Board of Directors

Michelle Kitchin began her trucking career in 1988, building an impressive resume that spans decades. She has worked as a trainer and an Independent Owner-Operator, hauling a variety of freight, including straight bore chemical tankers, flatbeds, Michigan trains, dry vans, and dry bulk tankers. Today, she is a company driver transporting office furniture and pharmaceuticals from Michigan to California and hauling produce on the return trip. Her passion for advocacy runs deep. As one of the only women in a mega fleet early in her career, she faced criticism, coercion, discrimination, and harassment. Rather than backing down, Michelle empowered herself through education and experience, becoming an industry expert. Today, she is highly proficient in Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Rules & Regulations, providing practical solutions to create safer work environments and serving as a leading troubleshooter for equipment-related challenges. She appeared in the documentary “Driver” in 2024 and received a Trucking Industry Trailblazer award from RWIT in 2019.

Debbie Desiderato is the general manager for Keystone Medical Waste. She was formerly the owner of Walkabout Transport, a certified Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB). She has worked as a trucking safety manager in the 90s to her sixth truck purchase in 2021, Debbie has held her motor carrier authority since 2002. She’s operated car haulers, reefers, flatbeds and was a Transportation Service Provider (TSP) for FEMA. She currently resides in Virginia. Debbie’s has vast experience in the trucking industry in the owner-operator, small carrier sector. She is often called upon by her peers as a resource to navigate regulations and compliance. She has been a member of RWIT since 2012, a member of OOIDA since 2002 and a member of the National Association of Small Business Trucking Companies (NASTC) since 2015. She appears in the documentaries “Autonomy” in 2017 and “Driver” in 2024. She received the 2019 Driver of the Year award from NASTC, the 2020 Trucking Industry Trailblazer award from RWIT and was an appointed member of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee Subcommittee in 2021.

Tamie Stuttle is a dedicated trucking industry professional, a fierce advocate for female drivers, and a powerful voice for industry reform. With a diverse background as an insurance agency owner, driver trainer, and small fleet operator, she brings a well-rounded perspective and an unwavering commitment to change. Based in Central Illinois, Tamie’s most cherished roles are those of mother and grandmother. A deeply family-oriented individual, she has instilled in her children the values that have guided her own journey—determination, resilience, and fairness. Her career began in advertising before transitioning into the insurance sector, where she owned and operated an independent insurance agency in Illinois. This experience sharpened her business acumen, client relations skills, and ability to navigate complex regulations while exposing her to the struggles individuals face in securing fair treatment. Seeking a new challenge, Tamie entered the trucking industry, training new drivers with a focus on safety and accountability. She later became a small fleet owner, gaining firsthand experience in contract negotiations, operational logistics, and the day-to-day realities of running a trucking company. These experiences deepened her understanding of the industry’s shortcomings and fueled her determination to push for meaningful change. Tamie is also a former Walmart Private Fleet Driver. Tamie’s passion for advocacy extends beyond the road. She hosts “Truckin’ with Tamie”, a podcast tackling critical industry issues such as inadequate parking, poor training standards, and sexual harassment. Through her platform, she amplifies the voices of female drivers, providing a space for them to share their experiences and demand better protections. Looking ahead, Tamie remains committed to championing transparency, safety, and fairness within the trucking industry. She envisions a future where drivers have access to essential resources, including improved training standards, a dedicated hotline for sexual assault victims, and a reporting system to track misconduct. Above all, she fights for accountability—working toward an industry that respects and protects its drivers.

Kenyette embodies the promise of a new generation of truck drivers. RWIT values her insights, opinions and relies on her as a trusted resource for information. Coming from a professional and faith-based culture that prioritizes mentorship, Kenyette has always sought guidance and, in turn, pays it forward. Just as she actively pursued mentorship when entering the trucking industry, she now supports aspiring drivers and owner-operators, helping them navigate their journeys. Her resilience was evident early on when her CDL school instructor discouraged her, telling her to give up because she wasn’t learning fast enough. Refusing to accept defeat, she asserted, “I’ve been around me all my life. This is not insurmountable,” and successfully negotiated additional instruction time. That same determination carried her through one of the trucking industry’s worst downturns in Q2 of 2020 when she boldly purchased her first truck. Despite the challenges of those first few months, she persevered, leaning on mentors and leveraging her negotiation skills to secure shipping customers. By 2024, Kenyette felt called to do even more. Recognizing the power of her CDL beyond traditional trucking, she began working with World Central Kitchen, transporting mobile kitchen units to serve hurricane disaster victims—proving once again that resilience and purpose drive her every move.

Sonja Tucci is a 30-year veteran of the trucking industry. She is a resource for information on being a tanker driver and a trainer for 16 years. She has also run a refrigerated trailer, flatbed and dry van throughout her career. Sonja joined REAL Women in Trucking in 2018. She was inspired to be part of the organization She’s proud to say that safety and keeping integrity in the trucking industry will always be her first priority. Sonja appears in the 2024 Documentary "Driver".

Natalie Jassopadilla has been a truck driver since 2010, first as a solo driver hauling intermodal freight in Los Angeles. Seeking new opportunities, she later teamed up with her husband, and in 2019, the couple became owner-operators. Over the years, she has gained extensive experience across multiple sectors, including dry van, intermodal, reefer, tankers, and hazmat. In 2021, Natalie was diagnosed with mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma, a challenge she faced with unwavering determination. She embraces the philosophy: “If I can do it, you can do it too.” As a cancer survivor, her experience has only fueled her drive. She continues to share her journey—both on the road and in life—through her TikTok platform, SpicyTrucker, where she offers insights on trucking, family life on the road, and traveling with her beloved fur babies.

Idella is a living legend who is committed to supporting her fellow drivers. Her legacy is of advocacy and mentorship. Idella Hansen’s journey in trucking began in the 1960s when she married into a family that operated a Union 76 bulk fuel plant. Later, she and her husband relocated to Arkansas, where they ran a garage and wrecking yard. They purchased a cab-over with a flatbed, but after an equipment malfunction led to her husband’s devastating fall and a broken neck, Idella found herself as the primary income earner—and eventually, a single mother. Through perseverance and resilience, she overcame countless obstacles and built a successful career. Today, she runs team operations with her grandson, hauling high-security freight across the lower 48 states and Canada. A passionate advocate for women in trucking, Idella joined REAL Women in Trucking in 2013 and was a founding board member. In 2019, she transitioned to the board of Truckers Emergency Assistance Responders - T.E.A.R., the 501 (c)(3) charity arm associated to RWIT. Idella is a valued asset to both organizations who helps guide and support young women entering the industry. With over 57 years of experience behind the wheel, she understands firsthand what it takes to succeed and is proud to share her expertise with the next generation of drivers. Her contributions to the industry have earned her widespread recognition. In 2017, she was honored as a TA/Petro Citizen Driver of the Year, with the North Little Rock, Arkansas Petro location renamed in her honor and re-dedicated to her in 2024. In 2017 she also received the Trucking Industry Trailblazer Award from RWIT. Idella appears in the 2024 documentary "Driver".

Michelle Scolari began her trucking career in 1977 and was honored as a Queen of the Road in 2019—a recognition that has connected her with a strong network of women in the industry, both as a mentor and as someone who values mutual support. She ran a regional route for Wanship Enterprises, hauling refrigerated freight from Utah to Southern California until 2023 when she retired from driving following foot surgery that made her unable to continue the work. She continues to have a deep passion for the job and prided herself on efficiently "bumping" as many docks as possible within a three-day trip. She particularly enjoyed backing—seeing it as a skill to perfect and showcase—but as a self-proclaimed perfectionist, she insisted on getting every trailer absolutely straight. Dedicated to helping others learn and grow in the industry, Michelle has built lasting friendships and considers herself truly blessed to be part of the trucking community. Never one to sit idle, she even would take on some of her own truck repairs—simply because she disliked waiting on a repair truck. She is a director on the board of Truckers Emergency Assistance Responders - T.E.A.R., the 501 (c)(3) charity arm associated to RWIT, and she appears in the 2024 documentary “Driver”.