OTA Dispatch Issue 4 2017

18 Oregon Truck Dispatch Diane Deautremont, cont. moving and storage world. Diane has had an opportunity to participate in the Peace Through Business Program, a national organization that selects a group of women business owners in Afghanistan and Rwanda to help educate, train, and mentor them. Part of the mentorship program is to match the individual with a similar company in the US and bring them here to shadow the leader of that company. Diane was matched with a trucking business-owner from Rwanda and also a business-owner from Afghanistan who distributes hand-crafted items. Each shadowed her for ten days, and it was an overall educational experience for everyone. Through recruiting, the industry will probably see a lot more women getting involved. Shortages in both driving and technician roles will force companies to think outside the pre-defined box. Diane offers some recommendations for women in the industry, “Be focused and dedicated and work hard. I wouldn’t ask anyone to do something I wouldn’t do myself, so you should keep that in mind, too. You need to understand where you are, where you want to be, and how you’re going to get there.” OUTSIDE THE OFFICE Diane is also family-oriented and loves spending time with her daughter and grandchildren. She enjoys music of all types, but Classic Rock tops every other genre. When asked her favorite band, Diane immediately responded, “The Beatles, of course!” In recent years, she’s begun to appreciate jazz, her husband’s favorite, and has even attended the Monterey Jazz Festival, one of the world’s longest consecutively running jazz festivals. Diane is also a huge fan of the theater. Every year, she tries to plan a trip with her husband, Dan, to the Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, OR. They’ve also seen some incredible Broadway performances in New York City. Now that you know a bit about our new Chair, you’ll have to attend one of OTA’s upcoming events to talk to her in person! Needless to say, OTA is excited to work with Diane and her ideas of moving the Association to the next level. Oregon Trucking Associations, Inc.