Board Members

President

Pete Fortner
Transportation Logistics
816-931-9479
tlogistics@kc.rr.com

After graduating from Kansas University and spending a number of years in the military, Pete moved to Kansas City to work for Ford Motor Company. Eventually he was transferred to Detroit as a Regional Transportation Manager. In this position he was responsible for the external logistics for a group of assembly plants and distribution centers. After 14 years with Ford, Pete decided to make a change and went to work as an Executive Vice President for Mike Brooks Trucking in Knoxville, Iowa. That company was sold in 2008. Currently Pete works in sales and operations for Transportation Logistics Systems back in Kansas City. Even though Pete worked out of Michigan and Iowa, he has always made his home in Kansas City and traveled to his job locations.

Vice President
Donald J. Scaro CLU
Benefits Design Group
913-262-0600
dscaro@benefitsdesigngroup.cc

Don Scaro is owner of Benefits Design Group, a local company specializing in helping business owners set and achieve personal and business financial goals. Don assists small businesses with 401(k) plans, succession planning, deferred compensation and group health and dental. Clients benefit from his 32 years of insurance and investment strategy experience. A resident of the Greater Kansas City area for 30 years, Don and his wife Jane are active in various civic activities in the community. He is past president of the Olathe Sunrise Kiwanis and an active member of the local Chamber of Commerce.

Secretary-Treasurer
Laura Basye
Winco Fireworks International
816-935-5568
kcta99@msn.com

Laura Basye is the Secretary/Treasurer for the past 12 years within the KCTA. She is currently employed at Winco Fireworks in Lone Jack, MO. Winco Fireworks is the second largest importer of fireworks within the US. She is married and very busy with two children, Morgan Taylor (12) and Brooke Elizabeth (9).

Leslie Martinez
North Kansas City Hospital
Occupational Health Coordinator
Leslie.martinez@nkch.org

Leslie Martinez has been in the health care profession for over 20 years. She has nursing experience in Texas, Iowa, and has worked in Missouri for the past 16 years. She is a graduate of Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids Iowa and earned her LPN in 1989. Leslie has experience and qualifications in both clinical and business areas of health care; Drug and Alcohol Screening, Marketing, Management, Certified Coding Specialist, Certified Nursing Assistant Instructor, and direct patient care. Her position as Occupational Health Coordinator at NKCH, has allowed her to gain extensive knowledge of work related injuries and its impact on the industries in the metro Kansas City area. Leslie is a member of the North East Industrial Association (NEIA), the Fairfax Industrial Association (FIA), and represents North Kansas City Hospital at the NKC Business Council. Leslie resides in Kansas City, MO with her husband Mike.

John Patton

John Patton is the Vice President of the Intermodal Division of Trinity Transport. John received his MBA from Rockhurst College in Kansas City, Missouri. John has 43 years of Transportation experience, of which 34 years was with the rail industry, 1 year as a Transportation Consultant, and 8 years in the Intermodal industry. In John’s current capacity at Trinity he has responsibilities of Intermodal Sales, Intermodal Customer Service, Intermodal Pricing, and Intermodal Operations.

John and his wife Betty have always lived in the Kansas City, Ks area. John enjoys spending time at the lake with his family, golf, photography ( he has digitized over 70,000 pictures of his kids and grandkids).

Steve Westhead
USTrailer Rental
swesthead@topsailcompanies.com

Cesar Marquez

After 10 years in the transportation industry, Mr. Marquez founded Marleon International as a forward-looking transportation and supply chain management firm focused on utilizing leading technologies to drive cross-border business opportunities. Mr. Marquez is also responsible for cross-border Mexico business for WLX, LLC a full service flatbed and heavy haul Transportation Company

Prior to Marleon and WLX, LLC .Mr. Marquez was a Logistics Executive for Priority Logistics where he was responsible for driving the steady growth and the Mexico trade initiatives between the port cities of Lazaro Cardenas and Manzanillo. Prior to Priority Logistics, Mr. Marquez worked as a Business Executive and Development Manager for Conway Central Express. While with Conway Mr. Marquez grew his account base by 20%.

Throughout his professional career Mr. Marquez has acted as an International liaison, connecting Mexican and U.S. based companies looking to grow their cross border business opportunities.

Mr. Marquez also plays an active role promoting Kansas City trade opportunities with Mexico as a member of The International Business Committee for the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the International Trade Council for Kansas City. In these roles, Mr. Marquez has helped organize several U.S. – Mexico focused conferences such as the ‘NAFTA Conference’ and the ‘U.S. - Mexico Immigration Conference.’ Mr. Marquez is also actively involved with Kansas City’s SmartPort initiative.

Mr. Marquez holds a bachelor degree in International Business from the University of Findlay

Scott Rodgers
Success Truck Leasing
913-321-1716
srodgers@successntl.com

A graduate of Baker University, Scott joined Success Truck Leasing in 2009 as Rental Manager. His main responsibilities are sales and account management. Success Truck Leasing, formerly NationaLease of Kansas City, is a full service truck leasing company that has been in Kansas City for over 40 years and also has locations in Wichita, KS and Arlington, TX. Scott lives in Kansas City North and when not working can be found hunting, fishing, or attending local sporting events.

Rob Lawrence

Kansas City Native
Graduated Baker University 2000
Married, 1 daughter
10+ years transportation experience
4 years with Dynamex
Current: Lenexa Branch Manager