CII Executive Board Member Lisa Wheldon firmly believes in the words of her former mentor who said: “You make friends before you need them.”

Lisa has over 34 years of experience working in various facets of the transportation industry including close to a  decade of working at the Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT) as the Director of National Sales in trade development and global marketing. In her current role as Director of Sales at Medlog Companies C&K Trucking and AV Logistics, she is responsible for business development and sales in the Southeast region of the U.S. She has been a board member of CII since 2016 and has served on CII’s Executive Committee as Secretary since January 2024.

In addition to being on the CII Executive Committee, she is also a board member of the NY Traffic Club. She is well known in the industry and has built an extensive network of connections during her career through her jobs and industry associations. She has been able to utilize these contacts to help her better connect with her customers and provide them top-notch service and assistance. 

“I enjoy what I do. Every day is different and there is a new challenge that keeps me engaged. I view each supply chain disruption as a puzzle. These challenges provide me with the opportunity to apply my years of experience and to reach out to my industry connections to aid me providing the best possible solution for customers,” said Lisa.

Lisa has been associated with CII for nearly 15 years, attending the annual Connie Awards on the East and West Coasts. These events have provided her with many opportunities to connect with transportation industry professionals. She liked to arrive early at the events and lend a hand to the CII team. When an opportunity to join the association presented itself, she officially joined CII.

“I was honored to be asked to become a board member. CII is a prestigious organization. It offers great opportunities to interact with other like-minded individuals on the board,” said Lisa. “Everyone brings a different perspective. The board has been an invaluable resource, and I am able to tap into their insight and call on them for their opinion or advice.”

As a member of CII’s Executive Committee, Lisa plays a role in directing and shaping the organization. She is particularly interested in helping expand the opportunities available to students, including connecting with industry leaders. Since she has benefitted from many mentors, she likewise looks for ways to provide mentorship to students that are pursuing careers in the industry.

“The scholarship program is great for students and gives them a chance to not just receive financial support, but to also meet transportation and logistics professionals who can assist them on their career paths,” said Lisa, “I have learned a lot over my career by working closely with industry veterans, so I try to pass on what has helped me.”

Lisa appreciates that CII’s networking opportunities go beyond the events because she strongly believes that building connections is key to success in this industry. She is proud to say that the connections she has made over the years have helped shape the trajectory of her career.

“I still have friends from my first job in the industry at a trucking company all of these years later,” said Lisa, “Every one of my jobs have served as a stepping stone in growing my career. I have learned from every person that I have worked with so that my industry network has grown into a family.”