Krista Paschenko was named the 2025 National Recruiter of the Year at the National Recruiting & Retention Symposium in Burlington, Ont.

Paschenko, a Contrans Tank Group recruiter based out of Woodstock, Ont., said that she was surprised by the honor, and it was “good and humbling.”

She has been a recruiter for 20 years and comes from a family of truck drivers. “My grandfather, father, uncles, brothers, and cousins are truckers. It’s a natural fit,” she told TruckNews.com after receiving the trophy from 2021 award winner Michael Zelek, DataDis sales manager for Ontario and Western Canada.

Paschenko began her career at a call center and then transitioned to a staffing agency, where she recruited truck drivers. She has been doing that ever since and has been working with Contrans for the past six years.

She said her job makes her feel good because she provides career opportunities to people. Being honest is key, since the person being hired will remember what they have been told and promised, and will tell their friends in the industry.

“When I meet them months or years later, I ask them ‘Is it what I told you what it was going to be?’” she said. “Their answer is always yes.”

Paschenko plans on continuing with her role. She likes connecting people with their livelihoods. “When you get a new job, you feel good, you’re excited,” she said.

She added that she learns something new every day with different people and cultures. It’s not boring, Paschenko added.

Meanwhile, Scott Creighton, national director, risk services at Northbridge Financial Corporation was honored with the 2025 Dedication to Industry Award during the event.