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

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 CEO, and is based in our Richmond VA office.

Director Systems & Software Engineering: Ian Jones

Mr. Jones brings the Company his data center management and development experience from his track record of success as Chief Engineer for Information Systems at Richardson Patrick, the major law firm (and its predecessor companies) starting in 2001. During his tenure there, he worked across wide array of IT programs including data center migration and virtualization, as well as technical project management for integration programs and staff management for development team. Prior to this, he worked on the successful SailNet application team. He has core strengths in Java, SQL, and XML as part of a broad IT skills base, and holds a double major degree in Computer Science and Computer Information Systems from the College of Charleston. He is active member in IEEE and ACM and founding member of the Charleston Java Users Group. In his management role with the Company, Mr. Jones is responsible for directing software design and development programs including for new products, and also manages the Company's data center operations. He is based in the Charleston SC offices of the Company, reporting to the CEO.

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.

TECHNOLOGY TEAM

Development Team Leader: 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. 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 Director - Systems & Software Engineering, 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 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.

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 (as also a dedicated user of the system). For her outstanding work including freight savings and expansion of the program to other staff and sites while at Alcoa, she received the ShipComm "Customer of the Year Award" at the Company's 2006 Users Summit conference. Ms. Albridge was then promoted to Business Analyst for Enterprise Business Solutions for enhancing and migrating to new automated systems for the Alcoa Mill Products business unit (ongoing Company client) and also served as Process Improvement Leader. In these roles, she served as shipping lead for new ERP system rollouts and ancillary programs for Alcoa, and led several successful Kaizen (continuous process improvement) initiatives. She was also selected for participation in the Women Unlimited leadership development program. Ms. Albridge attended Texarkana Community College and has continued her advanced education. 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 CFO/Commerce Director.

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.