikes.
Endeavor to Women Empowerment
Ellen’s inspiration comes from her desire to empower women. She wants women to take risks, push themselves beyond their comfort zones, and to succeed. Whether it’s driving a truck, working on engines, leading an organization or any of the other roles in transportation, women are valued, needed, and right now, very under-represented. Ellen wants to change that.
Adaptive to change
While narrating her strategies to help other women to achieve a more prominent role in their organization, Ellen said, “We need to address unconscious bias. We like to hire people who share the same characteristics, values, and sometimes, the same physical traits. Diversity is good for everyone. The trucking industry is experiencing a change in how we accept, hire, and promote women, and it is all very positive. I’d like to say that the Women In Trucking Association is driving this change, as we are making people aware of ways they might not be giving women a level playing field.”
Fearless and Adventurous
I really don’t have a lot of fear. I fly an airplane for fun, ride a motorcycle, and have gone sky diving for the challenge. I’m not afraid of much. I am a risk taker and my adage is “life begins at the edge of your comfort zone.”
“Looking Back With Gratification
When asked if she got chance to start her career over would she do anything differently. Ellen said she looks back at her career with a great deal of satisfaction. She knows she has been instrumental in creating a better environment for women in the trucking industry, and that is rewarding. She can’t think of anything she would have to do differently.
Members Are Assets
As Ellen’s organization is a nonprofit organization, its “customers” are their members. Ellen strives to represent them and give them a voice. More importantly, she creates an environment where they can network, mentor, and learn from each other.
ChaseYour Passion When we asked about Ellen’s advice to women, she articulates, “I started the Women In Trucking Association in the middle of a recession. I would not advise anyone to try doing that! However, I would encourage women to venture out and follow their passion. Make sure you are doing something you enjoy, otherwise it won’t be fun, and you’ll burn yourself out.”
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