On this episode of On the Front Line: The Safety, Learning & Operations Podcast, Dr. Gina Anderson, speaks with Nikki Thomas, Vice President of Industry Affairs at the American Trucking Association and leader of ATA Women in Motion. Nikki has three years of transforming how the trucking industry supports women and 20+ years in program and event management.

Nikki explains how a partnership with Trucker Path solved the critical truck parking safety gap for women drivers, why "leading from the front" means making others shine, and how she's building networks that keep talent in the industry. Her approach to innovation—taking one step, trying one new thing, and showing up excited—demonstrates why community-centered leadership creates lasting impact.

If you're navigating male-dominated industries, building inclusive programs, or leading teams through innovation, this episode will show you the power of strategic partnerships and quiet persistence.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. How Nikki's strategic partnership with Trucker Path created a safety solution accessed 64 million times
2. Why leadership means creating opportunities for others to shine, not chasing titles
3. The seven critical safety features women drivers identified for truck stops
4. How forward-thinking technology and virtual training tools are attracting the next generation to trucking
5. Why starting earlier with student outreach could transform industry talent pipelines
6. Connect with Nikki on LinkedIn ⁠HERE⁠.

Want to learn more about Nikki’s work? Check out the American Trucking Association website ⁠HERE⁠.

Check out the Luma Brighter Learning website ⁠HERE⁠.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply ⁠HERE⁠.

Subscribe to On the Frontline for more insights on safety, compliance, learning, and operations in the world of mobile, distributed, and high-risk workforces.

On this episode of On the Front Line: The Safety, Learning & Operations Podcast, Dr. Gina Anderson, speaks with Blake Grolmus, SVP of Government Relations at Iowa Motor Truck Association.

Blake challenges the "tenure trap" that keeps fresh voices on the sidelines. He shares why his best safety innovations came from people outside the safety team. Drivers who asked "why do we do it that way?" changed everything. He reveals his leadership approach: never ask someone to do what you wouldn't do yourself.

Tune in to discover why the best innovations come from unexpected voices, and how quiet leadership opens doors.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. Why breakthrough ideas come from non-experts in the room
2. How to create space for newcomers in a longevity-driven industry
3. The leadership lesson of being remembered for people, not accomplishments
4. How small frontline changes move entire industries forward

Connect with Blake on LinkedIn HERE.

Want to learn more about Blake’s work? Check out the Iowa Motor Truck Association website HERE.

Check out the Luma Brighter Learning website HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

Subscribe to On the Frontline for more insights on safety, compliance, learning, and operations in the world of mobile, distributed, and high-risk workforces.

On this episode of On the Front Line: The Safety, Learning & Operations Podcast, Dr. Gina Anderson speaks with Tom Johnston, Safety Manager at Keizer Management, LLC, who's spent nearly 30 years proving that the best safety culture isn't built on enforcement—it's built on empathy.

Tom shares why safety leaders must reject the "safety cop" mentality, how his role as a caregiver for his wife shaped his leadership philosophy, and what the transportation industry gets dangerously wrong about driver home time and mental health. His open-door approach and habit of daily kindness have earned his team multiple National Safety Council awards—not through rules, but through genuine connection.

If you're a safety manager, operations leader, or anyone responsible for people in high-risk work, this episode will challenge how you think about compliance, culture, and what it really means to bring everyone home safely.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. Why the "safety cop" approach fails and what works instead
2. How caregiving experience translates to better safety leadership
3. The #1 thing Tom would redesign in the transportation industry to reduce accidents
4. Why letting drivers talk isn't a waste of time—it's a safety strategy
5. How to identify team strengths and position people where they'll thrive
6. Tom's advice for making kindness a daily leadership habit

Connect with Tom on LinkedIn HERE.

Want to learn more about Tom’s work? Check out the Keizer Management, LLC website HERE.

Check out the Luma Brighter Learning website HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

Subscribe to On the Frontline for more insights on safety, compliance, learning, and operations in the world of mobile, distributed, and high-risk workforces.