Kim Richardson, President of the Truck Training Schools Association of Ontario (TTSAO), has officially put a plan in place for his retirement from the Association – as October 31, 2022. The TTSAO Board of Directors unanimously approved Richardson’s one-year retirement plan, where he will help the Board transition and find a successor to take on the role.
Richardson’s history with the Association goes back to the beginning,when he founded the TTSAO in 1993. It all started with a phone call between Richardson and Gus Rahim, President of Ontario Truck Driving School (OTDS), where the two of them discussed how government was affecting the truck training school business. That conversation shed light on their shared philosophy, there is strength in numbers, and created a movement to connect with other school owners, arrange a meeting and collectively discuss issues that they were facing.
That meeting brought together the founders of the TTSAO – Gus Rahim from OTDS, Chris Ciereich from Metro Truck Driving School, Richard Wynia from Tri-County Training, Wayne Campbell from Adananc, Ed Popkie from 5th Wheel, and Colin Matthews from a school in St. Catherines – and its first members.
Richardson took on the role as Chair, then was appointed as the first President, where he served as a voluntary position for nearly a decade. Then, Richardson made the decision to step away from the role to focus on his family businesses and other projects and initiatives.
Richardson explains, “There was a time when I stepped away from the role as President of TTSAO, to let others take on the challenge and leadership, and shifted my focus to other projects, Board and committee appointment with the Professional Truck Driver Institute (PTDI), North American Training Management Institute (NATMI), and Truckload Carrier Association (TCA) and the Ontario Trucking Association (OTA). I am sharing this because my time involved with these other groups has been an important ingredient to both my and the TTSAO’s success.”
In 2013, Richardson returned to the TTSAO and by 2014, became the first paid President of the Association.
During his time at the TTSAO, Richardson introduced the TTSAO Benefit Plan for members, ramped up the Associate Member program, started the TTSAO Annual Conference, and formed the TTSAO Carrier and Insurance groups.
Gerald Carroll, Chair of the TTSAO Carrier Group, sees Richardson as a mentor and will miss his presence at the TTSAO, stating, “Kim has been an incredible leader and mentor to many – he will be missed immensely.”
Richardson and Mike Millian, President of the Private Motor Truck Council of Canada (PMTC), also formed a strategic alliance between the PMTC and TTSAO that has strengthened the two Associations’ presence and impact in the industry – in government and through the memberships.
Mike Millian, who is also a Board Member with the TTSAO, will miss Richardson’s presence on the Board, stating, “It has been a pleasure working with Kim on the TTSAO Board throughout the years. Kim has done a great job directing the Association, increasing the TTSAO’s presence and influence. Kim’s leadership, credibility and integrity will be missed when he leaves his role as President in 13 months; however, I do believe he has left the Association in a good place, and the 13-month plan to search out and transition to a new President is yet another sound decision.”
Richardson describes his time at the TTSAO to be an ‘amazing experience and honour’ and is grateful for all the men and women who have invested their time and energy into making the TTSAO what it is today. “My time at the TTSAO has been absolutely amazing. Looking back at when we started and where we’re at today, I am so proud of all we’ve achieved. Thank you to all our members and the Board for volunteering your expertise and time. You are all true champions of the TTSAO and the reason for its success. Thank you to my family: my wife, partner, and best friend Lisa, who has supported me every step of the way on this journey, and my children, Jamie and Matt, who are leading the future of the transportation industry with honesty, integrity and our core value: people. People are at the heart of everything we do and our relationships here at the TTSAO reflect how the power of people and strength in numbers can make a difference. Thank you to everyone for your part in making the TTSAO a great success.”
Richardson remains as President of Kim Richardson Transportation Specialists Inc. and TransRep, Inc.
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