CHRISTENSON TRANSPORTATION - Key Persons
A Nashville, TN native, Elliott graduated from the Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee with a major in Logistics and Supply Chain Management. He accepted a position with Schneider National and participated in their Rotational Leadership Program in Green Bay, WI, where he worked through all departments of the asset-based Van Truckload Division. From recruiting to customer service to operations and planning, he gained a holistic understanding of the inner workings of a longstanding and successful trucking company. Upon return to Nashville as a Driver Business Leader, Elliott assisted in winning the 2013 Van Truckload Division of the year award. He then moved into the role of Dell Account Manager with Schneider Logistics where he managed an international team based in TN, WI, and Mexico. Elliott successfully grew and managed the account including the development of a cross-dock program with Christenson Transportation.
Job Titles:
- Director of Safety and Maintenance
Born in Tallahassee, Florida, and a diehard Florida State Seminole fan, Barry was raised in Northwest Arkansas and is one of seven children. He graduated from The University of Arkansas with a degree in Human Resources.
A Veteran of the Army National Guard, serving from 1989-1995, where he also received his CDL experience, he started his trucking career with USA Truck Inc., working in the Human Resources and Risk Management department. Barry joined Christenson in 1999 at the start of the truck line, working in the areas of Safety, Human Resources, Maintenance and Risk Management.
He enjoys all kinds of sports and outdoor activities, including golf, fishing, riding motorcycles, working on his car collection and spending time with his family and his daughter, Elsa. Arkansas is home away from home, where his family gathers for meals, entertainment and holidays. He has a vast memorabilia collection in his office that he loves to show and tell stories about.
Job Titles:
- Director of Operations
- DIRECTOR of SALES & BROKERAGE
Brian attended Missouri State University in Springfield, MO where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in International Business Administration with minors in French and Economics. He continued his education there and earned an MBA with an emphasis in Logistics and Supply Chain Management. After college, Brian began his career in the transportation industry in the Logistics Division of a multinational steamship line. He then moved to St. Louis where he built a trucking company and continued on to Christenson Transportation in 2020. He has held several positions at Christenson and is now the Director of Sales and Brokerage.
Professionally Brian prides himself in building relationships with his Christenson Community as well as the customers that Christenson has partnered with. Brian enjoys helping to build processes that allow employees to work more efficiently with the goal of reducing stress within the organization.
Brian met his wife Jackie while attending Missouri State University and they have four children together - three boys and one girl. When not at work, Brian is busy coaching their sons' baseball and football teams, grilling out and planning trips. His favorite pastime though consists of watching football games together in the Fall with family and friends.
Born and raised in Ethridge, TN. Chase grew up in and around the trucking industry at his family's business, Sharp Transport. Chase attended Lawrence County High School and began working in the business at age 17 as a shop tech. After graduating high school, he continued his education at Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, TN where he graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Business Management with an emphasis in Human Relations.
Don grew up in a generational Trucking family. He started his career, at an early age in Tulsa OK, working at Tom Inman Trucking. With his eagerness to learn and dedicated work ethic, Don started out in the shop, working his way up to the wash bay, then the parts room, and eventually becoming a night shift dispatch, all before graduating high school. Soon after graduating, Don became part of a driving team running from the West Coast to the Midwest, all while attending Oklahoma State University. After college, he drove for Monkem out of Joplin MO, Tyson Foods (when they had only had 20 trucks), and Jerry Inman out of Mounds, OK. Don knew he was going to become a trucker just like his dad. In 1980, Don became a newlywed and with his new bride, he purchased his first truck, becoming an owner-operator. For the next five (5) years he managed KAJ Trucking (a 20 truck refrigerated fleet and Animal Food Service a pet food manufacturer) in Irving, TX. Because of the experience, he was receiving in the trucking and manufacturing industry, Don continued his education, pursuing and receiving an MBA.
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer - Missouri
Ethan Slaughter recently completed his Doctor of Business Administration degree at the DeVoe School of Business at Indiana Wesleyan University. During his time at IWU, Dr. Ethan Slaughter published two practitioner articles, was selected to be a member of the Devoe Business Advisory Council, and had his leadership style and techniques featured in the IWU Triangle Magazine at the request of former President Dr. David Wright.
Dr. Slaughter's doctoral research focused on behavioral and labor economics of the long-haul truck driver labor market. His work culminated with writing Synthesis of Long-Haul Truck Driver Labor Market Desires and Dysfunctions, an award-winning research project which uncovered and conveyed groundbreaking findings related to truck driver job dissatisfaction and turnover intention. Dr. Slaughter continues to research truck drivers from a behavioral economic perspective. This research focuses on the environmental, physiological, and psychological impacts on decision-making, especially when those decisions conflict with the implied rational choices put forth by classical economic theory. In 2023, Dr. Slaughter is taking on the role of Primary Investigator to lead a team of researchers from various prestigious universities to study sleep quantity and quality of over-the-road truck drivers, and the potential implications of introducing of sleep improving interventions such as state-of-the-art mattresses and sensory deprivation technologies. This study aims to begin laying the groundwork for improving the working and living environment for long-haul truck drivers and to promote a healthier lifestyle, safer driving, increased job satisfaction, and lower turnover intention.
In addition to his research, Dr. Slaughter is considered a leading expert by his peers in the application of the Virtuous Business Model (VBM). The VBM is a holistic framework designed to drive ethical, moral, and multi-framed decision-making and behavior at individual and organizational levels. Given this expertise, Dr. Slaughter is a working co-author of Virtuous Business Model: A Model Approach. This publication will demonstrate real-world applications of the VBM and includes contemplative exercises to sharpen leadership skills and organizational potential. In addition, Dr. Slaughter offers coaching and guidance to high-ability or high-performing individuals to maximize their potential and develop higher levels of emotional intelligence and self-command.
Job Titles:
- CHIEF COMMERCIAL OFFICER
- Chief Commercial Office
A Nashville, TN native, Elliott graduated from the Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee with a major in Logistics and Supply Chain Management. He accepted a position with Schneider National and participated in their Rotational Leadership Program in Green Bay, WI, where he worked through all departments of the asset-based Van Truckload Division. From recruiting to customer service to operations and planning, he gained a holistic understanding of the inner workings of a longstanding and successful trucking company. Upon return to Nashville as a Driver Business Leader, Elliott assisted in winning the 2013 Van Truckload Division of the year award. He then moved into the role of Dell Account Manager with Schneider Logistics where he managed an international team based in TN, WI, and Mexico. Elliott successfully grew and managed the account including the development of a cross-dock program with Christenson Transportation.
Steve graduated from the University of Arkansas achieving a BSBA in Accounting. He has a long career in both public and private accounting. Prior to coming to Christenson, He was a partner in a local firm where they provided accounting, tax return preparation, and business consulting services primarily for over-the-road truck drivers and small trucking companies. In the past, Steve was also the controller for McNeil Trucking Company and Smitty's Supermarkets.
Steve is an entrepreneur, owning several businesses over the past few years, including accounting firms, trucking companies, super markets, and technical support companies. In addition to being a certified public accountant, he is also a certified Lean Six Sigma green belt. For the last 15 years, he has served on the Board of Trustees of Bethel University, a Christian liberal arts university located in McKenzie, Tennessee. He has been married to Sandye for over 36 years, had two children and two grandchildren.