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Executive Team

TSG Culture

The Shippers Group prides itself on the culture we’ve created, which is built on a strong sense of collaboration, innovation, and a commitment to excellence. With a heritage spanning over a century, the company fosters a culture of respect, teamwork, and continuous improvement. Employees are encouraged to contribute their unique perspectives, take ownership of their roles, and embrace challenges as opportunities for growth.

The executive committee at The Shippers Group plays a pivotal role in shaping and upholding this culture. They provide strategic leadership, setting the tone for the organization’s values, priorities, and goals. By fostering open communication, promoting transparency, and encouraging employee engagement, the executive committee establishes a foundation of trust that permeates throughout the company.

Their guidance ensures that The Shippers Group remains true to its core principles while also promoting a forward-thinking environment that embraces innovation and adaptability, contributing to the company’s ongoing success.

Meet our Executive Committee!

Owner & CEO

Graham Swank

Graham Swank started his career with Shippers Warehouse as a General Manger in 1986 and has managed several public and contract facilities in the Texas region. Swank has been involved with many start-up operations which includes design, overseeing the construction phase to completion, and bringing the different facilities on-line within the Shippers network. In 2008, Swank had the opportunity with his business partner Ken Johnson to purchase a majority stake in Shippers Warehouse, which is now known as The Shippers Group. Today, Graham remains the owner and CEO of The Shippers Group.
President

Rob Doyle

Rob Doyle became President of The Shippers Group in late 2016. Prior to joining Shippers, Rob was President of Doyle Distribution as wells as VP of Business Development for Commercial Warehousing Inc. He also headed up Amware Logistics Services for 12 years during a period of exponential growth, working his way up from Warehouse Operations Manager to President.

Exemplifying his commitment to the advancement of the industry and his vision for growth, Rob is an active member in industry organizations. He contributes his insights and expertise, as well as stays ahead of the industry's evolving landscape, through his membership with IWLA - having served on the IWLA board since 2007 and the Executive committee since 2012. In addition, he has been a Director for both the Atlanta and Central Florida roundtables for the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.

Doyle graduated from Georgia State University in 1999 after serving for six years in the US Marine Corps. He values giving back and volunteers with numerous different organizations in the community - both in his personal time and through the volunteer program he implemented at The Shippers Group. Rob and his wife, Mai, have two children and reside in the Dallas area.

CFO

Mike Beckwith

As Chief Financial Officer, Mike Beckwith is a financial steward and strategic advisor for The Shippers Group. Overseeing the company's financial operations and ensuring fiscal stability, Mike plays a key role in decision-making, financial forecasting, risk management, and investment strategies. Since joining the company in 2016, Mike has provided critical and valuable insights, ultimately driving the company towards sustainable growth and profitability.
Senior VP, Customer Solutions

Hugh Tait

With a concentration on profitable growth and an eye to the future, Hugh Tait is Senior Vice President of Customer Solutions at The Shippers Group. Recognizing the importance of having a robust sales effort of warehousing, transportation, contract packaging and fulfillment to the marketplace, Hugh’s primary responsibilities focus on customer relationships and customer solutions. His charge encompasses growth and expansion of The Shippers Group services further emerging as the industry’s apparent national supply chain leader.

An engineer by training, Hugh received his Masters at Georgia Tech in 1986 and has over 30 years of logistics experience covering just about every industry and extending across all aspects of 3PL operations. Hugh has been responsible for sales, pricing, account reviews and process improvement for his entire career. His expertise is in customer relationship management, rate development and pricing solutions for new clients, enhancing operational quality levels and driving cost out of warehouse operations.

Hugh’s greatest strengths are his high energy and positive attitude that he displays daily while trying to solve the supply chain problems of potential and current customers, as well as his unique ability to use an engineer’s view of operations to help ensure continuous improvement in both operational and business development processes. When he’s not helping Shipper’s clients and prospects, Hugh is probably playing tennis or enjoying time with his wife, four children, and three grandchildren in Atlanta.

VP, Marketing & Customer Solutions

Robin Siekerman

Robin Siekerman is Vice President of Marketing and Customer Solutions with primary responsibilities of providing solutions to the supply chain problems and needs for both prospects and clients, as well as the company's marketing strategy. With over twenty-five years of experience in logistics sales and marketing, Robin’s career spans several industry verticals as she uses her high energy drive and creativity to develop successful supply chain programs, create qualified leads and generate new sales. She is skilled at transforming plans into workable programs, analysis, and financial solutions and provides leadership and vision to further business development and enhance marketing initiatives. She is heavily involved in industry organizations, such as TMSA and IWLA, and most notably is the current president of the CSCMP Atlanta Roundtable.

Prior to joining The Shippers Group, Robin has worked throughout her career in logistics sales and marketing. Notable is her 12 years as VP of Business Development for Palisades Logistics. She also worked at Americold Logistics as Director of Marketing and Sales, Kimberly-Clark Corporation as Logistics Specialist and DSC Logistics in Sales and Marketing.

Robin holds a bachelors in Business Administration from the University of Tennessee. She resides in the Atlanta area with her husband Alan and has two children.

VP, Human Resources & Safety

Diane Villafana

Diane Villafana has worked in supply chain management within the Human Resources role for 25 years. Prior to joining TSG she managed the Human Resources function with fortune 500 groups and mid-size companies. She attended Texas A&M Commerce with a focus in Organizational Development and holds two nationally recognized designations, Professional in Human Resources (PHR) and SHRM – Certified Professional. She holds a Six Sigma White Belt in Human Resources and is certified as a Veterans at Work practitioner thru SHRM, furthering the TSG commitment to hiring veterans. She is active with the Dallas HR organization, has served on two committees overseeing HR development and served on the Board of Directors for a Texas Savings and Loan. She’s mentored emerging HR professionals and strongly believes in developing associates through positive coaching, upward training and career development. HR focus includes Associate Relations, Leadership, Performance and Training.

For fun Diane is a certified Dive Master, enjoys boating, traveling and is an avid reader.

Senior VP, Operations

John Dennington

John’s experience in the warehousing and distribution industry extends 30+ years with much of that time being spent with The Shippers Group. As a member of the Executive Management team, John oversees multiple warehouses in the Texas, Georgia, and Florida regions. He has been instrumental in many start-ups and building consolidation efforts as the company has grown. John has several years of comprehensive and progressive experience in operations management for national distribution organizations.

Prior to joining the company, John held leadership roles where he was responsible for overseeing 3PL warehouse operations in multiple regions including Texas, Northern California, and Pennsylvania as well as spending some years with a national foodservice distributor.

John has a Bachelors Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Texas at Arlington. When John is away from work, he enjoys spending time outdoors camping and hunting as well as quality time with his wife and their children and grandchildren.

Director, Customer Service

Kris Hill

Kris Hill is the Director of Customer Service for The Shippers Group. Prior to this role, Kris served in numerous roles at The Shippers Group, spanning more than 38 years. Her primary responsibility is overseeing Customer Service policies and initiatives, and to develop customer service standards. Her greatest strengths are her high energy and ability to communicate and work well with both customers and all departments within The Shippers Group.

Kris has always lived in Texas and presently resides in East Texas on a farm with her husband. She enjoys spending time with her children and her 3 grandchildren.

Director, Transportation Management

Laina Grimland

As The Shippers Group reintroduced Shippers Express as a non-asset transportation management company, Laina Grimland was appointed to serve as Director of Transportation Management. Part of the Shippers family for 25 years, Laina has been a steady hand in our transportation operations and has guided us skillfully as we reintroduced our transportation service offerings.

A member of the corporate team based out of our Wintergreen facility in Hutchins, Texas and as Director of Transportation Management for Shippers Express, Laina also coordinates our Jonesboro, Georgia brokerage operation enabling Shippers Express to offer brokerage and transportation management services to our customers in both Dallas and Atlanta.

Laina enjoys a variety of outdoor activities. From snow skiing to golf, she also enjoys boating, fishing, lake trips and traveling with her grandkids.

Director, IT

Keith Mixon

Born in Orlando, Florida, and now residing in Buford, Georgia, Keith is a seasoned IT professional who brings a wealth of knowledge to his role at The Shippers Group. As Director of IT, Keith is not only a technology enthusiast but also a dedicated leader, committed to advancing his team's capabilities and driving his organization's IT infrastructure to new heights.

Keith’s IT journey began with his graduation from DeVry Institute of Technology in 1988. Over the years, Keith has honed his skills and expertise through various professional endeavors. His diverse background includes working with organizations such as Post Software International/Fujitsu, General Electric, MARTA, and NexTel Communications. His extensive experience has equipped him with a deep understanding of IT systems and strategies that drive innovation and efficiency for The Shippers Group.

Outside of the office, Keith is a family man, married with three children. He finds balance in life through his love for travel, swimming, and classic cars.

Director, IT

Troy Sims

Troy Sims is a seasoned IT professional with a track record of innovation and excellence in the field. As our IT Director, he plays a pivotal role in ensuring our organization's technological infrastructure is robust, secure, and aligned with our strategic goals.

With a degree from Auburn University, he embarked on a career path that took him through some of the giants in the IT world. Troy's professional journey includes working for MARTA, Nextel Communications, and Delta Airlines, where he honed his skills and brought innovation to each role. Then, after years in the corporate IT world, Troy ventured into the realm of independent contracting, lending his expertise to various sectors, including industrial applications, education facilities, warehousing, and medical institutions.

Beyond work, you can probably find Troy on his farm, where he enjoys tending to the land and immersing himself in the outdoors. He is a devoted husband and the proud father of two girls.