2023 ANNUAL CONFERENCE SPEAKERS
DAN VAN ALSTINE
President and Chief Operating Officer, Ruan Transportation Management Systems
Dan Van Alstine is President and Chief Operating Officer at Ruan Transportation Management Systems, headquartered in Des Moines, IA. Ruan, started in 1932, is a family-owned asset-based 3PL with more than 300 operations and 5,600 team members across the U.S. Through Dedicated Contract Transportation, Managed Transportation, Brokerage Services, and Valued-added Warehousing, Ruan partners with customers to deliver tailored, integrated solutions. Ruan prides itself on being a great place to work with a focus on safety, transformative technology, customer satisfaction, driver engagement, team member involvement, and giving back to the communities it serves.
Dan is currently serving as Chairman of the American Trucking Associations, the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation’s freight.
Prior to joining Ruan in 2014, Dan held senior-level roles with Schneider National, Inc., including Senior Vice President and General Manager of its van truckload group and Senior Vice President and General Manager of its dedicated services and logistics offering, as well as positions on the commercial side of the business. Additionally, he served as vice president of marketing at Transport America and held other senior roles throughout his nearly 40-year career in transportation and logistics.
Dan received his Bachelor of Arts in Business and Communication Arts from St. Norbert College in De Pere, WI. Dan has been involved in a number of transportation and logistics industry associations and groups, and just last year served as the Chairman of the Iowa Motor Truck Association (IMTA).
SYLVIA CESARATTO
Consul General for Canada in Miami
Ms. Sylvia Cesaratto is a multi-lingual senior executive with the Canadian government with extensive overseas experience in delivering Canada's foreign policy, international business and international development priorities. She has a proven track record in leading multicultural and multi-functional teams to deliver results on behalf of stakeholders (government, business, citizens). She has led teams providing strategic advice to senior decision-makers as well as policy recommendations on advancing bilateral relations with international partners, including enhancing relations with Canada’s North American neighbours: Mexico and the United States.
She has had 4 prior international assignments, with her first to South Africa following the lifting of economic sanctions. Other overseas assignments have included London, UK; Brussels, Belgium and from 2011 to 2015 as Canada’s Ambassador to Panama. Ms. Cesaratto was most recently the Director General for Central America and the Caribbean at headquarters. Ms. Cesaratto is pleased to be representing Canada in the dynamic state of Florida.
DAN COOK
Principal & Practice Leader, TrueNorth Companies
Dan Cook, CPCU, CIC, ARM, AMIM, AAI, joined the TrueNorth team in 2013. Dan specializes in Risk Financing Strategies, Alternative Risk Financing Programs, M&A Due Diligence, Transportation & Logistics and Risk Mitigation Systems.
Prior to that, Dan was Vice President – National Accounts at Marsh & McLennan Agency Company. Through previously holding executive positions with an insurance company, multiple insurance agencies and a national broker he brings a wealth of perspective. Dan is an avid student of insurance and finance and is deeply involved in the operational aspects of his clients' businesses. Dan has over 30 years of experience in the insurance industry, leading large account service teams in VA, TX, MI, MN and GA. Dan presently serves on multiple boards within the transportation industry, to include presently as Chairman of the NAFC M&A Task Force and as a champion for litigation reform actively participating in the ATA Litigation and Tort Reform campaign.
CHRIS DUDLEY
Partner, The Southern Group
Chris Dudley joined The Southern Group’s Tallahassee office in 2000 after serving for seven years at the highest levels of Florida government. Since that time, Chris has developed extensive expertise in numerous policy areas, including appropriations, campaigns, education, economic and business development, energy, gaming, pharmacy, land use and development, sports and entertainment, technology, transportation, and utilities.
Chris started his career in government working as a legislative aide in the Florida House of Representatives. In 1995, Chris began work in the Florida Department of Education as a special assistant, deputy legislative director, and deputy chief of staff to Education Commissioner Frank Brogan. In 1998, Chris joined the Bush-Brogan campaign for governor and ultimately rose to become deputy chief of staff to Governor Jeb Bush.
In his professional role, Chris has been widely recognized for his skills and expertise. Chris was a founding member of the Florida Association of Professional Lobbyists and in 2016 was named Lobbyist of the Year by Influence Magazine.
TOM FABRICIO
Representative, District 110, Florida House of Representatives
Tom Fabricio, Vice Chair of the Insurance and Banking Subcommittee and Transportation and Modals Subcommittee in the Florida House of Representatives has made public service the hallmark of his career. After earning his law degree from Nova Southeastern University, he quickly became involved in a variety of community activities, including serving on the City of Miramar’s Planning and Zoning Board and on the Broward County Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. The Broward County Mayor appointed Tom to the Broward County Charter Review Commission.
In 2010, Tom received Hands On Miami’s Volunteer Leader of the Year Award for his volunteer work with several organizations throughout the Miami area, principally with inner city and at-risk youth groups. He also serves on the advisory board for his alma mater, Marymount Manhattan College, and he is a member of the Hialeah-Miami Lakes Republican Club.
Tom practices law in the field of insurance defense, where he works to protect small businesses and consumers from frivolous lawsuits. He is a member of the Florida Defense Lawyers Association and serves on its Legislative Action Committee.
GARY FALLDIN
Senior Director of Industry Solutions, Trimble
Gary Falldin is the Senior Director of Industry Solutions at Trimble.
Previously Gary was the Vice President of Safety, Security, and Driver Onboarding at Dart Transit in Eagan, MN. Gary has over 35 years of experience in the transportation industry, 25 years with UPS and 12 years in OTR. He currently serves on the Safety Committee Leadership team for the Minnesota Trucking Association and on Safety Committees with ATA, TCA, CVSA, and NPTC.
Additionally, Gary served as the Chairman of the Minnesota Trucking Association’s Safety Council in 2019 and 2020. He was previously named “Safety Professional of the Year” by the Minnesota Trucking Association and currently serves as the Regulatory Chair for the Minnesota Trucking Association.
LAUREN MCBRIDE
Director of Liability Claims, Publix Super Markets, Inc.
Lauren McBride is the Director of Liability Claims for Publix Super Markets, Inc. Based in Lakeland, Publix is the largest employee-owned company in the country and operates over 1,300 grocery stores throughout the Southeastern United States.
A litigator over the course of her career prior to joining Publix, Lauren is responsible for the management of general liability, pharmacy, products, and commercial fleet claims for Publix in all states of operation which currently include Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Kentucky. In addition to claims and litigation management, Lauren serves as a resource and advisor to numerous other departments within Publix regarding Risk Management issues. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Summa cum laude) and a Juris Doctor (cum laude) from University of Florida.
MARC ROWE
General Manager--Fuel Sales, Trillium
Marc Rowe has been with Trillium since 2014. In Marc’s role, he is responsible for developing and executing the overall market development strategy for Trillium’s business lines in the US. Responsibilities include fuel sales to Trillium’s national fuel network, as well as custom fueling solutions and complimentary products/services for Trillium’s clients across the alternative fuels spectrum.
Prior to joining Trillium, Marc’s experience includes business development roles at a natural gas utility and national retail banking and consumer finance companies. Marc earned his BA from Wabash College and holds a BEP certification from AEE. Marc resides in Downers Grove, Illinois.
JOSÉ SAMPERIO
Vice President and General Manager, Cummins On-Highway Business in North America
José has nearly 20 years of Cummins experience across various fields such as engineering, service, strategy and sales.
He started his career at Cummins as a Product Engineer at the Jamestown Engine plant and then spent time in the field as a Service Engineer as well as in Distribution service shop operations.
José spent time in Beijing, China, as a leader launching new products followed by a role as General Manager for Cummins Power Systems business in Latin America located in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Most recently José served as the Engine Business Strategy Leader where he was instrumental in helping craft the long-term vision for Cummins powertrain business with a heavy focus on technology roadmaps.
He has a passion for the trucking industry and has served on the Board of Directors with NACFE (North American Council for Freight Efficiency), and currently serves on the NTPC (National Private Truck Council) Institute Board of Governors, serves on the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) Research Advisory Committee and is a member of the Technology and Engineering Policy Committee with ATA (American Trucking Associations). He is also a Board Member of the Trucking Cares Foundation.
PETER SCHORSCH
President, Extensive Enterprises
President and Editor-in-Chief Peter Schorsch, one of the Sunshine State’s leading political commentators and consultants, is the driving force behind Extensive Enterprises Media, the new media publishing house behind several of Florida’s premier political news websites, podcasts, newsletters, and periodicals.
EEM publishes FloridaPolitics.com as well as a suite of emails, including Sunburn — The morning read about what’s hot in Florida politics. For several years, The Washington Post ranked Peter’s original website as the best state-based blog in Florida. In addition to digital products, EEM also produces INFLUENCE magazine, an insider’s look at Florida politics and culture.
CHRIS SPEAR
President and CEO, American Trucking Associations
Chris Spear is president and CEO of the American Trucking Associations, the nation’s leading organization representing the interests of the trucking industry. As president and CEO, Chris leads ATA’s efforts to advocate and educate on behalf of the trucking industry. Employing more than 7 million people and moving more than 10 billion tons of freight annually, trucking is the industry most responsible for moving America’s economy.
Prior to his time ATA, Chris worked in the transportation, energy, labor and technology sectors in over five different continents. Most recently, Chris worked for Hyundai Motor Company, where he served as vice president of government affairs. In that role, he served on the Executive Committee for Global Automakers. Previously, Chris was ATA senior vice president of legislative affairs and vice president of global government relations for Honeywell International.
Chris also has extensive experience in the federal government, serving as Deputy Representative for the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Policy and as professional staff in the U.S. Senate.
Chris is on the board of directors for the American Transportation Research Institute, the Trucking Cares Foundation and the Louisa Swain Foundation. He has been awarded the US Department of Defense Joint Civilian Service Medal and Honeywell’s Premier Achievement Award. Chris holds a master's and bachelor's degree from the University of Wyoming. He is married to Michelle and they have four children.