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By Ruth C Correa, Chief Executive Officer, Cheetah Final Mile LLCc
I’ve had the opportunity to experience firsthand how much our industry depends on strong relationships, collaboration, and a willingness to learn from one another. Those same values are a big part of why my involvement with the Customized Logistics and Delivery Association (CLDA) has been so meaningful to me.
One of the highlights of the past Final Mile Forum was helping bring women across the logistics industry together for our Women in Logistics Brunch. What started as an opportunity to connect became a space for meaningful conversations about leadership, growth, challenges, and the experiences we share as women working in logistics and final mile.
The response was incredible, and I’m excited that we’ll be bringing the experience back for the 2nd Annual Women in Logistics Brunch at the Final Mile Forum in Orlando in February 2027. My hope is that we continue building on what we started—creating an environment where women can connect, learn from one another, develop stronger professional relationships, and encourage the next generation of women leaders in our industry.
My involvement with CLDA has also given me the opportunity to serve our members and contribute to an association that continues to move our industry forward. As I come up for reelection to the CLDA Board of Directors, I’m grateful for the opportunity I’ve had to serve and look forward to the possibility of continuing that service, supporting our members, and helping create initiatives that strengthen our CLDA community.
I’m especially excited about what lies ahead at the 2027 Final Mile Forum and hope to see many familiar—and new—faces at the Women in Logistics Brunch.
Outside of my CLDA involvement, my team at Cheetah Final Mile, LLC continues to support customers through customized logistics solutions, including warehousing, cross-docking, specialized home delivery, medical freight, and final-mile services.
I look forward to continuing to connect, collaborate, and grow alongside my fellow CLDA members.
By Christina Rosell Quiroz, Hackbarth Delivery Services, Final Mile Solutions & Marketing Manager
How do you establish reliable service in a state as big as Texas?
If you’re Kelly Picard, you do it all at once.
In 2017, Hackbarth opened 11 Texas terminals simultaneously. In a state where a route that works in Dallas may make little sense in Amarillo, that mattered. Any shipper who has tried to cover Texas with one or two hubs knows how quickly service can thin out between cities.
As CEO and the second generation of the Hackbarth family to lead the business, Kelly knew what the company could do for customers, especially with critical goods in pharmaceutical and medical distribution. Hackbarth has stepped in when shippers needed dependable service since Rob Hackbarth, her father, founded the company in 1975. Kelly saw an opportunity to bring that same reliable service to Texas on a much larger scale.
So, Hackbarth went bigger.
Kelly spent weeks traveling the state, evaluating locations and preparing for the launch. It was an ambitious and impactful investment that ultimately enhanced what Hackbarth could offer. Rather than serving Texas as a set of isolated cities, the company built out a strategic intrastate footprint, which stands at 13 locations today. That presence also opened the door to Oklahoma and Arkansas. Combined, these moves led to expansion in Hackbarth’s linehaul, B2B and B2C operations across Texas to the Southeast. What was once a string of standalone Southeast markets is now a connected, highly coordinated, multi-state network.
The Texas expansion was a leap, and its timing proved consequential. Home delivery grew. Every delivery is now more visible. Two-day and same-day promises have pushed consumer expectations higher. Shippers are competing for market share based on how quickly they can adapt. This means they now need agile partners that can keep up, all without losing control of service. Hackbarth had already made that investment in 2017.
Now operating 40 locations across 12 states with more than 800,000 square feet, Hackbarth remains privately owned, family-led, and is certified as a woman-owned business by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council. Growth expanded the map, but it has not changed the company’s approach, which comes down to one question: “What does this customer’s network actually need?”
Knowing how many stops one route can absorb before service slips or which markets are ready for a dedicated terminal is crucial. Finding the answer can be overwhelming and make both cost and reliability difficult to predict. For Hackbarth, fifty years of experience turns the answer from a guess into a strategy.
Today, the company is still finding new ways to help shippers reach more customers while keeping service personal.
Leadership, advocacy, and industry engagement continued to drive CLDA forward throughout the month of May.
This month brought important opportunities for CLDA leadership to engage in conversations and initiatives that continue strengthening our association and supporting our members.
Earlier this month, our Executive Director, Michael Wright, and I participated in ASAE’s governance training alongside association leaders from a variety of industries across the country. The experience provided valuable insight into governance best practices, strategic leadership, and organizational growth.
Investing in leadership development is an important part of ensuring CLDA continues to evolve and serve our members effectively. The training reinforced the importance of thoughtful planning, strong governance, and member-focused leadership as we continue shaping the future of our association and the industry we represent. We also came away with several valuable tools and ideas that will help guide our strategic planning session with the Board later this summer.
CLDA was also well represented at Home Delivery World this month alongside Regina Robuck, our Industry Relations Representative. The conference brought together leaders from across the delivery, logistics, retail, and final mile sectors to discuss the future of our industry, including operational challenges, emerging technologies, customer expectations, and security concerns impacting carriers nationwide.
While attending the conference, I had the opportunity to moderate a panel discussion on parcel theft, one of the most pressing challenges facing carriers, retailers, and customers today. It was encouraging to hear meaningful conversations centered around collaboration, prevention strategies, and protecting the integrity of the delivery experience.
What stood out most throughout these conversations was how rapidly the delivery and final mile industry continues to evolve. From security concerns and operational challenges to innovation and customer expectations, it’s clear our industry is being asked to adapt faster than ever before.
Experiences like these help ensure CLDA remains actively engaged and continues bringing meaningful insight, advocacy, and opportunities back to our members.
Thank you for your continued support, engagement, and commitment to CLDA. I’m excited about the opportunities ahead as we continue building momentum and moving our industry forward together. Your involvement and participation continue to play an important role in the strength and success of our association.
Lorena Camargo
CLDA President
Learn more and get involved with CLDA today!
I’m honored to begin my term as CLDA President and grateful for the opportunity to serve an organization that has played such a pivotal role in my journey. CLDA has been invaluable for me, connecting me with peers, mentors, and ideas that have shaped our success and continue to inspire me. I am committed to helping CLDA remain a supportive and inspiring community for all members.
Thank you for being a member and for your ongoing support. Your participation, feedback, and dedication are what make CLDA such a vibrant and thriving community.
As we look ahead, I encourage you to get involved and make your voice heard. Join a committee, participate in an event, or reach out with ideas. By contributing — through your time, insights, or advocacy donations — you help strengthen our association, support the success of our member companies, and ensure CLDA can continue advancing industry priorities and creating opportunities across our community.
During my term, I will focus on supporting members, fostering innovation, and creating industry connections. Whether you are a longtime member or just discovering CLDA, there is a place for you here, and I look forward to what we can accomplish together.
Here’s to the next two years of growth, collaboration, and celebrating the people and companies who make this community so special. I look forward to learning from you, serving alongside you, and accomplishing great things together.
Lorena Camargo
CLDA President
March is Women’s History Month and a time to reflect on the bold, brilliant, and resilient women who have shaped industries, broken down barriers, and led with vision and purpose. Women have long been at the wheel in final mile logistics, navigating challenges, building businesses, transforming how deliveries are made and customers are served.
At CLDA, we are proud to recognize and celebrate the women shaping the future of our industry through leadership, innovation, and education. This year, Women’s History Month carries special significance for CLDA as we mark a milestone in our own leadership.
A Historic First for CLDA Leadership
We are honored to celebrate Lorena Camargo, Founder and CEO of PearlTrans Logistics, who will become the first Latina woman to lead CLDA when she assumes the presidency in 2026. A dynamic entrepreneur and industry trailblazer, Lorena deeply understands what it takes to grow a business in final mile delivery, advocates for industry growth, and leads with intention.
She is joined on the CLDA Board of Directors by two other outstanding women leaders: Ruth Correa, Owner and CEO of Cheetah Final Mile, and Roslyn Ellerbee, Founder and CEO of Express Errands and Courier. Together, these women are respected voices in logistics, each bringing expertise, insight, and a passion for mentorship to our association.
Behind the scenes, CLDA’s day-to-day operations are managed by an all-female staff team. They keep our events, communications, membership services, and advocacy initiatives running smoothly. This collective leadership at the board and staff level show that women are not just participating in final mile logistics but they are helping to shape the future.
Women in Final Mile: Driving Change and Innovation
From dispatch to delivery, operations to ownership, women are driving impact across the entire supply chain. Whether navigating the complex world of route optimization, running high-performing teams, or launching tech-enabled delivery services, women in final mile logistics are problem-solvers, innovators, and leaders.
While the logistics industry has historically been male-dominated, women continue to rise as business owners, executives, drivers, logistics coordinators, and supply chain strategists. Their contributions are expanding representation and transforming how the industry serves customers and adapts to change.
At CLDA, we believe that diverse leadership makes our industry stronger with women bringing fresh perspectives, operational excellence, and an unwavering commitment to our community. We aim to amplify their voices and create more opportunities for growth.
Building a More Inclusive Future
CLDA’s most recent data shows that the final mile industry remains approximately 76% male. This reflects the composition of the transportation and logistics industry but we see growing momentum and as an association, we’re committed to:
Celebrating the Women of CLDA and Beyond
This Women’s History Month, we celebrate the trailblazers who paved the way, the leaders moving the industry forward, and the rising stars who represent the future. From our board appointments to women-led courier businesses and the thousands of women working behind the scenes in final mile operations, your contributions are seen, valued, and celebrated.
We encourage our members to take this moment to recognize the women within your organizations, tell their stories, and lift up the next generation of leaders. The future is full of possibilities, and women like these are paving the way.
Here’s to the women delivering results, transforming businesses, and redefining leadership in final mile logistics today and in the future.
