November 8th, 2021 Meeting: Travis Thowe

by TCTacoma
November 1st, 2021

Travis Thowe | BNSF Railway

Travis Thowe is the General Director of Network Development with the BNSF Railway. He has worked for BNSF just shy of 24 years! Travis’s role as General Director has him involved in Capacity Planning, Forecasting and Network Strategy.

He has held roles with BNFS ranging from Crew Management, Finance, Franchise Development and most recently as Director of Network Strategy.

Travis holds a BBA, Accounting and Business Management from LeTourneau University and also attended Wichita State University studying International Business.

Registration & Event Information:

  • La Quinta Inn & Suites 1425 E 27th St Tacoma, WA 98421
  • 11:15 am  Registration/networking
  • 11:30 am  Lunch served
  • Cost is $25 prepaid 3 days prior to the event, drawing is an additional $5 for 6 tickets ** Additional $10 for walk-in members, member sales on day of event, and non-members
  • Register online, by email, or fill out the registration form

The TCT meets September through June on the second Monday of every month for networking, lunch and dynamic speakers on important issues to the transportation industry. Members, their guests and others are invited.

Thank you to all who contributed door prizes at our last meeting! All proceeds go toward TCT’s Scholarship Program.

Future luncheons:

  • December 13th: EFN Event
Categories Events, Luncheon Meetings

October 11th, 2021 Meeting: Todd Fryhover

by TCTacoma
September 27th, 2021

Todd Fryhover | Washington Apple Commission

Todd Fryhover is a native of Wenatchee, Washington, and spent summers working in the apple and cherry industry. After high school, he attended the University of Idaho graduating with a degree in Agricultural Economics and Business while playing football on scholarship. Todd has worked for several leading apple packing companies over the past 30 years with management experience in quality assurance, purchasing, inventory control, shipping, operations, domestic sales and ultimately focusing on direct international sales for 15+ years.

Todd came to the Washington Apple Commission in 2007 in a consultancy role, and assumed the presidency in December 2008. During his tenure at the helm, Washington apple exports have increased from 35,350,843 (2008-09) to 50,592,725 (2014-15) cartons with an increase in value from $517,889,850 to $831,744,399 (+60.6%). As barriers to trade became more significant, and industry’s need to export increased as new production came on line, maintaining and expanding Market Access has been his focus. Todd played a key role in expanding varietal access to China, which has proven to be one of Washington’s top five export destinations.

Todd oversees the marketing efforts for Washington apple growers in 25 countries worldwide with a staff of 7 and 12 international representatives. The Washington Apple commission is a grower funded state agency which supports international promotional activities, protects the logo and funds the Northwest Horticultural Council and USApple. During his 15 years of service to Washington apple growers, Todd has traveled extensively throughout SE Asia, China, Middle East, India, Central and South America, Mexico and the EU.

Todd has been involved with the U.S. Apple Association, Northwest Horticultural Council and the World Apple & Pear Association as a board member and ex-officio.

Todd has been married for 34 years with two grown children.

Registration & Event Information:

  • La Quinta Inn & Suites 1425 E 27th St Tacoma, WA 98421
  • 11:15 am  Registration/networking
  • 11:30 am  Lunch served
  • Cost is $25 prepaid 3 days prior to the event, drawing is an additional $5 for 6 tickets ** Additional $10 for walk-in members, member sales on day of event, and non-members
  • Register online, by email, or fill out the registration form

The TCT meets September through June on the second Monday of every month for networking, lunch and dynamic speakers on important issues to the transportation industry. Members, their guests and others are invited.

Thank you to all who contributed door prizes at our last meeting! All proceeds go toward TCT’s Scholarship Program.

Future luncheons:

  • November 8th: BNSF Railway
  • December 13th: EFN Event
Categories Events, Luncheon Meetings

September 13th, 2021 Meeting: Rob Howell

by TCTacoma
August 23rd, 2021

Rob Howell | Columbia Trust Company

Rob Howell is the SVP, Director of Investments for Columbia Trust Company.

Rob has more than 35 years of industry experience. He began his career at Bank of America where he spent 28 years and held the role as the Chief Investment Officer for the Pacific Northwest. Rob brings comprehensive experience to Columbia Trust Company providing specialization in development and management of a variety of trust and investment disciplines, including asset allocation strategies, risk management and strategic client solutions. Based in Seattle, Rob leads the investment teams covering the entire Oregon, Washington and Idaho footprint of Columbia Trust Company.

Registration & Event Information:

  • La Quinta Inn & Suites 1425 E 27th St Tacoma, WA 98421
  • 11:15 am  Registration/networking
  • 11:30 am  Lunch served
  • Cost is $25 prepaid 3 days prior to the event, drawing is an additional $5 for 6 tickets ** Additional $10 for walk-in members, member sales on day of event, and non-members
  • Register online, by email, or fill out the registration form

The TCT meets September through June on the second Monday of every month for networking, lunch and dynamic speakers on important issues to the transportation industry. Members, their guests and others are invited.

Thank you to all who contributed door prizes at our last meeting! All proceeds go toward TCT’s Scholarship Program.

Future luncheons:

  • October 11th: Matson
  • November 8th: BNSF Railway
  • December 13th: EFN Event
Categories Events, Luncheon Meetings

June 14th, 2021 Meeting: Altaf Merchant, PhD

by TCTacoma
May 14th, 2021

Altaf Merchant, PhD | Milgard School of Business, UW Tacoma

Presentation from the Luncheon

Altaf Merchant Ph.D. is the Gary E. and James A. Milgard Endowed Dean of the Milgard School of Business. As the Dean he is the Chief Administrative Officer, serving about 900 students and over 4,500 alumni. He provides strategic leadership to achieve the school’s mission, which is to deliver cutting-edge education; create a culture of scholarly exploration and intellectual curiosity; and engagement with the community. Through collaborative programs, such as the Sports Enterprise Management Program – which is conducted in partnership with the Tacoma Rainiers, the Milgard School connects the classroom with the real world ~ creating a bridge between theory and practice.

Merchant is a familiar presence in the corridors of Milgard School. He has been serving on the faculty since his arrival at UW Tacoma in 2008, having been promoted twice to his current rank of Professor. He has also served as the Undergraduate Program Director, Associate Dean and Interim Dean of the school.

He has a notable academic record as a pioneer in research in advertising, branding, and cross-cultural issues with emphasis on nostalgia, brand heritage, and prosocial behaviors. He has published more than 30 peer-reviewed articles and made more than 70 scholarly presentations around the world. He is associate editor of the Journal of Advertising Research, and has held visiting positions in Aix-Marseille University and University of Lorraine in France, King’s College in London, U.K., and MICA in India. He also serves on the boards of Tacoma’s Sound Credit Union and the Museum of Glass.

He received his Ph.D. in Marketing from Old Dominion University in Virginia. Before entering academia, he was a brand marketing manager for more than a decade with Glaxo SmithKline, Reckitt, and Sara Lee. He launched products and campaigns internationally in Asia, Europe, and Africa for brands such as Lysol, Aquafresh and Sara Lee.

Media mentions:

Registration & Event Information:

  • $10 registration is for the TCT’s Scholarship Program and a single entry into a randomized drawing
  • Hosted through Zoom, link provided from TCT Executive Director email
  • Event starts at noon
  • $10 for each additional entry into a randomized drawing to support the TCT’s Scholarship Program
  • Register online, by email, or fill out the registration form

The TCT meets September through June on the second Monday of every month for networking, lunch and dynamic speakers on important issues to the transportation industry. Members, their guests and others are invited.

Thank you to all who contributed door prizes at our last meeting! All proceeds go toward TCT’s Scholarship Program.
Categories Events, Luncheon Meetings

May 26th, 2021: Happy Hour Event

by TCTacoma
May 10th, 2021

Join us on May 26th at our next Happy Hour event.

Please register here!

Categories Events

May 10th, 2021 Meeting: Debra Hanna, PhD

by TCTacoma
April 21st, 2021

Debra Hanna, PhD | Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Debra Hanna, PhD, is a Senior Program Officer in the TB/HIV Program within the Global Health division of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Dr. Hanna joined the foundation in 2018 as Senior Program Officer where she oversees an extensive grant portfolio focused on improving therapeutic interventions for patients suffering from TB disease. She represents the foundation as the lead for the Project to Accelerate Novel Treatments for TB collaboration – a partnership of philanthropic, non-profit, and corporate organizations working together to accelerate the development of novel drug regimens. Before joining the foundation, she served as Executive Director of the Critical Path to TB Drug Regimens initiative – a global, multi-sector partnership hailing 350 members.

Prior to her transition to Global Health in the non-profit and philanthropic sector, Dr. Hanna spent 12 years in the Antibacterial Research and Development Unit of Pfizer Global Research and Development.

She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Microbiology from Colorado State University and earned her Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from North Carolina State University. Debra and her daughter, Josie, moved to Seattle in 2018 from Tucson – they enjoy their travel back to the Sonoran Desert to escape the rain.

Registration & Event Information:

  • $10 registration is for the TCT’s Scholarship Program and a single entry into a randomized drawing
  • Hosted through Zoom, link provided from TCT Executive Director email
  • Event starts at noon
  • $10 for each additional entry into a randomized drawing to support the TCT’s Scholarship Program
  • Register online, by email, or fill out the registration form

The TCT meets September through June on the second Monday of every month for networking, lunch and dynamic speakers on important issues to the transportation industry. Members, their guests and others are invited.

Thank you to all who contributed door prizes at our last meeting! All proceeds go toward TCT’s Scholarship Program.
Categories Events, Luncheon Meetings

April 22nd, 2021: Happy Hour Event

by TCTacoma
April 5th, 2021

Join us on April 22nd at our next Happy Hour event.

Please register here!

Categories Events

April 7th, 2021 Meeting: Kim Wyman

by TCTacoma
March 8th, 2021

Kim Wyman | Washington State

Please note that this is a joint meeting with the Seattle Transportation Club held on Wednesday April 7th, 2021.

Kim Wyman is Washington’s 15th Secretary of State. First elected in 2012, she is only the second female Secretary of State in Washington’s history. Prior to being elected to this office, Kim served as Thurston County Elections Director for nearly a decade and served three terms as the elected Thurston County Auditor (2001-2013).

As head of one of the most diverse offices in state government, Secretary Wyman is responsible for overseeing state and local elections, corporation and charity filings, the Washington State Library, the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library, and the Washington State Archives.

Secretary Wyman is committed to promoting civility and civic engagement, and connecting people with their government. She serves on many state and national boards, enjoys mentoring students, participates in leadership-development organizations, and advocates for preserving and teaching our history and traditions, and the importance of civics education and volunteering in our communities.

A leader of national renown, Secretary Wyman often shares Washington’s award-winning, innovative election administration and cybersecurity practices with organizations across the country. Her office led the successful statewide effort to modernize and secure the state’s election infrastructure and continues to focus on securing elections in 2020 and beyond.

Secretary Wyman graduated from California State University Long Beach and earned her master’s degree in Public Administration from Troy State University. City University of Seattle awarded her an Honorary Doctorate in Leadership in 2015. She received CERA certification from The Election Center and Auburn University in 2004, and has been a Washington State Certified Election Administrator since 1995.

Kim and her husband John came to Washington when he was assigned to the 2nd Ranger Battalion at Fort Lewis after being stationed in Ansbach, Germany. They live in Thurston County and have two adult children.  

Registration & Event Information:

The TCT meets September through June on the second Monday of every month for networking, lunch and dynamic speakers on important issues to the transportation industry. Members, their guests and others are invited.

Thank you to all who contributed door prizes at our last meeting! All proceeds go toward TCT’s Scholarship Program.
Categories Events, Luncheon Meetings
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