CALGARY, Alta. (Sept. 19, 2001) — After spending the last couple of years heading the merger between the Alberta Trucking Association and the Automotive Transportation Safety Superintendents Association, Sharon Johnson has been appointed executive director of the joint group, now called the Alberta Motor Transport Association, and will be responsible for its day-to-day activities.

As president of her own company SEJ Consulting Ltd., Johnson was appointed to restructure the ATA governance model two years ago. She than took a leading role on the Merger Task Force by working with both the ATA and ATISA board of directors on the amalgamation project. That experience, she says, led to her appointment as executive director, a term position she will serve until the annual general meeting in June 2002, at which time the association will elect a new director.

In the meantime, Johnson says her focus will be on the continued emphasis on safety programs involving Alberta trucking companies. But first, Johnson wants to see what issues are most important to her members.

“We want to go out and conduct a needs assessment for our members,” she told Today’s Trucking. “Than we can focus of what they want rather than trying to second guess them. With the merger, there is now a different mix in our membership database.”

Johnson also said she will continue to work on developing partnerships with those interested in safety and improving the overall image of the industry.

“We can’t operate in isolation as a trucking industry,” she said. “We have to work with all the stakeholders in the public arena.”