With 40 years in truck industry, I head up Blue Edge Marketing Ltd., a full-service advertising, marketing and public relations agency in Southern Wisconsin. Specializing in truck/transportation, construction, technology and publishing markets, Blue Edge has successfully provided expertise regarding branding and positioning to launch new products, divisions and companies, and created marketing and media strategies that have effectively generated increased revenue. We have been hired to set up marketing for new companies or roll-off companies in the industry. We have set up dealer and distributor networks for companies in addition to investor relations, succession planning and bankruptcy public and investor relations planning. We have devised fully integrated marketing programs that have drawn ten times the average response rates and held news events generating thousands of dollars of timely exposure for every dollar spent. We have conducted investor relations for the largest mapping company during its bankruptcy as well as for a large component manufactured named by NTSB in an industry accident. I pride myself on teaching young people how to succeed in the industry, resulting in receiving the Automotive Aftermarket Education Award from Northwood University. I drafted a Trucking Technician Education Program using Career Academies. We have recently undertaken a preschool through elementary program to attract, educate and keep young people in the truck industry. The image and longevity of the trucking industry is important to me. I left Blue Edge for nearly 6 years, starting in May 2007, to join Newport Business Media, where I became President in January 2008. During my years with Newport, I gave out the Truck Dealer of the Year, the most prestigious industry award, including recipients like Rush Truck Centers, Diamond International, TEC and more. Working with an acquisition firm, I sold Newport to Bobit Business Media in 2012. In 2001, I started Blue Edge, leaving Leistra & Assoc and Leistra Miller PR (Managing Partner and doubled billings over four years). Prior to Leistra, I was editor-in-chief of Equipment Today at Cygnus Business Media, truck and construction markets, and was the first woman to interview the President of Samsung in Korea. Earlier, I managed a training program for CAT’s truck and marine engine lines, playing an instrumental role in the VAX development – the first touch-screen in the industry. Later, I headed up the training effort for a high-performance Mustang engine machine line at Ford Motor Company Dearborn Engine & Gas Tank Div.