Management Team

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM

Shippers Commonwealth was founded by Robert Shagawat and his team, as long time colleagues in successful development and wide scale commercial deployment of automated Load Control Centers for the Fortune 1000 and the mid-market shipper community. The Company has assembled a team of world-class executives with histories of success and innovation in the transportation, logistics systems, retail and manufacturing industries, focused on shipment planning, management, and related distribution improvement programs.

CEO & President: Robert Shagawat

Mr. Shagawat is CEO & President of the Company, which he co-founded in 2000. He has over 20 years of P&L management experience as managing director of the leading information technology firms and information service providers in the logistics automation field. This includes executive experience as Managing Director for the global Supply Chain Systems (Decision Support integrated with Electronic Commerce) at Westinghouse (founder and General Manager of Westinghouse Sure Shipping), Weseley Software (acquired by McHugh/RedPrairie) as former COO and business architect of the original expanded RedPrairie/McHugh TMS offering, General Electric Information Services (GEIS), and BellSouth Wireless Data. Mr. Shagawat served as Director of Strategic Investments & Mergers/Acquisitions at Westinghouse in his 15 year international management career with this firm, prior to serving as founding sponsor and managing director of the Westinghouse Sure Shipping venture in growing this business from 1990 - 1995, leading to its successful sale. Mr. Shagawat also directed Logistics Planning Center as a highly successful, full service logistics consultancy from 1995 through 2000. He holds a BS from Georgetown University, with advanced graduate studies, and is well known as frequent lecturer, instructor, and author in the logistics automation and e-Commerce community. He is based in the Charleston SC Executive Offices of the Company, located at the Port Of Charleston.

COO & Executive Vice President: Dawn Salvucci-Favier

Ms. Salvucci-Favier has been appointed as COO and Executive Vice President for the Company as of June 2010. As COO, she is responsible for directing the key operating functions of the Company (including products, projects, and services). She joins the Company from her long track record of success as product director and thought leader in the Transportation Management Systems ("TMS") market, including as Vice President - Transportation & Logistics Solutions and senior director for product management at JDA and Manugistics (predecessor company, now part of JDA along with i2) since 2000. In these senior leadership roles, she developed corporate product strategy and managed its execution with product development, professional services, and sales and marketing teams on large-scale basis. Prior to this, she was principal in supply chain and transportation management at Staples and TJ Maxx in the retail sectors. She is an active member of VICS, CSCMP, and APICS, and is highly regarded in the industry as expert speaker and author on automated transportation improvement programs. The Delivery & Services and Systems & Software Engineering teams both report directly to Dawn as COO. She is based in the Company's Charleston SC office, reporting to the CEO and President of ShipComm.

CFO & Director- Commerce: Sharon L. Smith, CPA

Ms. Smith is CFO and Commerce Director for the Company.  She joined the the ShipComm team from her distinguished track record of management accomplishments as Director of Finance & Administration with Southern Tank Transport (freight industry), where she was key to automation and profit growth of this major motor carrier. Previously, she served as Director of Operations for Robert Half International (professional staffing) and Service Station Computer Systems (specialty software, as well as serving as President for their VAR channel). She began her career as CPA including as Tax Manager for Coopers & Lybrand (now PwC), the leading public accounting firm, and then served as Controller for Alaska Pacific Ventures (large holding company based in Hawaii). She is an active Certified Public Accountant, and holds a BBA in Accounting with emphasis in Computer Science from Texas Christian University. Ms. Smith is also member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, The Institute of Management Accountants, and Beta Sigma Phi. Ms. Smith is responsible for the CFO and Commercial Management function for the Company, and also oversees human resources, sales & business development, and related commercial and administrative matters for the firm. She is based in the Charleston SC executive offices of the Company, reporting to the CEO.

Senior Vice President Delivery & Services: Shelley Claus

Ms. Claus joined Shippers Commonwealth in 2006 from distinguished career in logistics management and IT project management. She served as senior project manager and business analyst for client services since 1998 at Relizon (leading print and electronic documents systems provider), where she was in charge of deployment and support for complex, integrated business systems in these roles for Relizon. Prior to this, she worked for 8 years in transportation, logistics and customer service management for Appleton Papers and Kimberly-Clark, including as team leader for customer electronic communications, customer relations including quick response programs; and as senior transportation manager and analyst. In her current role with the Company, she is responsible for managing implementation and support team for all client programs, including in project management and directing implementation programs for new clients and add-on expansion programs for existing customers, as well as supervising all customer service. Ms. Claus holds a BSBA in Transportation/Logistics from The Ohio State University, and also holds Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute. She reports to the COO, and is based in our Richmond VA office.

Vice President Sales & Marketing: Jerry Bell

Mr. Bell has a distinguished career as a leader in sales and marketing in the transportation systems and carrier marketplace. He served as VP Sales & Marketing for TransWorks (owned by Norfolk Southern) in building and expanding their transportation execution system business, as well as in senior sales management positions with Freightwise (GE transport automation marketplace initiative) and McLeod Software (carrier systems). He brings a wide range of transportation improvement success stories and experience in serving all sectors of the logistics community. He also previously served as sales executive and in terminal management for Conway, Dart, and Celadon in the LTL and TL motor carrier sector serving the shipper marketplace. Mr. Bell holds a BSBA from Midwestern State University and is active in many logistics professional and trade organizations. He is based in Dallas TX, and reports to the CEO of the Company, with dotted line to the CFO & Commerce Director.

TECHNOLOGY TEAM

Director Systems & Software Engineering: William S. ("Shad") Gilley

Mr. Gilley joined Shippers Commonwealth in 2004 with a comprehensive background in software development including business and supply chain application programming for VTLS, Orca, and Virginia Tech. His development expertise includes credentials in meta-data search programs and application building in Java and object-oriented environments, including advanced graduate work in computer network simulations. During his tenure at ShipComm, he has developed many of the key product extensions for clients including expansion of our Logistics Portal solutions, Shipment Intelligence Center, Caravan, Web Gateway, Cost Allocation Post-Processor, as well as data center management and advanced integration pre-processing. He holds an MS and BS Computer Science with highest honors from Virginia Tech, where he also received the outstanding teaching assistant award and other high honors in academic recognition. Reporting to the COO, he is based in our Richmond VA office.

Principal Systems Engineer: Jason Steffler

Mr. Steffler came to the Shippers Commonwealth team in 2006 from his track record of success in TMS and logistics systems development, including as Software Architect at RedPrairie specializing in TMS design, development, integration, and technical environment planning from 2000 – 2004. Since then, he has served as TMS Integration Lead for new motor carrier system products from Headwater Technology Solutions operating in the fleet management, TMS/WMS market segments. Prior to RedPrairie, Mr. Steffler was software engineer for Per Se Technologies and network management engineer for Newbridge Networks. He holds a Bachelor in Computer Engineering from McMaster University, and has extensive experience in state-of-the-art software development and e-commerce programs, as well as in hardware sizing, data center planning, and large-scale integration and extension programs, with special focus on transportation automation. Mr. Steffler reports to the Director - Systems & Software Engineering and is based in Burlington (metropolitan Toronto), Ontario.

DELIVERY & SERVICES TEAM

Chief Technology Officer - Transportation Management Systems: Al Gobel

Mr. Gobel has worked with the executive team for Shippers Commonwealth for many years, as part of his distinguished long-term track record as leading developer and customer support team leader for Transportation Management Systems (TMS). He formally joined the Company as of December 2004, after working with us during his 9 year tenure as leading software developer in TMS market for RedPrairie, and also as independent consultant to the Company. His background includes a documented track record of accomplishments in TMS design, development, integration, customer support, and consulting. Prior to his tenure with RedPrairie, he served as principal software engineer at Intelligent Software Technology (parcel manifesting systems); Hyperion Software (enterprise financial systems); Intelligent Business Systems (database expert software); as well as advance product software engineering at Pitney Bowes and Dun & Bradstreet. As CTO - Transportation Management Systems for the Company, reporting to the Senior VP - Delivery & Services, Mr. Gobel is responsible for planning and management of systems integration and extensions along with project management for key implementation programs. He holds a B.S. in Computer Science from Yale University, and is based in New Haven, CT.

Vice President New Programs: Philip Cooper

Mr. Cooper was one of the key founders of one of the first and still successfully operating Load Control Centers - for Reynolds Metals Company (today part of Alcoa) representing a pinnacle of his long-term career as Corporate Transportation Manager (with focus on automated Central Dispatch and Transportation Pricing programs) for Reynolds. Together with Mr. Shagawat and while at Reynolds, Mr. Cooper participated as co-creator of the first ever multi-shipper collaboration programs with numerous other major shippers. He also successfully managed and grew the former Reynolds Logistics 3PL business segment. Prior to his transportation management career at Reynolds Metals, Mr. Cooper worked in the international freight forwarding business, both in the U.S. and his native Australia. Educated at in Perth, Australia, Mr. Cooper has continued his advance education in e-Commerce in the U.S., and is active speaker and participant in many industry panels as expert in setting up automated Load Control Centers. In his current role for the Company, reporting to the SVP Delivery & Services with dotted line to the CEO, Mr. Cooper focuses on major new customer programs and new releases of existing products, as well as strategic freight analyses for clients, and senior advisory role to all staff and clients of ShipComm. He is based in our Richmond VA offices.

Director - TMS Programs: Chad Stange

Mr. Stange serves as Director - TMS Programs for the Company. In this senior project management role, he is responsible for major TMS program rollouts from planning to execution. He joined the Company from his career of significant achievements as Senior Corporate Transportation Manager at Graphic Packaging International (GPI) and previously at Johns Manville (JM), where he was key to establishing centralized load control center programs for these large-scale shippers as powered by end-to-end TMS programs (both firms are clients of ShipComm). He also played a pivotal role in the Caravan Network consortium (multi-shipper load linking network formed and operated by ShipComm principals) from 2004 - 2006, concurrent with his corporate transportation management tenure at JM. He holds a BS degree from Colorado State University. Mr. Stange is based in Atlanta GA, reporting to Shelley Claus, Senior Vice President - Delivery & Services of ShipComm.

Manager - Customer Relations & New Projects: Scott Orchard

Mr. Orchard is Senior Project Manager and also is responsible for Customer Service, after starting with the Company in 2007 as Customer Support Advocate. His key responsibilities include customer service and overseeing new project implementation as well as support services for existing Company clients. He has led training and system enhancement efforts from specification to project management through successful deployment for most of the ShipComm client base. He has also conducted optimization analyses to identify and drive incremental savings for clients. Prior to joining the Company, his logistics achievements include his serving as Logistics Supervisor for all inbound and outbound transportation programs at O.C. Tanner Company, the leading provider and distributor of employee recognition programs, based in Salt Lake City UT. Mr. Orchard led the selection and deployment team for implementing the ShipComm TMS at O.C. Tanner (ongoing Company client) and driving benefits and innovation with the TMS. He is an honors graduate with BA in Logistics & Operations Management from Weber State University, with prior track record in customer service and project management with J.C. Penney and LDS. He reports to the Senior VP - Delivery & Services for the Company and is based in our Charleston SC executive offices.

Customer Support Advocate: Audra Albridge

Ms. Albridge serves as Customer Support Advocate, providing customer service and analytical services to client and staff for projects and new requirements. She joins us from a long track record of success in logistics at Alcoa Mill Products, where she directed shipping & transportation operations for the Alcoa Texarkana (TX) Works and also helped implement the ShipComm TMS. For her outstanding work including freight savings and expansion of the program while at Alcoa, she received the ShipComm "Customer of the Year Award" at the Company's 2006 Users Summit. Ms. Albridge was then promoted to Business Analyst for Enterprise Business Solutions at Alcoa and also served as Process Improvement Leader for several successful Kaizen (continuous process improvement) initiatives. She attended Texarkana Community College and has continued her advanced education, while also being selected for the Women Unlimited leadership development program. She reports to the Senior VP - Delivery & Services, and works to support the Manager - Customer Relations & New Projects, as based in our Charleston SC offices.

BUSINESS TEAM

Director of Sales: Kathie Kingery

Ms. Kingery brings a comprehensive logistics track record of accomplishments to our Company, having served in load center management using advanced freight management systems and conducted supply chain analyses work as part of her 20 years of experience in the transportation field. She has served in customer service management and sales for the Company, building on her prior sales and customer service management roles with leading carriers and third party logistics providers such as APL, Great Coastal, A-P-A, St. Johnsbury, and Overnite (now UPS). She holds transportation certification from University of Richmond. Ms. Kingery has also facilitated arbitrations and mediations, as part of her dispute resolution expertise. She first joined us from her work at the 3PL office for shipment management operations under the MeadWestvaco load network program, and also served as Corporate Transportation Manager for Orvis, the leading specialty retailer. Ms. Kingery is based in our Richmond VA office, and reports to the VP Sales & Marketing.

Accountant & Commerce Administrator: Katie Von Ruden

Ms. Von Ruden joins the Company as Accountant & Commerce Administrator, reporting to the CFO & Commerce Director. She has Bachelor’s degree in Accounting & Finance from University of Iowa as Dean’s list/honors student, and handles financial and administrative tasks for the Company in supporting the CFO. She is based in the Company’s Charleston SC executive office.