Ron Lewis
We are saddened to announce the death of our colleague and friend, Ron Lewis. During Ron's twelve years with C.L. Nationwide, Inc. he exemplified total professionalism in handling the transportation needs of our customers. His contributions to our company helped make it the success it is today. He will be deeply missed but forever remembered.
Linda Lowe
Linda Lowe began her career in the transportation industry fresh out of high school in 1976 with a company called Mid American Lines. She started in the Accounts Receivable department and later applied for the Special Commodity Division. Her job consisted of Trip Lease Settlements (billing and paying) for the independent drivers contracted by the company. She worked for Mid American Lines until 1988.
Linda then took a break from the industry and started her own day care facility out of her home. On average she watched 10 kids ranging from new born to 3rd grade. This allowed her to stay at home and raise her daughter Andrea.
In 1993 Linda began in dispatch at C. L. Nationwide, Inc. Later, she moved into our Accounts Payable department. Being a small businessperson, she takes care of many company needs: dispatch, carrier insurance and carrier payments.
Linda’s daughter will be a junior at K-State—“Go Wildcats.” She’s also a HUGE animal lover. Currently she has three cats and two dogs (which she calls “the girls”). In addition, she enjoys knitting & rubber stamping.
Chris McCune
Chris McCune graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in Business Communications from The School of Journalism in 1994. Immediately following he took a job with a pharmaceutical research company as their Recruitment Manager. Chris joined the C.L. Nationwide team in 1995 and has been with us for over 11 years handling dispatch, accounts receivable and billing.
The McCune family consists of Chris, his wife Wendy and their four year old daughter Molly. In addition to the immediate family members, Chris is a lover of all animals and has a small zoo at his house, which includes their black lab Marley, two lizards, two frogs, three turtles, one salt water fish tank, one fresh water fish tank and the latest addition; a bird Molly named Princess Fiona.
Though family, work and multiple animals take up the majority of his time, Chris still manages to participate in any of the following of his favorite teams’ events: Royals, Chiefs, Kansas Jayhawks and even the K-State Wildcats! In addition to his love for “the games” you’ll be sure to find Chris attending 98.9 The Rock’s annual Rockfest or at any Motley Crue concert that comes within 500 miles of Kansas City!
Tom Laird
Tom Laird grew up in Wichita, KS and was raised in an LTL trucking family. After graduating from Wichita State University he was transferred to their branch office in Kansas City. He worked in sales and covered over half of Kansas City. He also worked as a road dispatcher as well as dock foreman. Following deregulation, he worked in sales for a truckload and part load van broker. He eventually opened his own brokerage and grew to have a staff of six. During this time he earned his CTB from the Transportation Brokers Conference of America. After eight years he closed his office and was contracted by a van broker for sales. Bill Lyman (a former business associate) referred Tom to C.L. Nationwide, Inc. to pursue flatbed brokerage. He has been a sales agent for us for more than 13 years. He works to promote and market the services of C. L. Nationwide, Inc. to customers in all 48 states, Canada and Mexico. Laird says, “C.L. Nationwide, Inc. is a special place to work because its people are special. They’re proud professionals. I’m happy to consider myself part of the team.” In total, Tom has been in the transportation business for almost 34 years and is an asset to our company.
Kristen McBride
Kristen McBride graduated from the University of Missouri – Kansas City in 2002 with a Bachelor in Arts majoring in Communications. She is the newest member of the C.L. Nationwide, Inc. team, with her career in the transportation industry starting with us in January of 2004. Kristen (as most of us in the office) has her hands in many different aspects of the company: sales, marketing and brokerage. She is also the author of the company newsletter!!
Kristen recently married Patrick McBride. Patrick is the lead singer of the rock band HourCast and has been on tour the last year with artists such as: Sevendust, 30 Seconds to Mars and Godsmack. The McBride family wouldn’t be complete without their little Boston Terrier Lady Abbey Road! She’s mom and dad’s pride and joy!
Bob Rodarte
Bob Rodarte began his journey in the transportation industry in June 1971 (shortly after marrying his wife Roseanne) when hired by CW Transport, Inc. out of Wisconsin Rapids, WI. He was assigned to their Special Commodity Division (owner operator flatbed division) in Chicago. He began as a log clerk; auditing driver’s daily log sheets. Soon he took on more administrative responsibilities which included: processing owner operators, completing equipment leases, licensing and permitting. In addition he handled all accidents, vehicle and personal injury; filing all necessary reports with the various jurisdictions. Starting in 1988, Rodarte left his administration position and accept a job internally with the operations department. He was in charge of dispatching steel related loads and products (machinery) which were both legal flatbed freight and over dimensional. CW Transport, Inc. closed their doors in February 1998.
Immediately following, Rodarte took a job with a local carrier in Highland, IN: D & P Transport. His duties consisted of both dispatching and sales. He continued with them until October of 1991 when he accepted a position with C.L. Nationwide, Inc.
Bob Rodarte has now been with us for over 15 years. He currently runs our Chicago location. His knowledge and experience in the transportation field has been an asset to our company over the years and continues to keep C.L. Nationwide a presence in the highly competitive Chicago steel industry.
Paul Buckman
Paul Buckman is a dispatcher in our Chicago office. He has been with C.L. Nationwide, Inc. since 1998. Though he’s been in the trucking industry for almost 10 years; he has worked in a variety of other fields. His career path went down many interesting roads!
Buckman attended Eastern Kentucky University as a Drama major. Following school he moonlighted as a bartender while putting his acting to work as a mime! In 1979 he moved to the Chicago area and went to work for Inland Steel. As we all know, the acting world can be difficult to break into. While entertaining he took on jobs such as: a forklift operator, kitchen designer, car and vacuum cleaner salesman as well as a landscaper!
Buckman just celebrated his 23rd wedding anniversary with his lovely wife Melanie. They have a son named Sam who, at 14, seems to be following in his dad’s foot steps performing with his own Jazz band. Sam is mom and dad’s “pride and joy.”
Though a broker by day, Buckman still holds on to the world of arts that he so loves by night playing guitar, watching his son perform and even using his culinary skills!!! C.L. Nationwide, Inc. is lucky to have such a personality to add to the daily grind!
Chris East
Kathleen East, our Dallas, TX agent, passed away June 5th, 2007. Kathleen (Chris) was part of our team since 1991. She will be remembered and missed by her husband and two daughters as well as all of us here at C.L. Nationwide, Inc.
Services | Customers | Carriers | Employment | Contact Us
CL Nationwide Inc.
9290 Bond, Suite# 203,
Overland Park, KS, 66214-1729
Phone: (800) 899-3670 / (913) 492-5200
Site content copyright © 2007. All rights reserved.
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