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Four New Agencies Added to Total Transportation Services National Network
(October 23, 2008 - Dallas) Total Transportation Services LLC (TTS) announced the recent addition of four new agencies to its national network of transportation and logistics service providers... Read
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The Redden Group Keeps on Going and Growing
Like the company she oversees, Carrie Botts has come a long way. The former kindergarten teacher is now vice president and general manager of The Redden Group and has been an integral part of leading a company that has seen rapid growth and expansion.
The Redden Group is an independent agency of Total Transportation Services and is headquartered in Addison, TX. The company was founded in 1991 by John Redden when he joined Mark VII as their Dallas-based agent. The organization that still bears his name grew over the next decade until Redden passed away in 2003. Vicki Redden succeeded John as President. In 2007, The Redden Group became a Certified Woman Owned Business.
Up until 2003, The Redden Group’s primary business was chemical transportation with Oxy Chemical Corporation being a large majority of the company’s business along with Albermarle, Durez Corporation and Degussa. The company began to shift its focus to aggressively develop new business and become more sales driven in order to diversify their account basis.
Along the way, Redden merged with another transportation agency, Fenbeck Transportation, which increased their size in employees and sales volume. Additionally, the merger opened up new industries for Redden by adding beverage customers such as Coors and Barton Brands.
Botts joined The Redden Group as a customer service rep in 2000 after leaving the teaching profession and a short stint with Fidelity Investments. Although she had no knowledge of the industry, she was looking for something new and different to pursue and was encouraged by John Redden to give the world of transportation a try.
She quickly discovered she enjoyed the business and was interested in learning and doing more. Over time, she was given more responsibilities and soon was managing all operations including HR, payroll, finances, regulatory, sales, and vendors. She now oversees a staff of four senior managers including David Lyles, Maureen Wiggins, Jennifer Spears and Tracy Beckler as well as all company operations.
In early 2006, The Redden Group became the first to join the then brand new Total Transportation Services network as the founding agency. At the same time, The Redden Group completed an extensive renovation of their office facilities in order to provide upgraded systems and support throughout the entire office. The push was on to aggressively grow the company.
“After very careful consideration by our entire management team and sales force, we unanimously choose to join Total Transportation Services because of the unequalled value we knew we would receive including the advanced technology and support systems,” said Botts. “Being part of TTS allows us to focus on growing our business and providing our customers with the very best service and support.”
Another strategic move at that time included creating a specially designated capacity procurement position for David Lyles. His primary role was to develop working relationships and partnerships with existing and potential carriers. Since then, a second capacity procurement position was established with the reassignment of Maureen Wiggins. Both individuals have been involved in the transportation industry for over 20 years.
Botts says their capacity procurement positions are really unique to the industry. “No one else invests in developing great carrier relationships they way we do,” said Botts. “We spend a lot of time and energy with carriers of all sizes and that pays off in our ability to source capacity throughout the country.”
“Even the very large carriers love our focus on developing relationships with them,” said Botts. “They always tell me that we do what no other 3PL or brokerage is willing to do and I know that goes a long way.”
With the move to become a more sales-driven company over the years, The Redden Group has a sales force of nine that are located throughout the country and at the company headquarters.
Botts accounts much of the company growth to the sales team they have developed over the recent years. “Together with our sales representatives and operations employees we have built an organization which allows us to simply focus on meeting the needs of the customers and understanding how we can help them,” said Botts.
As a result of a concerted effort across many fronts, The Redden Group has grown dramatically doubling in size several times and is now at $85 million in annual sales handing over 75,000 shipments a year. The company has 29 employees including 19 dispatchers, four managers in Addison, and five employees that are located on-site at Coors Brewing Company in Golden, CO. There are also eight independent sales contractors located throughout the United States.
“In some ways, I feel like we have just begun and the sky is the limit for us in the future,” said Botts. “If we keep focused as a team and keep providing excellence in customer service and support, I’m confident we’re going to keep going and growing.”