Ryder Leaders Sweep Supply & Demand Chain Executive’s 2025 Pros to Know Awards

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Ryder System (NYSE: R) announces three of its supply chain leaders have been recognized in the 2025 Pros to Know Awards by Supply & Demand Chain Executive. The honorees include Cherie Brinkerhoff (SVP of supply chain operations), Kevin Askew (VP of transportation execution and strategy), and Sandy Hodes (chief procurement and corporate development officer).

Brinkerhoff was recognized in the Leaders in Excellence category for transforming a hospital network's supply chain and championing workforce development. Askew earned the Top Transportation Innovator title for implementing the Flex operating model and leading continuous improvement initiatives. Hodes was named Top Procurement Pro for managing an $8 billion annual budget and restructuring procurement operations with automated processes.

The awards recognize innovators and leaders whose accomplishments offer a roadmap for leveraging supply chain as a competitive advantage.

MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Ryder System, Inc. (NYSE: R) celebrates its supply chain leaders among the 2025 Pros to Know award winners by Supply & Demand Chain Executive. Sweeping accolades across three categories, the annual Pros to Know list spotlights innovators, leaders, and rising stars whose accomplishments offer a roadmap for others striving to leverage the supply chain as a competitive advantage. This year’s Ryder honorees—Cherie Brinkerhoff, Kevin Askew, and Sandy Hodes—are recognized for their leadership and contributions to advancing supply chain innovation and excellence.

Ryder honorees pictured left to right: Cherie Brinkerhoff, SVP of supply chain operations for retail, technology, and health; Kevin Askew, VP of transportation execution and strategy; Sandy Hodes, chief procurement and corporate development officer.

"Many of today's supply chain pros are more than just leaders within their space; they're true pioneers of change. This year’s list of winners really pushed the boundaries in all facets; creating, implementing, transforming, innovating, reinventing, and collaborating. They executed on all fronts, over-delivering and over-performing. They are true professionals to know in the supply chain space," says Marina Mayer, editor-in-chief of Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive and co-founder of the Women in Supply Chain Forum.

Ryder honorees among the 2025 Pros to Know categories are:

Cherie Brinkerhoff, senior vice president of supply chain operations, in the Leaders in Excellence category for strategic leadership in Ryder’s retail, technology, and healthcare vertical. She plays a pivotal role in overseeing and optimizing the company's extensive warehousing and transportation operations. Most recently, Cherie and her team spearheaded the transformation of a major hospital network’s supply chain to a self-distribution model, providing the organization with 100% inventory control, real-time end-to-end visibility, improved fill rates and on-time delivery, and maximized efficiency. Cherie also champions emerging talent and workforce development through the Ryder Women’s Leadership Forum and an internal internship program for future supply chain engineers.

Kevin Askew, vice president of transportation execution and strategy, as a Top Transportation Innovator for his leadership in operational excellence and the transformation of Ryder’s dedicated transportation solutions (DTS) business. Kevin continues to be integral to the implementation of the Flex operating model, an initiative which aims to streamline the sharing of drivers and assets to enable more flexible and efficient resource utilization, reduce idle capacity, and increase productivity. Kevin also oversees enterprise-wide continuous improvement initiatives, serving as Chair of Ryder’s DTS Functional Excellence Board and an active member of Ryder’s AI Center of Excellence. He also works closely with fleet management solutions, business intelligence, brokerage, and TM to pilot new automation and technology.

Sandy Hodes, chief procurement and corporate development officer, as a Top Procurement Pro for his leadership in procurement and supply chain management throughout his 20+ years with Ryder. Managing an annual budget of approximately $8 billion, Sandy oversees strategic sourcing and supplier management for Ryder, building strong supplier relationships while ensuring cost efficiency and compliance with industry standards. His restructuring of Ryder’s procurement operations to include automated processes and a dedicated team focused on reporting, analytics, and supplier performance management continues to ensure Ryder’s procurement functions are agile, transparent, and delivering value for Ryder’s customers.

“From Cherie’s work optimizing a 14-hospital network to Kevin’s operational efficiency initiatives and Sandy’s procurement innovations, their achievements not only improve Ryder’s operational performance but also enhance the value we deliver to our customers every day,” says Steve Sensing, president of supply chain solutions for Ryder. “Ryder’s people are determined, trustworthy, and demonstrate integrity in everything they do.”

About Ryder System, Inc.

Ryder System, Inc. (NYSE: R) is a fully integrated port-to-door logistics and transportation company. It provides supply chain, dedicated transportation, and fleet management solutions, including warehousing and distribution, contract packaging and manufacturing, e-commerce fulfillment, last-mile delivery, managed transportation, professional drivers, freight brokerage, cross-border solutions, full-service fleet leasing, maintenance, commercial truck rental, and used vehicle sales to some of the world’s most-recognized brands. Ryder provides services to businesses across more than 20 industries throughout the United States, Mexico, and Canada. In addition, Ryder manages nearly 250,000 commercial vehicles, services fleets at approximately 760 maintenance locations, and operates nearly 300 warehouses encompassing more than 100 million square feet. Ryder is regularly recognized for its industry-leading practices; technology-driven innovations; environmental management; safety, health and security programs; and recruitment and hiring initiatives. www.ryder.com

About Supply & Demand Chain Executive

Supply & Demand Chain Executive is the only supply chain publication covering the entire global supply chain, focusing on trucking, warehousing, packaging, procurement, risk management, professional development and more. Supply & Demand Chain Executive and its sister publication, Food Logistics, also operate SCN Summit and the Women in Supply Chain Forum. Go to www.SDCExec.com to learn more.

Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: Certain statements and information included in this news release are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Federal Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on our current plans and expectations and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Accordingly, these forward-looking statements should be evaluated with consideration given to the many risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements including those risks set forth in our periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. New risks emerge from time to time. It is not possible for management to predict all such risk factors or to assess the impact of such risks on our business. Accordingly, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

ryder-ar

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250328185324/en/

Anne Hendricks, amhendricks@ryder.com

Amy Federman, afederman@ryder.com

Source: Ryder System, Inc.

FAQ

What achievements led to Ryder (R) winning multiple 2025 Pros to Know Awards?

Ryder won awards for hospital network supply chain transformation, implementation of the Flex operating model for transportation, and procurement automation managing an $8 billion budget.

How is Ryder (R) improving healthcare supply chains in 2025?

Through Cherie Brinkerhoff's leadership, Ryder transformed a hospital network to a self-distribution model, providing 100% inventory control, real-time visibility, improved fill rates, and maximized efficiency.

What is Ryder's (R) Flex operating model in 2025?

The Flex model streamlines sharing of drivers and assets, enabling flexible resource utilization, reducing idle capacity, and increasing productivity across Ryder's transportation operations.

How much procurement budget does Ryder (R) manage annually in 2025?

Sandy Hodes oversees an annual procurement budget of approximately $8 billion, managing strategic sourcing and supplier relationships.

What initiatives is Ryder (R) implementing for supply chain automation in 2025?

Ryder is implementing automated procurement processes, transportation resource optimization, and dedicated analytics teams for supplier performance management.