ASSOCIATIONS/ORGANIZATIONS: American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI),Arlington, Va. UPS Freight president Rich McArdle was appointed to the board of directors. McArdle began his career with UPS in 1982 as an early morning package sorter and truck loader. Within three years, he was named to the team that initiated UPS International Air Service between the United States and Europe. He was promoted to industrial engineering manager in 1987, and developed operating plans for expansions to Canada, Japan, Southeast Asia and Central America. More recently,McArdle served with UPS Corporate Public Affairs to oversee global operations policy, including customs and cargo security matters. In early 2015, McArdle became mid-Atlantic district manager, and continued in that role until being named Jack Holmes' successor as UPS Freight resident in February 2016.
Potatoes USA, Denver, Colo. Alex Cooper was named manager of the company’s Spud Nation food truck expansion into Washington, D.C., and the surrounding Mid-Atlantic area. Cooper brings a solid set of skills from previous food truck business interests. For example, Cooper most recently served as the events director for the D.C., Maryland and Virginia Food Truck Association (DMVFTA), where he focused on creating and designing food truck-based events like the Capital City Food Truck Convention and Curbside Cook-off. Previously, he owned and managed a Nom Catering, a food truck business. He also worked as an events manager and team leader for Pfizer UK, and as an account manager at Aspire Events, specializing in conference and exhibition design. Additionally, Brandon Cassulis joined the Spud Nation Food Truck, where he will be traveling around town inspiring consumers with field-to-fork potato adventures. Cassulis has worked in the foodservice industry for over seven years. He was an assistant general manager for Friendly’s.