In The News

Trucker Buddy names new executive director

GIG HARBOR, Wash. — Randy Schwartzenburg, formerly the director of national sales for the Digital Magazine Technology Division of Randall Reilly Media, has accepted an offer as the executive director of Trucker Buddy International, ending his 15 year tenure at Randall Reilly Media, effective immediately.

His accomplishments include starting and producing The Great American Trucking Show, eTrucker.com, America’s Traveling Truck Show and working as the associate publisher of Truckers News magazine.

Schwartzenburg joined Randall Reilly Media in 1994 as the controller of the company and quickly moved in the area of managing business units.  For the last six years, he has served on the board of Trucker Buddy International as its treasurer.

 â€œI appreciate all that Randall Reilly Media has done for me throughout my career and I’m excited to become the executive director of Trucker Buddy,” Schwartzenburg said.  “While serving on the board of directors, I’ve witnessed the passion for the program of our Trucker Buddies and educators and understand the importance of Trucker Buddy International within the trucking community.  As with most worthwhile goals, it takes everyone working together for Trucker Buddy International to achieve the success it deserves.”

Mark Taylor, president of Trucker Buddy and a professional driver for Wal-Mart, expressed enthusiasm about the appointment.

"With Randy's history and working knowledge of the industry I'm confident we have the right person leading Trucker Buddy,” Taylor said. “Randy's time serving TBI as an officer shows he has an understanding of the importance of the program, great enthusiasm, and will work with all the volunteers and educators to continue TBI's mission of educating schoolchildren.”

Trucker Buddy International, an independent, non-profit 501(c) (3) organization, has helped educate schoolchildren and introduce educators to the trucking industry, showing them the world through the eyes of a professional truck driver.

The Trucker Buddy program helps to educate and mentor schoolchildren via a pen pal relationship between professional truck drivers and children in grades two through eight as supervised by their teachers.

After an extensive screening process, the professional truck drivers are matched with a class and as directed by the teacher, drivers share news about their travels with their class.

Students write letters and send pictures to their drivers. Students' skills in reading, writing, geography, mathematics, social studies, and history are enhanced and learning is fun.

Since 1992, Trucker Buddy International has helped educate over a million schoolchildren and introduced them to professional trucking.

The Trucker staff can be reached to comment on this article at [email protected] .

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