R&R Family of Companies’ 2023 End-of-Year Events

2023-12-12 02:08 PM

“Don’t count the days. Make the days count.”

—Muhammad Ali

As the year draws to a close, more than 200 transportation professionals from the R&R Family of Companies across the country gathered in Pittsburgh in early December to learn, collaborate, and discuss advancing the customer experience.

Heading into 2024 on a positive note, there was an encouraging message delivered.

The event kicked off with an inspirational video about determination and grit, like that of a professional boxer. In fact, the weekend's theme was boxing which paralleled the hard work the R&R employees exemplified throughout the year. Recognizing the determination, dedication and focus employees illustrated this year is something every transportation professional needs coming out of 2023.

The focus on excellent customer service and dedication to philanthropy from all employees was another key message throughout the events. The tagline of the R&R Family of Companies is ‘Powered by Purpose’. The employees, presenters and atmosphere for this annual meeting didn't disappoint as this message and culture were evident throughout the events. It was very clear — the companies collectively are more than just a family of logistics companies; they are truly “Powered by Purpose.”

Getting In the Ring

First to the stage was R&R Family of Companies’ CEO Rich Francis with a captivating speech about getting in the ring and giving yourself a chance to win.

He referenced Teddy Roosevelt’s “Citizenship in a Republic”, better known as “The Man in the Arena” speech, which reads, “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena… who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause…”

The point is this: With effort comes error, but it’s the effort that counts. And as Rich said, you should be afraid to fail, but more afraid of regret over not trying at all. Remember your ‘why’, your purpose, and then use that to find your inner courage to get in the ring. If you keep your ‘why’ in mind, your hard work will always pay off. These are important words we can all live by — both in business and in our personal lives.

“Have the mindset that you’re going to win, and then have the courage and heart to get in the ring.”

—Rich Francis, CEO of the R&R Family of Companies

Fulfilling a Greater Purpose for Our Customers

Next to the stage was Chief Revenue Officer Ross Spanier. He built on Rich’s message of finding purpose, but through the lens of what we can do for our customers. As a Family of Companies, we have a unique strength, which is the culmination of capabilities and expertise across all our teams. We harness this power and push to fulfill a greater purpose for our customers, which is why we are putting Managed Transportation and our suite of solutions in the spotlight in 2024.

What is Managed Transportation? It’s an engagement where a shipper outsources all of their freight and logistics processes to a third-party logistics provider like the R&R Family of Companies. Shippers stand to gain greater visibility, increased efficiency and reduced freight costs.

This solution offering is nothing new; the R&R Family of Companies is a key player in the managed transportation space, offering a personalized, boutique approach and functioning as an extension of our clients' internal teams. With Ross on board, these solutions are elevated even higher.

As he said in his speech, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Together with our customers, we always intend to go the distance and achieve success for them.

Learn more about what Ross is doing with Managed Transportation — all with this positive, team-oriented approach.

Powering Our Purpose

At the R&R Family of Companies, we are Powered by Purpose through our non-profit organization, The XEL FOUNDATION. Employees can choose to donate $.54 per load and the company will match these donations to support autism inclusion and research. Together with our inclusion partner, KultureCity, we've made a big impact this past year and have plans to keep making a difference for years to come.

For actor Pooch Hall, his involvement with the R&R Family of Companies, The XEL FOUNDATION and KultureCity means everything to him. On stage at the Rivers Casino, Pooch spoke about the importance of raising awareness for people with invisible disabilities and helping them feel that they are not alone. His mom would always say, “It takes a village,” and that’s what the R&R Family of Companies have created by being Powered by Purpose through their employees.

Our ‘Powered by Purpose’ mindset encouraged the development of the Powered by Purpose Award, granted for the first time ever this year, while the LEX GO! Award and Difference Maker Award continue to recognize individuals for their selfless involvement with The XEL FOUNDATION. You can read more about the awards and their recipients on our blog.