While there’s sometimes equipment, labor, and parts shortages, there’s never a shortage of good stories to tell about the commercial vehicle maintenance sector. The problem is knowing what subjects to chase that will best help educate and inform our readers. That’s why this year, we’ve assembled a five-member advisory board to help us fulfill our mission to provide insights on “All Maintenance, All Vehicle Classes, All Management, All the Time.” The members will help steer editorial strategy, suggest content and special projects, provide technical expertise, help connect editors with premier industry voices, and more.
These board members were strategically selected to represent a broad swath of the industry, from the C-suite to the shop floor to classroom. You are likely familiar with at least a few of these experts, but we wanted to formally introduce you to them here.
Robert Braswell, Executive Director, TMC
Since 2005, he has served as co-host and content producer of the weekly coast-to-coast satellite radio segment, “Tech Talk with TMC” on “The Dave Nemo Show,” produced in partnership with Dave Nemo Entertainment and heard on SiriusXM Channel 146 every Tuesday at 10 a.m. eastern. The show provides technical information and exchange on a wide range of technical issues to an audience of U.S. and Canadian listeners.
A graduate of the University of Maryland’s (College Park) College of Mathematical, Computer, and Natural Sciences, Robert joined TMC in 1992 as Information Manager. He was named TMC Assistant Technical Director in 1994 and promoted to Technical Director in 1995. He was awarded the Council’s highest honor in 2004 — The Silver Spark Plug. He was named Executive Director in 2017.
He has been a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) since 1992; has served as a Member of SAE’s Truck & Bus Council and has chaired SAE’s Commercial Vehicle Maintenance Committee.
Cindy Barlow, Director of Industry Relations,WyoTech
Cindy has always had a strong passion for the trades and is a vocal supporter of TMC, where she serves as the Chairwoman for the RP Manual Competition and is an active member on the TMC Scholarship committee. She has also served the last four years as the Industry Chairperson for Wyoming Department of Education's Career and Technical Education.
Holding a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Colorado State University, Cindy demonstrates daily the importance of collaboration by successfully connecting businesses across the nation, particularly in the Diesel, Automotive and Collision fields, by developing strong, long-lasting industry partnerships for WyoTech.
In her spare time, Cindy is a big game outfitter and owns Antelope Creek Outfitting. Her hobbies include gardening, hiking in the mountains, playing her fiddle, and spending time with her family.
Willie Reeves, Director of Maintenance, Paccar Leasing Co.
In his role at PacLease, Willie Reeves serves as the Director of Maintenance, a role he has held since 2021. Reeves works with maintenance managers from more than 500 locations to support more than 30,000 vehicles throughout North America to ensure best-in-class maintenance practices. He joined PacLease 2018.
After a brief stint as a diesel mechanic, Reeves enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he was a squad leader for infantry platoons, a weapons sergeant, and a combat arms instructor. He spent six years in the service before going back into commercial vehicle maintenance. His previous roles included shop foreman, lead technician, fleet maintenance supervisor, general manager, branch manager, and project and program manager for various names in the industry, including Penske Truck Leasing, ManTech International, and General Dynamics.
Reeves has offered his valuable subject matter expertise to Fleet Maintenance and other trucking media outlets on several occasions.
George Arrants, Vice President, ASE Education Foundation
George Arrants is the Vice President for ASE Education Foundation. Arrants works with instructors and administrators to develop partnerships with local businesses and industries through program advisory committees. He is the past chair of TMCSuperTech and TMCFutureTech.
George’s entire career has been in the automotive service and education industries, including as the head of his own company, George Arrants Enterprises Inc., where he offers education consulting. Prior to this, he also worked in auto industry educational relations at the Lincoln Technical Institute, Cengage Learning, and Snap-on Tools.
As Fleet Maintenance’s Training Columnist, Arrants advocates for fleets and shops to focus on molding quality technicians who want to stay in the industry. His thoughts can be heard on a podcast series “The Long Haul with George and Paul,” co-hosted by ExxonMobil's Paul Cigala.
Missy Albin, Senior Lead Master Technician, Taylor & Lloyd
Missy Albin is a Senior Lead Master Technician at Taylor & Lloyd and has been recognized by International Trucks as “one of the best technicians in the network.” Missy also is the OEM’s Female Technician Ambassador for the Tech EmPowerment recruitment program and recently wrote her first diagnostics piece for Fleet Maintenance.
The adopted daughter of a truck driver and small trucking company owner, Missy first began working on diesel trucks in 2004 and joined International in 2009 at an IC dealership. While pregnant in 2017, Albin continued to work in the shop and even earned her Master Truck Certification during that time.
In 2020, Missy was recognized during Technician Appreciation Week and has become a staunch advocate for women in the industry, providing advice on healthy boundaries, technical tips and diagnostic advice, and recruiting.
More recently, Missy was featured as a keynote speaker at the National Institute for Automotive Excellence’s 2022 Training Conference and became a member of ASE’s advisory team for Women In Navistar Dealerships (WIND).
When she’s not elbow-deep in an engine carriage, Missy loves spending time with her family, modeling, and acting.
