Management 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.

President and CEO: Robert Shagawat

Mr. Shagawat 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

VP 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 CEO, Mr. Cooper focuses on new product offerings working with the CEO, 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.

Chief Technology Officer: 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 for the Company, reporting to the CEO, Mr. Gobel is responsible for directing all application development, and systems integration programs. He holds a B.S. in Computer Science from Yale University, and is based in New Haven, CT.

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, National Accounting & Finance Council of the American Trucking Associations, and Beta Sigma Phi. Ms. Smith is responsible for the CFO and Controller function for the Company, and also oversees human resources, data center operations and improvement programs, as well as commercial and administrative matters for the firm. She is based in the Charleston SC executive offices of the Company, reporting to the CEO.

VP Sales & Marketing: Jim McNeill

Mr. McNeill serves the Company as VP Sales & Marketing, reporting to the CEO. He is renowned as one of the innovators and sales leaders in the transportation systems marketplace, including his work in prior collaboration with the Company CEO as co-founder and business development leader for the original Sure Shipping Transportation Management System (TMS) in 1988 - 1995 from Westinghouse/Innovating Computing Corp. (as among the first TMS products in the market). Mr. McNeill's leadership in the sales and marketing of advanced freight management systems was built from his 14 year track record of success (1987 - 2001) as senior executive with Innovative Computing Corp (ICC), the market leader in carrier systems, including as VP Sales & Marketing, and then as General Manager for the entire company. During his tenure at ICC, he was also involved in the subsequent sale of ICC's carrier products by Westinghouse including spinoff of its original TMS product line to Sabre, and then to Logistics.com/ICG (later sold to Manhattan Systems). After leaving ICC, he has continued in sales management with Information Technology Inc.; Comdata (Ceridian); and Affiliated Computer Services carrier product lines. He began his career at Johnson & Johnson and then Ralston Purina in financial management. Mr. McNeill holds a BS in Bus. Admin. & Accounting from Central State U (Oklahoma). He has been active member in industry trade associations such as ATA, CSCMP, OTA, TMTA, and as Past President (2000) of the National Perishable Logistics Association. He directs the sales and marketing functions for the Company, dividing his time between the Company's Charleston SC main office and branch office in Knoxville TN.

Director - Implementation & Support: Shelley Claus

Ms. Claus comes to Shippers Commonwealth from distinguished career as senior project manager and business analyst for client services since 1998 at Relizon (leading print and electronic documents systems provider). 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 for Appleton Papers and Kimberly-Clark, including as team leader for customer electronic communications team; customer relations specialist including quick response programs; and as senior transportation planning 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 CEO, and is based in our Richmond VA office.

TECHNOLOGY TEAM - REPORTING TO CTO

Development Team Leader: William S. ("Shad") Gilley

Mr. Gilley joined Shippers Commonwealth 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. 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 CTO, he is based in our Richmond VA office.

Principal Systems Engineer: Jason Steffler

Mr. Steffler came to the Shippers Commonwealth team 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 our CFO, and is based in Burlington (metropolitan Toronto), Ontario.

Senior Solutions Engineer: Nick Malett

Mr. Malett contributes his expertise and leadership skills to the Shippers Commonwealth team from his long track record of achievement in TMS and logistics systems design, development, integration, and customer support solutions, including in his distinguished tenure as Software Development Senior Project Leader & Senior Software Engineer with RedPrairie (Formerly McHugh) from 1996 - 2007. Prior to this, he served as senior programmer/analyst and database specialist with Greenwich Associates and as engineer for Brian Winthrop Int'l. He also is responsible for project management and technical design and execution. Mr. Malett holds a BS in Electrical Engineering with highest honors from Milwaukee School of Engineering in addition to certification in wide array of programming and IT technologies. He is based in Milwaukee WI, and reports to the CTO.

DELIVERY & SERVICES TEAM

Senior Project Manager: Sharon Slattery

Ms. Slattery came to Shippers Commonwealth after a distinguished career at Mead (now MeadWestvaco) where she was Corporate Manager - Transportation Systems as part of her 25 year track record of accomplishments at that Fortune 500 firm. Her duties included setting up and managing the automated central Corporate Load Center for Mead. In this position, she worked with principals of Shippers Commonwealth on implementation, integration, expansion and support of the Mead TMS Program and its related systems for freight payment and electronic trading (while managing transition of this TMS to an integrated SAP ERP environment). Sharon also served as financial systems manager and IT systems project manager, following her prior tenure as production planning manager and senior Operations Research (O/R) analyst at Mead. Sharon holds a M.S. in Industrial Administration and B.S. in Administration and Management Science as honors graduate of Carnegie Mellon University. She is based in Cincinnati Ohio, and reports to the Director –– Implementation & Support.

Customer Support Advocate: Scott Orchard

Mr. Orchard came aboard with the Company as Customer Support Advocate, with key responsibilities for customer service and new project implementation with support services for existing Company clients. He also has key roles in supporting new initiatives for the Company such as benchmarking product offerings, fleet management module programs, and project deliverables for new clients. His comprehensive 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 Shippers Commonwealth 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 Director - Implementation & Support for the Company, and is based in our Charleston SC executive offices.

BUSINESS TEAM

Client Relationship Manager: Kathie Kingery

Ms. Kingery serves as Client Relationship Manager for the Company, with the responsibilities of sales, customer service and support leadership for current as well as prospective clients. She brings a comprehensive logistics track record of accomplishments to our firm, having served in load center management using advanced freight management systems and conducting 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 leading carriers and third party logistics providers such as APL, Great Coastal, A-P-A, St. Johnsbury, and Overnite (now UPS Ground Freight). She holds transportation certification from University of Richmond. Ms. Kingery has also facilitated arbitrations and mediations, as part of her dispute resolution expertise. She joined the Company from her most recent work at the 3PL office for shipment management operations under the MeadWestvaco load network program, and is based in our Richmond VA office. She 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. 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.