Guest Speaker

Astin has played a pivotal role in shaping Covenant’s workforce strategies. Under her leadership, the company’s team driver count reached industry-leading levels, while maintaining an unseated dedicated truck percentage of approximately 1%. Additionally, she was instrumental in doubling the truck count at one of Covenant’s DOTs and spearheading efforts that led to the lowest driver and non-driver turnover numbers in company history. She was recently recognized as a Finalist for the 2025 Transport Topics Recruiting Professional of the Year.

Rocco Marrari brings over 10 years of experience in the technology sector supporting the transportation industry, with a keen focus on the advancement of AI and safety technologies. A dedicated advocate for fleet safety, Rocco serves on multiple boards, including those of the American Trucking Associations (ATA), National Accounting and Finance Council (NAFC), Truckload Carriers Association (TCA), and Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC).

Mike Grabovica brings over 20 years of experience in building technology solutions to the logistics sector.
Mike began his tech career selling hardware and software through his retail stores. That early hands-on experience evolved into what is now Birdseye Security Solutions—a company that designs, installs, and remotely operates patented AI technology.

By combining smart gate access automation and full yard supervision with real-time human oversight, Birdseye helps transform traditional logistics yards into smarter, safer environments.

Dale Quigley was the National Coordinator of the Marijuana Impact Group, (formerly known as the National Marijuana Initiative) for the HIDTA program in the United States. Responsible for providing information and education on issues surrounding today’s marijuana. Dale is a retired police Sergeant, with most of his nearly 40 years involved in drug enforcement, he is recognized as a subject matter expert in several aspects of drug enforcement.

Kaitlyn Holmecki is the Director of International Trade and Security Policy for the American Trucking Associations (ATA), the national trade association for the trucking industry. In this role Kaitlyn regularly collaborates with industry stakeholders, government agencies, and policymakers to advance the association’s international trade and security objectives, providing policy expertise on key regulatory areas, including customs rules and fees, tariffs, cross-border trade, cargo theft, illicit drugs proliferation, and cybersecurity.

Gary L. McCarthy is the Head of First Responder Policy at Aurora, a company building the next-generation of self-driving vehicles with powerful, independent, and robust technology.

After over 25 years in Law Enforcement, Mr. McCarthy transitioned to working with Autonomous Vehicles in 2020 and joined Aurora in 2021.

Stephen (Steve) Keppler began his 34-year transportation career in the field as an investigator and inspector for the Federal Highway Administration’s Office of Motor Carriers (predecessor to the FMCSA). In addition to his field work in conducting investigations and roadside inspections, he worked in various positions within the agency on truck and bus safety issues, to include policy, regulatory and research positions both in the field and in Washington, DC.

Aaron R. Gelb is a partner in Conn Maciel Carey’s Chicago office where he regularly advises and represents clients in relation to inspections, investigations, and enforcement actions involving federal OSHA and state OSH programs, while managing a full range of litigation against OSHA. Mr. Gelb also litigates EEO matters in federal and state courts (having tried several cases to verdict) and defends employers before the EEOC and fair employment agencies across the country.

Jenny Abernathy was appointed as CRST’s Chief People Officer in 2022. In this capacity, she oversees all aspects of Human Resources, collaborating with the current Human Resources and Driver Recruitment teams to advance CRST’s dedication to offering career development opportunities and enriching experiences for its entire workforce.